and there’s nothing on this earth as resourceful and determined as a Newberry woman.” He squeezed her hand tight. “I think it’s time for you to claim that. Go to college if you want, honey. See some more of the world. I’ll help you get on your feet in whatever way you need.”
The shock had barely registered with Tanyalee when Viv’s voice blared out through the screen door, again with suspicious timing. “Come on, now. Y’all don’t expect me to eat this pot roast and peach pie all by my lonesome, do you?”
Chapter 16
Fern pounded her pencil eraser into the open notebook. “Eight people?” She glanced up at Tanyalee, her eyebrows scrunched together. “How the hell’re we supposed to find eight people in this town who can bowl?”
“Please do not curse in the bakery, Fern.” Tanyalee continued to trifold the newly printed Candy Pants menus, using a straight edge for guidance, because nothing would say “tacky” like an uneven fold on opening day. “Besides, we only need six people in addition to the two of us, and I hear Gladys is a very good bowler.”
“Hallelujah! We’ve got an eighty-year-old in high heels, a twelve-year-old orphan, and Hillbilly Barbie. Are we gonna kick ass, or what?”
Tanyalee set aside the ruler, tidied up her stack of menus, and gave Fern an opportunity to apologize. She waited patiently.
“Sorry for the hillbilly thing.”
“Thankyousoverymuch.”
Tanyalee pressed her fingertips into the bridge of her nose and tried to hear herself think. It was downright deafening in the unfinished restaurant that afternoon. Power drills buzzed. Electricians shouted at each other. Aluminum ladders banged around as the painters finished touching up the crown molding in the dining area. Opening day was that Saturday, and Tanyalee had been working full-time for the last week. She had to admit that she’d felt a part of something special helping Candy to make her dream a reality. Someday she hoped she would do the same for herself.
“Well, now, Fern, as far as the bowling team goes, maybe we need to think out of the box.”
Fern dropped her pencil in defeat. “Outa the box, under the box … I still don’t see how the hell we’re going to find people for a stupid bowl-a-thon that’s only a week away!” Fern stopped and tipped her head. “Hey, how about your sister and her husband?”
A rush of panic went through Tanyalee’s body, hot and quick. It must have shown on her face because Fern squinted at her.
“You okay?”
“What a silly question! Of course I am. Unfortunately, I do not believe Cheri and J.J. are experienced bowlers.”
How could she tell Fern that she wouldn’t even know if she had a sister until the end of that evening? She was to meet Cheri at six P.M. at the lake house for a glass of tea and a chat. J.J. would be working late so they would have some privacy, Cheri had said. Tanyalee knew what that statement really meant: J.J. would stay as far away as humanly possible while Tanyalee was around.
Fern leaned closer and peered at her. “You look like you just got a hold of some bad mayonnaise or something.”
Tanyalee managed to laugh. Condiments surely were not to blame, since she’d been so anxious that she’d barely eaten in two days. “How about Mrs. Stockslager? Is Bitsy already on a team?”
Fern sighed. “She can’t be on a team because she’s in charge of the whole event. That would be picking favorites.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
“How about your hottie DEA agent boyfriend?”
Tanyalee’s mouth fell open. “I do not have a boyfriend!”
Fern rolled her eyes. “Then who’s been calling you nonstop for the whole week? I swear, at this point I think you either need to have the dude arrested or tell him to get lost and put him out of his misery. Just sayin’.”
“Fern Bisbee!” Tanyalee stood from the café table and gathered her supplies, trying to pull herself together. Fern had exaggerated. Dante called her almost every afternoon, yet on the rare occasions he left a message it was always the same: “Hope you’re doing well. I’m thinking of you.” Tanyalee supposed he was being sweet and supportive—while making sure she knew he was waiting—but no matter how much of a gentleman Dante Cabrera was, she was not ready to face him.
“Let’s go back to the office and see what else Candy needs.” Tanyalee motioned for Fern to gather her things and join her. “She might want us to post some more flyers around town.”
In the hallway