Free Covered Bridge Charm by Dianne; Christner Page A

knee-length pencil skirt and scoop-necked sweater. A long necklace hung from her neck. She ran a hand through her short, perky hairstyle. They were nothing alike. “I’ve got my eye on a seat on the board. Mrs. Nissley leaves in six months, and I’ve talked to Simon about it. Your… uh… volunteer program—”
    “Every Little Bit Helps,” Carly interjected.
    “Yes, exactly. Your Every Little Bit Helps will help
me
to obtain that chair.”
    “And stamp out loneliness.”
    “What?”
    “That’s the slogan,
Everybody can do one little thing to stamp out loneliness
.”
    “Oh. Don’t worry, I understand the goal. I’m just trying to explain why heading this program is so important to me. I know you had your heart set on running it. I can only imagine your disappointment. But I think Simon made the right choice. You’re still young. Your time will come. You’re valuable, and I need your support. Do I have it?”
    Carly glanced at the floor, then back at Sherie.
What kind of support?
“I have to be honest. Yesterday you didn’t. But today, my focus is back. I only want what’s best for the residents.”
    Sherie’s eyes widened with surprise. “I appreciate your candor.”
    Carly knew her manager had hoped for more enthusiasm. She wished she could act as though she hadn’t been stabbed in the back. When she’d left home that morning, she’d had good intentions. But now
kind
words wouldn’t form. Guiltily, she remembered Aunt Fannie’s plan. If she couldn’t follow through with Sherie, how could she forgive Simon?
    “Let me see. There was one other thing.” Sherie tapped her finger on her skirt. “Oh, yes. Martha’s daughter is planning a surprise birthday party for her in December. I told her about the dried flower cards you make, and she’d like to buy some to use for invitations.”
    “I’d be happy to bring in some samples.”
    “Great, thanks.”
    “I’m glad she’s throwing a party for Martha.”
    Sherie smiled. “Helen said Martha’s mentioned turning eighty-five about eighty-five times.”
    Carly laughed. “Jah, or ninety.”
    “So she’s decided to make it memorable. They’re pulling out all the stops. But in the meantime, Helen keeps brushing Martha off as if it’s no big deal. She thinks Martha’s getting offended, perhaps depressed. Have you noticed any depression?”
    “Perhaps more irritable than usual.”
    “Good description. She was grumbling at breakfast about nobody caring, so you might want to give her some extra attention.”
    “How’s Dot doing?”
    “Loves that bird. That was a good call. Especially since Crusher takes care of it.”
    “Is that it then?” Carly stood.
    “Yep. Just bring in card samples and leave them at the receptionist’s counter. Thanks.” Sherie spun back to the computer.
    Carly left the room, her heart weighed down with resentment.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    H oping to cheer up Martha, Carly grabbed the newspaper, but Miranda intercepted her. “Harry lost his teeth again.”
    “Oh, no. Did you check the trash?”
    “His or everybody’s?”
    Carly placed the
New Era
on the recreational table and glanced toward the hall. “I’d start with his room. Next Kelly’s room. Check her mouth. Then work your way down the hall searching all the trash cans. If they didn’t get tossed out, we may come across them before we have to call his son again.”
    Martha had been eavesdropping. She interjected, “Harry’s son’s not going to be happy if he has to buy another pair. This will make the third time this year.”
    Miranda nodded and left them. Unfolding the newspaper and giving one section to Martha, Carly skimmed for topics of interest. “Last weekend was the Covered Bridge Festival in Cottage Grove. Have you ever attended?”
    “Oh sure. Who hasn’t? That town’s so quaint with all its murals.”
    “I know. Says here it was held at Bohemia Park and there were fiddlers, Ukranian dancers, bluegrass music, a historic auto parade, a timber