seem like I was making fun of you and your psychic abilities, but I wasn’t, LaVonne, I truly wasn’t. I thought that if you believed a man was coming into your life, you’d be looking for one, and if you were expecting to meet a man, then you just might, and I hoped that man would be Wynn’s father, but clearly it wasn’t...isn’t.” This was said without pausing for breath.
A short silence ensued, followed by a disappointed, “Oh.”
“Forgive me if I offended you.”
LaVonne took a moment to think this through. “You didn’t,” she said after a while. “I’ve more or less reached the same conclusion about my psychic abilities. But—” she smiled brightly “—guess what? I’ve signed up for another class in January.” She reached for a second slice of fruitcake and smiled as Martin brought K.O. the catnip mouse Wynn had given Tom that ill-fated evening.
“Another one at the community college?” K.O. asked.
LaVonne shook her head. “No, I walked across the street into A Good Yarn and decided I’d learn how to knit.”
“That sounds good.”
“Want to come, too?” LaVonne asked.
Every time her friend enrolled in a new course, she urged K.O. to take it with her. Because of finances and her job search, K.O. had always declined. This time, however, she felt she might be able to swing it. Not to mention the fact that she owed LaVonne... “I’ll see.”
“Really?” Even this little bit of enthusiasm seemed to delight LaVonne. “That’s wonderful.”
“I had a job interview on Wednesday,” K.O. told her, squelching the desire to pin all her hopes on this one interview. Apple Blossom Books, the publisher Wynn had recommended, had called her in almost immediately. She’d met with the president and the marketing manager, and they’d promised to get back to her before Christmas. For the first time in a long while, K.O. felt optimistic. A publishing company, even a small one, would be ideal.
“And?” LaVonne prompted.
“And...” K.O. said, smiling. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
“That’s just great! I know you’ve been looking for ages.”
“The Christmas letters are going well, too,” she added. “I wrote another one this week for a woman in Zach’s office. She kept thinking she had time and then realized she didn’t, so it was a rush job.”
“You might really be on to something, you know. A little sideline business every Christmas.”
“You aren’t upset with me about what I did, are you?” K.O. asked, returning to her apology. “You’ve been such a good friend, and I wouldn’t do anything in the world to hurt you.”
“Nah,” LaVonne assured her, petting Phillip, who’d jumped into her lap. “If anyone’s to blame it’s that horrible man. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a fruitcake.” That said, she took another bite of the slice she’d been enjoying.
* * *
Wynn had devised a rather complicated plan of escape. On Friday afternoon he would leave his office at three-thirty and pick K.O. up on the corner of Blossom Street and Port Avenue. Because he didn’t want to risk going inside and being seen by his father, she’d agreed to wait on the curb with her overnight bag.
K.O. was packed and ready long before the time they’d arranged. At three, her phone rang. Without checking caller ID, she knew it had to be her sister.
“I can’t believe Dr. Wynn Jeffries is actually coming to the house,” she said and gave a shrill cry of excitement. “You can’t imagine how jealous my friends are.”
“No one’s supposed to know about this,” K.O. reminded her.
“No one knows exactly when he’ll be here, but I did mention it to a few close friends.”
“Zelda! You promised.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t keep this to myself. You just don’t understand what an honor it is to have Dr. Jeffries in my home.”
“But...”
“Don’t worry, no one knows it’s this weekend,” Zelda told her.
“You’re sure?”
“I swear, all right?”
It would be a nightmare if a few dozen of Zelda’s closest friends just happened to drop by the house unannounced. Unfortunately, K.O. didn’t have any choice but to believe her.
“How are the girls?” K.O. asked, hoping the twins were up to their usual antics. She didn’t want Zoe and Zara to be on their best behavior. That would ruin all her plans.
“They’re fine. Well, mostly fine. Healthwise, they’re both getting over ear infections.”
Oh, dear. “You might’ve told me this before!” K.O. cried. Her mind shifted into overdrive. If the girls were sick, it would throw everything off. Wynn would insist their behavior was affected by how they were