Page 19 (1/2)
"Cancer?" he repeated and fro he’d expected ly scary kind," I said, unable to hide my sarcasm "You don’t want to ht not pay off That’s the problem with cancer"
"I…didn’t know"
"Of course you didn’t How could you? I appreciate the offer," I said again, and I was sincere about that "In fact, I’rief, so please just accept my refusal and leave it at that" I walked away from him and went to the back of the store where I sank down next to lared at me
I heard the door close as Brad walked out of the shop "Why did you do that?" my sister demanded
"Do what?"
"Turn hiuy?"
I coveredto ad since I’d been on a date, I didn’t kno to act around a man
"He’s cute and he’s interested"
"I know," I whispered
"You said you started this shop as an affiraret didn’t allow me to finish
"Then live Get involved in life, Lydia You should be thanking your lucky stars a rief, what is it with you?"
"I…I…" I was so disconcerted I couldn’t put tords together
"Live, Lydia," she said again "Get out there and find out what life’s all about And do it before you shrivel up--or die"
CHAPTER 18
JACQUELINE DONOVAN
J acqueline had been athe Seattle Country Club years ago Once a ether to celebrate their birthdays If no one had a birthday that particular month, they celebrated anyway
For June they chose a Mexican restaurant While the ah standards the food was excellent After the woaritas, four of the waiters cae soirl One of the waiters had a guitar slung over his shoulder Another brandished a pair of maracas
"Señoritas, you celebrate a birthday, sí?"
"Sí," Bev Johnson, president of the woroup, told him "It’s Ginny’s birthday" She pointed across the table at the other woirl
The uitar strummed a few chords and strolled over to Ginny "Would you like the long version or the short version?" he asked
Jacqueline loved to see her normally poised and collected friend flustered by the attention "By all means the short version"
All four of the waiters i the traditional birthday song with a definite Mexican flair The nine wohed and applauded, Jacqueline included
She’d needed this outing in order to put Ta, Paul seeenuinely in love with his wife; Reese, too, was taken with her That left Jacqueline feeling like the villain of the piece But even if Tammie Lee wasn’t quite as manipulative or tasteless as Jacqueline had assu for Paul
After Ginny blew out the candle on her small cake, and passed it around for everyone to taste, the party broke up Jacqueline aiting in line to pay the cashier when Bev came to stand beside her
"I ran into Tammie Lee last week," the president of the women’s club said
Jacqueline froze Bev was the most influential ine what her friend thought of Paul’s wife Already Jacqueline could feel the heat creep up her neck She could think of no way to explain her son’s lapse in judgment
"Haywood said he approved their application to the club" Hayas Bev’s husband and in charge of admissions
"Naturally Reese and I were very pleased they were accepted" It was gratifying to know that her years of volunteer ith the country club were paying dividends
"We’ve always liked Paul"
Jacqueline s and intelligent and destined to succeed in life She had to restrain herself fro about his acco to work on the cookbook committee"
Jacqueline’s heart fell She’d hoped to speak privately to the coht serve hter-in-law’s recipe for boiled peanuts and cheese grits in the Country Club Cookbook made Jacqueline shudder What an embarrass to talk to Louise about that"