Page 59 of Tiffanie

“He seemed like such a good kitty. He’s come over to talk to me several times. Is anything broken?”

“Hopefully not. This is my brother’s table. Would you help me pick them up?” Tiffanie set Marmalade down and patted his bottom firmly to send the cat on his way.

“Of course.”

The two women ducked behind the table and retrieved the carvings from the floor. “I haven’t found any damage,” the helpful show participant said a couple of minutes later.

“What happened?”

Ivan had returned. Tiffanie peeked over the table. “Hey. Marmalade stopped by. He jumped up and methodically knocked the carvings off.”

“He was so fast!” the woman next to her said, placing the last of the carvings on the table.

“Thank you for assisting,” Ivan said, his eyes locked on the newcomer.

“Of course. I was heading over to check out your work when the cat karate chopped everything. These are adorable,” she said, picking up one depicting a basset hound. “This reminds me of Droopy.”

“You have a dog named Droopy?” Ivan asked.

Tiffanie held her breath. His gaze focused on the newcomer as if she were made of the finest gold. What was going on here? She sealed her lips closed, unwilling to interrupt.

“Kind of,” the woman answered, and a tinge of pink appeared in her cheeks. Tiffanie guessed immediately that she had something other than a live dog named Droopy. A stuffie? Could she be the reader?

“I’m Ivan. Thank you for coming to my rescue.” Ivan spoke carefully, as if afraid to scare her off.

“Oh, I don’t think you need help often,” the woman blurted, checking out Ivan’s muscles carved by physical labor.

Tiffanie placed the last figurines in her hands on the table and eased back from the conversation. She didn’t want to interrupt their conversation. She also didn’t wish to leave.

“Everyone needs support from time to time. Can I ask who you are?”

“Are you okay, Princess?” Phineas whispered in her ear.

Tiffanie nodded. “We need to leave.”

Phineas didn’t ask questions. He wrapped an arm around her waist and guided Tiffanie through the row of exhibitors to her chair. “What’s going on?”

“I think that’s the other lady who reads those books.” She waited for him to react and confirm her guess. Nothing. He was like Switzerland. Totally neutral. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

“Nope.”

A piercing whistle sounded through the ballroom. Tiffanie whirled around. Zander stood at the door. He stepped to the side with an elaborate bow to Essie as everyone quieted down and paid attention.

“Hey, everyone. Thank you for joining the public library and Ferguson’s Folly in the first Blue Ribbon Knowledge Fair. Kudos to the library director, Phineas Green, and my amazing decorator, Tiffanie Clarke, for imagining this event and making all the arrangements come together so beautifully.” Essie waved a hand toward Phineas and Tiffanie.

Tiffanie smiled. Essie was gracious in sharing praise. She appreciated the acknowledgement of her efforts but loved that Essie reminded the town of how lucky they were to have Phineas at the helm of the library.

A round of enthusiastic applause sounded from the participants. Phineas tightened his arm around Tiffanie’s waist, hugging her against his hard frame. He nodded and called back, “And thank you to everyone who has used the library to unlock new knowledge and who agreed to take part after I begged you relentlessly.”

Scattered, delighted laughter circulated around the room. Tiffanie smiled at her incredible Daddy. His community would do anything for him.

“The crowd is eager to come in. I’ll give everyone five minutes to return to your tables and make any final adjustments before we let the crowd gathering in the hallway enter the ballroom,” Essie announced.

Instantly, people scattered.

“Five minutes! I’d better go help Ivan. Marmalade bashed everything off his table,” Tiffanie said, taking a step away from her Daddy.

His arm held her firmly in place. “I don’t think he needs you, Little girl.”