Free All You Need Is Fudge by Nancy CoCo

a lucky man.”
    â€œI am indeed,” Trent said smoothly and proceeded to introduce us to everyone in the reception line. The last were two women I knew from working with the committee and their husbands. They remembered Jenn before me, but that was okay. She was charming in the situation.
    We made our way to the dining area and the seats with our names on them. Paige sat at our table and stood when she saw us. I gave her a quick hug and she kissed my cheek.
    â€œAre you okay?” I asked and squeezed her hands.
    â€œYes, of course,” she said with a lightness to her voice. She was gorgeous . . . everything I thought of when I thought of high society. She was blond, thin boned with high cheekbones. Her complexion was porcelain. She had long lashes and cornflower blue eyes. Her high-end designer dress most likely cost more than the McMurphy’s monthly budget. Not a hair was out of place, her makeup perfect. Her nails were professionally done.
    It made me want to hide my polish-free hands.
    In addition, she was warm and welcoming. She didn’t even notice my hands and soon was hugging Jenn and getting us to sit down. Trent waved the server down and had champagne brought to all of us. Paige’s date’s chair was empty.
    â€œWhere’s your Reggie?” I asked carefully.
    â€œHe couldn’t be here tonight. His family is close to the Moores. His best friend is Carin’s brother,” Paige said and sipped her champagne. “I told him it was okay. I completely understand. It’s good he stayed with Ash Moore. It’s tough to lose your sibling.” She paused. “Allie, how are you holding up after finding Carin?”
    â€œI’m okay,” I said and smiled at the waiter who poured me a white wine. “It feels strange to think it happened just this morning.”
    â€œI know,” Paige said. “It seems odd to be at a party knowing she died last night.”
    â€œTrent was telling us how Carin seemed to feel as if she was constantly in competition with you,” Jenn said. “How do you feel about that?”
    â€œYou know, I never really let it get to me. It was crazy. I’ve heard of brothers and sisters acting out in that way, but Carin and I were merely classmates.”
    â€œShe must have started out admiring you and that grew into something more,” I said. “It’s the only reason I can think of for her actions.”
    â€œThat’s a reasonable idea,” Paige said. “But things got out of hand after high school. I got accepted into Loyola in Chicago and so Carin had to go to Loyola. It was rumored that she didn’t get in until her wealthy father pulled some strings. Loyola got a new tennis court and Carin got in.”
    â€œDon’t tell me she studied the same thing you studied,” I said.
    â€œOh, no. She studied English lit while I majored in business administration,” Paige said.
    â€œWell”—I sat back, relieved—“I guess the strange rivalry stopped then.”
    â€œNo, it didn’t,” Paige said. “Carin found out which sorority I pledged and pledged the same. What’s worse is her lackey . . . uh, best friend . . . Eleanor Wadsworth also pledged and those two had half the girls in the house against me. I would have dropped the next year but Trent told me to stick with it.”
    Trent leaned into the conversation. “A Jessop never runs away from a fight. I had some of my frat brothers go to the sorority house and offer to make some much needed improvements to the house. You see, Paige’s house was cash strapped due to poor management by the last house mother, so we got donations for paint and materials and then my frat brothers and I went over and spruced things up. Paige was a hero after that. Carin and Eleanor pouted, of course, but they couldn’t say anything bad about it.”
    â€œThe trick was not to have our parents contribute,”