Things Will Work Out
“Every ending leads to a beginning,” Alva said. “It’s good you saw your brother. No matter where he is or what he done. He still your brother and blood is blood.”
Before Kitty could say anything there was a knock at the kitchen door followed by a soft creak as someone pushed at it from the other side. In a second, two eyes close to the door jamb were visible through the opening and then, slowly, the door was pushed farther open. Standing on the other side, Marv was all dressed up in a new suit and tie, his chin bashfully touching his chest, his eyes darting here and there.
“Excuse me,” he said softly. “I don’t like to interrupt.”
“Come on in here, Marv. Whatchyou up to in that nice new suit? Look like you going to church. That right?” asked Alva, walking over and swinging the door wide. She took him by the arm and led him a few steps into the room.
“I just came to say … ” his voice trailed off. “That is … ” he looked from Alva to Kitty.
“You want some coffee? I got some fresh brewed right over here,” Alva offered, stalling for time, trying to make him feel comfortable.
“No, thank you, Miss Alva. What I want to say is, I hope you don’t mind, I met these people over at the hardware store when I was looking at bathroom fixtures for the upstairs bath, you know, the one on the third floor. Well I met these people. A couple. They live a couple of blocks over on Garfield,” again he trailed off.
“What is it, Marv?” Alva asked. “Some kinda trouble?”
“Oh, no,” he shook his head. “Just that we got to talking and they wanted to see the work I did for you here. I should have asked you before but I forgot, and now they’re coming over to look. They say they may want me to do some work for them in their house that they bought last year. They say it needs a lot of work,” he lowered his head again.
“Well, I think that’s just grand,” said Alva. “Don’t you think so Kitty?”
“Sure I do. Marv that’s a wonderful idea. You’ve done so much here and you’re just about done,” said Kitty.
Marv fidgeted a little from foot to foot. Then the doorbell rang. He looked up sharply, a little frightened, hesitant, not knowing what to do next.
“Come on, Marv. We’ll take them around. I got a lot to tell them about what you done for me here,” said Alva as she took him by the arm and led him toward the front of the house.
Kitty realized her talk with Alva would have to wait. She had to get to the office. Cal had a tax audit coming in, and then they had a lead on that no-good lawyer who skipped to Florida. Maybe she could give Alva a nice Christmas present of some news about the Berg’s estate. Things would work out. She was sure of it.