Page 53 of Frosted and Sliced

“You did this?” Brody asked, sounding impressed.

Georgie snorted. “No, Burke did it. Or paid to have it done or something. I don’t know how. Monopoly money, maybe?” She gazed around the interior but didn’t see the beautiful décor. All Georgie saw was the loneliness without her tenant.

“I’m going to see if I can find him,” Elyse said and began a tour of the house, poking her head into every room, calling for Burke like he was a wayward kitten.

Georgette remained in the entryway, staring at the inn like it belonged to someone else. At the moment she felt like it did. Nothing felt real, including her lips and fingers. She stared at them, waving at herself to try and reconnect the feeling to her digits. Brody touched her arm to get her attention.

“What do we need to do?” he asked.

“About what?” she returned. Were both eyes blinking together? She couldn’t tell.

“The festival. What needs to happen?”

“It needs to be a smashing success,” Georgie said.

Brody rubbed the center of his forehead.

“Oh, no, you’re mad at me,” she said, chin wobbling as tears threatened.

“I’m not mad,” he said.

“You are, because I’m messing up. I mess everything up, especially for you.”

“Georgie, no,” he said, shaking his head. He placed both hands on her shoulders, giving her a little shake. “We can do this, okay? Tell us what needs to happen with the food.”

Georgette tried to make her brain work properly. She could see the thoughts, could almost reach them, but they were so far away and out of focus. “Um.” She rubbed her temples. Cotton must have disappeared because he returned with a bottle of iced coffee from the fridge.

“Drink this,” he commanded and unscrewed the lid for her. While she did that, he turned to Brody. “I saw a bunch of stuff in the fridge that probably needs to be set out. We should move there. Maybe Elyse will find Burke and he’ll have more info.”

“I couldn’t find Burke,” Elyse said, returning as Cotton finished speaking. “But Georgie’s menu is printed on the flyer for the event. All we need to do is make sure everything is out and ready to go.” She produced a flyer from her pocket and waved it in the air.

“You guys are so great,” Georgie blubbered, going teary again.

“Great, she’s a weepy drunk,” Cotton murmured.

“Better than a mean one,” Brody replied.

“Georgie wouldn’t know how to be mean,” Elyse said. She put her arm around Georgie and began shepherding her toward the kitchen. “Come on, kiddo. Help us get set up.”

“I love you all,” Georgie cried.

“We know,” Cotton said, patting her shoulder.

Elyse opened the fridge and glanced at her list. “All right, it looks like everything room temperature is already set out and only needs the plastic wrap taken off. Cotton, you go do that. Brody, you prep the drinks, and Georgie and I will work on the refrigerated stuff.”

“Did my lips fall off?” Georgie asked, pressing her fingers to them.

“Correction, I’ll set out the refrigerated things,” Elyse amended.

Georgie watched, rocking back and forth on the high counter stool. She felt like there was something she should be doing, but her brain couldn’t quite grasp it, and sitting down felt good. When was the last time she sat? She couldn’t remember.

“Elyse, can I tell you a secret?” she said after a while.

“Always,” Elyse answered.

“Am I whispering?” Georgie asked.

“Nope,” Elyse said. “In fact you’re talking about five decibels louder than normal.”

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