“And I’ve got a bill for you for all the ones you ate.”
He dipped his hand into his pocket and took out a twenty. “Here, let’s just call it even.”
“Excellent. That and twenty-five baggies of cookies at two dollars a pop will put another fifty dollars plus this twenty into the fundraising pot. Not bad.” Sheila took another twenty out of her purse. “Let’s call this the corporate-match program.”
“I like the way you think.” He plopped down in a kitchen chair.
She joined him at the table. “I don’t think I’ve done that much baking ever.”
“We didn’t even burn a batch,” he said. “I call that a good day.”
“A victory, for sure.”
“You know, it’s been really nice getting to know so many sides of you this week.”
“You too.” She leaned forward playfully. “I only hope we can still be friends after our Christmas tree wins.”
“It’s anybody’s game. We’ll have to wait until they announce the winners tonight to find out, but I’ll be dressed for success.” He picked up a box from the kitchen table and started setting the bagged cookies into it.
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, can’t claim the big trophy in confectioners’-sugar-and-butter-stained clothes. There will be pictures in the paper.”
She started stacking cookies in the box too. “Don’t be so cocky. I think our tree has a very good chance of winning.”
“We’ll see.”
“And if you lose, am I still invited tomorrow night for our all-nighter putting together the food boxes at the fire station?”
“I already locked in your offer to help. There are no backouts.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He picked up one of the boxes of cookies. “What do you say we walk these down to the bake sale, and then I’ll see you tonight at the Christmas Tree Stroll?”
“That sounds good, because I’m definitely going to take a nap.”
“I may be doing the same. I had no idea baking that many cookies would be so tiring.”
They dropped off the cookies and Greta set them out on apretty tray. “These will go in a flash. It’s a good thing you showed up when you did. We were running so low I thought we were about done,” Greta said. “We’ve brought in some good money. This was a great idea.”
“Can’t go wrong with cookies,” Tucker said.
“Maybe I should’ve gone into cookies instead of flowers.” Greta wrinkled her nose. “No. I like my plants.”
“You’re in the right business,” Tucker said. “The flowers you put together for me were a big hit. Thanks for making me look so good.”
Sheila raised her hand. “My mother adored that corsage.”
“I’m so glad. It’s nice to meet you. I’d heard from Orene that you were going to be in town.”
Tucker hoped that was all Greta was going to say, but Gary gave him a look that told him that he’d heard a thing or too as well. Acting fast, before Gary and Greta could embarrass him in front of Sheila, he ushered her toward the door. “Well, we’re going to get out of here. Have a good day, and thank you.”
“I’m going to walk back to Orene’s. I really enjoyed today,” Sheila said. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Definitely.”
At four o’clock, Tucker walked up to the high school football stadium, looking forward to seeing Sheila again.
