by Debby Mayne
“Hey, Mom. It’s early. Is everything okay?”
“You’re normally up by now.” Naomi sighed. “Just because I called you at eight, you assume there’s a problem?”
Bethany rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes. “Well, yes.”
“Did you know Pamela sprained her ankle yesterday?”
“No,” Bethany replied. “I saw her late in the afternoon, and she looked fine to me.”
“It happened when she stepped down off the curb at the community center. I heard you were there too.”
“I was.” Bethany thought back on her last conversation with Pamela. “Must have happened after I left. Any idea how she did it?”
“She said she was so busy running around, she lost her footing and slipped.”
“You talked to her?” Bethany thought about Pamela directing the guys as they unloaded her car. She didn’t see Pamela running around much.
“Yeah, that’s how I knew to call you. The doctor told her to stay off her feet for a couple of weeks.”
“I can’t imagine Pamela staying off her feet for a couple of hours, let alone weeks.”
“Apparently, she’s in quite a bit of pain, so she just might obey the doctor’s orders this time. At any rate, she’s worried about this festival running without her.”
“I thought Gina was in charge of it.” Bethany thought for a moment. “Did I miss something?”
“No, you’re right. Gina is in charge, but Pamela’s worried, because the Maples family hasn’t been in Bloomfield long and Gina might get lost in the mess of planning.”
“She’s perfectly capable of running it,” Bethany argued.
“Of course she is, but you know how Pamela can be. I told her not to worry, though, because you could be Gina’s right-hand woman.”
Bethany had to bite back her annoyance at her mother for not asking first before volunteering her. She cleared her throat. “Mo-om.”
“Calm down, girlie. Before you get all wigged out about my telling Pamela you’d help, I spoke to Gina, and she said she has everything under control. She won’t need you to do anything more than what you’re already doing.”
Bethany was still annoyed, but it was too early to argue. “I’ll call Gina later.”
“You don’t have to. She’s coming over here in about an hour so we can strategize.”
“Then why didn’t you tell Pamela you’d be the go-to person if Gina needed help?”
Naomi laughed. “You know how Pamela is where I’m concerned. She’d forget about her sprained ankle and zip over here on crutches. No, I care too much about her well-being to put her in that position.”
As convoluted as it sounded, Bethany understood. “Tell you what. After I have some breakfast, I’ll come over and help.”
“Skip the breakfast. I have a bowl of fruit and some fresh-baked muffins.”
“What kind?”
Naomi hesitated. “Apple banana.”
“And?” Bethany grinned as she waited.
Naomi made a clicking sound with her tongue. “Okay, so I added a few things.”
“Like what?”
“Zucchini and carrots.”
Bethany laughed. “Yum. I’ll arrive hungry.”
“Good girl. See you in a little while.”
After Bethany hung up, she realized what her mother had just done. If Naomi had flat-out invited Bethany to come for a strategy meeting, Bethany would probably have found an excuse not to go. But being the expert schemer, Naomi had turned things around and set up Bethany to think it was her idea. At least there would be a reward of apple-banana-zucchini-carrot muffins. Her mouth watered.
Bethany arrived at her mother’s place carrying a tote filled with a notebook, pens, and a small, hand-carved jewelry box for Gina. Her mother-in-law had received it for her charitable service, and Bethany kept it, thinking Ashley might want it someday. But the box looked more like something Gina would appreciate than Ashley.
Naomi greeted her with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “There’s coffee in the kitchen.”
Gina came up and gave her a squeeze. “You two are such sweethearts to help me with this.” She glanced down at the box in Bethany’s hand, and her eyes widened. “Oh, pretty.”
Bethany smiled and handed it to her. “I’m glad you like it. I brought it for you.”
“For me?” Gina didn’t even try to hide her delight. “You don’t have to give me presents.”
“I really want you to have it.”
Before Gina could argue, Naomi spoke up. “Just take it, Gina. We need to get moving on the plans.”
“Thank you both so much,” Gina said as she accepted the box.
“We’re the ones who should be thanking you,” Naomi said. “So what can we do to help?”
Gina blurted out a series of jobs that still needed to get done before she finally stopped talking. “I am so sorry. I don’t know what I’d do without you, but I sound so bossy.”
Naomi cackled. “No one can out-boss me. I’m the champ.”
“I didn’t mean—” Gina looked stricken.
“I know, I know. We’re happy to do it, aren’t we, Bethany?” Naomi nudged Bethany in the side.
“Yes, of course.”
The three women maneuvered around each other while filling their coffee cups in Naomi’s tiny kitchen. Then they settled down at the dining room table with a basket of muffins in the middle. Gina reached for one first. “I hope you don’t think I’m rude, but ever since I first walked in and smelled the delicious aroma, I’ve been dying to have one.” As she took a bite, her eyes fluttered. “Oh, my.”
Naomi chuckled and gestured for Bethany to help herself. “I made these the way you like them, sweetie—with extra molasses.”
Bethany finished her first muffin quickly, grabbed another, and placed it on her plate. “Excellent as always.”
Gina lifted her pen, but before she could say a word, someone knocked at the door. Naomi glanced curiously at Bethany. “No one ever stops by at this hour unannounced. I wonder who it could be?”
“Are you saying this isn’t a setup?” Bethany turned her head and looked suspiciously at her mother.
Naomi lifted both hands and shook her head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, young lady. Honestly, I have no idea who’s at the door.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Bethany said as she got up and went to the door. Before she opened it, she heard a squawking parrot, and her heart sank.
There stood Pamela and Andy, and dangling from Andy’s hand was a birdcage with a very unhappy Murray glaring back at her. “Knock knock . . . squawk . . . who’s there . . .”
“Pamela?” Bethany glanced down at Pamela’s ankle and saw the swelling above the bandage. She had her arm linked in Andy’s, with the other holding a crutch. “I’m sorry about your ankle.”
Naomi didn’t waste a second before joining them at the door. “Oh, no. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, no . . . squawk . . . it’s that bird again.”
Pamela tottered away from Andy as she pointed. “Aren’t you gonna invite us in?”
“Yes, of course.” Naomi stepped back as she turned to Bethany and made a face. “Where are our manners?”
Pamela half hopped and half hobbled into the living room. She got to the closest chair and flopped down into it. “You need to consider moving a little closer to the parking lot, Naomi. That’s a long hike.”
“So what are you doing here?” Naomi asked again, this time with more obvious annoyance in her voice.
“We saw Jeremy in town. He told us Gina was here planning the festival.”
Bethany turned around and saw that Gina remained sitting at the dining room table, a look on her face as guilty as the one on Andy’s. Her questioning glance to Gina was met with a shrug.
“We have everything under control,” Naomi said. “So if you have better things to do, as I’m sure you do, being president of the garden club and having to nurse your injury and all, you don’t have to stick around.” She pointed to Pamela’s bandaged leg. “Besides, you should probably be at home with your foot propped up.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Pamela waved her hands, showing off a fresh manicure, featuring a lime-green background with a different spring flower painted on each nail. “What could be more important than this?” She leaned around to face Gina. “So what have you planned so far?”
Gina cleared her throat and smiled, obviously trying to regain her composure, but Bethany could see her hands shaking as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “So far, we have deposits from a dozen artists who want to rent booths.” She cleared her throat. “But they want to know if we can add an inclement weather clause to the contracts.”
“Deposits? Contracts?” Pamela looked confused. “We’ve never required deposits or contracts before.”
Naomi stepped up. “We know that, but since this is a new festival, we thought it would be a good idea to make sure people didn’t change their minds at the last minute and back down on us.”
“Oh.” Pamela appeared to ponder the thought before nodding. “I suppose that’s a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea and a smart business plan, and you know it, Pamela.” Naomi folded her arms and glared down at her friend and nemesis. “Gina is an excellent chairperson. She has lists for everything, including each act in the parade. She even has it broken down into how many floats, marching bands, cars, and other acts to make sure we have balance.”
“Floats?” Pamela looked over at Gina. “You have floats?”
Gina nodded, and this time her lips quivered. “I hope that’s okay. All the clubs at the high school loved the idea when I spoke at their assembly.”
“You spoke at the high school assembly?” For the first time Bethany could remember, Pamela looked baffled.
Naomi laughed. “You’re starting to sound like a parrot.”
“Parrots rock . . . squawk . . . parrots rock.”
Naomi glared at Murray. “Some parrots rock, but you are a bad birdie.”
Murray hung his head. “Bad birdie . . . squawk . . . bad birdie.”
“So what can I do to help?” Pamela asked.
“Absolutely nothing,” Naomi replied. “Except maybe take care of yourself so you can heal up before the festival. I’d hate for you to do too much now and be laid up during the big event.”
Using the crutch, Pamela wriggled back up to a standing position. “Well, since I’m not needed here, let’s go home, Andy.”
Murray ruffled his feathers and caused the cage to rattle. “Home is where the heart is . . . squawk!”
Bethany wasn’t sure, but she thought Pamela might have growled at Murray. He burrowed his head down into his neck and grew quiet.
After they left, Gina looked concerned. “Is Pamela mad about something? I hope I didn’t—”
Naomi shook her head. “Don’t worry. It’s just hard for someone like her to get used to someone else being in charge.”
“I don’t want her to think I’m trying to take her place.”
“Nah, stop worrying. Now tell me what you have going on, and I’ll show you what you have to do next.”
Gina shot a look of amusement in Bethany’s direction. Bethany had to turn around to keep from laughing.
Chapter 16
I can’t believe they’ve done all that without consulting me first,” Pamela said as she slid into the passenger seat of Andy’s car. “I mean, why didn’t they at least call and ask if it was okay?”
Andy shook his head, put Murray’s cage and her crutch into the backseat, and went around to the driver’s side. As he got in, Pamela studied his features for some sign of his opinion. As usual, rock solid Andy never let any emotion pass through his expression. Maybe if she could get a good look at his eyes.
She leaned over and stared straight into his eyes. He pulled back. “What on earth are you doing?” He buckled his seat belt. “I can’t drive with you in my face like that.”
She flopped back, folded her arms, and turned back to Andy. “Do you think I’m a control freak?”
He grinned as he reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Maybe a little.”
She pulled her hand back and inspected her nails. “I just want to make sure everything goes as it should. I hate leaving things to chance.”
“Or someone else.”
Pamela cast a questioning glance his way. “What?”
“You don’t want to risk leaving things to someone else, because you don’t think they can do a job as well as you can.”
She shrugged. “Maybe they can’t.”
He turned the key in the ignition and looked at her with a sternness she hadn’t noticed in him in a long time. “Or maybe they can, but that’s inconsequential. Sometimes you just need to let go, Pamela. Let others take responsibility.”
“But what if they make mistakes?”
Andy shrugged. “They probably will, but you have to let people figure out how to do things without you always pulling the strings.”
Her chest felt heavy. “It’s hard.”
“I know,” Andy said. “You and I are so alike on this, which is why I think we get along so well.”
That brought some comfort to Pamela. At least Andy was comparing her to someone she admired.
“There’s another thing I’m struggling with.” She had to reposition her leg to keep her sprained ankle from cramping.
Andy turned to face her as he slowed down. “What’s that?”
“How am I going to deal with my lack of mobility?” She cast a wistful glance in Andy’s direction, and he gave her a sympathetic smile in return. “I still want to help out some at the festival. After all, even though it’s a rather crazy idea and a labor-intensive way to get a couple of middle-aged people to fall in love, I’m ultimately responsible.”
“I know it’s hard.” Andy patted her hand. “But it’s only for a couple of weeks. The doc said as long as you’re careful and stay off your feet, you can walk on it then.”
“Two weeks is an awful long time.” She looked out the window as they approached her house. “What’s that all over my yard?”
Andy slowed the car down even more. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“Is that toilet paper?”
“Certainly looks like it,” Andy replied.
“What’s happening to our beautiful, safe Bloomfield? Are we becoming like the rest of the world? I’ve always felt safe in my home.”
Andy shook his head. “I don’t think an occasional papering of the lawn makes Bloomfield any less safe. It’s just a childish prank.”
“But it’s so annoying and creates unnecessary work for the victim.”
“Just be glad that’s all you’re a victim of.” Andy cast a reassuring glance toward Pamela and smiled. “It could be a lot worse.”
Pamela closed her eyes for a moment before opening them to get a better look. Toilet paper covered the shrubs, hung from the trees, and dotted half her lawn. At least whoever rolled the yard left her prize rosebushes alone.
“Why would anyone do such a horrible thing?”
Andy pulled into her driveway and stopped. “I’ll clean it all up, but first let me help you to the front porch swing.”
Pamela’s eyes stung with tears over Andy’s sweetness. Few people saw this side of him, and she was actually okay with that. To know that he reserved tender moments for her warmed her heart.
He cleaned the yard while she watched. Every few minutes, the temptation to hop up and help washed over her. But every time she made so much as a sound, Andy told her to stay put.
“Sit down, Miss Pamela,” he said firmly
as he pointed. “I don’t want you making your ankle worse.”
“I know, but I can pick out some of the paper from the bushes by the porch.”
“No.” His gaze leveled with hers, so she backed down. “Just stay right there and look pretty for me, okay?”
She leaned back and smiled. “Okay, if you insist.”
“Pretty girl . . . squawk . . . pretty girl.” Murray let out a wolf whistle that Pamela was sure could be heard a block away.
She shook her head and laughed. “You silly bird.”
“Silly bird, funny bird . . . ha-ha-ha.” Murray turned his head toward her. “Squawk!”
“All right,” Andy said with a chuckle. “Calm down you two.”
“It’s not me, it’s Murray.”
“Blaming the bird now? Pamela, that’s so not like you.”
She shrugged and let out an uncharacteristic giggle. “Says who?” All the pain she’d felt earlier had subsided, and now she felt as giddy as a schoolgirl. Maybe she should take Andy’s advice and let others deal with the responsibility. It sure did feel good to kick back a little while.
Andy filled two large trash bags with toilet paper. “Looks like they unloaded an entire case of the stuff. If we find out who did this, I’m sure their parents will have a thing or two to say about it.”
“Are you saying you’re gonna tattle?” Pamela tilted her head and smiled.
“You bet. They need to suffer the consequences.” He lifted an eyebrow and gave her a comical look. “We don’t want them to progress to bigger crimes, like soaping windows and chalking up the sidewalks, now do we?” He made a face. “Or worse, putting bubbles in the fountain on the town square.”
Pamela sighed. Andy’s take-charge attitude mixed with humor elevated him even higher in her eyes, creating an overwhelming desire to kiss him.
She lifted her finger and crooked it in a gesture for him to join her. “Come here, big fella.”
“Hey, big fella . . . squawk . . . hey, big fella.”
“Close your eyes, Murray, because I’m gonna kiss your daddy.”
Andy plopped down beside Pamela, wrapped his arms around her, and gave her a kiss that curled her toes. When she opened her eyes, the look on his face let her know he planned to do it again. And he did.