Flirting with Disaster (13 page)

Monday I’d sat with the newspaper staff at lunch, but by Tuesday I was back sitting with Penny and the rest of the Aristocats. I nibbled on the meager offerings in my little plastic bag of chopped cucumbers with vinegar sprinkled over them and got my PowerBar out for after.

“My parents had to buy a new computer,” Chloe said to the girl sitting next to her. “And it cost nearly a thousand pounds. They weren’t too happy.”

I didn’t notice who gasped out loud because I was peeling back my PowerBar wrapper, but the rest of us all did the same in our heads. The table went dead quiet.

Ashley gave Chloe a look that could have jellied Natalie and, without turning her gaze at all, finally said, “Well, these things happen.” She brushed a few crumbs off the table, then turned to the left to begin a conversation with Alison, indicating that her “apology” had been offered and we shouldn’t expect any more.

On the way out of lunch, I grumbled, “Was she dropped on her head at birth or something?”

Penny laughed out loud. “Oh, Savvy, you’re so funny. Ashley is never going to say she’s sorry. It’s not her way.”

“Can’t say I feel terrible about Chloe’s computer,” I said. “But what about Becky’s?”

“What happened to hers? Did you ever ask?”

“No, but I’ll have to soon. I’ve already apologized. I’ll have to do it again.”

Penny gave me a hug. “That’s the difference between you and Ashley, Sav.”

“Well, and then there’s the chauffeur-driven car, the multimillion-pound estate, the wardrobe closet the size of my house . . .”

“Well, that too,” Penny teased. “Film this weekend?”

“I might have plans. And, uh, I might want to invite you. Busy on Saturday?”

“Nope,” she said. “What’s on?”

“Not sure,” I admitted, trying to dodge her bewildered gaze. “I’ll let you know tomorrow night.”

Later that afternoon I got home and found my mother tweaking her baskets and flowerpots in front of the house. “What are those?” I asked, more out of affection for my mom than interest in the names of the plants.

“Bacopa. They look nice with the red geraniums. I’m going to put some blue ones in here too. The baskets will be red, white, and blue. Just like both the American and British flags.”

“Nice.”

She followed me into the kitchen, chatting about her day. I offered her a Coke from the fridge, and as we drank them together, I looked out over the back garden area, bare and black since Aunt Maude, Louanne, and I had cleaned it up in April. “Why don’t you plant some stuff out there?”

Mom shrugged. “Oh, I will. Waiting on the finances is all.” Then she smiled and smoothed a hand over my hair. “Speaking of finances, have you heard anything from Becky?”

I shook my head. “It’s been five days. Should I call her?”

Mom nodded. “I think it would be nice.” She looked at me. “But difficult. Do you want to pray with me about it first?”

“Sure.”

She set down her Coke can and enfolded my hands in her own before praying for peace and wisdom and a good conclusion. Then I went upstairs to make the call in private.

Chapter 26

I dialed the number and heard the quick, old-fashioned
ring-ring
of the British landline. Within two rings it was picked up.

“Good afternoon; [email protected]”

It was Becky.

“Uh, hi, Becky, it’s Savvy.” I held my breath, half expecting her to hang up. But she was acting out of her character as a person, not according to the situation.

“Hullo, Savvy,” she said. “How was your weekend?”

“Very good,” I said. “Thanks for asking. How was the auction? Were you able to get orders on the computer?”

“I took lots of bids on my home computer,” she said.

“So . . . the computer at the store is being fixed?”

“It’s being replaced,” she said. “But I made just enough profit from the auction to cover the cost of a new system. It should be here next week.”

“Oh.” She didn’t say it, but she didn’t have to. The profits from the auction were being used to replace the computer, which meant they weren’t being used to help fund the business wardrobes for the ministry.

“There’s a little left over to help a few of the mums.” She was trying to be encouraging. “And there’s always the next fund-raiser. Thankfully, none of the donors’ computers were affected.”

Thank You, Lord.

“Is there anything else I can do?” I asked.
Haven’t you done enough?
I scolded myself.

“Not just now,” she said. “Do let me know if the shop write-up gets into the newspaper, though, okay? I’d love to have a clipping.”

“Okay,” I said. “Till then.”

When I hung up, I had made yet another decision that I had to keep to myself. I was going to cast my deciding vote for whoever would promise to publish the article on [email protected] It was the least I could do.

Chapter 27

After hanging up the phone, I went downstairs. As soon as I hit the landing, Louanne came skidding across the wood floor and grabbed my arm. “Can you take me to James Park? They’re having a dog show trial. Mom is off to the book club, and I can’t go alone.”

Unfortunately, during my research the other day, I’d discovered that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” really
is
in the Bible. So it was something I needed to pay attention to even if I didn’t always feel like it. “All right,” I said.

“All right? As in yes?”

“As in yes,” I said.

“Yahoo!” She slipped the collar around Growl’s neck. By the way he reacted, you’d have thought she was slipping a noose on him instead. He wriggled and yapped and twisted on the floor, trying to work it off.

“Better mellow out,” I warned him. “It won’t be a pleasant walk home for either of us if you don’t qualify.” I swore that dog could understand English. He chilled right out, and I was sure he winked at me.

Great. The dog was winking at me now, but still no guy was.

“I’m going to touch up my makeup and then we can go,” I said.

“Why? You don’t know anyone there. Who’s going to see you? I’m going to be late!”

I ignored her and went to redraw my eyeliner and rebrush my hair. She was too young to realize that it didn’t matter if you knew the people who saw you. People saw you.

We stepped out into the warm afternoon. A couple of blocks to the west of the village square was James Park, which was square too. I told Louanne I’d sit on a bench and wait for her, keeping my eyes on her, of course, but with my earbuds in, listening to my music. So I was startled when I felt a tap on my shoulder a few minutes later. I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Oh, uh, hi, Tommy.” I took out the earbuds.

“Hey, Sav,” he said. I kind of liked that he’d shortened my name. It made us seem . . . closer.

But I didn’t want to shorten his.
Tommy
seemed so, well, boyish and British. “Hey. What are you doing here?”

He pointed across the field. “My gran brought her dog for the trial.”

How could I forget this important detail about the very first time we’d locked eyes? Or maybe the second!

“You?” he asked.

“My sister has her dog trying out too.”

“So . . . are you going to church tomorrow night?” Tommy asked. “We don’t have practice, so I’m going to drop by.”