A Change of Heart by Nancy Frederick Page B

went about boxing the cakes while Annabeth fished in her purse.   She retrieved her credit card and handed it to Betty, who ran it through the machine.   "That's odd," murmured Betty, who then swiped the card again.   She picked up the phone and started speaking, then turned toward Annabeth, "They say this card has been canceled.   Did you bring the wrong one?"
    Annabeth blanched.   "My goodness," she exclaimed, "There must be some mistake."   She looked in her purse for her checkbook, but she had left it at home.   In her wallet were two five dollar bills, which she pulled out.   "This is all the cash I have with me."
    "Listen I understand about these credit card mix ups.   Why don't you stop by on Monday with the cash."
    Annabeth smiled at Betty.   "Oh thank you.   I'm already late now."
    "No problem."   Betty handed the two boxes to Annabeth and followed her to the door, placing the closed sign on it and locking it behind Annabeth.
    Not wanting to take any chances with these cakes, Annabeth walked to the kitchen to deposit them in her refrigerator, despite the fact that she knew there was no cream in them to melt.   "What's this?" she said softly to herself, removing a note held to the door with a magnet.
    Sorry I missed you, it read in Julie's handwriting.   I needed you to take a seam in that black dress you made for me, but I guess it can wait.   I borrowed those gray palazzo pants from your closet for tonight.   See you at the party.
    Julie had borrowed her new silk slacks.   Annabeth dashed up the stairs, wondering what she would wear to the party.   She flipped through the clothes in her closet.   There was nothing special enough.   Annabeth shook her head, which was still pounding, and she slumped down onto the bed.   She sat there silently, trying to banish from her mind the thousand thoughts that were overwhelming her.   Finally she rose, walked into the bathroom, downed two aspirins with some water and then reached into the closet for one of her cotton skirts.   She thought of wearing the gray silk top that belonged with the pants that Julie had borrowed, but she knew it would look odd, so instead she settled on one of her soft knit tops.   She looked in the mirror and sighed, shaking her head.   There lay her pretty dress on the sewing machine.   She held it up briefly.   No, it was unlikely it could be cleaned.   All her plans for this party….   At least now nothing else could go wrong.
    Mother Welner was the first one to spot her as she walked in Maggie's door.   "Do you ever take off that uniform, Annabeth?" she asked.  
    Laurel, having arrived late and gone directly to Maggie's, walked over to her   rescue, steering Annabeth away from R.J.'s mother.   "Mom!   What happened to your pink dress?"
    "The car exploded all over it.   I'm ready to lose my mind."
    "Why did you let Julie borrow your new slacks then?"
    "She took them while I was out.   She didn't know I needed them. Is your father here yet?"
    "Nope."
    Annabeth looked at her daughter.   "Don't you look beautiful."   She stopped to give Laurel a hug, an act that calmed her.   They walked about the room together, stopping to talk to family members and old school chums that Laurel hadn't seen in a while, then Annabeth went to help Maggie with the food.   The party continued for a couple of hours, people laughing and chatting, balancing plates of excellent food on their knees, while others rose and offered toasts to the smiling couple.
    It was nearly eleven when R.J. Welner entered the room, his arm around a young girl who was easily a head taller than himself.   She wore a tight-fitting, low-cut black vinyl dress that would not have been suitable for any event held in Gull's Perch, let alone an engagement party.   Her hair, bleached an even brassier shade of blonde than it had been when Annabeth first saw her, was piled high on her head, and adorned on each side with rhinestone clips.   She wore heels so high