In For a Pound

by Joselyn Vaughn

  “We don’t have to reserve the ballroom. There are other reception rooms, equally elegant. A smaller one would be less expensive and accompanied by the same benefits.” Colin eyed her plate. “Aren’t you going to finish?”

  Sidney wrinkled her nose at the plate and its remaining mixed veggies. The over-cooked broccoli was too much to take in on top of all the news Colin fed her.

  “It would probably be a good idea to plan a place that won’t be affected by the weather.” Completely changing the reception left her uneasy. It went against everything they had discussed. But they should have an arrangement in case of inclement weather. “Let’s look into it at least.”

  A grin brightened Colin’s face. “I knew you’d come around. Let’s celebrate. We should splurge for dessert.” Colin plucked the dessert card from the side of the table and pushed it in front of her.

  Before she had a chance to salivate over the offerings, Missy waltzed up to their table, a bright smile on her face until she met Sidney’s death stare. Pine Bottom was a small town, but there was more than one restaurant. Missy could eat somewhere else.

  Missy wagged a manicured finger at the dessert card. “You’ll never fit into your wedding dress if you binge on dessert all the time.”

  Sidney chewed on the snide comment for a moment. She shouldn’t let Missy get under her skin, but with Missy’s rudeness, it was hard to keep the irritant out. She bit her tongue against the snide remarks, striving for the high road. “How nice to see you. I guess it doesn’t matter what you eat when you use a trolling motor.” It came out anyway. Her gaze slid to Missy’s hips for emphasis. Sidney wished the rivalry with Missy didn’t bring out the worst in her. Who knew what motivated Missy? Why did she care so much about what Sidney was doing?

  Missy’s face froze in a plastic smile, but she smoothed her hands over her hips to emphasize their bony proportions. “We did not have a motor.”

  Sidney picked up the dessert card and continued her perusal. Colin never wanted to order dessert, but she was going to take advantage of the opportunity. “Then I beat you fair and square. I don’t need to worry about my weight.” Ignoring Missy, Sidney asked, “What do you say, Colin? How does the Death by Chocolate: Couple’s Supreme sound?”

  “I thought you were going to order the apple pie slice.”

  Did he not understand the meaning of splurge? The apple pies, while delicious, were so narrow they slipped through the tines of the fork. Splurging meant chocolate, whipped cream, and a sugar coma. Sidney jabbed his shin with the tip of her sandal. He should have her back. He knew how Missy liked to dig at her. If they were—no, since they were getting married, he should stand beside her and give her support.

  Colin gasped and rubbed his leg. He snarled, “What was that for?”

  Sidney shot him a look that should have felt like a punch in the gut. “Never mind. Let’s go.” She grabbed her purse and scooted to the side of the booth.

  “What? Where are you going? You wanted dessert.” Colin picked up the card and waved it at her. She stood and smoothed her skirt. What had started as a well-deserved night out had gone all pear-shaped.

  Missy stepped back and held up her hands, denying any responsibility for ruining their meal. “Don’t leave on my account. I only stopped by to say hi.”

  “Hi.” Sidney snapped. Missy had done exactly what she had planned. Ruin Sidney’s evening. Why? She grabbed Colin’s hand and yanked him away from the table.

  “Catch you later.” Colin said as he threw a couple bills on the table.

  “Definitely.” Missy smirked over her shoulder and winked as she retreated. “Soon.”

  What in the world? Was she trying to lure Colin away? No. Sidney dashed the thought away. Even Missy couldn’t be that dastardly.

  Sidney jerked on Colin again, and he stumbled after her. A few moments later, they were back in Colin’s car. He had jammed the keys in the ignition and shifted to eye her. “Why did we run out of there like our butts were on fire?”

  Sidney leaned her elbow against the window and closed her eyes. “Didn’t you hear Missy? And what did she mean by ‘soon’?”

  Colin shrugged. “She was the same as she normally is. I don’t see what the problem is between you two.”

  The implications of his statement made her head throb in excruciating waves. She didn’t miss that he ignored her second question.

  “She was completely awful. She called me fat. What are we? Ten? Who does that?” Sidney couldn’t even look at Colin. This night had been a disaster. They’d finally talked about Colin’s new business opportunity, then Missy had to come along and ruin the bit of happiness. Worst of all, Colin jumped on Missy’s bandwagon. Hadn’t he witnessed all the anguish Missy had caused over the years? The Rough Diamond business had blinded him to everything else.

  “Let’s change the subject. Missy always gets you worked up. How’s the wedding dress shopping going?”

  Twisting the knife again. There was the shopping trip Saturday with her mom, but she wasn’t enthused about it. She leaned her head in her hand. “I have a headache. We better call it a night.”

  Chapter Eight

  Joshua sank into the couch in front of the television. He’d been sitting all day, and yet he craved reclining. Both he and his dad survived the chemo treatment, but they knew the worst was yet to come. The toxic chemicals would charge through his dad’s veins, attacking anything in their way—good or bad. Who could say which side would come out on top? Would it simply weaken him and increase his fatigue, or would there be more adverse effects—the ones Joshua couldn’t do more than skim in the brochures? Tonight his dad was tired. After Joshua had warmed up the casserole Aunt Penny left in the fridge, his dad retired to bed.

  Joshua flipped through the channels, finally settling on a cooking show on PBS. The kitchen wasn’t his comfort zone, but he couldn’t expect to rely on the kindness of the church care group for all their meals. The show might inspire him to try cooking something that didn’t come with instructions on the box.

  The other benefit of the show was someone wouldn’t be asking for his dad’s name and birthday every five minutes. He understood the need to make sure the right patient received the right care, but by the fifth time, he wanted to paint the information on a T-shirt. His dad could wear it for all his treatments, and they could save everyone a bit of sanity.

  Joshua’s eyes glazed over while the host of the show rattled on about glazing a salmon. He reached for the remote. There wasn’t any chance of him cooking up salmon filets. The Pounds men were steak and potatoes kind of guys. Before he could press the button, the doorbell rang. He glanced at the clock. Only eight. A reasonable time for someone to stop by. His body ached like he’d lived three days since his seven o’clock alarm.

  He peeled himself off the couch and ambled to the door, wishing the living room had a window to view the front walkway. His efforts shouldn’t be wasted on a politician making the rounds. He opened the door, ready to tell whoever waited he wasn’t interested.

  No one stood at eye level, so he dropped his gaze, looking for a pint-sized purveyor of cookies or birdseed or the latest fad for fundraising for clubs or school trips. His gaze lowered all the way to the welcome mat and found only a paper bag and a note. He bent to pick up the note, getting close enough to the bag to recognize the smell of excrement. Kids still pulled this prank? He should be thankful they hadn’t lit it on fire. Chili had to be a mainstay of that dog’s diet. He blinked to wash away the stink from his eyes.

  Why would his dad be the target of an adolescent prank? He surveyed the neighbor’s bushes, looking for the culprit spying on his reaction. No one lurked among the hydrangeas.

  Still puzzled, he thumbed open the note. Squinting at the chicken-scratched message, it took a moment to decipher. ‘You’ll be swimming with the fishes if you paddle with Sidney in the last race.’ Seriously? He flipped the paper over, but there was no signature. What did he expect—an actual calling card to go with the one i
n the bag?

  Joshua crumpled the note and picked up the bag, intending to deposit it in a tightly-sealed receptacle. He plunked the bag in the garbage at the side of the house and almost tossed the note as well, but then thought better of it. It might be a good idea to keep the note in case the pranks escalated.

  Had whoever targeted him sent Sidney a similar message? Should he call her? Make sure they hadn’t sent her something worse. He liked that idea. Hearing her voice would be the highlight of his day. How pathetic. He’d met Sidney twice, and even the sound of her voice would change his outlook. Granted any conversation that didn’t focus on his dad’s vital stats would be candy for his brain.

  But he didn’t know her last name or where she lived. His dad would know, but Joshua wasn’t going to wake him. According to the doctor, he needed all the rest he could get. Joshua could call Aunt Penny. Her number was on the fridge, but asking for her help meant explaining why he needed Sidney’s number and ducking any insinuations about his ulterior motives.

  He tucked the note in his pocket and hoped he’d see Sidney soon. Retreating to the kitchen in search of a soda, he noticed his dad’s list of emergency numbers on the fridge door and directly under Aunt Penny’s was Sidney’s. His soda thunked on the counter, and he grabbed the phone, ignoring the buzzing that zipped through his veins and the little voice that snarked Sidney could take care of herself.

  Sidney answered on the third ring. She sounded tired, and he wished he hadn’t disturbed her.

  “Hey, this is Joshua.” He shouldn’t have bothered her. His concern was ridiculous.

  “How’d it go today?” she asked.

  And then he felt worse. He’d called to check on her, and she was checking on him. “It was long, but Dad is resting comfortably now.”

  “That’s good. What can I do for you?”

  He sensed she meant it. She’d run out and get food or meds if he asked. “Nothing. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

  “I’m fine.” Her voice was confused and weary as if her day had been as long as his. “Why do you ask?”

  “I didn’t mean to bother you, but someone left a bag of dog crap on the porch with a note warning me away from canoe races.”

  She groaned. “Missy and Zach are up to their usual tricks. If they can’t cheat, they try to intimidate the competition. She has no reason to take it out on you.”

  “I didn’t realize the race was that big of a deal.” Joshua leaned against the kitchen counter.

  “It’s not supposed to be, but Missy blows everything out of proportion.”

  Joshua remembered the trolling motor and Missy’s attempt to split his skull. More than good-natured rivalry.

  “What’s her beef?”

  “She’s always had this one-up thing. I was homecoming queen. She was prom princess. I was magna cum laude. She was cum laude. Drove her nuts. She pleaded with the school office to recalculate her grade point average. I bought In a Stitch and started my own business. She bought a mansion on Willow Hill.”

  Joshua whistled. “The gated subdivision on the south side of town?”

  “Yes. The places are monstrous, and there is a patrolling security guard. I don’t know how she affords it. Whatever her office job is, it must pay pretty well.”

  “Are you jealous of her success?” Joshua asked the question before he’d given a thought to the rudeness of it. The other end of the line was quiet, and he started to apologize. “It’s not my business.”

  Sidney answered; her voice was soft, contemplative. “If that’s what she wants, I’m happy for her. If she wants a huge house, that’s fine. I want something with character, like a newel post that falls off in your hand or a door that never shuts quite right. A place that feels like home.”

  Joshua had heard that sentiment so many times from the people he helped. Their home may have been in need of repair, but they still loved it and the memories hovering in the rooms. When a tornado ravaged it, they were determined to pour money into a structure that would crumble the next time a severe storm blew through. More times than he dared to count, the family fell apart under the stress as well. He didn’t understand the sentiment. Why risk the heartbreak for four walls and a foundation?

  “I see her life, and it seems so empty to me. Maybe from her perspective, it’s not. But it’s not what I want, so I don’t understand why she had to challenge me for everything. My life is full. My family, my shop, my dreams.” There was a pause before she named her fiancé. “Colin.”

  Joshua wanted to believe she had forgotten about him, but it was probably respect. Like how the heroine sighed over the hero’s picture.

  “Everything she has is bigger and better and fancier. I don’t understand the competition.”

  He couldn’t offer more than schmaltzy platitudes. “Some people are empty inside. They need to win at everything to feel adequate.” He’d slid to the floor and leaned against the cupboards. He didn’t know how he’d ended up in this conversation, but he didn’t want it to end. Sidney was so down to earth and easy going. No wonder Colin asked her to marry him. Other women would take this rivalry with Missy and let it eat at them. Sidney took it in stride.

  “It’s been worse since Colin proposed and we’ve been planning the wedding.”

  Joshua couldn’t understand why. Colin didn’t seem to be much of a catch. Cardboard pizza and a no show. Most women he’d met would throw the whole fishing pole back in the water.

  “What about Zach? She can’t get him to come up to snuff?”

  “Zach is her younger brother, and she can get him to go along with anything she wants. He’s probably the one who left your gift.” She sighed. “Maybe I should drop out of the race.”

  “I thought you said the trip to the San Juan Islands was where you wanted to go on your honeymoon.”

  There was silence on the other end of the phone, and Joshua wondered if he’d hit a touchy subject.

  “It is, but—” she paused, and he wondered what she was doing. Was she twirling her glossy hair around her finger or doodling or washing dishes? He couldn’t imagine her completely idle. She had to be doing something. “It’s not worth dealing with dog poo. I’m sorry Penny got you involved in all this.”

  “It’s no big deal. I can handle a little crap every now and then.” He tried to keep his voice light. Sidney didn’t need anything else added to her shoulders, but he was concerned about anyone who would pull a nasty prank over a small town race. Whatever was itching Missy about Sidney, he hoped it didn’t grow to a bigger rash. His easy tone was rewarded with a small laugh.

  “Thanks for the warning. I’ll watch my step in the morning.”

  He clutched the receiver long after the operator reminded him if he’d like to make a call, he should press zero for assistance. He couldn’t bear to release the phone and break the connection with the relief Sidney provided. His father galumphed in the other room, and Joshua thumbed the off button.

  Talking to Sidney had kept the cancer and chemo at bay. Their conversation had given him a respite from repeatedly checking the rise and fall of his father’s chest and jumping every time he grunted or snorted in his sleep.

  He levered himself off the floor and returned the handset to the charger. Why did things have to be so complicated? The cooking show paled in comparison to the distraction Sidney provided with just the sound of her voice. He shook his head.

  Why did some things have to be so complicated? He paddles a canoe one time in the last decade, and people leave crap on his doorstep. He meets a fantastic woman, and she’s engaged.

  ****

  The next afternoon, the phone rang, reminding Joshua once again he had forgotten to turn off the ringer. His dad had finally fallen asleep for an afternoon nap after a restless night. People called all morning to inquire about his dad’s condition, and that was great. He appreciated how his dad’s church had enfolded him, but Joshua had to make sure his dad rested occasionally.

  Joshua answered the phone, keeping h
is voice low and preparing his almost automatic response. Thank you for calling, Dad’s resting, but I’ll extend your best wishes for his recovery.

  “May I speak to Joshua Pounds?” the voice on the other end of the line said. Most of the people in his dad’s church would recognize him. Any of Joshua’s friends or co-workers would contact him on his cell phone.

  “Speaking.” Most likely a telemarketer, and he’d be able to put them off.

  The caller placed him on hold while she connected him to someone else. Before he finished his internal debate about whether to hang up, the other person answered.

  “Joshua! I’m glad I finally got a hold of you. I’ve been trying your cell, but I kept getting your voice mail.” Joshua recognized the CEO of Disaster Rebound, Nathan Barnes.

  Joshua reached for the phone clipped to his belt and glanced at the display. “I must have turned off the ringer when we went in for Dad’s treatment and forgotten to turn it back on.” Maybe he should be resting as much as his dad. He was doing everything backward.

  “I’m glad I finally caught up with you.”

  “Do you need me somewhere? I can’t leave Dad right now. I know I’ve always been able to hook up the trailer and go, but…”

  Nathan interrupted. “No, not at all. The opposite in fact. Dolores Winters, head of coordinating distribution, has decided to retire. I know she doesn’t look a day over fifty, but she claims she’s pushing seventy. So I have an open position I think you would be perfect for.”

  A desk job. Dolores spent all her time shuffling papers and talking into a headset. Often with him or one of the other coordinators on the other end. She made sure the supplies they needed were ordered from the suppliers, loaded onto trucks, and delivered to the disaster sites. The disaster coordinators presented her with the needs of the community. Dolores made sure the supplies were on the road within twelve hours. She had everything running like a well-oiled machine. Her position was essential to successful disaster relief, but not a job Joshua could see himself in.