Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I nside the animal rescue charity tent, Claire looked at her watch impatiently. She’d only been here an hour and had worked up a sweat dealing with a steady stream of people all by herself. Sandee was supposed to be here, too, not that Claire really wanted to spend time with her, but the woman had never shown up! She should not have been surprised.
The tent was a burst of autumnal colors set up near the sidewalks of Main Street. Under the canopy, tables were neatly arranged and covered with cheerful tablecloths that showcased falling leaves and pumpkins. In the middle of one table sat a donation jar, surrounded by an array of pet-themed trinkets—everything from little paw-print keychains to doggy bandanas. Another table was laden with baked goodies, among which Claire’s own Beach Bones dog treats prominently stood out in their festive packaging. She’d brought them along and had pictured them competing side-by-side with Sandee’s. At least that was one benefit to the other woman not showing up.
Claire bustled about, adjusting displays and greeting passersby with an enthusiasm that belied her annoyance. The tent was located perfectly to capture the afternoon sun, which cast a warm, inviting glow over everything. The weather was splendid—mild with a slight breeze, the kind of day that made her forget winter was just around the corner.
As people meandered down Main Street, the town’s commitment to festive décor was evident everywhere. Twinkle lights adorned the shop fronts, each trying to outdo the next with an eye-catching arrangement of hay bales, scarecrows, and vibrantly colored mums. The paper luminaries, set up by locals earlier, outlined the pathways and seemed to invite evening to fall so they could show off their glow.
Claire glanced down the street to see Jane hurtling towards her. She entered the tent, a frown creasing her forehead as her eyes swept over the space.
“Hey, Claire! Wow, this all looks amazing,” Jane exclaimed, but her tone carried a note of concern.
“Thanks. What’s wrong?” Claire was genuinely pleased to see her friend but sensed something was bothering Jane.
“Well, I came because I thought you might need some moral support.” Jane glanced under a table then lowered her voice. “Where is she?”
Just then, Maxi burst into the tent, a little breathless but smiling broadly. “Hi, guys!”
“Maxi! I thought you’d be busy down at the art gallery. Did you find an artist?” Claire asked.
Maxi sighed. “No, but I needed to take a break and thought I’d stop by and?—”
“Hidey-hoo, everyone,” Andie’s voice rang out from the side of the tent.
“It’s getting a bit crowded in here.” Claire smiled at her friends. “But in a good way.”
“Claire, this is impressive, but where’s Sandee? Wasn’t she supposed to help?” Andie asked, and her eyes grew wide. “Oh no, what have you done with her?”
Claire laughed at the joke. “She was supposed to be here, but she never showed up. I should have known better.”
“That’s outrageous,” Maxi said. “You can’t do this all by yourself!”
“Actually, Marie was supposed to come by later, but she’s tied up. She’s coordinating relief for animal shelters in New York City that were affected by the floods,” Claire explained, frustration and worry mixing in her voice. “She’s stretched thin, and I don’t want to add to her stress. But yes, Sandee not showing up didn’t help.”
“Wow, who skips out on a charity thing? That’s really low,” Jane said.
Claire paused for a moment, taking in the love and support she felt from her friends. It made her reflect on the tentative plans she’d had concerning Sandee. “You know, I was actually contemplating calling a truce with Sandee over the whole Beach Bones name debacle,” she confessed.
“You were?” Maxi asked, a little surprised.
“Yeah. Tammi almost had me convinced that maybe I was wrong about Sandee. That perhaps she had good intentions and it was all a big misunderstanding,” Claire explained, glancing at the assorted Beach Bones dog treats neatly arranged on a table.
“But her not showing up today...” Maxi trailed off, letting Claire finish the thought.
Claire shook her head, her expression resolute. “Exactly. It’s like she’s shown her true colors. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, but not now. There’s no way I’m letting her use the Beach Bones name.”
“You go!” Andie turned around to look at the people who had gathered to look at the various items for sale. “Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and help these people out.”
Maxi stuffed her tote bag under the table. “What can we do to help?”
“Yeah, consider us your unofficial volunteers for the day,” Jane added.
Claire looked at her friends, and her tension seemed to melt away. “You guys are amazing. Thank you so much.”