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She needed to at least send him a text. Ask him to meet her. Tell him they needed to talk. If she didn’t, it would be on her mind all day, and she wouldn’t give the silent auction the attention it needed. Fear that he’d ignore her sat like a brick inher gut. He had every right too. She had been awful, rude, and hurtful.Why did you say those things to him?“Skylar, what should I do?”
Skylar babbled to her and offered her some soggy oat cereal.
“Thanks, but no thanks, baby girl.” Leila pushed away from the counter and placed her plate in the dishwasher. She needed to clean up and get going.
She arrived downtown early, and it was already bustling with activity. She and Marge, another volunteer, oversaw making sure all the vendors knew where to go, and later she needed to assist with the silent auction.
Butterflies filled Leila’s stomach. Adler would be here at some point, and she didn’t know what she would do when she saw him. Things would be awkward and uncomfortable.
She should have at least apologized in text and asked him to find time today to talk. She took her phone from her pocket and scrolled again to his number. She couldn’t do it.Dammit.Luckily, she didn’t have time to worry too much about it because as more vendors showed up, the morning became chaotic.
It was twenty minutes until eight. More vendors had arrived and were setting up, people were starting to meander around, and things were a jumble of chaos and joyful noise.
Jessica walked over with a clipboard. “How’re things going?”
“Things are good,” Leila said. “We’ve just had some minor issues with one of the vendors needing electricity, but they didn’t reserve a booth with electricity, so they weren’t put in that area. I found someone willing to change who no longer needed it. So that minor problem was solved.”
“And Leila has dealt with all the little stresses of planning a fundraiser perfectly,” Marge added. “This is where her sweet and relaxed personality shines. Event planning might be her thing.”
Leila shrugged. She was tired but was enjoying herself and agreed with Marge. She was thriving in this chaotic atmosphere, so maybe event planning was her thing.
“Well, that’s great to hear, and I hope your sweet personality can help problem-solve the next issue.” Jessica gestured for Leila to follow her. “Marge, I need to borrow her for a bit. Will you be okay by yourself? Just for a few minutes.”
“Of course, you go ahead.”
Leila followed Jessica. “What’s going on? Anything wrong?” They were walking toward the tents and passed a temporary fenced area. There was a horse trailer in the corner. “I didn’t know we were going to have pony rides.”
“Yeah, well, that was Adler’s idea. He thought something for the younger kids would be good. They’re two dollars a ride, and all proceeds will also go to the center. It’ll also add to one of the live auction items.”
“Oh, really?” Leila’s heart skipped at the mention of Adler. She was at the last meeting, and she didn’t remember anything that had to do with horses. “What is it?”
Jessica quirked her eyebrows. “The Warfields are offering horseback riding lessons, and Adler’s giving them.”
Her stomach twisted uncomfortably. She’d have to see him at some point today, she knew that and had been preparing for it, but now with this knowledge, it was totally unavoidable.
“It looks great. What did I have to okay?” Leila asked as she glanced around the tent. There was a dance floor on one end and tables all around. There were food trucks set up in the courtyard at the other end. Patrons would be able to grab some food, take a seat out of the heat of the day, and listen to the live band or DJ, depending on the time, and dance if they wanted to.
“It’s the silent auction area. We only have one large tent, and then a smaller tent for the auction. We’re out of space, and still have items coming in.”
They entered the other tent, and Leila’s mouth gaped. There were tables everywhere, and they were full. One table was crowded with gift certificates from local businesses. Another overflowed with baked goods, and another with gift baskets. “Where did all these items come from? There’s so much.” She was in awe.
“That’s what’s great about all the towns that surround ours. So many people wanted to donate things. Do you think you could help Mrs. Parks organize all these and the ones still coming in?”
“I’d love the help. This is a lot for just one person.” Charlotte answered.
Leila beamed. “Of course, Mrs. Parks, but what about Marge? We told her I’d only be gone a little while.”
“I’ll find someone else to assist her. Most of the vendors are here, so there isn’t much more to do in that area,” Jessica answered.
Leila got right to work helping Charlotte organize items, take in new items, and find places on the appropriate table. She stopped to look over the table for the live auction items. This had a list of the big-ticket items, along with a list of the people and groups who were putting themselves up for auction for their services so attendees could plan what they might be interested in bidding on.
Leila was talking with Barry, the owner of the local jewelry store, Gold and More, when laughter filled the air. She knew that laugh. It was Desiree. She had volunteered to bring baked goods and gift certificates from her bakery, but Leila hadn’t noticed any of her items yet. She had planned on bidding on some cinnamon rolls.
She looked up. Her pulse picked up speed and her heart stopped. She had been so busy all morning that she had forgotten about the heaviness being without Adler had caused until this moment.
Charlotte was taking a basket from Desiree’s arms, and there he was, standing with his arm around Desiree’s waist. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but Charlotte pointed them to the table for homemade items, and they walked in that direction. Leila watched them. They looked like a happy couple as Adler kept his hand on Desiree’s lower back and led her to the table. The memory of when he led her off the Ferris wheel with his hand on her lower back popped into her mind, and her stomach churned. She suddenly remembered the electricity that was impossible to ignore when they held hands, or when he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her lips. Heat crept up her neck.
For someone who was as hurt as he’d seemed to be when she said she knew he wouldn’t be able to change his ways, he sure had gone right back to what he was doing—or better yet—whomhe was doing. Jessica and Elizabeth were mistaken if they thought he missed her. From what she was seeing, he looked perfectly fine. Thank God she hadn’t sent that text this morning.
