“They are fun. I’m glad we caught this one.” Beverly stood.
“I’m going to see if I can catch Miss Eleanor and let her know I’ll help with her fundraiser.”
“Here, I’ll go with you,” Dale said. “I’ve been meaning to volunteer too.”
“I’ll catch you later at home. I want to run by the shop.” Beverly didn’t really need to go by the shop but figured she’d give Maxine and Dale some time together. Never hurt to give people a gentle push.
Oh, look at her. Trying to be the matchmaker. She shook her head at herself as she slung the chair strap over her shoulder.
“Okay, see you back at the cottage.” Maxine nodded before turning and heading over toward Eleanor.
CHAPTER6
Dale walked beside Maxine as they headed across the grassy area, over to where Eleanor was standing. Maxine put on a wide smile as she approached. “Miss Eleanor. I wanted to volunteer for the fundraiser next weekend. Saturday, right?”
Eleanor eyed her. “Yes. I wondered if you were going to help out or not.”
“I… uh… of course I want to help.” She struggled to keep from flinching as Eleanor frowned at her.
“I’d like to help out too.” Dale stepped in and offered. “I can help set up, or whatever you need.”
“We’re setting up at eight a.m. sharp on Saturday. We need tables set up for the silent auction. And we’ll have the bake sale, of course.”
“I’ll be there right at eight,” Dale assured her.
Eleanor turned to her, and her eyes narrowed into a quizzical look. “And I need someone to run the bake sale table. Handle the cash. Do you think you can manage that?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Maxine was certain Miss Eleanor still pictured her as some ten-year-old girl incapable of handling any responsibility.
“Good. I expect you both at eight.” Eleanor gave them both a stern look. She squared her shoulders, turned, and headed away, her stride slow but steady as she moved.
“I guess a thank you was a little too much for her,” Maxine said under her breath as she watched Eleanor walk over to the sidewalk, surprisingly spry for her age. She turned to Dale, who was grinning at her. “Oh, I guess you heard that. Not very nice of me. Sheisorganizing the whole fundraiser. She just needs volunteers.”
“Miss Eleanor is…” He shrugged. “I don’t even know how to describe her. But she gets things done.”
“That she does. Though she makes me feel like I’m a kid.”
“She does that to me too. I’ve learned to live with it.” He laughed. “Here, let me take your chair and I’ll walk you home.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I’d like to,” he insisted as he took her chair and flung the carrying strap over his shoulder. “And Beverly’s house is on the way to mine.”
“Okay, in that case, thank you.” When was the last time a man had walked her home? Not that it meant anything. He was just being nice. Friendly. Welcoming her to town.
They headed down the sidewalk toward Beverly’s, he pointed out interesting things along the way. A new shop that had gone in on Main Street at the beginning of the year. The new windows in city hall. A large poinciana tree that had weathered the last hurricane, much to the surprise and delight of everyone.
“You seem to know everything that’s happening here in Magnolia.” She slowed down as they got in front of Beverly’s house.
“It’s a small town. Everyone knows everything.” He shrugged.
“I’d forgotten about that. It’s sure hard to keep anything secret here in Magnolia.”
He shook his head and gave her a grin. “I wouldn’t even try.”
She took her chair from him. “Thanks for the company on the walk home.”
“My pleasure.” He nodded.
