seriously doubt that… you could sit at the checkout table and take down information about merchandise while I take care of those interested in having work done on their bikes. But mostly it would keep me from being bored during slow times and give me an extra set of eyes on Gretchen.”
“Doesn’t she start school next week? I know my brother , Ben, does…” she said.
“Yes, but keeping Gretchen from a show would be the equivalent of grounding her for life ,” Lilly said. “So… are you up for a little road trip?”
“Where would we be staying?” she asked, watching Carla’s face for a reaction. Her mother almost seemed pleased as she began putting her clothes away.
“Since we only stay for two nights we will get a hotel. When I reserved the rooms I got four because at the time we thought Dana would go but Melody’s been having some problems and she and Tommy thought it best for her to stay home ,” Lilly said.
“If you’r e sure I won’t be in the way…” she said.
“Not at all, the booth stays busy so an extra set of hands is always welcome… as is the company of a friend,” Lilly said.
“It sounds like fun . So as long as you’re sure about this I’d like to go. Should I meet you at the shop on Friday then?” she asked.
“I’ll come pick you up around three o’clock Friday afternoon so you don’t have to leave your car here all weekend ,” Lilly said.
“Ok…see you then ,” she said.
After hanging up she looked at Carla. “Mom, just leave the basket, I’ll put my clothes away.”
Her mother looked startled but then put the shirt she was holding back in the basket and set it on the chair by her vanity . “Ok then. You have plans this weekend?”
“Yes… and I may have a part time job!” she said with a smile.
“No kidding?” Carla smiled back.
Her mother sat on her bed while she used her crutch and put away the clothes from the basket . She explained about the shop and about having met Lilly and Dana as she worked.
“You’ll get to meet them on Tuesday…they are coming over for dance lessons ,” she finished.
“Dance lessons?” Carla asked.
“Yea, I can’t show them but I can instruct them ,” she said with a smile.
“That sounds like fun. I can’t wait to meet them ,” she said taking the empty basket. She headed for the door and then stopped. “Meredith… did something happen between you and Chuck this past weekend while we were gone?”
No… unfortunately. Her mother looked worried and unsure. Sighing heavily she said, “I like him, Mom.”
“We all do honey… he’s a great guy in spite of… his appearance,” Carla said.
“No… I mean… I like him, you know… like that .” she said, sitting down on her bed.
“Does he like you that way?” her mother asked.
“I think he does but he says that I’m not meant for him… what does that mean?” she asked.
S etting down the basket she came back into the room and sat down next to her, “I don’t know… did you ask him?”
“No… he just left… and wouldn’t talk to me about it other than to say I’m not meant for him,” she said.
“Is that why he’s been avoiding you all week?” Carla asked.
“Yes… and he’ll be at this Bike Fest and as fun as it sounds… I’m worried it will be awkward because Chuck keeps avoiding me and makes it a point to not be alone with me... not to talk to me about it,” she said.
“I’m guessing that Chuck may not want to get involved because if something goes wrong… there are no other options for him other than jail time. Maybe he’s afraid if things don’t work out… it would be even more awkward for him around here,” her mother said.
“You think so?” she asked.
“I know that’s how I would feel if I were him ,” Carla said.
“So why aren’t you telling me he’s all wrong for me and that he’s a loser or a thug?” she asked.
“Josh was your father’s idea… money, privilege, and a
“Doesn’t she start school next week? I know my brother , Ben, does…” she said.
“Yes, but keeping Gretchen from a show would be the equivalent of grounding her for life ,” Lilly said. “So… are you up for a little road trip?”
“Where would we be staying?” she asked, watching Carla’s face for a reaction. Her mother almost seemed pleased as she began putting her clothes away.
“Since we only stay for two nights we will get a hotel. When I reserved the rooms I got four because at the time we thought Dana would go but Melody’s been having some problems and she and Tommy thought it best for her to stay home ,” Lilly said.
“If you’r e sure I won’t be in the way…” she said.
“Not at all, the booth stays busy so an extra set of hands is always welcome… as is the company of a friend,” Lilly said.
“It sounds like fun . So as long as you’re sure about this I’d like to go. Should I meet you at the shop on Friday then?” she asked.
“I’ll come pick you up around three o’clock Friday afternoon so you don’t have to leave your car here all weekend ,” Lilly said.
“Ok…see you then ,” she said.
After hanging up she looked at Carla. “Mom, just leave the basket, I’ll put my clothes away.”
Her mother looked startled but then put the shirt she was holding back in the basket and set it on the chair by her vanity . “Ok then. You have plans this weekend?”
“Yes… and I may have a part time job!” she said with a smile.
“No kidding?” Carla smiled back.
Her mother sat on her bed while she used her crutch and put away the clothes from the basket . She explained about the shop and about having met Lilly and Dana as she worked.
“You’ll get to meet them on Tuesday…they are coming over for dance lessons ,” she finished.
“Dance lessons?” Carla asked.
“Yea, I can’t show them but I can instruct them ,” she said with a smile.
“That sounds like fun. I can’t wait to meet them ,” she said taking the empty basket. She headed for the door and then stopped. “Meredith… did something happen between you and Chuck this past weekend while we were gone?”
No… unfortunately. Her mother looked worried and unsure. Sighing heavily she said, “I like him, Mom.”
“We all do honey… he’s a great guy in spite of… his appearance,” Carla said.
“No… I mean… I like him, you know… like that .” she said, sitting down on her bed.
“Does he like you that way?” her mother asked.
“I think he does but he says that I’m not meant for him… what does that mean?” she asked.
S etting down the basket she came back into the room and sat down next to her, “I don’t know… did you ask him?”
“No… he just left… and wouldn’t talk to me about it other than to say I’m not meant for him,” she said.
“Is that why he’s been avoiding you all week?” Carla asked.
“Yes… and he’ll be at this Bike Fest and as fun as it sounds… I’m worried it will be awkward because Chuck keeps avoiding me and makes it a point to not be alone with me... not to talk to me about it,” she said.
“I’m guessing that Chuck may not want to get involved because if something goes wrong… there are no other options for him other than jail time. Maybe he’s afraid if things don’t work out… it would be even more awkward for him around here,” her mother said.
“You think so?” she asked.
“I know that’s how I would feel if I were him ,” Carla said.
“So why aren’t you telling me he’s all wrong for me and that he’s a loser or a thug?” she asked.
“Josh was your father’s idea… money, privilege, and a
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