He mimed great shock, hands covering his heart. Sara laughed. “Hey, I like mime. I just have a friend who does not. I thought he might have been aggravating some of you.”
He went into a boxing stance and shadow boxed for a few moments. “Good idea. You come get me first, though, if you find him.”
Sara was still laughing when she joined Kathy, Bootsi and Trinity.
“You were right, Kathy. He was a good dancer. And funny. I was telling him about Jason not liking mimes. He did a whole little routine. I really hope Jason was watching.”
They all looked around again.
“Sara,” Pricilla said tentatively, “I know you are reluctant to do the karaoke, but would you go up and do Monster Mash with me? No one has done it yet, and I do not want to do it by myself.”
Sara smiled. “Okay, Pricilla. It is not that big of a deal. But why not all of us?”
Bootsi, Trinity and Kathy all agreed.
And with Trinity’s influence, it became a near riot.
“Okay, Sara,” Trinity said, when they finally finished the fourth reprise. “You do your last one. Something good. This has been a great time.”
The DJ played another dance song as the girls looked through the selections. The crowd began to gather as the dance number came to an end as word was passed that Sara was going to sing one last song.
When Sara turned around she saw nearly the entire group of party goers looking up at her. “Uh…”
“Not a good start, Sara,” Trinity said, taking the CD from her to give to the DJ.
“I do not think…” Sara was saying.
Bootsi grinned. “Probably a good idea. Not thinking. Better to just do it.”
The others moved away, as the DJ handed Sara the microphone.
Sara managed to finish the popular song. To thunderous applause.
She bowed. Then, after a glance at Mrs. MacDougal, who had made her way to the front of the crowd to watch Sara, Sara lifted the mike to her lips again.
“I guess this is about over,” Sara said, glancing down at Mrs. MacDougal again.
“Before we unmask, I think we should all thank those that helped make this a fun time. Mrs. MacDougal, would you come up, please?”
Several hands helped Mrs. MacDougal to the stage, as she protested every step.
“Everyone, this wonderful lady did most of the real planning. She arranged for us to get the Civic Center, arranged for the catering, and kept all of us that helped in line. I think she deserves a big round of applause.”
She got it.
“Actually,” Sara said, touching Mrs. MacDougal’s arm to halt her. “I think perhaps we can unmask as we thank a few other people. Mrs. MacDougal, if you would?”
To another round of applause Mrs. MacDougal removed the minimal mask she wore, waved her wand at the crowd and hurried off.
Quite a few of the people present recognized the note of irony in Sara’s voice when she said, “You have no idea how much I hate for this to end with this unmasking.
“My cohorts in this deal. Trinity, Bootsi, Pricilla, Kathy.”
They joined Sara on stage, to remove their masks, each with a flourish and a bow.
“Mrs. MacDougal’s great helpers and staff,” Sara said, pointing toward the tables, where Mrs. MacDougal had hurriedly gathered the staff.
They each unmasked as people applauded.
“And, of course, the great caterers! Their mime was as great as their food!”
That brought thunderous applause.
“How about our DJ? He put up with me, and the rest of you.”
Sara stood to one side as the DJ, in a classic jester outfit, stepped forward and removed his mask with a flourish.
“And the great mime himself, who helped in so many ways, Tommy Jones!”
Tommy leapt to the stage, amidst another round of applause. He unmasked, but stepped up to Sara as she continued. “I think everyone else can unmask, now.”
As the rest of the party goers did so, all continued to watch Sara.
Sara was searching the crowd for Jason. When she let the microphone drop to her side Tommy stepped up and took it. Sara hurried off the stage, to find her friends. Then find and skin Jason alive.
“Oh, I think we have one more person to thank. What about you?”
The crowd roared.
Sara’s friends hurried her back onto the stage.
“Ladies and Gentleman. Boys and girls. Ghouls, goblins and ghosts. Our hostess, and prime instigator of this wonderful shindig, Miss Sara Lee!”
With a none too gentle push, Trinity had Sara out in the middle of the stage again. “Take off your mask!” Trinity yelled.
“Oh!” Sara said, actually not realizing she still wore the delicate lace mask.
She slipped it off and took a quick bow, then hurried to join the others.
As once again the small group moved toward the crowd to find Jason, Tommy continued.
“And lest we forget, with our merrymaking, Miss Lee’s idea to make this a civic event, I think everyone should know that over one hundred youngsters were given treats tonight, here, safe and sound. Not out there in the raging storm.”
There were calls for Sara to return to the stage for another bow.
“And we collected hundreds of pounds of food, and coats and warm clothes. Everyone contributed nicely,” Mrs. Erickson said, taking the microphone when Tommy handed it to her.
Tommy took it back at her insistence and gestured to Sara. “We owe that community service to Sara Lee, as well,” Tommy said.
“What do you say? Get her up here one more time?”
“Hey!” Someone called. “That guy still has his mask on!”
All eyes turned toward the back of the room. One of the caterers was already gathering up things to be put away.
“Hey, you! Come on,” Tommy called out. “Time to show your face. Everyone loved us. Have a little pride.”
Suddenly Tommy fell silent and stared. Everyone looked a little unsure as the caterer moved forward. Suddenly a huge bouquet of roses seemed to appear from out of thin air just as he reached Sara.
“Bring her up here,” Tommy said into the mike, realizing who the last masked person was.
With the help of her friends, one hand in the still masked caterer’s, Sara went back to the stage.
“His mask! His mask!” people called when the caterer headed off the stage again.
“Where is Jason?” Sara was asking her friends.
“Wait a minute,” Bootsi said. “I want to watch this. This guy is great. Do not worry. We will find Jason.”
“I just cannot figure out where he is,” Sara said, dejected. But she had to smile.
“Come on, guy! Unmask!” Tommy said. He caught Jason’s eye and winked. “You are the last one. Everyone seems to love the act. Go ahead and do something.”
“Jason has to be here,” Trinity said. “He promised.”
“He would never break a promise,” Kathy said.
“What would he be, that we still do not recognize him?” Bootsi asked.
“It has to be something totally unexpected. The one thing we were never even expect to see.”
There was a roar from the crowd. Sara and the others turned to see the last unmasked caterer moon walk from one side of the stage to the other, then back to the center.
The five looked at one another, mouths agape.
“Like a mime!” Sara whispered.
She stared at him when he stepped toward her, took her hand and led her back to the center of the stage.
Holding Sara’s hand high, with his other, Jason removed his mask. “Ladies and Gentlemen, our gracious hostess, Miss Sara Lee.”
Jason dropped her hand, stepped back and bowed deeply. With a wink that made her furious, Jason whispered. “Now would be the time for that curtsey.”
“You are dead!” Sara whispered, doing a deep curtsey, flowers still in one arm.”
Suddenly Jason spun, did a pair of cartwheels to the edge of
the stage and leapt off, to disappear through the nearest door, leaving Sara on stage to thunderous applause and shouts of glee.
“Good night, everyone,” Tommy said, then handed the microphone back to the DJ.
“I am absolutely going to kill him!” Sara was mumbling.
“He was a mime! A mime! He hates mime!” Trinity said.
“Taught him everything he knows,” Tommy said cheerfully.
Sara glared at him.
“I think you better come with me,” Candy said, taking Tommy’s arm and leading him away. “You have never seen her in a mood. Besides, I could use some help.”
“I never even had a clue,” Kathy said breathlessly. “I even danced a slow dance with him and I did not know.”
“Me, either,” Bootsi said. “I cannot believe he did that all night long. He was serving, then out among us. I never had a clue.”
“Uh… Sara… Are you okay?” Trinity asked.
“Yes. I am fine. He got us good. Fair and square. I even asked Mrs. MacDougal earlier, when we had not figured out who he was. She truly did not know either.”
The others had drifted away. “Why would Mrs. MacDougal know him in cos-tume when none of us did?” Trinity asked with a look of puzzlement on her face.
Sara suddenly looked over at Trinity, her chagrin obvious.
“Uh, Trinity…”
“There is something you are not telling me, Sara. I can tell. Come on. Give.”
“Look. I will explain. Really. But first… I need to find him and talk to him, first.”
“Okay. But you better come right back. This is getting really interesting.”
Sara found Jason helping Tommy help Candy help the caterers loading up.
“You know, buddy, I would loan you my bullet proof glass box, but I really do not think it would stop what is coming at you,” Tommy said, seeing Sara approaching.
Jason grinned. “She does not look happy, I bet.”
Tommy shook his head. “I think I better be someplace else. She knows I am involved.”
“Candy,” Jason said, just before he turned around, “You better take Tommy and run.”
“Come over here!” Sara hissed. “I want to talk to you! Privately!”
“That is good, Miss Sara. No witnesses,” Candy called over her shoulder.
“Ooh! A clever woman,” Tommy said. “I LIKE that.” Candy led him further away.
When everyone was out of sight and earshot, Sara, arms crossed, foot tapping, said, “You tricked me!”
“Of course. It was a costume party. I was supposed to trick you.”
“That is not what I meant!”
Jason lifted his eyebrows.
“One of these days, Jason McKindrick! Just one of these days!”
Sara spun around and left.
Trinity found her sitting on the edge of the stage, heels gently bumping the stage front.
“Is he still breathing?” Trinity asked Sara.
“Jason?”
With a grin, Trinity asked, “Who else?”
“Yes. He is breathing.”
“You going to tell me what he won? We never did get around to discussing that, since we did not think he could.”
“I have to go out and have a fun weekend.”
“That does not make any sense at all!” Trinity protested.
Sara sighed. “It will when you know the whole story. You might want to call your father to come get you. Just in case you do not want to be around me after I tell you…”
They both looked over when Jason spoke. Quietly he said, “Why not have her stay over. It might be easier. I am sure her father will not mind.”
“Jason? What are you talking about?” Trinity asked. Then she looked at Sara. “What is going on?”
“What about you?” Sara asked.
“I can go…”
“No. Not for this.”
Trinity, sensing the seriousness of what was happening kept silent. There was something really wrong with her two friends.
“Are you sure?” Jason asked.
Sara nodded, then looked over at Trinity. “Trinity, if you want to, you can stay over, and I will explain everything. I really want you to.”
A tear trickled down Sara’s face.
“Please, Trinity?” Jason asked.
“But… I do not understand… But, sure. Daddy will not mind. I will go call him.”
“Thank you, Trinity,” Jason said.
He turned to look at Sara. “I am sorry.”
“Do not be,” Sara said, wiping away the tear. She slid off the stage. “I agreed to everything. If I lose Trinity as a friend… It is my fault. Not yours.”
“You will not lose Trinity’s friendship,” Jason said. “She is a great person. She will understand.”
As they walked side by side toward the front doors of the now empty civic center, Jason said, “She may try to kill me, but she will still be your friend. Remember how the staff reacted?”
Sara managed a small smile. It seemed so long ago. And the staff were so supportive. So like a family.
“I do not want her to be mad at you,” Sara replied. “You have not tried any-thing. Helped me in every way.”
Her voice softened. “I know how you feel about me… Yet you have encouraged me to go out on dates.”
Sara sighed. “Sometimes I really do wish I felt about you the way you do me. Life would be so much less complicated.”
“Do not wish for something like that. You are who you are and what you are. The feelings simply are not there. I knew that from the start,” Jason said.
“It simply does not matter to me,” he continued. “And I know, the way you know how I feel about you, that what I have done to you is not really fair.
“But to be honest, I am not prepared to call the whole thing off. I like being near you, as hard as it is at times. I know you have the option of leaving, so I am not willing to ask you to go, even though that would probably be much more likely to make you happy, than what we are doing now.
“And I keep telling myself, and you, that all I really want is for you to be happy.”
They could not continue, for Trinity walked up to them as they neared the outer doors of the Civic Center.
“The janitor will lock up,” Sara said. She looked over at Jason. “You sure it is okay to leave the rest?”
“The cleaning crew will be here at four thirty in the morning. They will take care of the rest.”
Sara nodded, then asked, “Did you drive over?”
“Rode my bike,” Jason replied.
“You idiot!” Sara said, stepping out into the cold wind. The snow was still falling steadily.
“Put your bike in the truck. I should bean you! What were you thinking?” Sara asked.
Jason managed to smile. “I was thinking I might need a quick getaway. I can go places, even in the snow, that you cannot take the truck.”
“You still may,” Sara said, triggering the remote to start the truck as they neared it.
Trinity stayed silent, watching her friends. There was definitely something going on of which she had not a clue. It was a strange feeling for Trinity.
She slid over next to Sara, Jason taking the door seat in front, despite the rear seat being empty.
Managing a smile, Trinity said, “So I finally get to see where you live, Jason. I was beginning to think you lived under an overpass, or something.”
Jason smiled over at his friend. “Oh, I think you will be impressed with my home. I just never invited you over so you would not be jealous.”
“Jealous! I do not get jealous,” Trinity huffed. “Well… A little at Sara’s, but that place is great. And she has a staff.”
Trinity grinned over at Jason. “A great staff, huh? Sure helped throw a great party!”
“I certainly agree,” Jason said.
“Hey! You live this street, too?” Trinity asked Jason when Sara turned onto twelfth.”
“Yep,” Jason said.
“Wait
a minute,” Trinity said as Sara pulled into the big circle drive. “This is where Sara lives!”
“This is his house, not mine,” Sara said.
“What? Jason’s house? But…”
“She will explain in a few minutes,” Jason said, seeing the tears form in Sara’s eyes before she slid to the ground from the driver’s seat.
“Okay?” Jason asked Trinity as he opened the truck door.
“Okay, Jason. But this is all really confusing.”
Mrs. MacDougal met them at the front door. Her eyes went from Sara to Jason, then back to Sara, before stopping finally on Trinity.
“Miss Vandeuson will be spending the night with Miss Lee, Mrs. MacDougal. Please prepare a room for me.”
“No,” Sara said quietly. “Mrs. MacDougal, please ask Juliet to prepare the adjoining bedroom for Trinity.”
“Mrs. MacDougal,” Jason started to say.
“Whose wishes did you say take precedence?” Sara asked Jason firmly.
“Yours,” Jason said, studying Sara’s face for a moment. “As she wishes, Mrs. MacDougal.”
“Sara?” Trinity said.
“In just a few more minutes, Trinity. I promise.”
Trinity nodded. Jason took her coat, handing it to Juliet, who had come into the entry hall. Jason helped Sara with her coat, then said, “I will be in the study.”
“No,” Sara said softly. “Get the papers out for me?”
Jason nodded.
Sara turned to Juliet. “Trinity did not bring anything else with her. Could you get her something to wear for the evening?”
“Absolutely,” Juliet said.
“The adjoining room, Miss Sara said,” Mrs. MacDougal told Juliet.
Juliet’s eyebrows lifted, but she said only, “Right away.”
Sara led Trinity upstairs. “I did not show you a couple of things when you guys stayed over recently,” Sara said, walking over to one of the closets in the bedroom.
Sliding open the door she stepped back.
“I recognize that shirt. It is Jason’s! He really lives here?”
Sara nodded.
“And you live here, too,” Trinity asked.
Again Sara nodded.
“Well, that is not such a big deal. I am not surprised that Jason lets you stay. I have told you how soft hearted he is. But you know that.”
Sara opened the other closet door.
The Contract Page 23
