got higher marks in the two classes we shared. And then one of her boyfriends, and she had lots of them, actually took a liking to me. He asked me out but I said no. I couldn’t do that to a friend. But I guess I’d hurt his feelings, so he told her I’d come on to him and she made sure to make my life miserable whenever she got the chance. She started spreading ugly rumors and left nasty notes on my bed.”
“Wow. Sounds like a psycho. How great that she left school.”
“It was really a relief. I’d taken to sleeping on the floor of a friend’s room during exams and I avoided seeing her before she left. I just made sure to keep my head down for the rest of that year, and by that time, I’d once again joined the anonymous masses. And I never gave her another thought. Anyway, I don’t want to think about her now and I’m sure she’ll show up soon enough today so I won’t be able to stop thinking about her.”
“Maybe she’s changed.”
“I hope she has,” Lizzie said, thinking back to how Ashley had eyed Mark the night before, “although I highly doubt it.” Lizzie just hoped Ashley wouldn’t consider this payback time with Mark as the prize.
Sally-Jo gave Lizzie a quick hug. “Just sic me on her if she’s causing you any grief. Meanwhile, that coffee smells like it’s ready. Let’s grab a cup before we have to share it.”
Molly joined them for a cup and drank hers leaning against the counter that served as a divider between the kitchen and the main hall. “I think it’s looking good and I’m sure everyone will be pleased.”
She didn’t sound too sure, Lizzie thought. “It’s going to be great, Molly. It’s been the talk of the town all week and we’re sold out.”
“Oh, I know, honey. And the books are here ready to go. I’m just hoping all will go smoothly with the authors.”
“Well, they seemed on their best behavior last night, except for that bit of cattiness over dessert.”
Sally-Jo snorted. “You mean when Lorelie told Caroline that maybe her caterer character should take lessons from the people at Food Lovers’ Delight? I thought that was hilarious. I had to duck out of the room so they wouldn’t see me laughing.”
Molly sniffed. “It was kind of funny but I do so want it to be a problem-free fair. And what about you, Lizzie? Will you be able to handle today?”
Oh boy. Everyone must have noticed my reaction last night.
She put on a smile. “Of course, Molly. Everything’s going to work out just fine.” She gave Molly a quick hug and then grabbed their empty cups and refilled them at the coffee urn.
As she passed the cups back to the others, Bob was propping open the doors to the hall and they could hear the sounds of women making their way into the building.
“Showtime,” Molly said and walked toward the doors.
Sally-Jo and Lizzie took their places at the registration desk, where their jobs were to hand out receipts if needed, make sure everyone filled out a name tag and check the attendance sheet. The noise and blur of forty-three women and seven men reached fever pitch by the time the authors began arriving. Lizzie sensed the electricity in the air the moment Lorelie and Margaret, or rather Caroline, sashayed into the room. She was sure Molly would be delighted.
They left the table set up with the remaining name tags in case the half-dozen latecomers were just that, arriving late, and went to join the throngs.
Lizzie heard Teensy’s unmistakable laugh and zeroed in on her. It was up to Lizzie to make sure Teensy got onstage at the right moment and started her emcee duties on time. Lizzie was also on the lookout for Isabel Fox, head librarian at the public library, who would moderate the panel. As she formed the thought of her, Isabel appeared in her sight line. Lizzie went over before anyone could corner Isabel in a conversation. Since Isabel hadn’t been able to make the dinner last night, Lizzie wanted to introduce her to the authors before the
“Wow. Sounds like a psycho. How great that she left school.”
“It was really a relief. I’d taken to sleeping on the floor of a friend’s room during exams and I avoided seeing her before she left. I just made sure to keep my head down for the rest of that year, and by that time, I’d once again joined the anonymous masses. And I never gave her another thought. Anyway, I don’t want to think about her now and I’m sure she’ll show up soon enough today so I won’t be able to stop thinking about her.”
“Maybe she’s changed.”
“I hope she has,” Lizzie said, thinking back to how Ashley had eyed Mark the night before, “although I highly doubt it.” Lizzie just hoped Ashley wouldn’t consider this payback time with Mark as the prize.
Sally-Jo gave Lizzie a quick hug. “Just sic me on her if she’s causing you any grief. Meanwhile, that coffee smells like it’s ready. Let’s grab a cup before we have to share it.”
Molly joined them for a cup and drank hers leaning against the counter that served as a divider between the kitchen and the main hall. “I think it’s looking good and I’m sure everyone will be pleased.”
She didn’t sound too sure, Lizzie thought. “It’s going to be great, Molly. It’s been the talk of the town all week and we’re sold out.”
“Oh, I know, honey. And the books are here ready to go. I’m just hoping all will go smoothly with the authors.”
“Well, they seemed on their best behavior last night, except for that bit of cattiness over dessert.”
Sally-Jo snorted. “You mean when Lorelie told Caroline that maybe her caterer character should take lessons from the people at Food Lovers’ Delight? I thought that was hilarious. I had to duck out of the room so they wouldn’t see me laughing.”
Molly sniffed. “It was kind of funny but I do so want it to be a problem-free fair. And what about you, Lizzie? Will you be able to handle today?”
Oh boy. Everyone must have noticed my reaction last night.
She put on a smile. “Of course, Molly. Everything’s going to work out just fine.” She gave Molly a quick hug and then grabbed their empty cups and refilled them at the coffee urn.
As she passed the cups back to the others, Bob was propping open the doors to the hall and they could hear the sounds of women making their way into the building.
“Showtime,” Molly said and walked toward the doors.
Sally-Jo and Lizzie took their places at the registration desk, where their jobs were to hand out receipts if needed, make sure everyone filled out a name tag and check the attendance sheet. The noise and blur of forty-three women and seven men reached fever pitch by the time the authors began arriving. Lizzie sensed the electricity in the air the moment Lorelie and Margaret, or rather Caroline, sashayed into the room. She was sure Molly would be delighted.
They left the table set up with the remaining name tags in case the half-dozen latecomers were just that, arriving late, and went to join the throngs.
Lizzie heard Teensy’s unmistakable laugh and zeroed in on her. It was up to Lizzie to make sure Teensy got onstage at the right moment and started her emcee duties on time. Lizzie was also on the lookout for Isabel Fox, head librarian at the public library, who would moderate the panel. As she formed the thought of her, Isabel appeared in her sight line. Lizzie went over before anyone could corner Isabel in a conversation. Since Isabel hadn’t been able to make the dinner last night, Lizzie wanted to introduce her to the authors before the
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