Want to Know a Secret? (40)

“Who would do that?” Carrie says.

I shake my head weakly. “I… I have no idea. I guess somebody thought it would be a funny prank. But I swear, I don’t have a G.I. bug. Can you please buy a blondie?”

“Of course!”

Carrie makes a show out of giving me the money for a blondie, then she picks one up from the tray. But I follow her with my eyes and the second she gets away from me, she tosses it in the trash. I guess I can’t blame her.

I don’t know what to do now. Even if I got the post removed at this point, it’s too late. Everyone has already seen it. What am I supposed to do? Put a sign on my table saying “I didn’t actually spend the last twelve hours vomiting.” I feel like that will only make things worse.

I can’t believe I made all this food for nothing.

But it’s fine. I enjoy the bake sale, but the real moneymaker is the silent auction. And we’re going to clean up on that one. The bidding for the Yankees tickets is really out of control.

After Carrie wanders away, I scan the crowd of children and parents milling around. The bake sale is outside of the gymnasium, but I can see inside if I crane my neck. I’ve been looking for Maria, but I haven’t seen her since I’ve been here. I haven’t seen her since she caught me unearthing Raffey from my backyard. I’ve been desperate to find a way to apologize for that. I also want to tell her that I spoke to Bobby, who has sworn he didn’t have anything to do with it, but she probably wouldn’t believe me

Remembering how much Maria liked my apple turnovers at the book club, I put a couple of them in a napkin and head into the gym. I know she’s volunteering there. Maybe she’ll appreciate it if I bring her some sustenance. After I explain that I don’t actually have a vomiting illness.

I find Maria at the table with the raffle bags. She’s sitting behind the table, next to Julie. Apparently, they are doing the raffle together. I didn’t realize that. And as I approach, I notice they’re deep in conversation. Maria says something, and Julie laughs. It’s a genuine laugh—not Julie’s usual sarcastic laugh.

It’s been months—maybe years—since I’ve heard Julie laugh that way.

I wave to try to catch Maria’s eye when I get close enough. She doesn’t smile or wave back, but we make eye contact. She looks right at me. Then she lowers her head and says something else to Julie. Julie glances my way, then laughs again.

Are they laughing at me?

I lift my chin and stride over to them. I plaster a smile on my face, even though I’m feeling very self-conscious. I should have dressed up more, like both of them did. I thought it would be enough to wear my skinny jeans and a nice cashmere sweater. I mean, I don’t want to get chocolate all over my best clothing…

“Hi!” I say brightly. “How’s it going?”

Julie frowns at me. “April, I don’t understand why you came to the bake sale if you’re sick. It’s very irresponsible of you.”

I grit my teeth. “I’m not sick.”

“But you said on Facebook that you’ve been vomiting for the last twelve hours.”

“That wasn’t me.” I hate the whining edge in my voice. “Somebody was impersonating me. It must’ve been a joke.”

“Mmm.” Julie looks away and fiddles with one of the raffle bags. “Fine. Then maybe you should get back to the bake sale.”

“Just taking a break!” I hold out the apple turnovers. “Would you guys like a sample from the table?”

Maria barely looks at me. Julie eyes the turnovers then shakes her head. “No, thank you.”

“Um, okay.” I stand there awkwardly for a moment with the apple turnovers in my hand. “It seems like the carnival is a huge success though. You did an amazing job, Julie.”

If there’s one thing I know Julie loves, it’s compliments.

“We all did an amazing job, April,” she says. “It wasn’t just me putting this together. I couldn’t have done it without help from all the other parents.”

And she smiles at Maria. Even though I did half the freaking work for this carnival.

“Well!” My cheeks are starting to hurt from smiling. “I guess I’ll get back to the bake sale.”

“You do that,” Julie says.

My cheeks are burning as I walk back across the gym. I can’t believe the way Maria snubbed me. Julie and I used to be so close—she was the one who told everyone in town to watch Sweet Secrets and helped me make the show a success. She’s been my best friend for five years! But now that Maria is around, it’s like I can’t do anything right in her eyes.

I can only imagine what Maria has been saying to her about me. I don’t know how that stupid giraffe ended up in my backyard. It wasn’t Bobby’s fault, and it definitely wasn’t my fault.

Tears are pricking at my eyes. I certainly don’t want to go back to the bake sale, where everybody is staring at me like I have the plague.

So instead of leaving the gym, I hang right. That’s where the bouncy houses are. Where Sean is doing his second shift, since Teresa backed out. But he doesn’t look like he’s getting too burned out. He’s teasing this little girl about her sparkly pink shoes, and she’s giggling. He’s really good with kids. And he’s such a good dad.