“Charming,” Libby muttered. At the beep, she said, “So, Emma . . . just wondering what the hell? You said you’d come and help me. I thought that meant you’d actually come to Pine River and help me. Would it be so hard for you to pick up the phone and tell me you’re not coming? Seriously, Emma—look around LA for your manners. Oh, FYI, don’t bother coming now. I’ve put the race together and turns out you were right. I didn’t need you.” She clicked off.
The parking spots outside the Grizzly were filled with committee member cars. Inside, Libby walked in to complete chaos—everyone was stepping around everyone else in a frantic attempt to set up the auction items and tag them with the pretty handwritten calligraphy Karen had done.
Gwen in particular seemed a little frantic.
“She’s got her kid’s dance recital at five-thirty, and then the cocktail party starts here at six,” Karen explained when she caught Libby watching as Gwen dressed down one of the waiters on hand for the evening. “She doesn’t have a moment. In fact, she will miss most of the cocktail party to see her daughter’s dance recital, get dressed, and get back here in time to emcee. She’s just a little stressed,” she said laughingly.
Libby remembered the promise she’d made to Alice, that she’d try and make her recital. More than anything, Libby wished she could see Alice dance. Of course, that was out of the question, given her relationship with Gwen and Ryan.
She still missed Alice and Max so much. Sometimes, she could feel that ache in her bones. Sometimes, she would be awakened by the sound of one of them calling her name, a waking dream. Libby had not seen Alice or Max once in the last month, other than those times she drove by the school. They’d never come with Gwen to the meetings. No one had ever dropped them off to meet their mother.
Libby turned away from Karen now, imagining Alice in her dance costume, a purple butterfly. She could picture her practicing the twirls and dips and bows she would be required to make, over and over again, up and down the hall. She could see Max behind her, his imaginary gun pointed at his sister, diving behind the hall table to hide.
Libby pulled out the next auction item.
“Gross,” Karen said, looking over Libby’s shoulder. Libby looked at what she held in her hand. It was a stuffed quail to be set up with the hunting-lease display. Someone had already turned on an iPad which rotated pictures of happy hunters with dead bucks.
“You know, I have to say, you’ve done a really good job,” Karen said to Libby as they arranged the items.
She said it as if she had been expecting the complete opposite, and Libby could feel herself coloring. “Thanks,” she said. She wanted to tell Karen that she always did a good job, and one bad summer did not define a person.
“I never put much stock into the talk that was going around town,” Karen said, her voice lower. “My first husband cheated on me, and let me tell you, it was a good thing he got to the butcher knife before I did. Okay, I’ve got to go help Deb get that sewing machine out of her car.”
Libby appreciated the vote of confidence.
The setup for the auction ran a little longer than they expected, and at the end, most everyone was hurrying out the door to dress for the evening. Libby had come dressed, as a drive back to Homecoming Ranch wasn’t practical. At four-thirty, only Gwen, Dani, and Libby were left.
The room looked just about complete. Libby was thinking of popping into the Grizzly Café for some coffee when Gwen suddenly gasped, startling Dani and Libby.
“The posters!” Gwen cried. “The big posters for the stage! They’re our displays!”
“Posters of what?” Libby asked.
“Of the van, of Leo. We had a big display made so everyone can see why we are raising money,” Gwen exclaimed, and began to search her purse for her phone. “They cost us a lot of money. They’re at the printer—I have to pick them up by five!”
“You’ve got time to make it,” Dani said, looking at her watch.
“No, no, you don’t understand. They’re huge! I need Ryan’s truck to get them, and he’s at work.” She jabbed at the number pad on her phone, calling the printer. She explained the situation and asked if anyone could deliver the posters. Her shoulders sagged. “They don’t have anyone who can come. I have to go get them.”
“Well go get them, Gwen,” Dani said. “Libby and I can finish up here.”
“I can’t go and get them. My kids are coming here. The babysitter is dropping them off and I have to get them to the school, because Alice has her dance recital today.”
Libby managed to suppress a small gasp of delight.
“Libby, please go and get the posters,” Gwen pleaded.
“Me?” Libby asked. “My car is much smaller than yours.”
Gwen looked frantic. “I don’t know what to do.” She chewed her bottom lip, thinking.
“Now, Gwen, run and go get those posters,” Dani said. “We’ll be here. We can look after a couple of kids for a few minutes.”
Gwen’s head came up at that, and she leveled a brown-eyed gaze on Libby.
“Hey,” Libby started, but Dani quickly interceded.
“Libby has worked really hard on this committee, Gwen, and she hasn’t said one word to you about the situation between the two of you. It will be fine.”