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“I can’t tell you. I promised Jeremiah. But I want to get him something special to commemorate something special.”
“That’s seriously…stupid. I can’t figure out what you’re saying.”
“Just help me. Another couple of months and Harley will be old enough to walk. Just look on it as that.”
“Fine. I’ll start looking.” A smirk tugs at my lips. “By the way, you told me you’d tell me why he calls you Midge? I’m still waiting.”
“What’s that, honey? Harley needs changed? I’m on it!” she hollers. “Gotta go!”
“Oh please,” I sputter. “You don’t expect me to actually believe that bunk.”
“Language! Talk to you later!”
“Tell my goddaughter I said hi!” I scream into the phone as she hangs up.
I shake my head as I hang up the phone. “I think she’s flipped her lid.”
Harvey’s my best friend but since she had Harley everything’s about the baby and my brother. Most of the time I don’t mind it. But I’m feeling just a little lonely.
“I’ll just have to go to the meeting this Thursday.” I pick up a beautiful lamp in the Tiffany style. “I think it’s taco night and at least I can get a good meal out of it.”
I haven’t gone to the meetings for awhile. I’m not sure why. Just so busy and tired that when I get home I just want to crawl into bed. Nothing else.
“Hello? Is there anybody here?”
I cringe and try to duck behind some shelves as soon as I hear the familiar, grating voice. I should know better.
“Ruth, stop trying to wriggle behind that post so I don’t see you. It’s not going to work.”
Hattie stomps back to me and I stand up straight, grimacing, trying to plaster a smile to my face. I still remember how she tricked my brother and her grandson into the meat market that was her fundraiser.
“What can I do for you, Hattie?” I try to move around her so that she doesn’t have me cornered.
“Darling girl. I need help desperately.” Her strident voice makes me wince but I don’t demur.
“Of course. What do you need?”
“”I need you to help me get ready for the summer festival. It’s going to be huge this year.” She leans in to whisper in my ear and I’m almost bowled over by her floral perfume. “I even got Chris Craven to come perform. Don’t tell anybody. That’s a secret.”
“That’s amazing. I’m sure everyone will show up for that. He’s got such a wonderful voice.” I haven’t seen him perform in person but I have seen him on awards shows and stuff. He’s quite a performer!
“He really does! It was an amazing coup when I got his reps to agree to let him perform. Turns out he grew up around here so he was very excited.”
I purse my lips and eye her speculatively. There’s no way this man is excited to perform here. I have a feeling Hattie twisted somebody’s arm or flat-out bullied someone into this appearance.
“Right. Well, what exactly is it that you need?”
“I want you to work with another person to make sure that everything goes without a hitch. Manage the whole shebang. I know you’re good at this kind of thing and so is he.”
“He? Who are you wanting me to work with?” For just a second, a shivery chill runs down my back and I have to take a deep breath. No way. It couldn’t be.
“Tate. You know that new officer. He’s so sweet that he offered to take over for the sheriff. He’s very busy right now with his reelection campaign. Not that he really needs to campaign. He’s a shoo-in. Anyway, Tate offered to take over and I told him that I was sure that you’d be open to helping out.”
My stomach lurches to the side.Why?Why him? Any other man in town and I’d be happy to work with them. Just not him.
“I’m not sure this is such a good idea. I mean, he and I don’t get along at all. Seems like it’s just a recipe for disaster.”
Hattie waves her hand and I back away, considering that she almost hit me in the face. “Don’t worry about it. You’ve got this. I had a dream that you two would be fast friends.”
