Everyone was watching her now, both in the crowd and from the stage.For a moment, time seemed to stall.It went one count beyond what was comfortable, and that invisible hand began circling her, pulling her back.But then she felt a different kind of energy.It came from behind her, warm and encouraging.Zac.
Was she going to defend her grandmother’s title or not?
She surged to her feet.“Hold on one second.I’mMaxie Miller.”
She turned towards Dan.“Excuse me, hammer man.Can I get by?”
“Hammer man?”The hardware store owner wasn’t staring at her now; he was gaping.
When he didn’t move, she shrugged and wiggled by him suggestively.The murmur in the crowd lifted to a dull roar as she started up the aisle.In that second, though, she almost lost it.She was wearing Roxie’s ankle boots, and she nearly tripped into a face plant.She had to concentrate hard on the placement of her feet.The crowd’s attention was so heavy, she thought she’d never make it to the stage, but then the most amazing thing happened.
Laughter bubbled up inside her.
When it came out, she felt the most incredible sense of freedom.With a smile on her face, she flipped her hair over her shoulder and began to strut.
Onstage, Lexie’s eyes bugged out, and Roxie clapped a hand over her mouth.
Maxie took that as a positive sign.She let her hips swivel, and Martin Shimwell’s jaw went slack as he returned to his seat in the crowd.Good, that was the reaction she’d seen men have all day long around Roxie.Her confidence soared, even though her T-shirt was knotted high around her waist and a good amount of skin was showing.She waved at Becky along the aisle and blew a kiss to a middle-schooler whose eyes were the size of saucers.
A wolf-whistle pierced the air, and she stopped on the steps up to the stage.She looked back at the crowd and found Zac teasing her once again.She met his challenge dead-on and gave him a flounce and curtsy.
Cam burst out in laughter at Zac’s side.
Once onstage, she moved to stand by the other Maxie Millers.By now, the crowd was atwitter, and the emcee was flummoxed.He considered them one by one and shook his head.
“I’ve got to admit, folks, I went to school with Maxie, and I don’t know which is which.”He faced the crowd.“So, you’re going to have to tell me.Which one is she?”
Idiot Ronnie Nealson.She’d sat behind him for an entire year in biology class.
He pointed at Roxie, who was still in character as Lexie.“Maxie number one?”
Roxie lifted her hand and gave a ladylike wave.Applause rang out.
“Maxie number two?”This time it was Lexie’s turn.She smiled shyly and cocked her foot back on its heel.She nodded before disappearing at Roxie’s side.Applause rang out again, this time more loudly.
“Or finally, Maxie number three?”
Without missing a beat, Maxie stepped forward.She pumped her fist in the air and gave a heartywhoop whoop, which made both Zac and Cam nearly double over.
The crowd thought they had things figured out and remained quiet.With a conspiratorial look at Cam, Zac let out another wolf-whistle.His new buddy joined in with applause and a catcall.They both got to their feet, and more than one person turned to frown.
Lexie broke character and waved at them, trying to get them to sit down and be quiet.
The boys fell into their chairs, laughing.By now, everyone was baffled.Both men had been seen with Maxie—or someone who looked a lot like her.
Wouldn’t they know best?
“I don’t know how she’s pulled this trick off, everyone,” the emcee confessed.“Shall we see?Will the real Maxie Miller please step forward?”
Roxie stepped up smartly, but then slinked back into line.Lexie stayed where she was and gave Maxie a nudge.She stumbled a step forward in her unfamiliar boots.When she stayed in place, though, the crowd inhaled in surprise.
Now that the gig was up, she gave a more uncertain wave.Her sisters grinned.
Finally, they all dropped their playacting, and Roxie and Lexie both pointed at the one, true Maxie.The crowd was stunned.One by one, though, they started clapping and rose to their feet.
Tears unexpectedly pressed at Maxie’s eyes.She hadn’t wanted to believe she was adopted.Her life had been thrown cattywampus by the sisters’ arrival, and she’d been angry with denial.She couldn’t accept it, but today she wasn’t hiding from the truth.
Still, she was shocked when she found herself stepping up to the microphone.
