Page 22 of Mending Fences
Mandy didn’t want to seem like she had no social life, but she also didn’t want to put off the date any longer. “It works.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t call earlier.”
Mandy caught herself worrying her lip in the mirror. “Don’t worry about it. Things happen. And being grounded at the wrong airport is the best cancelation excuse I have ever had.” She tried to infuse her voice with laughter.
Candace slumped on the bed.
“See you tomorrow.”
Mandy set the phone on the nightstand, then stood to unzip the side zipper of the dress.
“He isn’t coming, is he.” Candace started gathering the bobby pins.
Mandy shrugged. “I knew it wouldn’t happen.”
“But he made a date for tomorrow, right?”
Mandy hung the dress back in the closet. “It probably won’t happen either.” She hoped Candace didn’t see her swipe at an unwelcome tear. It wasn’t as if she had been looking forward to the date. Had she? She pulled on a terry robe and started rehanging the mass of clothes now littering her bed.
“I’d stay and eat some ice cream with you, but my date will be here in a half hour. I’m thinking raven tresses this time. He didn’t say a word about the red on Tuesday.”
“Wow, three times with the law student.”
Candace picked her towel up off the floor. “No, only two. The first was a group thing I went to with one of the girls from the studio.”
“So, is he polite or color blind?” Mandy shook out the yellow silk blouse.
“Not sure. I could arrange to lose my wig when he kisses me.”
Mandy sucked in a breath. “That is mean, and you know it. That accountant is probably still traumatized.”
They burst into laughter. Mandy had come home to find Candace and her accountant mid-kiss. He ended it so abruptly he’d stepped away with his hands still buried in one of the longer haired wigs, revealing Candace in all her bowling-ball glory.
Candace caught her breath. “It wouldn’t have been bad, but his frat ring was caught, and he couldn’t get the wig off. ‘Hi-yah! Hi-yah!’” She mimicked him trying to fling it off his hand.
“Stop it.” Mandy sunk onto the bed, holding her sides. “I’m going to pee my pants.”
“When it hit him in the face, he screamed like a girl!” Candace threw her arms up and ran from the room. “Made you laugh!” she yelled from down the hall.
Still laughing, Mandy hopped to the bathroom. Grandma Mae called it the curse of the weak bladder. Looking in the mirror, she wiped the tears from her eyes and wondered how many of them were from laughter.
