“Is something the matter, Maxie?”Lexie rubbed her arm comfortingly.“You don’t seem to be yourself today.”
“I have a headache,” she answered truthfully.It was about to split her head right open, but it went well with the ache in her heart and the hole in her stomach.
She needed to talk with Zac.She had to straighten everything out, but in order to do that she had to take the initiative.Unfortunately, her chutzpah had gotten up and left.She didn’t know where or how to even start.He’d been intimidating enough when she’d spied on him in his uniform from behind potted plants.She didn’t know how she’d ever approach him now that things had gotten so convoluted…and they’d become lovers…
Her cheeks heated, and she turned into the booth.“I think I have some aspirin.”
She found some water to help the pills go down, but once Roxie and Lexie learned she wasn’t feeling well, they insisted that she rest in the shade.The heat hadn’t pumped up to uncomfortable levels yet, but the sun was bright.She sat on a stool they’d brought and lay her head in her hands.
She was reverting; she could feel it with every fiber of her being.That hand that used to snatch her back from doing things had her by the throat.It had thrown her to the ground and was sitting on her.She was frozen, unable to do the things she wanted to do.
The things sheneededto do.
“Maxie?”
She lifted her head at the sound of yet another male voice.
“Wrong sister.”Lexie smiled and pointed.“She’s sitting on the chair.”
“Ah.”Martin pulled up straighter, but his cheeks flushed.“I didn’t really think you were the sheriff’s cousins, you know.”
“Of course, you didn’t.That was just a little inside joke between us, right?”
“Right.”He rubbed his hands in his habitual circular motion, but then seemed to remember the reason for his visit.“Have either of you seen an extra cashbox lying around?”
Maxie glanced into the booth.Her own gray metallic box was right where she’d put it.“No.Why?”
“Becky can’t find hers.”
“Oh no.”That wasn’t good.Maxie had left most of the money she’d made yesterday in the safe she had at the flower shop.The bank had been closed by the time things had wrapped up.She’d only brought enough today to make change, but that wasn’t an insignificant amount of cash for a small business like hers.It had to be the same for Becky.“Has she checked her van?”
“I just looked there.”
“Have you tried calling the coffee shop?Maybe she left it behind by mistake.”Maxie knew how confusing things could get.There was so much to keep track of.Fortunately, with the crew she’d brought, nobody had taken their eyes off The Green Thumb’s cashbox.
“I thought I saw it today, but that’s a good idea.”He pulled his phone out of his back pocket and started to dial.
“This doesn’t sound right.”Roxie walked away to talk to Becky at the Java Mama booth and then continued down the main thoroughfare.
Maxie glanced around the festival area.It was early, but things were stepping up.A group of kids were riding their bikes.Vendors were setting out their wares, while helpers brought in more items from their vehicles.Early shoppers moseyed on by, checking out the best spots, while a few tourists ventured along the trail to see the falls.All in all, it wasn’t a good spot to misplace cash.
Becky hurried over.For once her expression wasn’t bright and sunny.She looked anxiously at Martin on the phone, but he was shaking his head by the time he hung up.“It’s not at the shop, either.”
“Darn it.”The barista raked a hand through her curls, making them look like pinwheels sticking out this way and that.“Where did it go?”
“Could you have dropped it somewhere?”Lexie asked.
“I don’t think so.We would have heard it, especially with all the coins in there.”
“How much did you lose?”Maxie asked.
“Not a whole lot.It’s coffee.I don’t need a lot to make change.Still…”
“Call Zac,” Roxie ordered as she strode back onto the scene.
Maxie’s stomach squeezed, and she rocked her foot back onto its heel.“Why?”
She didn’t want to blow things out of proportion.He was already angry with her, and they hadn’t even helped Martin and Becky look yet.The money box could be hidden under a bag of coffee beans for all they knew.
