Chapter 40
“Our jerseys came!” One of the twins came rushing into Mylie’s office.
“Well, open it!” Louise said, motioning to the hefty box that Nevaeh carried.
“Oh my God ,” Angel said. It was not an exclamation of excitement. There was pure horror written on her face.
“What is it?” Louise asked.
“These aren’t the right color!” Angel gasped. “They’re... they’re...”
Mylie stepped over to Angel and peered down into the box. “Puke green,” she finished.
“They were supposed to be moss green!” Louise replied. “I have the order slip right here.” She fished around in her purse.
“See! Moss green!”
“Well, they messed them up,” Angel said. “These are awful. We can’t wear them.”
“I don’t see that you have any choice,” Mylie replied. “You and your sister weren’t on the team last year. Even if everyone
else wears their shirts from last year, you’ll still be stuck with these.”
“Jessica is gonna flip,” Angel breathed.
“We don’t have to tell her yet,” Louise said cringing, no doubt at the thought of Jessica’s reaction to the shirts.
“The tournament is in four days,” Mylie replied. “We’ve got to tell her sooner rather than later.”
“There’s no time to fix this, right?” Angel asked.
“I don’t think the printer can fix it before Saturday,” Louise said. “I can ask, but I doubt it.”
“Go ahead and check,” Mylie said to Louise. “And nobody says anything to Jessica in the meantime.”
“Got it,” Angel and Nevaeh said in unison.
“I’m going to take these back to the shop right now,” Louise said.
“I’ll go with you,” Angel said.
Downtown Clay Creek was bustling with preparation as Mylie made her way to the Cracked Egg to meet Ben for lunch. The businesses
were decorated to the hilt, advertising their wares for the tourists and offering discounts to those who participated in the
tournament. The sheriff and the mayor were directing two poor city workers who were trying to hang a banner on Main Street.
Mylie wondered how long it would be until the city workers threatened to quit under duress.
At least three harried city employees quit and were rehired during this week. Mylie couldn’t believe they didn’t all quit
before the tournament just to send the mayor into a fit.
“You’re late,” Ben said, smiling at her.
“It’s a nightmare out here,” Mylie said, pointing to the street. “Haven’t you noticed?”
“The mayor mistook me for one of his underlings a few minutes ago,” Ben replied, shoving his hands down into the pockets of
his pants. “When I told him I didn’t work for him, he proceeded to fire me.”
Mylie laughed.
“He wanted me to climb up a very sketchy-looking ladder.”
“I’m glad you refused,” Mylie replied. “That would have been a one-way ticket to the hospital in Rockbridge.”
“I have no interest in that,” Ben said, holding the door to the Cracked Egg open for her. “Which I guess is lucky since I lost my health insurance when the mayor fired me.”
From the counter, Melissa waved at them.
“I thought you were just working the weekend?” Ben asked her.
“I’m here all this week,” Melissa replied. “To help out on account of the tournament.”
“You’d think this tournament was the Super Bowl,” Ben grumbled.
“It is for Clay Creek,” Melissa countered. “Sit down, I’ll grab you some coffee.”
“None for me,” Mylie replied, and Ben and Melissa turned to stare at her.
“I’ve already had about five cups,” she said. “I need some water.”
“Suit yourself.” Melissa shrugged and headed off.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just ask for water over coffee,” Ben said, sitting down at the counter.
“I’m dehydrated,” Mylie replied.
“Our late-night activities take it out of you?” Ben said with a wink.
Mylie shoved her shoulder into his. “Shut up.”
“You’re coming over tonight, right?” he asked.
“I’ll try,” Mylie replied. “But I’ve got to work late. This week is going to be really intense.”
“Can I help with anything?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I’m at your disposal.”
Mylie gave him a wicked grin. “Well, I already know that.”
“C’mon,” Ben said, angling his head toward her. “I want to help.”
“Okay,” Mylie replied. “Do you think you could come to the warehouse tomorrow? We’ve got to get our tent set up downtown, and I think the guys could use your help, especially if that means I can leave a couple people to work so we don’t get behind on orders.”
“Sure,” Ben said. “I can do that.”
Mylie was about to respond when the doorbell chimed and Courtney sauntered in, her eyes immediately resting on Ben. She lifted
her hand into an overexaggerated wave and headed toward them.
Beside her, Ben stiffened, a look of what Mylie could only describe as panic flashed in his eyes before he got up and said
to her, “I forgot an appointment with Courtney. I’ll be right back.”
Mylie watched him dash away, catching Courtney by the elbow and leading her outside the restaurant.
“What was that about?” Melissa asked.
“Beats me,” Mylie said with a shrug. “He said he forgot an appointment with Courtney, but I don’t know why he all of a sudden
had to take it outside.”
“Whatever keeps her outside is fine with me,” Melissa joked. “She is the pickiest woman alive. Do you know last week she asked
me to make her an egg white omelet... without the egg?”
“That doesn’t even make sense,” Mylie murmured, her attention still at the door.
“Nothin’ about her makes sense,” Melissa replied.
Mylie tried to smile at Melissa, tried to refocus on the menu, to do anything to stop the cold dread now coiling in her stomach.
She tried to shake it loose. There was too much to do this week, and she didn’t have time for this right now. If it was important,
Ben would tell her.
Wouldn’t he?