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“No, I didn’t know. Bet Mom roped them into it when they showed up with Sawyer.” Asher shook his head. “I told you, she is tricky. Are you worried they’ll sell for more than you?”
“Not in the least bit. It is for charity, Ash.” I was enjoying the friendly competition.
“Be quiet, boys,” Mom said, smiling. “Asher, you two are after your cousins. Sawyer, try to smile. It’s not surgery. It’s just a date. You do that often enough to recognize it, don’t you?”
I watched as Chloe moved closer to the stage, but still stayed off to the side, watching the madness. I heard Mom call for last bid on my cousin, then I heard her call out the double date.
“You’re up Ash, smile pretty.” I loved teasing him. “Sawyer, just follow Asher, it’ll be okay.”
“Those three hunky men…, oh my,” a tall blonde said aloud from just below the stage as she pushed her way in front of Chloe. “All of them are drool-worthy, especially Trey, but I might just go for the double date myself.”
“What’s the big deal?” the brunette with her said, popping her gum.
“Are you seriously telling me you haven’t noticed them?” the blonde said, moving to the front. Her cell rang, and she whipped around and answered the call.
“Sold to the Hampton sisters for fifty thousand dollars,” Mom announced. “Girls come on up and collect your men. Last, but certainly not least, is my eldest son, Dr. Trey Hawthorne, and bidding starts at fifty thousand.”
I found myself watching Chloe standing behind the blonde, who was now on her cell. Chloe saw me looking and made a goofy face. I was smiling at her when the crowd parted and I could see who the blonde was.
“One hundred thousand,” the blonde said as she approached the front.
“Crap, it’s Natalie,” I said to my mother. “Mom, you gotta get me out of this. Please.”
“Ladies we can’t have just one bidder. Who’s going to challenge that bid?” Mom nodded that she heard me and went on. “I heard a hundred and fifty thousand from Dotty. Anyone else?”
“Two hundred thousand.” The blonde looked back to see who was bidding against her.
“Two hundred fifty thousand,” came from a voice way in the back.
“Three hundred thousand.” The blonde now turned with her hands on her hips.
“Anyone else?” Mom pleaded ever so slightly. “Sorry Son,” she whispered.
“Mother, come on, do something,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Going once, going twice,” she said, “sold, to the blonde in the red dress for three hundred thousand.”
“What the hell just happened?” I asked. “This will be a disaster, and the tabloids will have a field day with it.”
“Oh Trey, Son, I am sorry, but the charity really does need that money,” Mom said. “Our family can handle the tabloids, and after this, I promise to buy you a bride. Deal?”
“Okay, that’s a deal I can handle,” I said. “Now I’m going to go dance with Chloe.”
“Well, don’t forget to go around and dance with the other women. Don’t forget you’re my money-maker,” Mom said, stepping in front of Natalie so I could get away.
I weaved my way through people wanting to joke about the auction, or ask medical advice for their children, but mostly just other women who I would normally be dancing with all night and then regretting it the next day when it showed up in the tabloids. By the time I made my way to the table I saw Chloe walk toward, she was gone.
“Hey, did you guys see where Chloe went?” I asked Murphy and August, who seemed to be in a heavy discussion about something.
“She went to check on Sophie over by the Easter Bunny,” Murphy answered without really looking at me.
I stood looking at the two of them for another minute. “Everything okay here?”
“Yeah, we’re just talking.” August leaned back in his chair. “Did you need something else?”
“Nope. Thanks.” I walked away.
I’m going to have to find out what that’s all about tomorrow. Murphy had on her “I need advice” face, and she usually asked me for advice, not August.
