That afternoon, she drove over to the community center. She hadn’t wanted to shut down the bakery for a full day, but it really couldn’t be avoided, not if she wished to stay on track with thesoiree. There were sacrifices to be made, and apparently hers involved her paycheck.
Jack was already at the community center testing out the sound system when she stepped into the big hall. An older volunteer named Debbie met her with a grin and a handshake, but Faith could instantly tell she was in a hurry by the way she rushed over their greeting.
“Oh good, you’re finally here,” Debbie said without much tact. “I need to head home to let my dog out, but you’re welcome to show yourself around. Just be sure to lock up before you leave.”
“Anything I should know about the space?”
“You can fit thirty-two of those round, eight-person tables, and even though the sign says maximum occupancy is two-hundred and fifty, we’ve gotten away with three hundred guests before. It’s tight, but it works.”
Well, that certainly was not going to happen, not if Mitch was in attendance. He’d likely shut the entire event down.
Bass thumped loudly over crackly, outdated speakers as Jack ran through his playlist, only letting a few verses of each song play before skipping on to the next. Faith already had a headache, the sheer number of items on her to-do list making her brain spin. The added chaotic noise didn’t help.
She paced the room, mapping out the tables and chairs in her head, being sure to leave a big space for the dancefloor in the front near the stage, though she doubted many people would actually make use of it. The Snowdrift Summit crowd tended to favor conversation and camaraderie over dancing and entertainment.
A half hour later, the music finally cut off and Faith could hear herself think again.
“I’m heading out.” Jack had his laptop tucked under an arm and a backpack over his shoulders. “Let me know if you want me to make any changes to the playlist.”
How about all of it?Faith thought to herself but didn’t dare speak the words. It wasn’t Jack’s fault she was in such a bitter mood. She just didn’t have anyone to direct her frustration at, and that was the most aggravating part of it all. Honestly, she was grateful that Josephine deemed her capable enough to take on an event of such magnitude. Maybe she saw something in her that Faith had yet to discover for herself. Whatever the reason, this was now her duty, and she was going to make it the best Sweetheart Soiree yet.
If, and only if, she could get that silly permit in time.
CHAPTER 17
Mitch loved the sound of the snow crunching beneath the tread of his running shoes. He wasn’t sure he would ever get used to it. It was so different from the jarring echo of feet clapping against pavement. He was out on another mountain run and had just doubled back to head to the firehouse when he saw the small folding table set up again, just off the side of the freshly plowed neighborhood road.
Today, there were the expected bottled waters that were so cold they made a crisp, crackling noise when he squeezed the plastic, but there was also something else. In a small wicker basket next to the drinks a collection of beaded friendship bracelets rested, each adorned with different words and colors. He filtered through them.Hero. Superstar. Book Lover. Bestie.And then a sign that read, “Take one for yourself and one for a friend. Spread the positivity and share the love.”
He felt like a fraud putting one on his own wrist, but he could definitely think of a few people that deserved them. He was slipping one into his pocket when he looked down and noticed his left shoe was untied. He was only halfway back to standing when he saw a small figure coming closer out of his periphery, jogging up the walkway from a cabin that sat several yards back.
“Do you like them?” It was the sweet little brunette from Miss Morgenstern’s classroom wearing the largest, gap-toothed smile. She was up to her elbows in over a dozen of her own bracelets stacked on each arm. They looked like colorful sleeves.
“Did you make all of these?” Mitch pointed to the basket of bracelets.
“My sister and I did,” she said proudly as she gave her wrists a shake. The young girl walked over to the mailbox and tugged it open, withdrawing the envelopes from inside it and frowning before folding them under her tiny arm.
“Expecting something?” Mitch easily sensed her disappointment.
“I was hoping there would be a letter from Zachary. He’s a boy in my class.”
Oh, Mitch remembered the boy. He was a hard one to forget.
“I asked him to the Sweetheart Soiree,” she continued, a blush creeping across her round cheeks.
Wow. Bold move, not that girls couldn’t ask boys to dances. Mitch knew full well that it was an outdated concept to think the guy always had to do the asking. “You’re waiting for his reply?”
“Yeah.” She nodded.
“And you think it will come in the mail?”
She shrugged. “He hasn’t said anything about it at school.”
“Boys can be silly,” Mitch offered. “And sometimes shy.” Although he didn’t get the sense that Zachary was at all introverted. “I’m sure he’ll give you an answer soon.”
“My mom says it’s his loss if he says no.”
“I would agree with your mom. You’re sure to be the belle of the ball.”
