out."
10
When attending a doll show, a repair artist must be prepared for any doll emergency. Aside from standard stringing tools such as elastic cording, rubber bands, and S hooks, it's a good idea to carry baby wipes for washing dirty faces and wig glue for fixing loose wigs. A great deal of patience is also an absolute require- ment, especially when several collectors are demanding your expertise at the same time.
- From World of Dolls by Caroline Birch
"Here comes a mailman," Nina called from her table. "I didn't know they delivered at doll shows."
"Looking for the doll repairer, whatever that means. Someone over by the door said that's you?" the man said, stopping at Gretchen's table and holding a small package.
"The world is filled with weirdoes. No name, and they think I'm a magician." He tipped his head back and looked down the length of his nose at Nina. "And we aren't mailmen anymore, in case you haven't noticed. I'm a postal carrier ever since you women libbers changed everything."
"I guess that's me," Gretchen said, taking the package and looking at the address on the label. "That's all it says.
'Doll repairer' and this address. Who sent it?" 'Fragile' had been stamped across the package in bold red lettering. The postal carrier shrugged. "What you think I got? A crystal ball? I just deliver the stuff."
He walked away.
"Friendly sort," Nina muttered.
"Open it," April said eagerly. "I love presents."
"Must be from Steve," Nina surmised. "A take-me-back gift."
"Too big," April observed.
"Steve would have addressed it directly to me,"
Gretchen said.
"Oh, right," Nina agreed.
The smell of Chrome cologne distracted Gretchen from the package. She laid it on the floor next to a cardboard box that was quickly filling with damaged dolls in need of repair. She knew before she looked up that Matt would be standing in front of her.
Up close, the blue T-shirt had a darker blue and white dream catcher etched into it.
"I'm investigating an altercation," he said. "It appears that you are the cause of a major disturbance. I'll have to take you down to the station and drill you unmercifully."
Nina sighed loudly from the next table. "You're such a tease," she called to him.
Matt's eyes riveted on Gretchen.
"Drill me instead," April said. "I give in easily."
"Rake her over the coals," Nina said. "She is easy."
Therapy must be helping. Gretchen had seen firsthand what the presence of a little doll could do to the muscular cop. He'd been reduced to a pale, sweating shell of the man who stood before her. But the large number of dolls surrounding him hadn't stopped him from walking directly down the aisle today.
"Ronny Beam's on a rampage, Nina," said the new, improved Matt. "He just lodged a formal complaint against you at the same time that he filed one against Gretchen's... um... friend, Steve."
"A complaint for what?" Nina looked surprised.
"An alleged pepper spray attack yesterday. Unprovoked, according to Ronny."
"Unprovoked!" Nina fairly shouted. "That worm is spreading rumors about me, and he was leaning on my Impala. I'll have to have it washed to get the crud off."
"Then you admit the charges."
"I admit nothing. His word against mine."
Matt flipped through a notepad. "He went into Curves after the alleged incident, and he's listed thirty-nine witnesses who, he claims, saw the whole thing."
"Oh," Nina said, suddenly subdued. "Are you going to arrest me?"
"I'd gladly haul you in if I was on duty today." Matt closed the notepad. "I covered for you with the responding officer, so you owe me. Now..." He turned to Gretchen. "I did think about arresting Steve Kuchen. What do you have to say about that?"
Gretchen shrugged. Matt's idea certainly would buy her time. It was an intriguing solution, even if it was only in fun. "Can I think about it for a while?"
Matt attempted a grin. "Sure. In the meantime, I have to get out of here. The dolls are closing in. When I come back, I'll track down Ronny and
10
When attending a doll show, a repair artist must be prepared for any doll emergency. Aside from standard stringing tools such as elastic cording, rubber bands, and S hooks, it's a good idea to carry baby wipes for washing dirty faces and wig glue for fixing loose wigs. A great deal of patience is also an absolute require- ment, especially when several collectors are demanding your expertise at the same time.
- From World of Dolls by Caroline Birch
"Here comes a mailman," Nina called from her table. "I didn't know they delivered at doll shows."
"Looking for the doll repairer, whatever that means. Someone over by the door said that's you?" the man said, stopping at Gretchen's table and holding a small package.
"The world is filled with weirdoes. No name, and they think I'm a magician." He tipped his head back and looked down the length of his nose at Nina. "And we aren't mailmen anymore, in case you haven't noticed. I'm a postal carrier ever since you women libbers changed everything."
"I guess that's me," Gretchen said, taking the package and looking at the address on the label. "That's all it says.
'Doll repairer' and this address. Who sent it?" 'Fragile' had been stamped across the package in bold red lettering. The postal carrier shrugged. "What you think I got? A crystal ball? I just deliver the stuff."
He walked away.
"Friendly sort," Nina muttered.
"Open it," April said eagerly. "I love presents."
"Must be from Steve," Nina surmised. "A take-me-back gift."
"Too big," April observed.
"Steve would have addressed it directly to me,"
Gretchen said.
"Oh, right," Nina agreed.
The smell of Chrome cologne distracted Gretchen from the package. She laid it on the floor next to a cardboard box that was quickly filling with damaged dolls in need of repair. She knew before she looked up that Matt would be standing in front of her.
Up close, the blue T-shirt had a darker blue and white dream catcher etched into it.
"I'm investigating an altercation," he said. "It appears that you are the cause of a major disturbance. I'll have to take you down to the station and drill you unmercifully."
Nina sighed loudly from the next table. "You're such a tease," she called to him.
Matt's eyes riveted on Gretchen.
"Drill me instead," April said. "I give in easily."
"Rake her over the coals," Nina said. "She is easy."
Therapy must be helping. Gretchen had seen firsthand what the presence of a little doll could do to the muscular cop. He'd been reduced to a pale, sweating shell of the man who stood before her. But the large number of dolls surrounding him hadn't stopped him from walking directly down the aisle today.
"Ronny Beam's on a rampage, Nina," said the new, improved Matt. "He just lodged a formal complaint against you at the same time that he filed one against Gretchen's... um... friend, Steve."
"A complaint for what?" Nina looked surprised.
"An alleged pepper spray attack yesterday. Unprovoked, according to Ronny."
"Unprovoked!" Nina fairly shouted. "That worm is spreading rumors about me, and he was leaning on my Impala. I'll have to have it washed to get the crud off."
"Then you admit the charges."
"I admit nothing. His word against mine."
Matt flipped through a notepad. "He went into Curves after the alleged incident, and he's listed thirty-nine witnesses who, he claims, saw the whole thing."
"Oh," Nina said, suddenly subdued. "Are you going to arrest me?"
"I'd gladly haul you in if I was on duty today." Matt closed the notepad. "I covered for you with the responding officer, so you owe me. Now..." He turned to Gretchen. "I did think about arresting Steve Kuchen. What do you have to say about that?"
Gretchen shrugged. Matt's idea certainly would buy her time. It was an intriguing solution, even if it was only in fun. "Can I think about it for a while?"
Matt attempted a grin. "Sure. In the meantime, I have to get out of here. The dolls are closing in. When I come back, I'll track down Ronny and
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