A Storybook Finish by Lauralee Bliss Read Free Book Online

won’t let it happen. Troy and I will make sure we go
    to the same school. We’ve talked about going to a community
    college or something once we graduate.”
    Lindsay turned her attention to the plate of food resting
    before her. Life’s lessons were important to share, but that’s
    about all she could do, and she knew it. They conversed a
    while longer about Jewel’s topic of interest. Lindsay heard all
    kinds of good things about Troy, from the way he studied for
    a test, to the way he wore his hair. Jewel nearly idolized him.
    43 Yet in the back of her mind Lindsay recalled Jewel’s complaint
    that Troy did not share her sentiments. How she
    wanted to keep this young woman from feeling the pain of a
    broken relationship. Yet sometimes the best course of action
    was to let these young people discover for themselves whether
    the decisions they had made were the right ones.
    Lindsay returned home to an answering machine blinking
    a cheerful pattern of lights. She listened to each call, to find
    the last one from Jeff Wheeler. He left a lengthy message,
    informing her she had left behind a prize in the auditorium
    and would she mind retrieving it. He would have it in his
    classroom. Lindsay picked up the prize bag and began rummaging
    around, wondering what prize she could have left.
    The only thing that came up missing was a key chain, which
    may have accidentally fallen on the floor. “He can keep it,”
    she declared. I’m not wasting time or emotional energy facing
    Jeff Wheeler again, just to pick up a silly key chain.
    All at once the phone rang. “Hello, Lindsay Thomas
    speaking.”
    “Miss Thomas, this is Jeff—I mean, Mr. Wheeler.”
    “Yes, I received your message that I had left an item in the
    auditorium.”
    “It’s one of those class key chains.”
    Lindsay could hear the chain jingling over the phone. “Mr.
    Wheeler, keep it as a prize incentive. Tell the students that
    whoever sells an additional two items, they can have their
    names put in for a drawing.”
    Laughter ricocheted in her ears. Lindsay felt her anger on
    the rise.
    “They don’t care about a key chain. Hardly any of them
    have cars.”
    44 “Oh. Well, then, you can keep it. Call it a gift.”
    She heard his hesitation. “I need to ask you a few questions
    about the sale. Would you mind stopping over early in the
    morning before classes begin? I get there around seven. We
    can go over a few things, and you can pick up your key chain
    at the same time.”
    Lindsay pulled out her personal data assistant and checked
    the appointment schedule. She would have to make this a
    quick visit. She had a start at eight o’clock sharp on the opposite
    side of the county. Great. Jeff Wheeler again succeeds in
    upsetting my schedule. I sure hope this fundraising campaign of
    his
    pays off, because I’m losing time and money.
    “Can you come?”
    “Okay, I’ll be there at seven.” She nearly told him of the
    other start she had at eight but, remembering his instability in
    the past, decided not to bring it up. Still, Lindsay had the
    distinct impression that something was different about Jeff. She
    couldn’t put her finger on it, but there seemed to be less
    animosity.
    Lindsay glanced down at the lady Silly Slammer with
    the pursed red lips, staring up from the open prize bag. “No
    way. It couldn’t be.”
    45 Jeff didn’t know why he awoke anxious and jittery. The thought
    of swallowing down a hunk of scratchy toast made him nauseous.
    He made a cup of coffee and tried reading the newspaper
    after retrieving it from the doorstep. The words made
    little sense. He glanced around the duplex he owned and found
    it in complete disarray. History texts stood stacked like small
    towers on the floor. Class papers were strewn across the coffee
    table. Dirty clothes lay in the hall. And two days’ worth of
    dishes filled the sink. Not a pleasant atmosphere, especially if
    he were ever to entertain some eligible young lady in the near
    future.