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For a roup

"I don’t know," Miss Khaki said

"Absolutely not," Label Lover said

"I’ll be there," Mr Eckhardt said "Haven’t been to a party in a while"

Miracle of hted, even

The two older wolanced at each other "I’ll be there, too," they said simultaneously

Label Lover downed the rest of her lelass, Bill?"

Mr Eckhardt took her glass, and the one Miss Khaki had quickly emptied, and headed into his mystery kitchen When he was out of earshot, Label Lover leaned over the fence and said, "Your backyard project is putting undue stress on our Bill All that man asks for in this life is a little peace Why must you disrupt it?"

I opened my mouth to defend myself and realized I didn’t quite knohat to say I didn’t have a clue about what Mr Eckhardt wanted out of life I didn’t know anything about hi it grow," I said lamely

Label Lover raised one penciled eyebrow "You think very highly of yourself, don’t you?"

"She should be proud of herself," Mykia said, co up behind me "I’m sorry you can’t see that"

Before Label Lover could hit back, Mr Eckhardt returned with a tray of glasses filled to the brih for all of us Siesture

"Billhas it been since you’ve had ho ti a s And this tastes great"

CHAPTER 21

Everything was set for the party

But I couldn’t entirely take responsibility for it Mykia, Glynnis, and Jackie pitched in Mykia brought food,Glynnis helped set up a few card tables in between the rows of plants, topping thee sheets she’d been collecting since childhood Jackie dragged folding chairs froeneral emotional support

In addition to Mr Eckhardt and his hare Lukas, the feohborhood, and, of course, Trey and Colin, who actually said theya seven-layer salad Sean also said he would be co?" Jackie asked while I tore around enerally trying to ht, iridescent-pink tank top It holly inappropriate for a fiftyso woman and 100 percent Jackie I loved it The only articles of clothing I felt coarden clothes--shredded jean shorts and dirt-stained T-shirts I had very few casual enseory of dated professional attire or clothes reserved for weddings and funerals I had nothing that said garden party