Page 16 of Worst in Show

“Morning, kiddo!” Harvey hollers from upstairs.

“Want me to put the costumes in the back?”

“You know it.”

It’s a good morning—three customers in the first hour, all of whom actually make purchases. Before lunch, while Harvey schmoozes a woman he knows from the senior center, I talk to a mom and her daughter about the Halloween costumes. They’re specifically looking for something dragon-like for their golden to complement the girl’s Sleeping Beauty dress.

“Good choice,” I tell the girl. “Princesses are always a hit. I’m going to be Belle, and my dogs are going as Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and Cogsworth.”

She giggles, showing a gap-toothed grin.

“I can absolutely make you something,” I tell the mom. “I’ll just need measurements.”

They leave, promising to bring their pooch in later in the week. Score!

No sooner have they left before the back door slams closed and Micki hollers, “I hope you fine people are in the mood for chili! Jaz made a huge batch yesterday.” She rounds the corner holding up a container.

“Michaela!” Harvey greets her with a hug.

Micki never knew her grandparents, so she adopted Harvey as her own the first time they met. He didn’t mind. I think he was always secretly sad my parents only had me, though he’d never say so to my face.

“Upstairs?” Micki asks me.

“Yes, let me put the sign up, and I’ll be right there.” At the door, I pause, distracted by movement across the street.

I hide behind the doorjamb and watch as Leo steps outside dressed in dark jeans, a gray button-down, and a tailored vest, cutting a figure GQ would be proud to feature. He looks up and down the street before adjusting the offending A-frame, making me wonder if he’s had any takers on the whole “unmet needs” front. Before my blood starts to boil again, I turn on my heel. “Let’s eat,” I call upstairs.

Harvey and Micki have already dug in by the time I sit down.

“And it’s very stylish, don’t you think?” Harvey asks, tapping something on the table between them with a finger.

“Very,” Micki agrees.

I pull out a chair. “What are we talking about?”

Micki slides a glossy card in gold and graphite in front of me. “Free drinks,” she says, one eyebrow raised. “You should go.”

“What is this?” I blow on a spoonful of chili and skim the cursive writing.

“Leo dropped it off,” Harvey says. “It’s for the launch on Friday. We need it to get in.”

I stare at them both for a moment. “We need it to get in?” I repeat. “What?”

Harvey wipes his mouth. “Because it’s not open to the public. An exclusive event. It sounds very fancy.” He smiles. “Should be fun.”

“Fun?” I turn to Micki, hoping for backup but getting none.

“You should give him a chance, kiddo,” Pop continues. “The man is making big changes in his life from what I understand. He seems perfectly pleasant to me.”

“That’s what he wants you to think, and you’re walking straight into his trap.”

“But free drinks.” Micki points to the invite.

“You, my friend, need to raise your standards.”

“He is single,” Harvey says, unprompted.

That shuts up both Micki and me.

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