We spent the rest of the day and into the evening putting up all the drapes and testing the layout.
“Why is Ida on this vendor list?” Erika asked as we went through to make sure we had space for everyone and that the tables, shelving, and other items met their specifications.
Since this was a high-end event, we weren’t just popping up plastic tables. We had nice reclaimed-wood and metal ones with handmade wooden crates should people need extra space for display or demonstrations.
“Parker let her in if you can believe it,” I said.
“She needs to go in a corner somewhere.”
“She has erectile-dysfunction cakes to pass out,” I said.
Erika crossed herself. “Some poor old man is going to eat one of those and have a heart attack, and this is going to be the last event this nonprofit ever holds.”
“Don’t stress me out even more,” I groaned.
“Where’s the sponsor board?” Jasmine asked me. “I want to set that up and do a little decorating on it. I can’t find it.”
We rummaged around in the boxes.
“Shoot, I think I left it in the office. I was a little distracted last night.” I blushed.
“Dirty girl!” Jasmine said, poking me. “I can ask Amelia to go grab it.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it. She just returned from her trip and has a lot on her plate. I’ll grab it,” I said, taking my keys out of my purse.
It was dark and cold outside as I hurried to my car. At least traffic was light as I drove through town to the PharmaTech campus. The poster was in the print room. I rolled it up and yawned as I headed back out.
“That’s the problem with small towns. I can’t get a coffee from Grey Dove Bistro at nine in the evening,” I said, pulling out my phone. Maybe there was a restaurant that had coffee to go.
“Namaste, Sadie!”
“Dad and—” A sour look came over my face. “Moonbeam.”
“Sadie, darling!”
I grimaced, trying to protect the poster as my father’s girlfriend hugged me. Moonbeam was the woman my father had run off with. She was willowy and blond and only a couple of years older than me.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she said. “I can feel our spirits joining. You and I are connected the same way the moon and the tide are.”
“Okay, yeah. I have things to do. Why don’t you go off and commune with the spirits somewhere where it doesn’t interfere with my big event?” I said, trying to disentangle myself from Moonbeam. She was wearing strands of beads and layers of lacy shawls, and they were caught on my purse strap. “Why are you two ambushing me?”
“This isn’t an ambush, it’s an intervention. I’m trying to protect you for your own good,” my father insisted.
“Your chakras are not aligned,” Moonbeam added.
“Probably because I’m stressed about the money that you stole,” I hissed at my father.
“We’re building a legacy, Sadie. You’ll see. Just say you’ll come out west with us,” he insisted, fiddling with his hat.
“The desert is magical. There’s a large flat rock that brings you close to the sun. We’ll do yoga,” Moonbeam said, swaying slightly.
I finally disentangled myself from her.
“Come and meet my sisters,” she said. “Say you will!” She grabbed my hands.
“Moonbeam just really wanted to tell you in person how much it would mean if you came out west,” my father said apologetically. “But I know your terms. The money cleared your account, didn’t it?” He was earnest.
“Yes, it did,” I said grudgingly.
