Page 79 of Perfect Mess

“I saw you run off before the medal ceremony and I got worried.” Ashley’s eyes sliced toward me. “Everything okay?”

“I’m fine,” Jack said. “But Mary hurt her ankle pretty bad.”

“Oh no. That’s terrible, I’m so sorry.” Her voice dripped with something that was definitely not sympathy. She turned to Jack. “Do you need a ride back?” Then to me Ashley added, “Sorry Mary, there are only enough seats for two.”

Jack took a moment to validate the golf cart’s seating capacity, then said to Ashley, “You’re going to have to take her back to the sponsor tent. Help her get some ice on it and find something to wrap it with in the first aid kit.”

For once in our lives, both Ashley and I could agree on something, loathing the idea of sharing a ride together in a golf cart. Not to mention, the thought of Ashley getting anywhere near my ankle made my stomach turn. I had to think quick.

Then it came to me. Whenever Purrfect wanted something, a back rub, more tuna casserole, a seat on my lap so she could shove her butt in my face, she would make her eyes all big and watery, then stick out her bottom lip. Like an orphan begging for scraps on Christmas morning, in the middle of a blizzard.Please sir, may I have another cat treat?I made that same face at Jack.

“What’s wrong?” Jack frowned, his voice deepening with concern. I may have overdone it just a tad.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” I replied. I made my eyes bigger and jutted out my bottom lip a bit more.

“Are you having a seizure?”

“No, it’s just, well, I’d really feel better if you took me back in the golf cart,” I told Jack. “You know, since you’re a doctor.”

Ashley opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, Jack said, “Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.” Jack turned toward Ashley. “You’re okay if I drive her back, right?” Ashley’s face did not look like she was okay with that plan. Not at all.

“But like I said, there’s only room for two,” Ashley stammered.

Jack pointed across the park. “It’s not that far to the finish line if you cut across the field. Just watch out for the fire ants.”

Ashley looked like she was about to vomit.

“Come on, Mary, I’ll get you fixed up good as new.” Jack offered me his arm, escorting me to the golf cart, his hand supporting the small of my back. My hand in his hand, he helped me into the seat. When I looked over at Ashley, her eyes were daggers made of ice.

Jack climbed into the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition. He must have pressed down on the accelerator a little too hard, because the tires spun in the gravel, bathing Ashley in a cloud of dust.

As we took off, Jack driving me toward the finish line, I turned around in my chair and waved. Even through the thick cloud of dust, I could clearly make out Ashley flicking me off.

* * *

When we gotto the volunteer tent, Jack wrapped my ankle super tight with tape from the first aid kit, then drove me to my car in his golf cart. Along the way, we passed the finish line for the Family Fun Run. I spotted Gary and Kyle eating ice cream, and Janet was there, too. They were all talking and laughing. Gary must have dribbled ice cream down his face because I saw Janet dab his chin with her napkin.

Once we got to my car, Jack helped me slide behind the steering wheel, letting me wrap my arms around his shoulders.

“I’ll call you later,” said Jack. “Check in and see how you’re doing. If you need anything, and I meananything, you just let me know.” I briefly considered asking him to drive me home and tuck me into bed, and make me a margarita, and then a chocolate sundae, but thought that might be pushing it.

ChapterEighteen

The next morning, that extra jolt of adrenaline was still coursing through my system because I was wide awake before the alarm even went off. I hopped out of bed, literally, and made Purrfect a scrambled egg topper for her breakfast. She chowed it down, then pulled out the sad cat face, so I made her a second egg.

My ankle was feeling much better. After plenty of ice, and a couple extra strength Tylenol, I felt good as new.

As I finished blending my kale protein smoothie, I took a moment to reflect on my unexpected run of good luck. Even though I ran into Ashley Griffin, hurt my ankle, and didn’t finish the race, all in all, the prior day was a success. Things didn’t go exactly as expected, but in the end, my plan worked.

Now all I had to do was keep the momentum going. Things were falling into place. I just needed to give them a bit more of a nudge. Order would soon be restored, and everyone would live happily ever after.

Feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and recharged, I headed over to Aunt Catherine’s house, where I was pleasantly surprised to find the renovations progressed, despite my absence and neglect. In the front yard, Leo, my landscape guy, had replaced the sod that Gary ruined with his van. He also finished planting the flower beds and added a fresh layer of pine bark mulch. The air smelled like a mountain forest as I walked up to the porch. Curb appeal, check.

Once inside the house, I took a moment to appreciate my genius. The all greige walls created the perfect blank canvas. It was plain now, sure, some might even say boring, but that was only temporary. Adding furniture, window treatments, and some tasteful art pieces would completely transform the house.

I made my way to the kitchen. The new slate grey cabinets looked fantastic. So did the stainless steel appliances. The only thing left to do was rip out the God forsaken wallpaper. As I knew they would, the tiny pink roses and green vines clashed horribly with the rest of the kitchen. I needed to get rid of it as soon as possible.

When I called Gus to confirm the final invoice, I had asked him if he would get rid of it for me, but he said he wouldn’t touch any kind of wallpaper with a ten-foot pole. I reminded him he didn’t have to use a pole of any size to take it down, but that didn’t sway him to my cause.

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