program started.
“Hi, Isabel. Are you all set to take on these criminal minds?”
Isabel laughed. Her eyes crinkled in an already lined face, one that matched perfectly with her salt-and-pepper hair, worn in a pixie cut. A pale blue pantsuit and burgundy blouse suited her trim five-foot-three stature. “I’m really quite excited, Lizzie. Most librarians are author groupies at heart, you know, and it’s such a pleasure to meet them. I see Caroline Cummings over there. I recognize her from her jacket cover. May I get a cup of coffee first and then on to the introductions?”
“Of course. I’ll just grab a refill at the same time.” Lizzie walked with her to the counter, filled their cups and then they headed toward Caroline.
“Caroline, I’d like to introduce Isabel Fox, our librarian, and your moderator,” Lizzie said.
Caroline held out her hand and smiled sweetly, only to have Lorelie Oliver shimmy in between the two of them.
“Is this our moderator, Lizzie?” she asked, grabbing Isabel’s outstretched hand. “I’m Lorelie Oliver, author of the Southern Fashionista series. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
Caroline moved to Lorelie’s side and inconspicuously shoved her aside. “For me also,” she told Isabel. She took Isabel’s arm and steered her away from Lorelie. “Why don’t we go find the others and I’ll do the introductions, while I tell you all about my Southern Caterer series.” She looked over at Lizzie. “I know you’re probably swamped with things to do here.”
Lizzie nodded but didn’t get a chance to say anything before they’d moved away. Oh well, there was a lot that needed doing. Isabel would have to fend for herself, as Lizzie knew she could.
“Lizzie.” Lizzie knew that voice. She turned around to give her best friend, Paige Raleigh, a big hug.
“I’m so glad you were able to get here,” Lizzie said with a grin.
“Are you kidding? Brad had no choice but to babysit the girls today. It’s mama’s day off and I expect to thoroughly enjoy myself. So, what’s the scoop?”
Lizzie sighed. “I think we’re all set. Molly’s been working so hard to make this run smoothly, we all have, so I hope there are no hitches.”
“Well, I think it’s pretty exciting. There hasn’t been anything like this in Ashton Corners for a long time, if ever. Oh sure, Jensey Pollard used to host the odd signing at the Book Bin but she never put on a full-day event. And I’m pretty certain the library hasn’t done anything like this, either. You guys are to be congratulated for sure.”
“It’s been pretty exciting except for the fly in the proverbial ointment.”
Paige raised her eyebrows in question.
“I’ll explain later,” Lizzie said, lowering her voice. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it now, not when there’s so much to concentrate on and so many people around.”
“Well, then you’d better get your butt over to my place for dinner sometime soon. Like one night this week,” Paige said with a laugh. “I don’t like to be on the outside of a good story.”
Lizzie was spared having to answer when Molly breezed up to them, gave Paige a hug and spirited Lizzie off to help put some floral arrangements out on the dining tables.
What seemed like a short while later, Lizzie was surprised to see it was almost ten when she looked at the clock that hung above the kitchen pass-through. Time to round up everyone and get them onstage. She looked over at the bookselling table to see a short lineup keeping Stephanie and Andie busy. Sally-Jo caught her eye, pointed to the clock and started shooing people away from the eats.
Teensy had a rapt audience of attendees around her when Lizzie approached. “I’m sorry but I’m going to have to ask you all to take your seats. We’re about to begin. And Teensy, you’re needed on the stage.”
“Oh my, yes, sugar. It’s been so nice talking to y’all,” she said to the women who had started to disperse. To Lizzie, she
“Hi, Isabel. Are you all set to take on these criminal minds?”
Isabel laughed. Her eyes crinkled in an already lined face, one that matched perfectly with her salt-and-pepper hair, worn in a pixie cut. A pale blue pantsuit and burgundy blouse suited her trim five-foot-three stature. “I’m really quite excited, Lizzie. Most librarians are author groupies at heart, you know, and it’s such a pleasure to meet them. I see Caroline Cummings over there. I recognize her from her jacket cover. May I get a cup of coffee first and then on to the introductions?”
“Of course. I’ll just grab a refill at the same time.” Lizzie walked with her to the counter, filled their cups and then they headed toward Caroline.
“Caroline, I’d like to introduce Isabel Fox, our librarian, and your moderator,” Lizzie said.
Caroline held out her hand and smiled sweetly, only to have Lorelie Oliver shimmy in between the two of them.
“Is this our moderator, Lizzie?” she asked, grabbing Isabel’s outstretched hand. “I’m Lorelie Oliver, author of the Southern Fashionista series. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.”
Caroline moved to Lorelie’s side and inconspicuously shoved her aside. “For me also,” she told Isabel. She took Isabel’s arm and steered her away from Lorelie. “Why don’t we go find the others and I’ll do the introductions, while I tell you all about my Southern Caterer series.” She looked over at Lizzie. “I know you’re probably swamped with things to do here.”
Lizzie nodded but didn’t get a chance to say anything before they’d moved away. Oh well, there was a lot that needed doing. Isabel would have to fend for herself, as Lizzie knew she could.
“Lizzie.” Lizzie knew that voice. She turned around to give her best friend, Paige Raleigh, a big hug.
“I’m so glad you were able to get here,” Lizzie said with a grin.
“Are you kidding? Brad had no choice but to babysit the girls today. It’s mama’s day off and I expect to thoroughly enjoy myself. So, what’s the scoop?”
Lizzie sighed. “I think we’re all set. Molly’s been working so hard to make this run smoothly, we all have, so I hope there are no hitches.”
“Well, I think it’s pretty exciting. There hasn’t been anything like this in Ashton Corners for a long time, if ever. Oh sure, Jensey Pollard used to host the odd signing at the Book Bin but she never put on a full-day event. And I’m pretty certain the library hasn’t done anything like this, either. You guys are to be congratulated for sure.”
“It’s been pretty exciting except for the fly in the proverbial ointment.”
Paige raised her eyebrows in question.
“I’ll explain later,” Lizzie said, lowering her voice. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it now, not when there’s so much to concentrate on and so many people around.”
“Well, then you’d better get your butt over to my place for dinner sometime soon. Like one night this week,” Paige said with a laugh. “I don’t like to be on the outside of a good story.”
Lizzie was spared having to answer when Molly breezed up to them, gave Paige a hug and spirited Lizzie off to help put some floral arrangements out on the dining tables.
What seemed like a short while later, Lizzie was surprised to see it was almost ten when she looked at the clock that hung above the kitchen pass-through. Time to round up everyone and get them onstage. She looked over at the bookselling table to see a short lineup keeping Stephanie and Andie busy. Sally-Jo caught her eye, pointed to the clock and started shooing people away from the eats.
Teensy had a rapt audience of attendees around her when Lizzie approached. “I’m sorry but I’m going to have to ask you all to take your seats. We’re about to begin. And Teensy, you’re needed on the stage.”
“Oh my, yes, sugar. It’s been so nice talking to y’all,” she said to the women who had started to disperse. To Lizzie, she
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