Chapter 5 #2
Maggie hands the two large shopping bags to me. “Make sure you get her some flat sandals too. Can’t have her getting blisters in this heat.”
Valentina’s eyes cross, but she smooths her face and turns to Maggie. It looks a bit like a robot spasming, but she throws her arms around Maggie and squeezes a squeak out of her. It only takes a moment for Maggie to laugh and hug her back.
“Thank you so much for your help, Maggie. I’m so excited to wear these clothes.”
I’m still shaking my head at her outright lie when we get outside the boutique. The second the door shuts behind us, Valentina’s shoulders drop away from her ears.
“What the chicken-fried nonsense is happening?” she mutters, looking a bit lost.
I swallow my bark of laughter. That look on her face is enough to make me edge away from her in case she packed another knife in her purse.
“Let’s put these in the car and then I need to stop by my boutique to check in.”
Valentina mutters unintelligibly under her breath while we walk to my car and stow her purchases.
She keeps fiddling with the straps of the dress as we walk along the sidewalk that skirts the four sides of the Square.
I finally reach out and take her hand in mine.
Her gait hitches, but she recovers quickly.
“Stop messing with it. You look fine.”
“What a ringing endorsement. I can see why you get all the ladies,” she drawls dryly.
Rolling my eyes, I ignore her jab. I’m mid-thought about how I’m somehow having a good time with Valentina when we run into the last person I wanted to see this soon into our subterfuge.
We’re so close, yet so far away. We’re literally one shop down from my boutique as Birdie accosts us.
God bless her, but she’s the biggest gossip in town, though she’s recently changed her ways when it comes to negative news.
She still gossips, but always puts a disclaimer on it like that somehow makes it less damaging if you’re the focus of her gossip.
“Well, I’ll be. It’s Deuce St. Legare holding hands with a tall drink of water. Who might you be, sweetheart?” Birdie holds out her hand, every finger covered in brightly colored rings. I don’t think she wears rings for the same reason my mother does.
“This is Landry Greer, my girlfriend,” I interject quickly. “Landry, this is Birdie. She’s practically an institution in this town.”
Valentina shakes Birdie’s hand, a fake serene smile plastered across her face. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
Birdie’s face lights up with the tidbit of new gossip. “Girlfriend! Oh my. You’re one lucky girl, Landry. Our Deuce is quite the catch.”
Valentina side-eyes me. “So I’ve heard.”
Birdie grips the long chain of pearls lying on her ample chest. “Oh yes, he’s a fan favorite at the annual Battle of the Boutiques. Will you be sticking around for that?”
“No, I don’t know about—”
“Yes!” Valentina cuts me off. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it. Not if it includes my honeybear.”
Birdie’s mouth drops open as wide as her eyes behind those thick glasses. “You call him honeybear? Oh dear Lord in Heaven, that’s precious.”
“The Battle of the Boutiques is really not a big deal,” I say, trying to lower the expectations of everyone before things get out of hand.
Birdie is known to exaggerate a bit when she spreads her gossip.
“Just a day where we highlight the four main boutiques on the Square. It’s loud and long and busy.
I won’t really have time to be with you anyway. ”
Valentina puts her hand on my chest, snuggling into my side. It’s like trying to snuggle a porcupine. “Oh, don’t you worry about a thing! Not only will I be there, I’ll help you this year!”
Birdie claps her hands together like this is the best thing she’s ever heard. I think it sounds like a nightmare.
“No, no, baby. I don’t want you working.” I pat her hand that’s still on my chest.
Birdie makes a noise that sounds like she sucked in way too much air to not get the hiccups as a result.
Then all we see is the top of her head as she reaches into her large handbag.
I glare at Valentina who blinks at me in fake innocence.
I draw my finger across my neck, but when Birdie lifts her head—cell phone in hand—Valentina doesn’t seem to get the message.
“I must tell Mary London. I know she just had that baby, but she’s a planner, you know? I’ll tell her you’ll be helping Deuce.”
“Wonderful,” Valentina purrs. “So lovely to meet you, Birdie.”
“Likewise, honey. Welcome to Heaven!” Birdie moves off down the sidewalk without lifting her head from the phone. Her thumbs are already flying, spreading the news of Landry Greer and her involvement with me.
I spin Valentina around and march off, nearly dragging her.
“Where are we going?”
“To the town hall. Since you’re volunteering for things, I figured you could sign up to become the next mayor of Heaven.”
Valentina digs her heels in to bring us to a stop. She shoots me a deadpan look that I return just as fiercely. “Don’t be jealous that I might actually do a better job during this Battle of the Boutiques than you.”
I grin, feeling like she deserves everything that’s coming to her. “You have no idea what you just volunteered for, honeybear.”