*
BY THE TIME my dinner break was over, Makayla and I were both atwitter with ideas—and feeling like we were plenty capable of pulling off many of the grand ideas offered. As I said good-bye to Makayla, she gave me a warm hug and I knew we both felt better for this little time together.
Now it was time for me to make the rounds checking on our authors. I started with Lynn’s booth. She wasn’t there, but the vendor next to her informed me that she’d just left for a short dinner break. So, for twenty minutes or so, I kept busy, delivering snacks and bottled water, tissues, or anything else needed to keep our other authors comfortable while they worked. After everyone seemed settled, I picked up a steaming hot cup of coffee to take to Mama. A peace offering of sorts. I’d started to feel guilty about my bad behavior earlier that day. Maybe I didn’t like Oscar Belmonte, and even if I had good reasons for it, Mama certainly hadn’t deserved my rudeness.
Carefully worming my way through the crowds, I was just about to Pam’s booth when I heard Lynn call out my name. She was standing at Rufus Manning’s photography booth, admiring his portfolio. A quick glance told me Mama was busy with a client anyway, so I held on to the coffee while I stepped aside to say hello to Lynn. “I’m just getting ready to head back to my own booth,” she was saying. “I came over to say hi to Pam but got sidetracked by these beautiful photos.” She flipped through a couple of pages while Rufus looked on with pride. “Aren’t they lovely?”
“They sure are,” I agreed. I was suddenly reminded of Rufus’s photo of a bride and groom’s hands clasped together. The one that had been destroyed at Makayla’s shop. “Oh, Rufus. Did Makayla get hold of you today?”
“Makayla from Espresso Yourself?” He squinted with confusion. “No, I haven’t talked to her today. Why?”
I explained about the break-in at her shop. “The vandals really made a mess of things. Including much of the artwork, I’m afraid.”
“That’s just awful,” Rufus replied.
“Yes, it is,” Lynn reiterated. “You didn’t mention that at lunch today.”
“I didn’t?” I guess I didn’t. Probably because I was too distracted by other things. My eyes slid over to where Mama was tracing the lines on a young lady’s palm. The gal’s friends were leaning forward, anxiously anticipating Mama’s verdict. Whatever she said elicited a loud burst of laughter, followed by several more outstretched palms and urgent pleas for more readings. Mama could sure captivate a crowd, I thought. Then I shook my head and refocused on the conversation at hand. “Well, anyway. Makayla will probably be contacting you soon. She may need another copy for her display.”
“That’s no problem,” Rufus said. “I’ll print up another one first thing in the morning.”
“Thanks.” I raised the cup. “Well, I’d better get this over to the Amazing Althea, Babylonian Fortune-Teller, before it goes cold.”
“Hold up a second,” Lynn said, trotting after me. “Could you tell Zach that I won’t be needing a ride back to the inn? Sloan and I are going to go out for a drink after we finish tonight.” It took me a second to remember that Sloan was Dr. Meyers’s first name. I was glad to see that she and Lynn were becoming friends. “But we’re still on for tomorrow morning, right?” she asked. I nodded, and after we confirmed our plans to attend Chuck’s funeral the next day, she threw a quick wave Pam’s way and headed back to her own booth.
“Excuse me, ladies,” I said, pushing my way through the crowd around Mama. “Hot coffee coming through.”
Upon seeing me, Mama stood up and held out her hand like a traffic cop. “Give me just a moment, girls. I’ll be right back.” She came around the table and pulled me aside. “Thank ya, sugar. Coffee sounds good ’bout now.” She took a sip and then leveled her gaze on me. “I’ve been hopin’ you’d come by the booth. You still gonna need a ride home tonight?”
I forced myself not to overtly sigh as I realized the implication. “If you need to be somewhere else, I can find another way home. I mean, I understand if you have other plans,” I said, figuring she was probably picking up Oscar for a nightcap. My heart fell as I realized I’d have to get used to sharing my mother with someone else.
“Other plans?” She squinted. “No, sugar. I don’t have any plans, except to have a talk with you. If you’re willin’, that is. Seems seeing Oscar and me together has upset ya some.”
Now I did sigh. “Just surprised, I guess.” And worried that you may be falling for a crazed killer. “But I had no reason to act so rudely. I’m sorry, Mama.”
She nodded, stealing a glance back at the throng of women eagerly awaiting their readings. “We’ll talk some more tonight, hon.”