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ears.

Chapter Six
    â€œShe kind of wigged me out.” Jackie glanced at Darla thirty minutes later as she sat in her friend’s living room sipping hot tea. Their business papers were spread out on the table in front of her, but Jackie couldn’t stop thinking about Sabrina McKinley. “I’ve never talked to a fortune-teller before. I don’t know why it spooked me.”
    â€œI wonder at Fiona for sending her to your house,” Darla said. “No matter. You got her to Bode’s, and I feel bad enough for her having to pay a call on that troll.”
    Jackie looked down into her cup. She did, too. “So, where do we start?”
    â€œHere are some ideas on financing. Here is the new spring inventory that has already been bought for next year.” Darla pointed to different papers. “Best of all, here are the orders that are outstanding already for next June. Who would have thought we had so many antsy brides around Diablo?”
    It was almost like reading a gossip sheet. Jackie gasped as she looked down the list of names Darla gave her. “I didn’t know all these people were engaged!”
    â€œAnd lucky for us they are.” Darla grinned. “Love is definitely in the air.”
    Jackie felt a shard of pain go through her. Love was in the air, but not for her. Pete did not love her. He wasgoing through some break-up pangs, probably, but they would pass. She knew her guy. Pete lived in the moment. He didn’t think about the future, or life beyond the next Saturday night.
    She was the worrier, the seeker. “This is great. This is just what I need.”
    â€œReally?” Darla beamed. “I was hoping you’d say that! Let’s break out some champagne, partner!”
    Jackie smiled, then remembered the strange flutter in her stomach. “Maybe just a soda for me. I’ve got a bit of a nervous stomach tonight for some reason.”
    Darla peered at her. “Do you think you might have a bug? There’s been a lot of flu going around the hospital.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s a bug.” Jackie felt a bit peaked. “Is it warm in here to you?”
    â€œI’m fine,” Darla said. “Let’s go in the kitchen and get you a cold drink.”
    Darla got up and Jackie followed, although not with any enthusiasm. She wasn’t certain ice would be enough to make her feel better. “So, if we decide to buy the wedding boutique, when do you plan to turn in your resignation?”
    â€œI already did.” Darla plunked three cubes into a glass, filled it with ginger ale and handed it to Jackie. “I gave my two weeks’ notice, and I’m happy to be free.”
    Jackie nodded. “I will be, too.” She thought about Mr. Dearborn, who loved to stir her up. “I’ll miss it, but I do need a break.”
    Darla smiled. “Are you and Pete having some kind of little romance problems?”
    Jackie blinked. “Why?”
    â€œJust checking. You seem a little out of sorts.”
    The warmth was definitely back, despite the gingerale, but this time it was embarrassment. “We broke up tonight.”
    â€œWhat happened?” Darla looked concerned. “This is a small town. You know better than to think you can keep something like that quiet around here. Tell me everything before I hear it through the grapevine.”
    Jackie shook her head. “How long has everyone known?”
    â€œSince your mother told Fiona, and she told all her buddies at the Books ’n’ Bingo Society. Which includes my mom.” Darla grinned at her. “We’ve all known forever that you were sweet on each other.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you say anything?”
    Darla shrugged. “I just thought you’d mention it to folks if you wanted to. Besides, it isn’t like I don’t know something about having a crush on a Callahan man.”
    â€œReally?” Jackie tried to picture