Readers Response Three: Safe Haven

Alex is a old fashioned store owner whose wife had just died a little over a year ago. He has two children. Alex used to be a military investigator in the army so he notices a lot of little things that most peole would not. He has noticed Katie come in and out of the store over the last couple months. He's watched her transmation, from gaunt with big black circles under her eyes, to gaining a few pounds and looking well rested. Alex's five year old daughter tells him all the time how nice "Miss Katie" is. He's noticed that Katie does not like to conversate very much and when he tries to she seems shy and nervous. Katie finds out she has a neighbor that lives down the road from her named Jo. Katie goes to Alex's store one day and decides to buy yellow paint to paint her kitchen floor. Alex orders the paint for Katie even though the store does not actually sell paint or order it but he does it for Katie.
"When did we start selling paint," asked Roger, one of the other store workers. "Today," said Alex.