Part 15 (2/2)

Teri beamed. ”Ha! Great minds...”

”...Are obviously not in this room!” I finished, slightly embarra.s.sed by their compliments.

Mac laughed and gave me a good slap on the back as Hannah laughed wildly and slipped her arm in mine.

”Come, Kate, let us away!” she called out happily.

I laughed as I held onto her hand.

”Yes, madam, as you wish,” I replied obediently.

For a little while, we were all relaxed and carefree. However, the G.o.ds would not let that feeling linger for long.

Chapter Fourteen.

It turned out to be a gorgeous day. The sun was s.h.i.+ning and there was a hint of fall in the air.

Mac and Teri took their own car so they could do some shopping before meeting up with us at the beer garden. Maggie parked in front of the little photo shop, to see Maggie's editor friend. He was a tall lanky redhead, with his sleeves rolled up and a pencil behind his ear and freckles everywhere.

Maggie introduced us as we shook hands. He gave me an odd look. ”Do I know you? Your name sounds familiar. What'd ya do, fall out of bed?” He looked at the bandage on my forehead.

”I don't think we've ever met,” I said politely.

He hadn't let go of my hand yet.

”Oh, sorry. What can I do for you?”

I explained my predicament and in the middle of what I was saying, he snapped his fingers. ”I knew it. Wait a minute.”

He disappeared behind a huge desk that had papers and a magazine covering it in what I a.s.sumed was his organized mess. It looked like my desk at home. I admired the lad.

He came back with a magazine and leafed through it, found a page, and slapped it with the back of his hand.

”This is you, right?” he asked hopefully, as he showed the magazine.

I went cold. I looked at the page and gave him a sick smile. ”My, my, I thought that no one would ever see this. Wherever did you find it?” I asked.

Hannah squeaked. ”Let me see!” She took the magazine from me. ”Yes, this is the article I read too, Jack. Kate, you're very photogenic. Isn't she wonderful?”

I was completely embarra.s.sed.

”Okay, can we get on with-?” I started.

Maggie interrupted by taking the magazine from Hannah. She looked up at me amazed. ”You took these pictures?” She looked impressed.

Now, suddenly, for some reason I didn't mind the attention.

”And you wrote the article too, right?” the redhead asked.

”Yes, I did. Now, if you could-”

Interrupted once again; it is now my goal to be interrupted by everyone in this town.

”I want a copy of this magazine. Jack, where can I get one?” Hannah beamed happily.

I gave a glance at Maggie, who was reading and not saying anything. Why did it matter what she was thinking?

”Oh, keep it. I have a couple others. They did a whole layout of you in this issue. Boy, if I could take pictures like these,” he sighed and motioned to the magazine.

”Thanks, but could we get back the matter at hand?” I asked and actually managed to finish without one interruption.

Jack eagerly agreed. He would try to have the film developed by late afternoon. If not, then in the morning.

He shook my hand and, for one horrifying moment, I thought he would want either my autograph or a kiss. I was extremely grateful he wanted neither.

We walked down the main street. There were people and vendors everywhere and Hannah was buying everything in sight. I had brought my smaller camera that was easy to carry and was ready for a good shot.

”Where's my magazine?” Hannah asked.

”I've got. I've got it,” Maggie a.s.sured her, patting the pocket of her blazer.

It was almost noon when we met Steve. ”Mom and Dad are over at the beer garden. I told them to save a few seats.” He took me aside. ”I told Dad about what was going on, he'd like to talk to you, too. We'll meet you over there later.”

I agreed enthusiastically and he walked away.

”It's about time I sat down. You girls have fun. I'll save you a seat,” Hannah said with a wink.

Then it dawned on me. ”Hey, Hannah. What about my car?” I asked.

”What car, dear?” she asked seriously and walked away.

I stopped laughing. ”Hey Hannah, that's not funny.” I looked at Maggie. ”Tell her that wasn't funny. They have my car, right?”

She laughed and pulled me along.

”It's good for you to laugh,” I said.

”Thanks, you make it easy. Although you can be the most frustrating person I know.”

”I must bring out the worst in you. It's a gift,” I a.s.sured her. ”I don't know why, but we start out fine, and then we wind up arguing. It isn't my intention to argue with you all the time.”

”What are your intentions?” she asked with a c.o.c.ky grin.

I blinked several times and felt the blood rush to the face and other various parts of my anatomy. I must have looked like an idiot.

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