The energy in the room is electric as several more bachelors are auctioned off to the highest bidders. Caught up in the fun, I start off the bidding for Old Clarence Williams. My nemesis immediately counters my bid, making it clear she won’t let me win. Fortunately, several ladies from the Red Hat Society get into a fun bidding war, making the room clatter with laughter.
I don’t get it. Liz is in full-on competitive mode with me for no reason. Maybe it’s because I don’t normally participate in auctions. Maybe it’s because I’m tired of her wanting the town to think she’s better than me. I’m not really sure. But when she counters my bid for the fourth time, it’s like a switch flips inside me. Two can play at whatever petty game this is.
When 80-year-old Gladys Hutchins, a retired roller derby queen, wins the bid, Clarence’s smile is bigger than ever. I suspect he’ll be back as an audience member only next year.
Our emcee holds up his hand to quiet the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome our next bachelor to the stage, Nate Dawson. Nate owns The Bait Shop here in Stone Ridge and makes one heck of a bass lure. Let’s start the opening bid at fifty dollars!”
One of the Red Hat ladies raises her paddle at the same time as Liz.
I raise mine to stir the pot a little, the auctioneer pointing to me as I say, “One hundred fifty dollars.”
Liz raises her paddle again. “Three hundred dollars.”
“Four-fifty.”
“Five hundred.”
The crowd murmurs at our bidding battle. Two sorority members bid next, Nate’s charity bid rising to five hundred seventy-five dollars. When Liz raises her paddle, I do too, knowing it’s really a stupid idea. I have fifteen hundred dollars earmarked for tonight’s silent auction. But the smug look on Liz’s face, backed by a little fear, drives me on.
“Six hundred.”
“Seven hundred.”
Brooke mutters bitch under her breath and raises her paddle. “A thousand dollars.”
Liz practically fumes. Then the librarian widow steals the next out from under her.
“Eleven hundred dollars. Do I hear twelve? Eleven hundred going once—”
I raise my paddle.
“Thirteen hundred dollars.”
Brooke follows right behind me. “Thirteen twenty-five.”
“Thirteen seventy-five.” That’s Liz.
“Fourteen hundred.” Me again.
Now we’ve just ticked her off.
“Fourteen oh five,” Brooke says. I love it when she’s petty.
“Fourteen ten.” I can’t believe we are nickel and diming Nate.
One of the sorority girls holds up her paddle. “Fifteen hundred dollars.”
Ooh, this has taken an interesting turn. She’s ten years younger than us and looks very interested in him. I mean, whocan blame her. The bachelor auction produces couples every year.
“Sixteen hundred,” Liz offers.
“Seventeen hundred.”
“Seventeen fifty!” Brooke waggles her brows at me, clearly enjoying messing with Liz.
“Eighteen hundred.” The look on Liz’s face could cut glass, and my girl doesn’t take it lightly.
Brooke holds up her paddle. “Two thousand dollars.”
