Buried in Bargains (Good Buy Girls) by Josie Belle Read Free Book Online Page A

doing for my self-esteem.”
    “I thought Butterballs were turkeys,” Laura said.
    They reached Maggie’s car, and she unlocked the doors with the button on her key chain. Mercifully, the poultry talk seemed to have gotten Laura off track, for which Maggie was grateful. She did not want to discuss Sam Collins.
    As they climbed in, Laura turned and studied Maggie under the dome light.
    “Dad would want you to be happy,” she said.
    “I am happy.”
    “Mom,” Laura groaned. “You know what I mean. I think dad would approve of Sam. And, you know, everyone agrees that Sam and you would be really good together.”
    “Define
everyone
,” Maggie said.
    “Claire, Ginger, Joanne, Michael, Bianca, Max—”
    “Okay, okay, I get it,” Maggie said. “You all are a bunch of gossips.”
    “No, we all just want to see you happy,” Laura countered. Maggie started to protest again that she was happy, but Laura held up her hand. “Just think about what I said. Please.”
    Maggie nodded, but only to end the conversation. She had no intention of thinking about being happy with Sam Collins. Period.
    Yes, he had called Pete his competition and had said he was glad that Pete was taking Claire to the ball, but what did that mean exactly? She couldn’t tell, probably because every time she saw him, her brain turned to goo. Except when he smiled at her, and that was even worse.
    “Mom?” Laura’s voice broke into her thoughts.
    “Yes?”
    “The keys go in the ignition,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe you should wait to think over what I said until after we get home.”
    Maggie glanced at Laura and saw her laughing. With a half-hearted annoyed huff, she put the keys in and started the car. When exactly had her daughter gotten too smart for her own good?
     

Chapter 6

    The next week was a flurry of business for Maggie, as everyone was gearing up for the ball. The bells on her door seemed to chime repeatedly, and the
cha-ching
of the cash register made a very festive accompaniment.
    It was the day before the ball when Laura showed up for her shift with Diane from the deli in tow. The petite blonde looked edgy around the crowd of women, all trying on gowns, but Laura stayed by her side, and Maggie noticed that Diane relaxed enough to joke around with Laura.
    “I can’t wear that,” Diane said with a grin as Laura held up an enormous sparkly yellow dress with a huge poofy skirt in front of her. “I’d look like a gumdrop.”
    “It’s true!” Laura cried. “I’ll wear a matching orange one, and we can go as the Gumdrop Girls.”
    As the two busted up with laughter, Maggie shook her head. Laura had spent a lot of time over the past week befriending Diane. Maggie had gotten to know her a little better and had revised her opinion. She didn’t think Diane was after Michael but rather that she looked up to him as a father figure. Laura hadn’t given her the specifics, but Maggie sensed from what Laura did say that Diane was going through a difficult time.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of lavender. It was a simple Elie Saab couture gown with a fitted top and lacy floor-length skirt. Diane would look amazing in it. Maggie took it off the rack and approached the two girls, who were still laughing, and held it up in front of Diane.
    “Despite the allure of a gumdrop, this one might suit you better,” she said.
    Diane took the dress and turned to see what it would look like in the mirror behind her. It made her light blue eyes reflect the lavender and complemented her skin tone. She sighed as she fingered the fabric.
    “It’s lovely, but I could never afford to buy a dress like this,” she said. She went to hand it back to Maggie.
    “So rent it from us,” Maggie said with a shrug.
    “Rent it?” she asked.
    “Yes, I’ve wanted to try renting out gowns and things that people do not need to wear more than once,” Maggie said. “You can be my test case.”
    Laura clapped her hands and hugged her