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“Zeke was worried there wasn’t enough security for crowd control for the concert so he kept pestering Bruce about it, and Bruce finally admitted it to him this morning after the race,” Mimi said.
“This morning? Has Bruce Bailey gone crazy?”
“I think it’s called middle-age denial,” Pilar said.
“So who’s going to be tonight’s headliner?” Lauren asked.
Pilar’s dark eyes gleamed much the same way Ted’s had just a few minutes ago. “That’s the best part! Harry Tuba and his polka band are the replacements.”
Lauren felt her jaw drop. “I don’t know if I’m happy for Mimi—because obviously, Bruce has just sealed his political fate—or if I’m sad for me and the rest of the town because I really wanted to hear Billy Brenton.”
“Yeah, this is definitely one of those mixed feeling kind of things,” Pilar said. “But it will make a great campaign theme for Mimi. Vote for Mimi and she’ll bring you the real deal, not some polka band.”
“I’m not making any promises I can’t keep,” Mimi said.
“Yeah, but think what a coup it would be if you get elected and next year Billy Brenton really shows up.”
*~*~*
The rest of the day sped by. Henry and Cameron stopped by the booth on their way to meet up with friends, and then later, Tom and Allie brought her a late lunch from one of the food trucks.
“Can you believe this year’s turnout?” Allie said. “There’s like a gazillion people here! And of course, everyone’s talking about Bruce Bailey and how he screwed up this whole Billy Brenton thing.”
“What was he thinking making up something like that?” Lauren gratefully dug into her stuffed taco.
“He’s running scared, obviously,” Allie said. “Of course there’s going to be a nice little editorial in the Gazette about it next week. Mimi will practically steal the election from under him.”
“Too bad we have to wait till November,” Lauren said.
“So, how’s business?” Allie asked.
“I hate to jinx myself, but if even a tenth of the women who showed interest here today order something, I’ll be in trouble. There’s no way I can produce more than a few outfits a week with my current set up.”
Dhara, who’d been assisting a customer and had obviously overheard their conversation, said, “Then prepare to be in big trouble.” She pulled out her smart phone and showed Lauren the current state of orders.
“Oh my God,” Lauren said, staring at the phone screen in disbelief, “there’s like eight dozen orders here!”
“And that’s just from some local marketing,” Dhara said, “Imagine how big this is going to be when we go wider.”
“Wider?”
Lauren said weakly.
“Don’t worry,” Dhara said, “I have three expert seamstresses on call and ready. We just need to get that equipment we talked about.”
Equipment, materials, websites, and a lease she couldn’t count on. Well, she wanted big. She was getting big. It was exciting. And nerve-wracking, too. Lauren snarfed down the rest of the taco. She’d worry about it all later.
“Is it all right if Henry spends the night at Cameron’s?” Tom asked. “Zeke asked and I told him it would be okay if you were cool with it.”
An unexpected night to herself. Or, rather, all to herself and Nate. “Sounds good to me.” She waited till Allie and Tom had left. “Dhara, do you think you can handle the booth by yourself for a little bit? I’m think I’m going to get my blood pressure checked.”
Dhara winked at her. “Go for it.”
Lauren made her way through the throng of people. The weather had stayed nice but it was now in the high eighties. Tourists, most of them still in their bathing suits, mingled with the townspeople, taking advantage of the warm weather and the party atmosphere. Miss Erica’s Little Steppers were tap dancing on the stage and the Gray Flamingoes were handing out free T-shirts to anyone who looked over sixty-five. Despite the Billy Brenton fiasco, it was a glorious day to be a citizen of Whispering Bay.
She spotted the first aid station and began to make her way there, when someone bumped into her from behind. Lauren turned. “I’m so sorry,” she said automatically.
A tall woman with long red hair smiled back at her. “Lauren, isn’t it?” She took off her sunglasses. “It is you! Imagine, I know four people in Whispering Bay and I’ve run into all of them in just a matter of minutes. Gotta love small towns!”
