A Change of Heart by Nancy Frederick Page A

gone, and there are a lot of other problems as well.   I'd be glad to have our mechanics look at it on Monday, to give you an estimate.   Then you can decide if it's worth fixing or not."
    "Oh my.   I should have called Maggie from your office.   They're waiting for me and this food."
    "Let me take you where you need to go.   Then I'll come back and have your car towed to the garage."
    "Oh thank you so much," she said, relieved.
    He walked to the car, carefully lifting the coolers into his back seat.   Annabeth opened her trunk, removed the breads in their bags and Doug placed the Jambalaya on the floor of his trunk.   "Smells wonderful," he commented.
    "Thank you.   I hope it isn't spoiled."
    In a few moments they arrived at Maggie's and Doug helped her in with the food.   "Annabeth!" exclaimed Maggie as she spotted them, "What happened to you?"
    "Damn car," said Annabeth.   "Maggie, do you remember Doug Hawkins?"
    "Yes, of course, Grady's brother."   Maggie said.   "How are you?"
    Doug glanced at Maggie.   "Always the brother of the football hero.   My claim to fame."   Then returning his focus to Annabeth, he continued, "All right, we'll have your car.   Come around on Monday and we'll give you that estimate."
    "It was so nice to see you again."   Annabeth smiled.   "I'm sorry we didn't have more time to talk.   Why don't you stay and have some food with us?"
    Doug looked around at the party preparations.   "No, I can see it's a family affair.   I don't want to intrude."
    Maggie, not wanting to be topped in courtesy by Annabeth, insisted, "Please, stay.   You're welcome to stay."
    "Another time," he said, backing out of the room.
    Annabeth followed him, saying, "Thank you so much."
    "My pleasure."   He smiled at her then, an open and friendly smile, one which caused his dark eyes to flash.  
    Annabeth smiled back, and watched him walk down the driveway and pull off in his car.   Then she turned back toward Maggie.   "I need to go home and change my clothes.   But first let's get these cakes into the fridge."   They walked back toward the kitchen, and Annabeth carefully lifted the lid of the cooler.   She gently pulled the cake up and out, slowly turning toward the refrigerator which Maggie held open.   It was the slight turn that did it. The mousse, already melting, separated from the cake, causing the top layer to spin off, landing on the floor.   On seeing it swirl off, Annabeth jumped, and that movement caused the final layer to fly off the plate.
    "Oh my God!" exclaimed Annabeth and Maggie simultaneously.   Annabeth scraped the soggy cake and puddling mousse off the floor and into the trash can,   walked to the sink, rinsing her hands and drying them, then opened the other cooler.   The second cake was collapsed, the mousse puddled around its sides.   There was no way to remove it from the cooler in one piece, and it wasn't fit to eat anyway.
    "Now what?" asked Maggie.   "I didn't make my sheet cake.   We do have some cookies."
    "Oh God!" sighed Annabeth, "I'm really sorry, Maggie.   I have to go home anyway.   I'll stop at Ed and Betty's and get a cake."
    "Fancy food just doesn't work in this climate," complained Maggie, her face a mask of aggravation.   "I'll give them a call while you go.   Take my car."
    "Thanks, hon."   Annabeth touched Maggie's arm gently.
    Annabeth pressed her hand to her head.   It was pounding.   She looked down at her party dress, now utterly ruined.   Could the cleaners remove that stain?   It was doubtful.   At least she still had her other new outfit.   She pulled into the open spot in front of Ed and Betty's Bakery and walked the few steps to the door.
    Betty smiled warmly at Annabeth.   "Hi.   Your friend already called me.   I wish we had more cakes left."   Betty pointed to the nearly empty display case.   There were two small cakes, one frosted in pink, one chocolate.
    "These will be great," said Annabeth, smiling courteously.
    Betty