passed and snatch the earring away.
“And double thanks that you aren’t interested in that one,” his mother whispered. “She’s the kind of woman who’d go after a man with a gun.”
“No. She’d go after a blow-up doll,” Drew muttered.
“Next up is Priscilla Taylor-Barnes,” Kevin announced.
“Priscilla Taylor,” Pris corrected, striking a pose next to the mayor.
“Jeez, Mom.” Drew covered his eyes while Kevin described what his sister was wearing. “Where did you go wrong with her?”
“I think she looks charming.” Drew’s mom blew a kiss at Pris as she walked by. “I think I’d look good in that dress too.”
Drew groaned.
His mother elbowed him. “Do you know how hard it is to find a man in Sunshine? The Taylor females have curves. You better learn how to deal with it before Becky gets hers.”
Drew groaned again. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
“And now here’s Wendy Adams.”
“Smile, smile, smile,” his mom said, turning to look.
Surprise rippled through the crowd like a strong breeze through a wheat field.
Drew glanced up, and his jaw dropped.
Even Kevin, who was never at a loss for words, hesitated.
“That is not Wendy Adams.” Drew’s mom put a hand to her throat.
Quiet, demure Wendy had a tortoise for a pet, could barely speak in Drew’s presence when they were alone, and was perfect as the last layer of defense against Jane.
That wasn’t the Wendy on stage.
“What happened to her?” Drew’s stomach turned, for real this time.
This Wendy…She wore a long black dress, which would have been fine if the halter top hadn’t tied two inches above her navel and there hadn’t been a slit worthy of Angelina Jolie on her right side. She’d clipped her hair away from her face and applied the same kind of fairy makeup Lola had used on the kids at dress rehearsal.
Kevin shuffled through his index cards. “I’m sorry. I was expecting Wendy to wear a different dress.”
“Weren’t we all,” Drew’s mom murmured.
“Ah, here it is.” Kevin sounded relieved. “Wendy is wearing the ideal dress to take on a cruise for a formal night.” Kevin glanced up at Wendy again, waving her toward the runway. “Or you could wear it anytime you want to make your ex jealous.”
It was too warm. It was too loud. Drew’s head pounded.
Wendy began her walk. It was obvious she wasn’t comfortable in high heels. It was equally clear she wasn’t comfortable with the height of the slit in her dress. She kept tugging it together.
She was a hometown girl though. The crowd began applauding before she made it to the end of the runway.
“Smile,” Drew’s mom said past a clenched jaw. “And don’t look for any wardrobe malfunctions.”
How could he not? Every man and woman in the gym was looking to see whether she wore panties. Iggy stood at the top of the bleachers, clapping. Wendy had overtaken Lola as the talk of the town.
After she passed, his mother sat back and glared at Drew. “You didn’t smile.”
“She didn’t look at me.” Which was a blessing since he didn’t think he could’ve mustered a smile.
“Maybe she didn’t look at you because you frowned like a stick in the mud.”
Drew sat back, ready for the fashion show to end.
“Our next model is Edith Archer.” Kevin turned toward the part in the curtains. “Edith is wearing a purple-passion plumed evening gown…”
Becky stepped through the curtain. She wore a sparkly purple dress that fell onto her red cowboy boots. Feathers fluttered in her wake as she strutted forward.
Someone shrieked behind the scenes.
Edith stumbled on stage. She wore a black bikini and should have waxed.
The audience went silent. Even the mayor was struck mute.
“I dedicate this to my Charlie.” And then Edith began to dance down the runway, giving Becky a high five as she passed the other way.
Instead of laughing, the crowd began to clap to the beat of the music.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Did someone give you that to wear?” Mary Margaret pointed to the ruby earring on Lola’s scarf.
“No. I brought it from home.” Lola had dillydallied backstage, postponing a costume change as she circled the room like a guppy taunting a lurking shark.
No one paid attention to her, what with Wendy and Edith being showstoppers. Sadly, no one smelled of Joy.
But what could Lola do? Change and go mingle with the crowd?
“Is that…” Mary Margaret leaned closer. She was tall. Earrings swung from her pierced ears. “Is that an earring?”
“It is.” Lola removed the earring and held it in her palm. Why not? It couldn’t belong to Mary Margaret.
“May I?” Mary