white lie she told Gramps to get him off her back about finding a man.
The shocking thing was, it had worked. The white lie, as she liked to think of it, bought her total freedom from the man’s pestering about finding someone. He did, however, bug her about meeting him sometime.
But this…this was too much. She had not expected him to spout it off to the whole town. Especially since she’d asked him to pretty pretty please keep it under wraps.
As Justine looked between Toby and Mrs. Whipple, thoughts of coming clean probed her mind. Just tell them what you did, why you did it, and ask them to not give you away.
“Yeah, Justine,” came the unmistakable nasally voice of her old classmate, Brittany Clementine. “Do tell us about your rich dreamy boyfriend who’s planning to marry you but…oops, he’s never even come for a visit.”
First of all, Justine had never claimed he was rich, just too busy with work stuff to leave—Gramps must have done that on his own. Moreover, Justine hadn’t told one other living soul that she was engaged.
Her desperation to squash the lie grew stronger still, like a foot hovered over a very poisonous bug, one that—if it wasn’t squashed—would only keep growing bigger.
She spun around, daring herself to do that very thing until a glimmer of gold caught her eye. Gold that shone from Brittany’s left ring finger.
“Oh, this?” Brittany said proudly. “Isn’t it pretty? Trevor gave it to me last night. It’s not exactly an engagement ring yet, but I’m pretty sure he plans to pop the big question on Christmas Day.” She stared at the band for a moment, then tugged at the hem of her bright orange skirt. Brittany’s wardrobe consisted of fitted colorful stretchy skirts that hiked up her legs as she walked.
Wow, Trevor was actually planning to make the big move. Justine tried to ignore the stinging sensation pooling in her gut. She could admit that jealousy played a part in that reaction, but more than that, Justine felt sorry for the guy. How was it that someone so kind was attracted to someone so cruel?
“But enough about me marrying the town’s greatest catch,” Brittany said. “We want to hear more about Mr. Invisible, I mean wonderful. Mr. Wonderful.” She tipped her head back and cackled out her trademark laugh. The shrill pitch hadn’t changed since grade school.
Justine gritted her teeth. “Maybe later,” she said, tightening her grip on the cart. “I’m running late.”
She forced a polite nod to Toby, then to Mrs. Whipple before spinning on one heel. She had to get out of there. Should she call Gramps on her way home or drive straight out to his house instead?
“Looks like you’re planning to enter the Pie Pageant this year,” Brittany blurted from behind. “That’s good. I always love a little healthy competition. And since I’ll probably be saying I do sometime soon, this will likely be my last year to enter. But for you, there’ll always be next year.”
Justine rolled her eyes at the snide comment.
“If I win this year,” Brittany continued, “I’ll be the first girl to win Pie Princess three years straight.”
Boy did Justine wish she could give her a run for her money. She hadn’t cared much about winning in years past, but this time, she’d love nothing more than to take the title from Brittany and rub it right in her face, along with the pie itself.
Stop, Justine. With thoughts like that she was no better than the mean girl herself.
“Oh, Brittany,” Mrs. Whipple chirped. “I’m pretty sure you held the pie hole princess every year since the third grade. You were always yapping away about something.”
Brittany’s nostrils flared. Her lips hardened into a straight line. “Very funny.”
It was very funny. Justine could hardly keep the smile off her lips. Mrs. Whipple always had been candid.
“Trevor likes it when I talk,” Brittany added with a sniff. “He says it’s what makes me such a great secretary at his dealership.”
“You betcha it does,” Toby agreed.
This was Justine’s chance to escape. “Well,” she said, “see you guys this weekend.” Quickly then, she pushed her cart toward the checkout. As much as she didn’t like the way Brittany brought up Trevor as often as she did—Justine used to really like the guy, after all—she much preferred that topic over the one about her non-existent fiancé.
Hopefully Becky, the gal at the checkout counter today, wouldn’t bring it up too.
“How are you, Justine?” Becky asked in a soft