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Her appearance wasn’t the problem, of course She was jealous and insincere by nature and this is what people found most objectionable about her
"Of course you heard about the possibility of being a first round draft pick for Crawford?"
And uppity
"Of course," Gina said "I guess congratulations are in order"
"Yes, thank you And he’ll be bringing Selena ho more serious She coressround her teeth "You hed a little bit "We are Yes, indeed"
"Well, rest assured, Ashley won’t be at your party, serving or in any other capacity"
"I cohter have both handled this situation so well Rejection can’t be easy and Ashley has been so mature A credit to you, of course"
"And will your parents be attending the party?" Carrie asked
"My parents?" she asked "They don’t live around here"
"Oh? Have they moved?" Carrie asked "Didn’t they used to live between here and Bandon? Your dad worked on a big co boat--he was a crabber Your ettinghere at the diner and they bought one of raduation cakes"
"They wouldn’t co nervously
"I advertised," Carrie said "I ran coupons I still have a picture of that cake And they showed ot your diploma They wanted a flute on it--you played the flute Nineteen years ago"
"No," she said, shaking her head "That would’ve been twenty-two years ago"
Carrie shook her head "I was disappointed they didn’t trycakes It’s not my specialty, but I think I do a fairly decent job"
"You’reThey’re not doing very well"
"I’ive the so else you want to check? Still happy with the menu?"
"It’s fine," she said a bit sourly "I’d better finish my errands"
"Till later then, Marjorie," Carrie said
When she was gone Gina turned to her mother "What was that all about?"
"This isn’t her twentieth anniversary It’s her nineteenth"
"But Downy is nineteen!"
Carrie shrugged "Must have taken soraduate with her class Her nant in high school and didn’t marry her husband until after the baby was born"
Gina was speechless for a s she’s said to me and aboutabout it so long And as the last tio visit them, they rarely, if ever, co ti?" Gina asked "And never said anything?"
"It’s not a good idea to make bad karma It’ll bite you in the ass eventually But I slipped--she just pushed irl who sent texts of that awful picture of Ashley In fact, I wouldn’t have taken on this job, but I can’t afford to turn away neighbors in a town of only fifteen hundred And if they’re decent, I can keep their secrets, but Marjorie tries hter escape her "All this ti?"
"I never forget a cake," Carrie said with an innocent shrug
Thirteen
Cooper set up the RV for Spencer and Austin to use on their upco weekend visit Sarah helped hied the sheets on the bed while he cleaned the bathroo to visit sometimes, he should have a house," Cooper said "He has a house in Texas"
"Don’t be so jittery," Sarah said "He’ll love this"
"It’s a tin can," Cooper said "Why have I never had a house?"
"Because you’re shiftless," she told hih
Not only did he make sure Raas on board to help him cover the weekend, but he also asked Landon to be there He couldn’t serve drinks, but he could serve food and help with clean up And Landon, trying to get ready to take his girl to the prom, was more than happy for the extra work
Friday afternoon finally arrived and Spencer drove his rental car down the road to the bar After parking the car, he and Austin headed to the deck surrounding the property Spencer looked around the bay and promontories, took a deep breath of the coastal air and smiled "You’re a luckyvery shy about the whole visit idea Heparty--Sarah, Rawley, Landon--politely He viewed the bay and ocean passively "Are we going on that?" he asked, pointing to the Jet Ski
"Sure, I’ll take you out on it," Cooper said
"What else e do?" he asked, looking completely unimpressed
"Well, we can take the Rhino into town I can show you how to paddleboard We can fish off the dock We’ll find stuff to do" Cooper felt as if he was drowning--this was not going to be easy