Page 45 of Witchful Thinking
“What about your sisters?”
“Sirena’s at work. Callie’s at school.” Lucy scrolled through her phone. “Aunt Niesha doesn’t like sweets. Uncle Leo—I don’t know.”
“Bidding starts now! Bidding will be open for an hour. Buyers, you may make your bids,” Ursula called out. “DJ, turn up the music.”
DJ Ghost Sounds nodded, put on her headphones, and started the music. Cameo’s classic funk song “Candy” came over the speakers. Interested buyers bopped to the beat as they entered the cakewalk space, scanning the tables and looking through the selections.
“Your parents would bid.”
“They would if they were here.” Lucy kept scrolling.
Apprehension filled Alex. He liked the Caraways and hoped nothing awful had happened to them in his absence.
“Um, are they retired?” Alex asked.
“Yes.” Lucy looked up from her phone, and her face softened. “Mom and Dad Caraway are living their best lives traveling around the world. I got an email from them the other day.”
“How are they doing?”
Lucy gave him an exasperated sigh. “They keep gently reminding me I could be teaching college instead. They forward me job listings from Meadowdale all the time. I told them I’m just fine.”
“I’d glad they’re good. Give them my best.”
“I will.” Lucy tucked her phone away. She scanned the crowd for possible customers.
“I’ll call Mom and Pop Dwyer,” Alex said. “They’ve always liked you. I’m sure they can help.”
“I didn’t think they’d remember me. I haven’t talked to them much since you moved away,” Lucy said, smiling at a few buyers who gave her cake a hard glance, then moved away. Her smile fell. This happened three more times. Each time her smile dimmed a bit. The song ended and transitioned smoothly into another classic song about sweet treats and sugar.
Alex’s face grew hot. Enough was enough. It was time to call in reinforcements.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, touching a hand to her arm. Alex stepped away from the tables and dialed his mom. She picked up. He explained the situation, to which Mom responded with an understanding sigh.
“Those cakewalk people are worse than the bingo-hall-raffle people. We’ll put in a bid. Write us down. Anything to help your girlfriend!” Mom said in a cheerful tone. “You’ll have to invite her over for tea.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. She’s my friend,” Alex said, a little too quickly.
There was a significant pause. “We’re talking about Lucy,” his mom said, uncertain. “Lucy Caraway?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
That one word from his mom had at least a dozen meanings to Alex. Okay, go ahead and climb that tree, but I’m not taking you to the hospital to Okay, don’t study and see what happens to your grades. This “Okay” from Mom sounded way too different, too hopeful. His scales itched. Mom Dwyer had something to say.
“Mom.” Alex rubbed his forehead. “What do you mean by ‘okay’?”
“Well, consider this,” Mom said slowly. “Why aren’t you bidding?”
“She doesn’t want it to be a pity bid.”
“Well, do you pity her?” Mom asked.
“No,” Alex said forcefully. “She worked so hard. She deserves to get a bid. It makes me upset to see her…upset.”
He let those words linger.
“Al, do something about it,” Mom said. Alex nodded even though his mother couldn’t see. She ended the call with a promise that he’d visit soon. Alex walked the grounds, watching Lucy in the park doing her best to get bids. Old concerns bubbled up from the depths. Everyone from Horatio to his former swim teammates had constantly told him to “just go for it” when it came to Lucy.