Chapter 29 Get Your Silver Foxes Here!
“Luke, you didn’t!”
“I did.”
The park gardens were bustling with people, and many of them stopped by the tater twister stall, the same one that had been at the rodeo.
“How did you get them to do it?” Hallie asked.
“I am a pretty good negotiator, even if I say so myself,” Luke declared, folding his arms as he admired the food stall contentedly.
“Thanks, this is going to bring in a lot of extra cash,” Hallie said.
Everything seemed to be going well, and the Silver Fox auction was about to start. Hallie just hoped people would bid a good amount of money on the seniors.
Eloise had already set the first silver fox on a small stage, though he did not look very foxy. She rang the bell to begin the auction.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce our first silver fox today, Wyatt. His hobbies include smoking cigars, watching the news, and breeding guinea pigs!”
Although Eloise tried to make it sound upbeat, the people who gathered around looked on the ‘eligible bachelor’ with more amusement than interest. He was a wrinkled fellow with a peevish countenance, and Hallie was worried no one would bid on him at all.
“I’m going to start the bidding at ten dollars for this very eligible bachelor,” Eloise announced.
Some people in the crowd snickered, and the ‘silver fox’ looked even grumpier.
“Come on, people. This is to benefit all seniors in our county. The proceeds will go to buying food and medication for those in need. Do I hear ten dollars?”
A young man in the crowd raised his hand.
“All right!” Eloise exclaimed, looking surprised. “Ten dollars, do I hear more?”
People laughed even more, seeing that no one wanted to offer another bid.
“Sold for ten dollars!” Eloise said.
The young man came up to claim his prize, saying, “He’s my uncle, and he’ll be forced to spend time with me instead of being cooped up at his house all day like he usually does.”
The old man stood up and gave the tiniest hint of a smile.
“Up next, we have a very eligible bachelorette by the name of Rose,” Eloise said.
Hallie grinned and waved as her Gigi went up to the stage. Gigi had pulled out all the stops, wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat decorated with roses and a long, elegant gown.
“Rose enjoys baking, swimming, and going for long nature walks,” Eloise announced. “I will start the bidding at ten dollars.”
At once, Eloise pointed to Luke, who had his hand raised.
“Ten dollars,” he said.
“Do I hear more?” Eloise asked.
For a while, no one spoke. Then a stylishly dressed older gentleman with salt and pepper hair raised his hand and said, “Twenty dollars.”
Luke countered right away with thirty dollars.
Hallie chuckled as she watched the bidding war continue. She had no idea Luke was going to bid on Gigi. His hand kept going up, and he never hesitated.
“Seventy,” the elegant old man said calmly.
“Eighty,” Luke countered.
“Ninety.”
“One hundred!”
The people cheered, and there was an air of excitement all around. “Are they really bidding this much on an old lady?” a woman in the crowd asked.
“Hey!” Hallie shouted. “She’s not old, she’s mature.”
“One hundred and fifty,” the older man suddenly said.
For the first time, there was silence. Eloise started to say, “Do I hear more?”
Then, Luke said, “Two hundred,” and the crowd erupted into loud cheers.
“Three hundred dollars,” declared the old gentleman.
“Three hundred,” Eloise announced, “Do I hear more?”
Luke didn’t say anything.
“Three hundred, going once, going twice, sold!”
Gigi smiled modestly at the old gentleman as he came up to the stage to meet her. She waved to the crowd like a celebrity as they walked off the stage together.
“I don’t know if I should be relieved that you’re not in love with my grandmother,” Hallie said, while Luke smiled mysteriously, “or mad that you gave up in your crazy bidding war.”
“It wasn’t crazy, but a carefully orchestrated operation,” Luke replied.
“Huh?”
Luke smiled in that self-satisfied way that he had. “I guess I can tell you now. Your Gigi asked me to bid on her, and to keep raising the price if Bob Masone was to make a bid.”
“Oh, was that the famous Bob?” Hallie asked.
“Yeah, she showed me a picture of him and everything while you were in the other room,” Luke said.
Hallie chuckled, but then knowing Gigi and how fussy she was, she should have expected her not to leave the results of the auction to random chance. “This really was meticulously planned.”
“She asked me to stop bidding if Bob took it up to a hundred,” Luke added.
Hallie laughed uproariously. “Way to test her potential boyfriend! Hey, why did you keep going then?”
Luke shrugged with a fanciful smile. “I guess I wanted to test him too. Your Gigi deserves the very best.”
“Well, I’m glad you don’t have a date with my grandmother,” Hallie said, trying not to show how impressed she was. This was probably just what he was hoping for, trying to be the hero so she would like him more.
The auction continued, and Luke slipped away as Hallie ran into some people she knew. This time, she felt fairly certain he wouldn’t be up to his old tricks. Sure enough, he came back soon, bearing a box of croissants.
“Choose your flavor, madame,” he said, “Chocolate, plain, or almond.”
“Ooh, almond!” she said, “I like the plain ones too. Thank you!”
They sat down on a bench in a quieter area of the grounds, enjoying the treats. The hot afternoon air smelled like ozone, and leaves rustled in the breeze. Hallie was enjoying the day like she hadn’t in a long time.
“This croissant is absolutely delicious,” she said.
She noticed Luke watching her in an intense way. “Am I right in guessing it’s your favorite pastry?”
“I wouldn’t say it was my favorite.”
“Damn! I had a feeling it was croissants, but I guess I was wrong.”
Hallie wondered why he seemed so upset about it. Then she remembered what Gigi said about the perfect boyfriend who would bring her favorite pastry to comfort her.
He was trying so hard! It was enough to make her forgive all the trouble he had caused by trying to be Casanova, though not enough to make her fall for his bad boy charm.
“Thank you for what you did for Gigi,” she said, “She seems so happy.”
“It was my pleasure,” Luke replied. “I think everyone deserves a chance at love.”
A momentary cloud of sadness passed over his eyes. Hallie wondered what could have happened in his past. Perhaps he thought everyone deserved a chance but him?