Sweet Saturday

Welcome back! I am recovering from my writing group's Winter NaNo challenge. We committed ourselves to writing 32,000 words in 28 days. It was tough but I managed to get it done, and I have a new manuscript that I hope to have edited and submitted soon. Here's part of the opening from my new work-in-progress:

Sophie looked at her watch. She had ten more minutes until the store officially closed. She'd leave the doors unlocked until the rest of the quilting group arrived. The door opened and she looked up to greet the newcomer. But it wasn't a customer or a quilter.

A little blonde cherub stood in the doorway, looking around her with wide eyes. She looked to be about seven or eight years old. Just about the age another little girl would be about now...

"Do you need something, sweetie?" Sophie asked.

The little girl turned her soulful blue eyes at her. "It's raining outside and my daddy hasn't come to pick me up yet. Is it okay if I wait here?"

"Sure. Was your dad supposed to pick you up from the ice cream shop next door?"

"Yeah. I went to Suzy's birthday party after school and everyone else is gone. The ice cream man turned the lights off so I couldn’t stay there."

"He turned the lights off while you were still there?" Sophie couldn't imagine why the shop owner would be so cruel.

"Yeah. He told me I had to wait outside."

"Well, I won't turn the lights off here. Do you want me to call your daddy?"

"Yes, please. I have his phone number.” The little girl reached in her backpack and pulled out a worn slip of paper.

Sophie took the paper, squinting at the number scrawled on it. "Where does he work?"

"At the high school."

"Is he a teacher? School was out a long time ago."

"Yeah, but he always has work to do after school. Especially if there's a concert or something. He's the band director."

"Okay, I'll see if I can reach him. What's his name?"

"Brad Carmichael."

Sophie called the number on the paper. After several rings, the line was picked up and a deep, velvety voice answered.

"Rivertown High School Band Office."

"Mr. Carmichael?"

"Yes."

"This is Sophie at The Quilting Bee. Your daughter is waiting here for you."

"Jennie's there? She's supposed to be at a birthday party until--oh drat. I'm sorry. I'll be right there. Thanks for calling." The loud click told her he had disconnected in a hurry.

Sophie put the receiver down and smiled at the girl. "Your dad is on his way here."

****

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