“Roman doesn’t think we can afford it. I read somewhere the pageant dresses can cost up to a few thousand dollars. Is that true?”
“I’ve never paid more than five hundred. But Stella’s got connections, as in major connections. I’d be happy to share some names with you if you’d like.”
Adeline’s lips split, revealing the kind of smile that I was sure would charm the judges of any pageant I entered. “That would be amazing. I’d be so grateful.”
As long as I was trying to get to the bottom of things, I decided to test that gratefulness with a question. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” Adeline scooted closer to the table.
“Did you put crickets in my trailer?”
“What?” Her eyes rounded. “Why, I’d never do something as disgusting as that. What would make you think that?”
Either she’d majored in lying in college or she was telling the truth. “Someone filled my trailer with crickets on my second night in town. Are you sure you didn’t have anything to do with that?”
“I swear on the lives of my sorority sisters.” Adeline did some complicated hand gesture, then plastered her palm over her heart. “I’d never use bugs against a fellow woman.”
“Okay then.” I had been sitting on the vinyl booth so long that when I tried to stand, the backs of my legs stuck to the surface. I pulled a business card out of my purse and handed it to Adeline. “I need to go. But send me a text with your contact info, and I’ll follow up with some introductions to some people you probably ought to meet.”
Adeline bounced out of the booth and pulled me into a hug. She hadn’t been lying about that pineapple shake. I could smell it on her. With a final squeeze, I peeled myself away. I needed tofind Jasper. He was the only one who might be able to help me sort out the mess swirling around in my head.
CHAPTER 23
JASPER
I finished installingthe swing Abby had picked out as the sun began to set. I was used to putting in a full day’s work at the orchard, but something had been eating at me all day, making each task seem monumental as I went through the motions of getting things ready for the Fall Festival.
Everything I’d been working for over the past several weeks was coming to an end. Within a week, the contest would be over, Delilah would move back to Dallas, and I’d be left here, still trying to pick up the pieces. We had to win. If Ido didn’t earn the title, I wasn’t sure what I’d be able to do to keep the world from crashing in on my family and losing the farm.
“I like it.” Abby hopped on the swing to test it out. “I think Delilah will like it, too.”
“I hope so.” I set down the drill I’d been using and sat down next to my sister.
“What happens if we don’t win the contest? Will the bank really take away the orchard? Will we really have to move?” Abby leaned her head on my shoulder.
“I hope not, Little Bug.” I pushed off the ground with my feet, setting the swing in motion. “No matter what happens, things will probably change.”
“I know. The only constant in life is change.”
I drew back to look at her. “That sounds pretty deep for a twelve-year-old. What are they teaching you in school nowadays?”
She pushed into my shoulder. “I didn’t make that up. It’s from Heraclitus. He was a Greek philosopher.”
“You’re studying philosophy now? What else did Heraclitus say?”
“You’re teasing me.”
“No, I really want to know.”
“Okay. He said, ‘A man’s character is his fate.’” She gave me a smug grin.
“And what does that mean to you?” I had to give my little sister some major credit. She just might grow up to be the smartest one out of all of us.
She screwed her lips up. “I think it means that your future depends on the kind of person you are inside.”
“I think you’re right.” I leaned into her, nudging her to the side. “What do you think about driving by the Dairy Dell on our way home? I probably owe you an ice cream cone for all of your help today.”
“A double scoop?”
