Page 54 of Frosted and Sliced

“Okay, the thing is that I have a boyfriend.”

Elyse froze and regarded her. “Are you talking about Burke?”

“No. His name is Siggy. Or at least that’s what he told me his name is. I met him on the internet.”

Elyse had started to arrange a tray of petit four and froze again. “What? You met a man on the internet?”

“Yes. He’s dreamy, maybe? I don’t really know because I’ve never seen him, but the picture I drew of him and taped up looks pretty good. Except his nose. I can’t draw noses. I made a circle with two dots.” She reached for a napkin and began shredding it. “I hope he doesn’t have a pig nose in real life. That would be disappointing.”

“Georgie, back when you’re you again, we need to have a serious talk about cyber security, hacker to woman.”

“I just wanted someone to talk to, someone who liked me and didn’t care about all the other stuff,” Georgie said. She began to cry again, and gave a halfhearted swipe of her eyes.

Elyse reached over the table and clasped her wrist. “I get that. We all want that. But there are safer ways to go about it. Does Burke know about this?”

Georgie nodded. “I told him and then he disappeared. POOF.” She closed her hands and opened them, signifying a magic trick.

Now Elyse looked sad. “I can’t pretend to understand what goes on in Burke’s mind, but I do know he cares about you. A lot, Georgie. You have to believe that.”

“Why do I have to believe that? He never says anything to make me believe that. I don’t want to be sad and unlovable. Maybe I should sell the inn and move away, meet an island guy like Carol. I should dye my hair.” She slid off the stool and turned toward the door, but Elyse caught her.

“Where are you going?”

“To buy hair dye, I’m going to be blond.”

“A lot of stellar decisions are being made right now, and when this is over we’re going to petition to make it a dry town so this never happens again. In the meantime, you are not allowed to leave the inn.”

“Why not?”

“Because you have to host a party.”

“Oh,” Georgie drawled. “Yes, I remember. The winter party thing. Okay, I am ready, how do I look?” She smoothed a hand on her skirt, half her hair out of its barrette, mascara streaked down both cheeks.

“So, so beautiful,” Elyse said, surreptitiously reaching for a napkin and the brush in her purse.

CHAPTER 23

By the time people began to arrive, Georgie was, if not back to normal, at least more subdued. Her manic mood swings and erratic crying jags had given way to a mellow and demure quiet. Elyse passed her off to Brody, and no one thought anything of it when he wended Georgette through the crowd, greeting people and shaking hands. Brody could be good at gladhanding, when he wanted to be, and it was a role that was familiar to both of them, with him in the lead and Georgette tagging behind. Later, he hoped she wouldn’t regret that she’d been out of it on what was supposed to be her debut. Elyse circulated the room and took some videos on her phone of people having fun, to prove to Georgette that the event had been the smash she’d hoped for. Cotton got the idea to do impromptu videos for Georgie’s website of people giving their opinions on the inn. Everyone raved, not only over the inn and its decorations but about Georgette’s amazing pastries.

“I didn’t know Georgie was a baker,” was a common thread, along with, “She’s done us proud, this looks more natural and homespun than that other place.” The other place being theAnneMarieand their team of out-of-town owners, decorators, and chefs. Later Georgie would watch the videos, with captionsadded by Elyse, and feel warm and fuzzy that people liked her inn, that they’d realized theAnneMariehad been bought and paid for with corporate money while hers had been done with blood, sweat, tears, and a tiny decorating boost from Burke.

As usual most people didn’t know how to talk to her. They talked to Brody, flicking their eyes to her occasionally to try and include her in the conversation. Georgette’s waning inebriated state helped everyone because she smiled and nodded a lot, with little idea what was actually going on. Later Brody would tell her she’d been “appropriate.” To him that meant friendly without being obsequious. If anyone asked her a direct question, he fielded it and, given his history as her guardian and caretaker, no one seemed to find that odd. Not even Georgie, when she learned about it after the fact. Instead she felt thankful, if a little guilty, that her big brother had once again swooped in to save her.

The night would have been perfect, even with Georgie’s accidental alcohol consumption, if not for two things: Burke’s notable absence and Jenna Archer’s notable appearance. Not that anyone besides Georgie found it notable. Jenna was her usual falsely cheerful self, complimenting and schmoozing her way through everyone in attendance, everyone but Georgette.

“Brody, how wonderful to see you,” Jenna gushed, leaning forward to give him an air hug he uncomfortably returned. “And Georgette.”

Georgette’s dread of Jenna was so strong that it eked through her hurricane haze, causing her to shrink back, at least until Brody put his arm around her and eased her forward again.

“This is fabulous, absolutely fabulous,” Jenna said, but archly, as was her custom. “Those little petit fours are to die for. In fact, I wondered if I might speak to Georgette alone for a minute. I’d love to ask her for some tips on catering an event.”

Georgette shrank back again, and Brody froze. Some instinct warned him from sending his drunken little sister off into a private corner with Jenna. He racked his mind to think of an excuse to say no when Eb Ames trotted up to them and breathlessly grabbed his attention.

“Brody, you got to come. Two kids got into a fight down on the end of Main. One of them knocked the other’s tooth out and now the parents are about to throw fists.”

Brody scanned for Elyse or Cotton but didn’t see them. Georgette seemed mostly fine now. “Georgette, stay here. Find Elyse and Cotton. I have to go.” With one more reluctant glance at his sister, now firmly in Jenna’s clutches, he took off behind Eb at a full run, making his apologies to the people who had to dodge out of his way or be plowed down.

Jenna waited to speak until he was safely away, mentally thanking the little thug brats who drew his attention. What she needed to say to Georgette wasn’t for any other ears, especially Brody’s. She made certain to look Georgette dead in the face this time, so there could be no mistaking her words.

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