“Yep, pretty good likeness, eh?”
J.J. had on a ton of makeup, eyelashes, and a blonde wig that looked like she was trying to do an impression of Goldie.
“What in the world?”
“Hey, Joe, do us a favor and look out the front to make sure no one’s coming.”
“Okay, yeah, sure.”
Goldie had no idea what was happening. Libby grabbed Goldie’s hands and started talking fast.
“Somehow, this TikTok kid spotted you at the hardware store. He’s alerted the local fanboy contingent, and they’re trying to find you. They’re crawling all over town. They’re asking where you lived, where you might be staying, if anyone’s seen you at the grocery store.”
“Ugh. Shoot. We were talking too loud, Joe, see?”
Joe shrugged.
“Look, switch with her.”
With no regard to the fact that Joe was still in the vicinity,Goldie took off her floral print dress and handed it to J.J., who ditched her cut-off shorts and Detroit Tigers t-shirt.
“Wow, J.J., whatever you’re doing to stay fit is working. I’m the one they ask to do love scenes,” Goldie said. She was impressed by how adorable J.J. was. Goldie spent half her waking hours working out and denying herself food.
“Thanks, I have a hula hoop. It works like a charm. Want a free peek there, Joe?”
“Nope, just on the lookout here. I don’t need Dean rearranging my face, you evil temptresses.”
“Hey, not too shabby,” Libby remarked to J.J. “You two shorties are the same size, and with the wig, from far away, I’d be fooled.”
“Thank you, let’s hope they stay far away,” J.J. said.
“Give her your hat.”
J.J. plopped a Dean Construction trucker hat onto Goldie’s head.
“Man, Dean’s gonna want that on a poster someday,” J.J. said.
“This is all well and good, switching, but I’m not clear on what’s going on.”
“J.J. is going out the front, all the way to the airport. We’re gonna pretend you’re flying out of here.”
“Hope’s out front with Aunt Emma’s Lincoln Town Car. It’s got tinted windows. Hope’s your driver.”
“Okay?”
“Except, you’re not going to the airport. J.J. is.”
J.J. struck a pose, back of her hand on her forehead. “No picture, no pictures!”
It was starting to get clearer.
“And where am I actually going?”
“On a boat ride,” Libby said, grinning.
“In the words of Princess Leia, ‘Here they come,’” Joe called to them from the window.
“I think you should haul out a few suitcases to really sell it,” Libby said.
