Perfect Sax by Jerrilyn Farmer Read Free Book Online Page B

you see who won my garden party? I’m afraid I was distracted at the time.”
    “It was Dilly Swinden!”
    We both laughed. “Really? Dilly bought it?”
    “She was absolutely determined. She’s going to invite everyone on the committee to the luncheon.”
    “How generous,” I said. It made a lot of sense, really. It would have been equally generous had Dilly and her husbandwritten as large a check when they made their contribution to the Woodburn’s annual fund, but in purchasing this party at the auction, she got more. In addition to making an impressive donation, she could provide a wonderful treat to the women who worked hard to support her in planning this event.
    “I think Dil was feeling a little guilty,” Hilary said in a low voice. “By June, she and Zenya were simply leaving their committee and the board out of everything. They were calling all the shots. I admit, they did a very nice job, but feathers do ruffle. You know how we are. This luncheon will go a long way to smoothing them down again.”
    “It sounds wonderful to me,” I said.
    “They’d like to schedule the party just as soon as possible. Next week, if that is okay with you and your partner. I think most of us are going to escape L.A. in August. So let’s coordinate by e-mail and set the date.”
    The Entemanns’ silver Mercedes SUV arrived at the curb and Hilary called out good-bye as she departed. I checked my watch. Where was my Jeep?
    “Oh, Mad,” Holly called, meeting me out on the steps. “I’m glad I caught you. Sara is in a bind. Sara Jackson, remember? The redhead? She’s got to meet her boyfriend. It’s urgent. And her car battery is dead. I don’t have a car or I’d lend it to her. Wesley drove me here, and he’s out now, driving one of the trucks back to the rental-company lot. What should we do?”
    I looked at Holly. She was so compassionate. One of our servers, a graduate student at USC, I think, had a boyfriend problem and Holly was ever ready to help.
    “Can’t one of the other servers give her a lift?” I asked.
    “That’s the trouble. Mostly everyone has already split. She can wait around until Wes gets back, but that could take hours. I thought about calling him. I’ve got his spare keysand his car is still here. But I’m supposed to supervise the rest of the cleanup and I can’t exactly ask him to lend out his brand-new Jag.”
    “No.”
    “Right.” Holly fixed me with her bright blue eyes. “See, Sara said it was life or death, Maddie. She’s got to see her boyfriend right this minute.”
    I watched as the valet finally pulled up in my old Grand Wagoneer.
    I’m afraid I melt for any young woman with boyfriend problems so urgent. “Just ask her to please drive it back over to my house. Tonight.”
    “Mad, you’re the best!” Holly yelled at me, turning to run and tell Sara.
    “I mean it, Holly. And she needs to come in and put the keys on my kitchen table. Give her the combination to the kitchen door lock.”
    “Thanks, Mad. So how will you get home?”
    “I’ll catch a ride.”
    In less than a minute, Holly was leading Sara Jackson down to the valet and I met them so I could tip the guy. Sure, it had taken him twenty minutes to find my car, but even parking attendants have to pay their shrink bills in this town.
    Sara climbed into the driver’s seat and rolled down the window, giving me a sad smile. “Sorry to be such a burden,” she said. “You are being so great. I can’t thank you enough. Brett is just raging. His dissertation committee met and he’s been told he won’t get his degree.” As she talked, she pulled out the band that was holding her hair up. As she rubbed her head, pulling the ponytail out, her fine red hair fell straight down her back. “I can’t explain, but I don’t think it was a good idea for me to leave Brett alone. I told him I couldn’t bail on this gig tonight. We need the money. And I knew youwere counting on me. I mean, Brett knew I couldn’t