“Glad to see you two have rekindled your friendship,” Emily said as they settled their mothers next to each other at the card table. Andie had a feeling their newfound camaraderie might be temporary, but it was what it was.
“Yes, as soon as you return my Nancy Drew mystery book,” Addie said.
“What are you talking about?” Sadie bristled. “I don’t have your book.”
“Yes, you do. I left it at your house,” Addie insisted.
“No, you must be mistaken.” Sadie picked up the deck of cards and randomly started turning them over.
“I don’t think so. It was right in your… hmm… now where was that?”
“See? You can’t remember.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Addie huffed. “I’m moving across the table.” Addie switched chairs. Sadie appeared unaffected.
Emily and Andie retreated to the hallway.
“Darn, I thought for a minute there they’d forget about their feud and return to being friends,” Emily said.
“They’re like oil and water. I’m sure they’ve forgotten what their feud was even about.”
“They’ve forgotten most everything else, unfortunately.” Emily’s expression turned sad as she watched her mother, but then she sighed and turned back to Andie. “Did your sister have any ideas for advertising?”
“She gave me an idea of someone I can ask. Jules over at Curlz. She actually might be here visiting her grandmother.” Andie looked down the hallway to see Rita gliding toward them in her wheelchair.
“Hi there! How are things? I heard you two have a plan for saving your house,” Rita said.
“News travels fast,” Emily said.
Rita smiled. “Good news does.”
“Yes, it is good news,” Emily agreed.
“And how are things at the antiques shop?” Rita asked Andie.
“Great. Settling in. I’ve been kind of busy at the Thompson house, but I managed to sell a few items at the shop here and there.”
“I saw those gorgeous Frozen Charlottes you sold to Jules for her grandmother,” Rita said. “Rena was very comforted by them.”
“That’s great. You haven’t seen Jules here today, have you? I have a question that actually has to do with Emily’s house. She might be able to help us.”
“Oh, she’s not here. Her grandmother isn’t doing well and was transferred to the hospital this morning.” Rita looked sad.
“Oh! That’s too bad. Poor Jules. I guess it will have to wait.” Andie turned to Emily. “I’ll see if she’s at the salon when I go home tonight. In the meantime we still have plenty to do.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
When Andie arrived home later that night, she saw Jules cashing out a client at Curlz. Hopefully her grandmother was doing better, or at least Jules wasn’t too distraught to work. And hopefully it wouldn’t be a bad time to ask her advice about the advertising.
“Hey, Andie.” Jules’s smile brightened when Andie walked in as the client was exiting.
“Hey. I heard your grandmother wasn’t doing well. Sorry about that.”
Jules’s smile faltered. “Thanks. It’s not a surprise, but it still hurts.”
Mary, who had been stocking the hair products on the shelf behind the register, slipped her arm around Jules’s shoulders. “It does, but remember you had a lot of good times with Rena, and you were there when it counted.”
“I know.”
