Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50006 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“And I got a spanking,” Essie muttered.
“What did you do?”
“I promised I wouldn’t add more events to next month’s calendar.”
“And you did,” Tiffanie guessed.
“Simply a small bridge competition. The ballroom will be a great place for them to gather and play cards. Bridge is a snooty game, right? They’ll all attend in their Sunday best with great manners.”
“Oh, they’ll come dressed to be seen,” Tiffanie said. Should she clue Essie in that there’d been an even bigger riot when the group heard allegations of cheating at the last tournament? Essie was going to flip when she shared that they wanted to come to Ferguson’s Folly because the community center banned them for life.
Essie looked toward the door of her office and seemed to listen to someone in the foyer. She turned slowly to meet Tiffanie’s gaze. “My ass is toast, isn’t it?”
Tiffanie nodded. “Esther knew?”
“She used to be a regular. The fanciest hotel downtown kicked the bridge crew out of the ballroom after a skirmish there. Then they moved after that to the community center. I’m going to need security.”
“Probably,” Tiffanie said, feeling bad for her friend.
“That’s it. I’m not accepting anything before I run the event past everyone.”
“You’ll learn all the wackiness of this town soon enough,” Tiffanie said. “But I’ll always tell you the truth.”
“Thanks. I’m going to order another cushion for this office chair now.”
Tiffanie could only laugh at the resignation in her friend’s voice. One part of her was regretful that Phineas hadn’t spanked her yet. She knew why. She hadn’t been healthy enough.
Right then, she decided she was going to do whatever she could to regain her strength. She deserved to experience everything. Tiffanie mentally rolled her eyes at herself. Who gets fired up to get ready for spankings?
She wanted to try everything with her Daddy. Resolved, she picked up her water bottle that Phineas had insisted she drink two of during the day while he was at work. After taking a long drink, she ran over her calendar to see what else she and Essie needed to discuss.
“I think we’re in good shape for the events this month. Anything you want to concentrate on?” Tiffanie asked Essie.
“I need the two of you to focus on some taste-testing. You got that lady’s retirement party. The hostess said she loves cookies. Chocolate, especially,” Sara said, appearing in the doorway with a large tray of cookies and a couple of ice-cold glasses of milk. She set the goodies down on Essie’s desk.
Tiffanie scanned the beautiful array of cookies that Sara had prepared and leaned forward to inhale deeply. “That aroma is enough for me to gain five pounds, Sara.”
“Good. Take another sniff. I promised Phineas that I’d work on fattening you up,” Sara said.
When Tiffanie and Essie looked at her with shocked expressions, Sara continued, “You didn’t figure out that he’d come talk to me?”
“I thought you’d be sneakier,” Tiffanie confessed.
“No need. I’ll always tell you the truth, unless the unvarnished facts would hurt you. Then I’ll lie until my nose grows four feet.” Sara touched the tip of her nose and extended her hand out as far as her arm could reach.
“Um, Sara?” Essie asked.
“Yes?”
“Only this one is pure chocolate,” Essie said. “If the retiree loves that flavor, shouldn’t we have at least half with chocolate?”
“Try that one for me,” Sara said, pointing to a treat that resembled a snickerdoodle with a cinnamon-sugar topping.
Curious, Tiffanie picked up that treat and almost dropped it, revealing the chocolate-dipped bottom. “Oh, chocolate and spice. I bet this is amazing. Here.” She bent the cookie, dividing the large treat in half and handing a side to Essie.
“Mmm,” Tiffanie said, groaning with delight. “That’s sinful. I’d quit working to get those cookies.”
“You’re not allowed to retire,” Essie said before taking a bite. “I’d eat those all day long. Yes, to this selection. Tiffanie, let’s try the filled cookie.”
When Essie tore that one apart, chocolate oozed out of the middle. “Ohhh! That’s going to be popular.” She handed a section to Tiffanie, and they tapped the two together like crystal wine glasses. Essie wiggled happily in her chair as she devoured it.
“I will never doubt you again, Sara,” she promised.
“Oh, you will. I’ll beat your expectations the next time as well,” Sara answered cheerfully.
By the end, the regular double chocolate chip cookie was the least spectacular delicacy on the tray—good, yummy, but not way over the top like the others. Tiffanie and Essie slumped in their chairs with empty glasses and full tummies.
“I take it back. I’m never retiring if I get to come taste test,” Tiffanie said.
“Deal! I’m holding you to it.” Essie’s eyes gleamed with happiness.
“Okay, I’m stealing the rest of these for dessert later. I bet your Daddies would enjoy them too.”
Sara was gone before the women dared to look at each other. “She said Daddies, Essie. Does she know everything?”