CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
BRENDA

“Right, this is what we should do,” Stacey said, taking charge just as the fair seemed to be on the verge of total collapse early the morning after my date with Cash. Well, what should have been a date and wasn’t. “Since Marjory called in with a family emergency and isn’t here to direct us, I think we should do this the way she’d want it done.”

Stacey was able to take charge when she needed to and she definitely needed to today. The other teachers and parent volunteers were all just wandering around aimlessly, not sure what they should do without the teacher with the most seniority at the school there to direct us.

“Bren, you take the auditorium, get it ready for the auction. Make sure the little stage area is all ready for us. Millie, you take the library over, setting up tables for the bake sale goods. Abby, I need you to decorate the gelato table. The vendor will be here later, but they asked that we decorate that before they get here.” Stacey paused to take a breath and looked down at the clipboard in her hand. “What else?”

I looked around, but nobody seemed eager to volunteer for anything. “We need someone to sell tickets for the game booths, and someone to make sure that the sandwich stand is stocked up. Come on people, let’s get this started. We’re here for the kids, not our egos.”

I was surprised at how take-charge I sounded, but liked it. Even if most of it was driven by my annoyance over how much I kept thinking about Cash. I’d sworn I’d close that chapter of my life and not think about him anymore when I got up that morning, but I still found myself thinking of him at the oddest times.

I saw everyone jump to attention in the library. The way they broke off into groups to take care of everything, finally, made me smile. Maybe I needed to be a little more assertive, more often.

I headed off to the auditorium to check the sound system and decorate as much as I could. I taped book decorations to the lectern and over the curtains on each side, before I moved on to adding streamers to bring a splash of the school colors to it all. I went to my own classroom after that and unlocked the door. The donated items were in here and I wanted to check them again, afraid that something had happened to them. Everything was still there and in perfect order. I left the room and went back to see how everything else was going.

We were going to open at lunchtime to sell sandwiches, drinks, hot dogs and the first set of baked goods. After that we’d start on the more sinfully sweet and decadent baked goods, all made by volunteers. I walked around, waiting to see if I was needed, but now that everyone had a direction they were all doing fine. I made my way over to Stacey.

“Those quilts are beautiful,” I said, nodding at the intricate quilts one of the older patrons donated, handmade quilts that must have taken the woman hours.

“I know. She doesn’t have any family left to leave them to and wanted to give back to the community. She does it as a hobby, so she was happy to donate these three to us.” I looked at the purple and white quilt in varying shades of purple. Each block was done with a little Dutch girl, with tulips and a bonnet. The block in the middle had the addition of a windmill as well, embroidered expertly. The other two were tumbling block patterns, one in shade of pink and red, while the other was beige, white, and gray. All three were breathtaking.

“I wish I had this kind of skill.” I said, looking the quilts over again. “I certainly can’t afford to buy them, but maybe I could make one.”

“Girl, YouTube. You can learn how to do everything on YouTube. I learned how to crochet baby clothes and blankets for the baby from there.”

“I might have to give it a try.” I looked over at her, giving her my first real smile of the day. “I’m so glad we decided to do this. Even if Marjory took over and then bailed on us.”

“I know. I couldn’t believe it when she called me this morning.” Stacey sighed deeply and looked around. “I don’t know how it will go, but I’m hoping we can raise what we need.”

“All we can do is try.” I reminded her.

“I know, I just don’t want it to be a waste of time, that’s all.” She shuddered, as if shaking off her negative thoughts. “That’s enough of that. Let’s go unlock the doors and get the grills started out front. You can tell me what else is wrong on the way.”

“Nothing, really,” I replied and rushed over to take up my position behind one of the preparation stations. We had a steady stream of customers through lunch and the volunteers were hard at work grabbing drinks, sanitizing everything, and handing out napkins. I saw quite a few people going towards the library before they came out again with cupcakes, brownies, and bags of cookies.

By the time I was ready to start the auction, I was tired, disheartened, and wondering what we’d done wrong. So far, we’ve only made a quarter of what we need to buy new books for the kids. There was a lot of money changing hands, but it didn’t seem to be adding up to what we thought it would.

“I guess we underpriced a lot of things,” Stacey said before I came to the auditorium. I felt like we’d failed the kids, but if we could make everything we expected on the auction goods, then maybe we could get some of the books, after all.

I walked up to the lectern as people crowded into the auditorium, feeling immensely…sad. I was sad about last night and sad that we’d somehow failed the kids. Or might fail the kids.

“Welcome everyone and thank you for coming tonight,” I said into the microphone, feeling completely self-conscious now as the room went quiet and everyone looked up at me. I was worried I’d start to sweat, but took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. “Tonight, we have some elegant, exciting items up for sale so if you miss one auction, don’t worry, we have quite a few to get through.”

Everyone chuckled quietly and the mom of one of my students brought out the first item up for auction. It was a laptop, brand new, and sold quickly. I got through the next twenty items, feeling a little better about our total.

I felt as if my throat was on fire by the time the last item sold and I wanted a hot cup of tea. Everyone crowded out of the auditorium, going in the direction of the doors or outside. I went to collect the money from the table where buyers paid for their goods, and then made my way to the library. Our total now was better, but we still only had a little over half of what we needed.

I could hear people murmuring and saw a few people rushing, almost running to the library, as I made my way there. I was curious what had their attention but took my time. I found Stacey and handed the money in an envelope to her. “What’s got everyone buzzing?”

Stacey pointed her chin and I turned to see Cash. He was setting up in a section of the library with a guitar and a small microphone. As I watched him, he began to play one of his hit songs. One of my favorites.

Our eyes locked across the room, and for a second, my heart caught in my chest. I forced myself to look away, but felt rooted to the spot. I wanted to rush away but couldn’t. I loved that song and the way he sang it, so beautifully and with so much of his soul in his voice, made me want to hear more.

The song ended and I was about to walk out, but he spoke.

“Evening, folks. First, I’d like to say thanks for coming out. Second, there’s a lady out there I owe an apology to.” He said. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. As if a celebrity like him would ever really be sorry. He was just upset I’d walked away from him. Right? “Third, I want you to know that I’ll be matching whatever the school makes tonight, so get those dollars out of your pockets folks, and out here for the school. These kids deserve some really great books.”

My heart swelled with excitement and joy. He was going to match what we’d made? That meant we’d not only have our total that we needed, but a little more for other things too. Maybe I should give him five minutes of my time. Maybe.