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“I didn’t feel that way at first,” Norma Rose said. “I didn’t even like him.”
“Because he is—was—a federal agent?”
“I didn’t know that then.” Norma Rose stood up. “But now I know we’ll work out whatever comes about together. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
This entire conversation seemed a bit far-fetched to Twyla. “And you just woke up one morning knowing that?” she asked, a bit sourly.
“Yes, I guess I did,” Norma Rose replied. “Now, what do you think of the dress?”
Twyla picked up the magazine again. Talking to someone who was so love-struck she was crazy wouldn’t get anyone anywhere. “It’s lovely, but there’s not enough time to order it, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“I won’t order it. I’ll go into Minneapolis and buy one like it.” She took the magazine back. “Want to go with me?”
“Sure,” Twyla agreed—she’d say anything to be left alone again. “But I can’t today. Josie is at a Ladies Aid meeting all day.”
“I know,” Norma Rose said. “We’ll find a day all three of us can go together. It’ll be fun, and you two will need to pick out bridesmaid dresses. I have to write out all the invitations first. I thought I’d do that today, while you’re working on the Fourth of July party. The Fourth is on a Saturday this year, so people will be expecting a huge bash from us.”
The Fourth of July party was the next big event for the resort and she should be excited. Josie had already ordered a large supply of fireworks and hired Scooter to light them. Twyla was supposed to secure a musician for the night.
“I thought we’d ask Slim again,” she said off the top of her head. “He did a good job the last two weeks.”
“He’s also Forrest’s musician. I only asked to hire him for two weeks.”
The mention of Forrest did several things to Twyla. Mostly, it brought back a bit of her spirit. If he could just up and leave town whenever he wanted, she could do whatever she wanted, too. Like throw the best parties for miles around. “I’ll ask him,” Twyla said.
Norma Rose shook her head. “No, Forrest needs Slim. He’s likely planning an event for the Plantation that night.”
“Ours will be better,” Twyla said out of spite.
Norma Rose frowned. “We aren’t in competition with Forrest. The crowd he pulls in is of the younger set, and he’s sticking with the law, doesn’t offer alcohol of any kind. He could make more money if he did, but he doesn’t want the place to resemble anything from the past.”
“You sure seem awfully forgiving all of a sudden,” Twyla said, feeling no mercy toward Forrest whatsoever.
“I don’t hate Forrest,” Norma Rose said, “if that’s what you’re thinking. I never have, and the Plantation isn’t competition for us. No place can rival Nightingale’s. Really, the two of us should work together. Our guests would enjoy bowling and billiards, especially in the winter, and I’m sure plenty of Forrest’s guests would enjoy the amenities we offer. His older guests, that is. We don’t want teenagers out here drinking. A partnership could help Forrest with his dire financial situation.”
Twyla had to get one thing straight. “You want to partner up with Forrest?”
Norma Rose shrugged. “Maybe not me, but the two of you were always close. He might listen if you suggested it.”
Twyla couldn’t even form a comeback to that suggestion. Not right now.
“Think about it,” Norma Rose said. “In the meantime, who else is there for our party? And don’t say Wayne Sears.”
Despite everything, the way Norma Rose cringed made a tiny giggle tickle Twyla’s throat. Wayne had performed at the resort right after Brock had left, and wasn’t the best musician on earth, to say the least. However, the night had been successful, and Twyla decided to remind Norma Rose of that. “He did a great job with our impromptu dance-off.”
Norma Rose grinned. “People sure did love that. They’d probably love it again. But you made that event a success, not Wayne.”
“My feet were killing me the next morning.”
“Mine, too,” Norma Rose said, her smile growing. “Let’s do it again. Call Wayne and book him for the fourth and we’ll advertise a dance-off!”
“All right,” Twyla agreed. Planning the event would certainly take her mind off other things. “But you and Ty can’t win this time. People will think it’s rigged.”
