“Good night.” Her pulse was racing as she jogged over to her car and unlocked it. She hoped to see him again very soon.
***
Garrett leaned in the doorway of the band room the following afternoon. “What are your plans for the weekend?”
“I was hoping to catch up with an old friend who’s in town temporarily.” Drew walked over from his desk in the far corner of the large room equipped with risers and music stands for the middle school band. “That reminds me. Her brother-in-law is looking for a job. Have you heard about any IT jobs with the school system?”
“I’ll ask around. Who’s the old friend?”
“Her name is Kacey. We were close from middle school until just before graduation.”
“Did you date her?” Garrett’s dark eyebrows lifted.
Drew sank down onto a chair by the door. “No, because I was too chicken to ask her out back then.”
“Is she married?”
“No.”
“Is she dating anyone?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Do you have feelings for her?”
“Absolutely.”
“So what are you waiting for?” Garrett said. “Go after her.”
“She’s not planning to stay here. Once she finds a new roommate, she’s heading back to Charlotte.”
“But she’s here now. You need to find a way to convince her to stay.”
Drew folded his arms over his chest and smiled. “You’re right.” A plan was beginning to form in his mind.
***
Friday afternoon, Kacey stood at the cash register in the bakery and rang up an order for a middle-aged woman she’d known nearly all her life. “May I get you anything else, Mrs.Dixon?”
“No, thank you. I believe those boxes of assorted cookies are perfect for the ladies’ social at church tomorrow.” She handed Kacey her card.
“I agree.” Kacey ran the card and then handed it back with the receipt before placing the two boxes in a shopping bag sporting the bakery’s logo.
Mom stepped out from the kitchen. “Loretta. So nice to see you.”
“You, too, Monica,” Mrs.Dixon said as she picked up her bag. “I can’t believe Thanksgiving is only two weeks away.”
“Where has the year gone?” Mom asked.
“I was just thinking on the way over here that I need to start on my Christmas cards. I always mail them out the day after Thanksgiving.”
Kacey leaned forward on the counter. “You’re very organized, Mrs.Dixon.”
“Well, Kacey doesn’t know it yet, but I plan to enlist her to help me with Christmas cards this year.” Mom looped her arm around Kacey’s shoulder.
“Is that right?” Kacey asked. “I’ll add that to my list of duties while I’m home. You do know I’m a graphic designer. How about I design a beautiful Christmas card with our names already signed on it? Then all we’ll need to do is print out address labels.”
Mrs.Dixon shook her head. “No, no, no, Kacey. You need that personal touch with real signatures.”
