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Annalise Harris:

Lucky guess

The heroine gets him to his feet and over to her awaiting car.

Wasted_Words:

Watch…it’s not going to start

Sure enough, she puts her key in the ignition, and when she turns it, the engine whines and stutters.

Annalise Harris:

Have you seen this before?

I accuse him out loud as I type.

Wasted_Words:

Not this one specifically, but my mom loves these movies. She usually starts watching them on the first of November, and no one else is allowed to use the television in the family room until January 1, so I’ve watched a lot.

Wasted_Words:

Do you mind if we switch to text?

Annalise Harris:

Yeah. No problem

A text pops up on my screen.

Unknown Number:

Much better. Also, do you think I could pull off that jacket? I’m kind of into it.

I glance at the message and then at my television screen. The heroine has managed to get the duke back to the community center by flagging down a local pumpkin farmer. The duke has replaced his muddy coat with a pale blue and silver overcoat that looks like it was from an old production of Cinderella.

I stare at the text.

Annalise Harris:

What number is this?

Unknown Number:

Oh, yeah. I bought a US SIM card. It was cheaper than paying long distance.

All those scam calls from the last two days suddenly look very different.

Annalise Harris:

Did you call me? I thought you were a robot voice telling me I’d won a trip to the Caribbean as long as I give my VISA number for incidentals.

Unknown number:

I hate to disappoint. That was just me checking in to see what you were up to.

I think about the pie.