Page 74 of The Cul-de-Sac War

“The seating?” Chip’s smile dimmed.

“And the carpet, and the walls, the lobby, and . . . We’ll have to start from scratch!” He let go of Chip’s hand and started moving backward. “Mr. McBride, thank you! I’ve got to get on this directly!”

“You’re doing what?”

“Jotting these notes down! Calling the architect!” He nearly tripped on one of the seats as he backpedaled up the aisle.

“But—”

“You will be in attendance for the bid meeting on the twenty-fifth, won’t you?” He was already at the back row. “You think you can make it?”

Chip’s smile melted. “The bid meeting?”

“Yes. The bid for the renovation,” Mr. Richardson replied, barely pausing at the door. “You’ll make it, I hope?”

Chip tried his best to hide his disappointment.

The man wasn’t going to offer him the job.

The man was still going to make him sit around a table with the other top businessmen of the area—and perhaps beyond—forcing him to compete against the best in the industry.

Against his father and family.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Chip replied, forcing himself to sound at ease.

“An Appalachian sky!” Mr. Richardson shouted this time, then pushed the door open.

Chip stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets, then turned at the sound of voices on the stage.

“No, it’s flap-heel-toe-heel, flap-heel-toe-heel, and then Maxie Ford.”

Chip lifted his chin as he saw Bree and Birdie, the other girl who had frequented her porch the past week for practice and went over for the weekly card game at Mrs. Lewis’s.

They both strode across stage in full fairy regalia.

For a moment it jolted him, seeing her dressed like the first time they’d met. Like she was a completely different person. Like she had transformed back into that fun, spontaneous girl walking light on her toes without a care in the world. The first version of Bree.

“Yes, but I thought that was after the leap-toe-heel—”

Bree halted.

He caught her eyes and her face shifted into a scowl. An impressive transformation.

As her face was crumpling, his brightened. A genuine smile crossed his face as an idea, fully formed, popped into his head. An idea so delicious Bree would never see it coming.

* * *

Three solid hours later, the curtains rose for the final applause. As the crowd stood and cheered, Chip watched Bree come in on the fairy train behind the queen and take her place on the stage beside Birdie and the rest of the cast.

Chip waited as Bree, with green-glimmering cheeks and eyes, clasped hands with everyone and took a bow.

She scanned the room, looking for her family.

And her eyes stopped on him.

He wished he could capture the look on her face as she spotted her stepfather and mother, clapping and standing next to Chip. He held up the sign just below his chin.

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO FAMILY DINNER?