Page 47 of About Time You Noticed

Kaitlyn fished inside the handbag at her feet and stumbled forward, holding her smart phone high.

Becca seemed to be in the lead, a quarter of her drink gone already. Audrey, mouth stuck to the bottle, swiveled her head, eyeing the competition. She circled her head as if that would create a whirlpool of greater suction. If nothing else, it would make a funny video.

Mrs. Masters dipped her head, removed the bottle, and gasped in air. “My cheeks are hurting.”

“Keep going. You can do it.” Sarah gestured toward the bottle.

Mrs. Masters took a deep breath, jerked her head back, and sucked like a hungry infant, slurpy noises and all.

Sarah darted a glance from Becca to Mrs. Baxter. The competition had narrowed down to them, the juice angled a hair above the last measuring line.

“Come on, Bec. Nearly there.” Kaitlyn called from behind, now standing to the side of the table.

Mrs. Baxter frowned and increased her pace. In three seconds, she slammed an empty baby bottle, the table legs shaking in their wake. Becca did the same a moment too late.

“Dah-dah!” Mrs. Baxter swayed her wide hips. “I’m the winner.”

“Congratulations. You deserve a massage. Maybe include a facial to work out those cheek muscles.” Sarah smiled.

Mrs. Masters and Emily placed their bottles on the table, some juice remaining.

Emily wiped her mouth. “No wonder babies sleep well after a feed. That’s hard work. I need a nap.”

Sarah laughed and attempted a posh accent. “Ladies, we can retire to the living room. Time for High Tea.” She waved her arm toward the adjoining room.

Tiers of cupcakes, quiche, scones, and mini pies were displayed on a long coffee table. Royal Dalton china teacups and teapots sat at one end. A massive pile of boxed presents and gift bags sprawled in the corner of the living room. The guests found a seat and began chatting.

Mrs. Baxter filled her plate and nestled next to Sarah. "What's been going on with you and Tommy, my dear?" A smug grin slid across Mrs. Baxter's chubby cheeks.

"Tommy and I?"

"Mmhmm. At the potluck picnic, I saw you both behind the tree looking guilty as sin."

Sarah's jaw dropped. Heat curled around her neck, locking an answer tight in her throat.

Mrs. Baxter swung one leg over a knee. "He's always been protective over you. Now we see why. He was keeping you for himself."

Becca turned, seeming suddenly interested in the conversation. Fantastic. Now Becca would get ideas.

Sarah gulped. "Excuse me? Keeping me for himself?"

Mrs. Baxter wrinkled her nose. " Theo once told my daughter Tommy threatened to hurt him if he ever went near you."

Becca straightened, ready to go to battle for her brother. "You've got it all wrong, Mrs. Baxter. Tommy is like a big brother to Sarah. She was over my place all the time growing up. They're just close friends."

"At the picnic, they looked very close, indeed." She waved a hand like she swatted a pesky fly. "I wasn't born yesterday. Mr. Baxter and I used to make out behind the college sheds."

Sarah nearly hurled. She couldn't imagine a younger version of Mrs. Baxter smooching Mr. Baxter.

The woman narrowed her eyes on Sarah. “I swear your chin had beard rash.”

Kaitlyn cocked her head. “You don’t seem the swearing type.”

Mrs. Baxter tsked. She was like a dog who wouldn’t drop the tennis ball. No one could win, and she didn’t play fair.

"Tell her, Sarah." Becca's voice became more desperate. "Nothing is going on between you and Tom, is there?"

She had to think fast. Sarah raised a hand. "Wait a minute. I need to hear about Tommy's interfering." There would be no Tommy and Sarah to talk about if it were true.

---