The Parent Trap(26)
For now she couldn’t think of a single thing to say, so she sat and listened to Alycia’s stories about her and Brody’s summer exploits, watched Kate chatting easily with Dex. To her surprise, Dex seemed to be the only one who noticed she was there, glancing at her from time to time, giving her a weird little smile.
Did she have something stuck in her teeth? Ink on her face? Gunk in the corner of her eye? Ugh. She finished her sandwich and was ready to excuse herself when he gave her his full attention.
“What’d you do this summer, Casey?”
“Oh, um, not much.” She’d looked up the novels they’d be reading in Grade Nine English and borrowed them from the library. Found out what the science curriculum covered and read everything she could get her hands on. She was so not confessing that to anyone.
“Casey’s been working at the animal shelter this summer,” Kate said.
Don’t tell him that! Casey shot her a warning look. But Dex leaned on the table, looking at her with genuine interest.
“Wow. That sounds pretty interesting. Did you get paid?”
“Oh, no. I’m just a volunteer. I’ll still be helping out on Saturdays now that school’s started.”
“Cool. I’ve always liked being around animals. If they need more volunteers, could you let me know?”
“Oh. Sure.” Was he serious or making fun of her? She had no idea, and before she could figure it out the warning bell sounded, giving everyone five minutes to get to their first class of the afternoon.
“See you at soccer practice,” Alycia said to her before strolling off with Brody. Kate and Dex were in the same French class, so they were going in search of their classroom, leaving Casey on her own to find her English class.
Kate slung her designer bag over her shoulder and whispered in Casey’s ear on their way out of the cafeteria. “He’s very cute, don’t you think?”
Yes, as a matter of fact she did! But she only smiled and gave a casual nod in response. Only three more days, she reminded herself. Henry would be home and life would get back to normal. Unless he decided to go gaga over Kate, too, leaving Casey the odd one out. No way, she decided. She’d rather be alone in the library than be the fifth wheel with her friends.
SARAH HAULED A replacement fluorescent tube and the stepladder out of the storage room, snagging her pantyhose and gashing her calf in the process.
“Ow! Seriously?” She surveyed the damage. “Seriously!”
After she stanched the bleeding, changed the lighting tube and put the ladder away, she dug out the spare pair of hose she kept in her desk drawer. She was wriggling into those when the door chime sounded. A customer.
She smoothed her hair, straightened her skirt and put a smile on her face before she returned to the front of the store, in time to greet three silver-haired women she’d never seen before.
“Good morn—” She checked her watch. One o’clock? How had that happened? “Make that good afternoon. Can I help you find something or would you like to browse for a bit?”
“We’re only in town for a couple of hours,” one of the women said. She was wearing an expensive-looking tan leather jacket over tailored black slacks and had a Kate Spade bag on her arm.
“We’re on a bus tour from West Vancouver,” another added. “We spotted this place from the restaurant across the street and thought we’d check it out.” This woman wore a cream-colored blazer and sweater of the same color with navy pants. Her only accessories were the Coach handbag hung from her shoulder and the strand of pearls looped around her neck.
“Welcome to Serenity Bay,” Sarah said. “And thank you for stopping by To the Nines. If you see anything you like, feel free to try it on, and please let me know if you have any questions.”
The third shopper was already skimming the rack of fall dresses that Juliet had unpacked on Saturday. Sarah had recently seen this woman’s wide-lapelled tweed jacket in a magazine. Chanel.
“Margaret,” the woman said, holding up a Marc Jacobs dress. “You have to look at this teal-blue dress. Didn’t you say this is one of your granddaughter’s wedding colors? You always look stunning in it and the style is perfect for the grandmother of the bride.”
The woman in the leather jacket rushed to take a look. “You’re right, Jasmine. It’s gorgeous! Lindy, what do you think?”
The three conferred on the dress and agreed Margaret must try it on. Sarah was settling the woman and the dress in a fitting room when the door chime sounded again. Four more women strolled in and waved to Jasmine and Lindy, each of whom already had several garments slung over an arm.