Howdy! Thanks for stopping by. "Break My Heart" continues this week.
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Rick's phone rang. His cousin.
“Are you inviting me to dinner?”
“No. Drew and I are going out. It’s date night.”
“Oh, damn.”
“Sorry. But I am calling with a great opportunity.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why do I think this will
involve either money from me or something unpleasant?”
“Don’t fuss. Pine Grove is having a carnival day.”
“Carnival Day? How quaint.”
“Don’t be obnoxious. Just listen. It’s for charity.
We’re raising money for the volunteer fire department and ambulance service.”
“Don’t you pay your firemen?”
“No money.”
“Great. So if I have a fire, and someone doesn't happen to be eating dinner, my house might get saved.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Of course they’d come. They are
the best. Anyway, it’s a big deal and Jory Walker, the chair this year, asked
me to ask you to volunteer for something.”
“Okay, okay. You convinced me. Put me down for
something.”
“Don’t you want to know what the committees are?”
“No. Just sign me up for…hmm, two. Okay?”
“Okay. But you’ve got to do whatever I sign you up
for, deal?”
“Deal. But you owe me a dinner. No, wait. Dinner and pancake breakfast.”
“Got it. Have a good night.”
She hung up too fast. Rick was suspicious, but what
harm could there be in a carnival? None. A strapping man, Rick, figured lugging stuff, setting up a booth. Easy for him.
He fed Oliver
and heated up a frozen meal for himself.
Shirtless, he took his dinner to the table on the
deck. Birds were still at the feeder. Who said he was eating alone? Hell, he
had a host of company, goldfinches, woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees all
consumed their evening meal with him.
When he finished, he poured a glass of wine and sat in
the rocker. Ollie curled up in his deck bed and snored. The evening was peaceful until it was
interrupted by a phone call. He didn’t recognize the number, so he answered.
“Mr. Winslow?”
“Yes. Who’s this?”
“Hi, I’m Jory Walker. Actually Jory Stephens. Newlywed
and I forget that’s my name now.”
“Congratulations,” he said. The conversation was getting
tedious fast.
“I’m the chair for the Carnival. I’m just calling to
say thank you so much. I never thought you’d agree.”
“Really? I’m glad to help out. No problem.”
“When I asked Mindy what you were best at, she
suggested this right away.”
Curious as to what his cousin thought his strength
was, he had to ask.
“Really?”
“Yes,” the woman giggled, actually giggled on the
other end of the phone. Now his curiosity was hitting an all-time high, and
adrenaline pumped.
“Refresh my memory. What did she sign me up for
again?”
“How could you forget? The kissing booth!”
He dropped his glass of wine and it shattered on the
wood floor.
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