Through A Magnolia Filter. Nan Dixon
that. I volunteered to help him.”
Anne leaned forward. “Has he called you since you helped him?”
“No.” Dolley chewed her lip. “But he had tests to grade.”
“Right. He teaches at SCAD.” Anne sipped her drink. “Too bad we didn’t have teachers that cute when we went to school.”
She and Anne had met while attending Savannah College of Art and Design. “You might have studied harder.”
Their food arrived, and they dug in, keeping the conversation light.
“Dolley?” a male voice called.
She turned and spotted a familiar face. “Connor?”
Connor’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her out of her chair. “I haven’t seen you in years.”
She hugged him back. “How are you?”
“Good. Great.” Connor pulled away and tugged on her hair. “You look the same. I would have known your mop of red curls anywhere.”
She brushed an offending hank of hair off her face. “Was that a compliment?”
“Absolutely.” He slung an arm around her shoulder and turned to face their table.
“I haven’t seen you before.” Anne set down her drink and smiled. “Are you an old friend of Dolley’s?”
Connor rubbed his knuckles on the top of her head. “We endured high school Advanced Chemistry together. If she hadn’t helped me with my homework, I might have blown my scholarship chances.”
“We got each other through the course.” She elbowed him so he’d stop rubbing her head. “We were the only juniors in the class. The seniors refused to talk to us.”
“The guys always talked to you. You had the textbook memorized.”
Dolley winced. She had a great memory. “What are you doing back in town?” she asked.
“Home for my mom’s birthday weekend. I’m meeting my brother for a beer.” He glanced around. “As usual, he’s late.”
“Do you want to join us until he comes?” Anne smiled.
“Sure.” Connor gave Dolley’s shoulders a squeeze.
Anne kicked Dolley under the table and tilted her head toward Connor.
Dolley shook her head. Connor wasn’t right for Anne. Besides, she’d had a massive crush on him in high school.
All he’d wanted was help in chemistry.
Connor talked about his job while Anne hung on every word.
“You really stayed with chemistry?” Dolley asked.
“Biochemistry. I work up in the triangle.”
Anne frowned. “The Bermuda triangle?”
Connor leaned in to Anne, laughing. “The Research Triangle Park in North Carolina. I live in Raleigh.”
Anne still looked puzzled, so he explained, leaning even closer.
Her friend wasn’t stupid. Dolley expected Anne had heard about the biotech park. Maybe she should leave them alone. “I’ll be right back.”
Heading to the bathroom, she greeted a couple of the locals, waving and smiling.
She spotted a blond at the indoor bar. Her heart picked up a couple of beats. Robert was here.
Hurrying over, she wrapped a hand around his waist. “Hey, handsome.”
Robert whipped around. His eyes widened. “Dolley?”
“I had fun last weekend.” She gave his belly a little poke. “You must have gotten all the tests graded by now.”
His face went blank. “What tests?”
Her shoulders tightened. “You said you had tests to grade.”
“Right. Yes. Lots of tests.” His gaze darted around the room. “I’m taking a break.”
“So you had time to stop in for a drink—” she let out a deep breath “—but didn’t call me?”
“Like I said before—it’s the tests.” His eyes avoided her gaze. “I needed to get grades in.”
Dread settled like a weight on her shoulders. “Did you even give a test this week?”
He finally looked her in the eye. He held up his hands and then let them fall to his thighs with a slap. “A short quiz.”
“A quiz.” The appetizers she’d eaten churned in her stomach.
Based on the way Robert shifted back and forth, she wasn’t dating him again. “Got it.” She turned to go. “I...”
“Dolley.” He grabbed her arm. “We had fun. I appreciate your help last weekend.”
She glared at his hand on her arm until he let her go.
“Were you even interested in me?” she asked. “Or did you endure two dates just to get computer help?”
“Dolley, no.” He caught her hand. “Can we still be...friends?”
She had to get away. “I don’t think so.”
“I’m sorry.” Robert, the jerk, looked relieved.
She stepped backward, then hurried into the hallway.
Why did this always happen to her?
That’s it. She was taking a dating break.
Her phone rang as she exited the bathroom. Unknown number. What now? She answered.
“Is this Dolley Fitzgerald?”
“Yes.”
“Congratulations. This is Bridal Party Today. Your photograph won first place in the amateur division of our contest.”
Her heart pounded. “It won?”
“It sure did.”
“My photograph.” She’d entered a picture she’d taken at Mamma’s wedding. She shook her head. “Me?”
“If you’re Dolley Fitzgerald.” The woman on the other end of the call chuckled. “Your picture will be included in our January magazine. I’ll send you interview questions for the article.”
“Sure. Sure.” After confirming her email address, Dolley hung up.
A photograph she’d taken had won. The first contest she’d ever entered. And it was a picture of Mamma dancing with Martin, her groom, at their wedding. Dolley couldn’t stop the grin filling her face. She’d won. Punching the air, she spun in the hallway. Who cared about Robert now?
She rushed out to tell Anne.
Connor and Anne had their heads tucked together. Connor’s younger brother occupied the empty chair at the table.
Her enthusiasm vanished. They wouldn’t understand her excitement. They weren’t the youngest sister of two exceptional siblings. They wouldn’t understand her need to prove herself.
Dolley straightened her shoulders. Spotting an empty chair, she dragged it over to the table. “Hey, Jason. Haven’t seen you in ages.”
“Hi, Dolley. Connor said you were here.” Jason grinned. “How’s my favorite babysitter?”
Lord, she’d babysat Jason. “Apparently old. Are you sure you can drink?”
He flipped out his license. “Legal and everything.”
She forced a smile on her face. This wasn’t the time or place to tell people about her silly contest win. She’d get a copy of the magazine, leave it