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Previous chapters of the River Road story:
1
2
3
4
How should the story continue? Voting is open on the current chapter!
Last time, at Mr. and Mrs. DeLorca’s gallery, Mr. DeLorca was, not surprisingly, hungry and ready for a piece of pie. While they waited for their son, Eben, and their friend, Mia Duomo, to return, Mr. DeLorca talked about his idea for producing cakes shaped like his friend Shakuntala, a rather large pelican. Mr. DeLorca thought that his “Peli-cakes,” as he called them, would be his next great invention. Mrs. DeLorca said that she and Mrs. Conn would try to bake a “Peli-cake,” but she cautioned her husband that they would have to be careful how many new projects they took on because they were very busy. When Mia and Eben arrived, they talked about the upcoming wedding of Sam Colbert and Jenny Littlepoole and how the wedding reception was going to be in the courtyard of the Vista Falls Museum. Little did everyone else know, but Mrs. DeLorca has been offered the job of museum curator. She had kept the job offer a secret because she didn’t want to add any confusion to their already busy lives. What did Mrs. DeLorca do? Here’s what you decided.
Chapter 2: Rose Job
by Joseph Crisalli
Mrs. DeLorca was honored and flattered by the offer, but she didn’t know how to answer. She and her husband were both very busy. And, since Mr. DeLorca already had come up with another invention with his “Peli-cakes” she didn’t want to bother him with the question of whether or not she should take on even more responsibility.
“What should I do?” Mrs. DeLorca thought to herself.
Mia Duomo, Eben and Mr. DeLorca continued their conversation.
“I don’t suppose there’s anyone right here in Vista Falls who could fill the curator job,” Eben sighed.
“I could do it,” Mia laughed, “if it were a museum devoted to the history of eyeliner and lipstick.”
“That would be interesting.” Eben laughed, patting his dog, Sheridan.
“Oh, wouldn’t it?” Mia smiled.
“Yes, yes, that’s all very interesting.” Mr. DeLorca snorted impatiently. “You know what would also be interesting? Some pie.”
“Of course,” Mrs. DeLorca said quickly, realizing that she had been lost in her thoughts. “Joel, dear, you’ve been so patient. Let’s do have some pie. I’ll go get it. It’s in the back.”
“I’ll help you,” Mia volunteered.
“You will?” Mrs. DeLorca smiled, still not used to Mia Duomo volunteering to do anything.
“I’ll try.” Mia blushed. “I don’t know how to cut pie, but I can stand there and hold dishes. I’m good at that. For a brief period I used to be the spokes-model for a paper plate company. Did you know that their sales were never higher than when I was doing those commercials?”
“I’m sure that’s true.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded patiently as they walked to the gallery’s back room.
Mrs. DeLorca took a lovely pie out of the pink paper box from Mrs. Conn’s bakery.
“That looks delicious!” Mia exclaimed in her usual, excited way.
“Yes,” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.
“Is something wrong, Joan?” Mia asked. “You seem distracted?”
“No.” Mrs. DeLorca shook her head. “It’s nothing.” She cut four pieces of pie and handed two to Mia who held them up as if she were posing for a picture.
“They look even better now.” Mia laughed.
Mrs. DeLorca laughed, too.
They brought the pie to Eben and Mr. DeLorca.
“Next time, I’ll bring in the snacks.” Eben said fairly.
“Oh, no, my boy.” Mr. DeLorca shook his head. “I say, I’ll do it.”
“Father, we all know you can’t be trusted to bring snacks.” Eben snickered. “You remember the last time?”
“I say, but that was an accident and such.” Mr. DeLorca blushed. “I tripped.”
“And, the pie just happened to fall into your mouth?” Eben teased his father.
“It can happen.” Mr. DeLorca argued. “Gravity can be quite tricky and so on.”
Mr. DeLorca looked up. “Joan, dear, you’re not eating. Are you not hungry? I can take that pie off your hands if you like.”
“It’s not about the pie.” Mrs. DeLorca said, putting down her fork.
“I say, what an unusual concept—something not being about pie.” Mr. DeLorca raised his eyebrows.
“Listen,” Mrs. DeLorca said. “We’ve been so busy getting this gallery set up, helping Eben open his jewelry store and getting Mia settled into her new office upstairs, that I haven’t mentioned something.”
“I say, don’t tell me you forgot to go to the grocery store? Not to worry. I’ll go. That way I can pick up that fifty pound bag of sweet potatoes I’ve been asking for.” Mr. DeLorca offered.
“It’s not that.” Mrs. DeLorca shook her head. “By the way, we don’t need fifty pounds of anything,” she added.
Mr. DeLorca frowned.
“No, you see, I’ve been asked by the Board of Directors at the museum to be the new curator.” Mrs. DeLorca admitted.
“Mother, that’s’ wonderful!” Eben exclaimed.
“Yes, it’s simply beautiful!” Mia agreed.
“I most certainly concur.” Mr. DeLorca smiled. “I think it’s a grand idea.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Eben asked.
“It’s just that we’ve been so busy, I didn’t want to add to the confusion. Besides, your father wants to start making ‘Peli-cakes’ and I didn’t want to disappoint him. If I take this job, I won’t have much time to create realistic bird-like icing.”
“I say, is that it?” Mr. DeLorca frowned again. “My dear, do you want to be the museum curator?”
“I think it would be a lot of fun.” Mrs. DeLorca admitted. “But, I wouldn’t be able to spend as much time here at the gallery either.”
“Joan, I can take care of the gallery. I say, I did it in Londonderry while you were off fighting art thieves. I can certainly do it here.”
“I’ll help, too. My shop is right next door. There’s a door between them. I can just keep the door open and keep an eye on Father.” Eben said.
“And, when I don’t have a client, I can help Eben and Joel.” Mia offered.
“So, it’s settled and all that.” Mr. DeLorca nodded. “If you want to take the job, of course.”
“I do.” Mrs. DeLorca smiled. “Thank you all.”
“You’re very welcome. It was very sweet of you to worry about us first. Not to sound like I’m scolding, but you should have told us. We could always have worked it out if the job was going to make you happy.” Mr. DeLorca said gently.
“You’re right. It’s just that I do worry about all the details.” Mrs. DeLorca grinned.
“That’s what will make you a good museum curator.” Eben laughed.
“Well, then, I’ll finish my pie and go call the museum board members to tell them my decision.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.
“If you’d like to call them now, I’ll be happy to finish your pie for you,” Mr. DeLorca chuckled.
“That’s very generous, but I’ll be okay.” Mrs. DeLorca chuckled.
“Well, this is just thrilling!” Mia said as the door to the gallery opened.
It was Nancy Wu. She was carrying a large bouquet of red roses.
“Hello, Nancy.” Mrs. DeLorca said warmly.
“Hi.” Nancy nodded. “Everyone looks so happy. What’s going on?”
“I’ve decided to accept the job of Museum Curator.” Mrs. DeLorca explained.
“Wow!” Nancy’s eyes widened. “That’s exciting! Can you show me the behind-the-scenes stuff at the museum?”
“I can.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.
“Wow!” Nancy repeated.
“What brings you here, Nancy?” Eben asked.
“I was actually looking for you, Eben.” Nancy said. “My mom sent me to pick up the necklace she bought from you. She wants to wear it to the wedding tomorrow.”
“Ah,” Eben nodded. “I’ll go get it. It’s all ready for her.” He looked at his mother, “Mrs. Wu bought the little jade and diamond pendant.”
“It’s very pretty.” Mrs. DeLorca said to Nancy. “So are those roses. Are they for your mother?”
“These?” Nancy blushed. “No, I almost forgot. They’re yours. They were sitting outside by the front door.”
“I didn’t see a delivery truck.” Mrs. DeLorca raised an eyebrow. She looked at her husband. “Did you send me flowers?”
“No. I did order a nice cheesecake. But, that was really more for Shakuntala…and me.” Mr. DeLorca admitted.
“They’re probably for Mia.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded.
“There’s a card,” Nancy said, handing the bunch of roses to Mia.
“Oh, how nice.” Mia took the flowers and set them on the table. She opened the card.
“Oh, they are for me.”
“May I ask what the card says?” Eben said slyly.
“It says, ‘For Beauty.’” Mia grinned.
“I say, does it say your name?” Mr. DeLorca asked.
“No.” Mia shook her head. “But, they must be for me.”
“They must be.” Mrs. DeLorca nodded. “I can’t imagine who’d send me flowers.”
“Maybe they’re for Shakuntala.” Mr. DeLorca suggested.
“No.” Mia pursed her lips. “They’re for me.”
“Who are they from?” Nancy asked.
“I don’t know. The card isn’t signed. It’s just those two words typed out. But, still, I used to get flowers from secret admirers all the time. So, it’s not too unusual.” Mia shook her head.
“Isn’t it just a little strange?” Eben raised one eyebrow.
“Not really.” Mia sighed. “Still, I wish I knew who sent them.”
“I say, how could we find out? Let’s forget the whole thing and finish that pie.” Mr. DeLorca stood up.
“I have an idea.” Nancy smiled.
What should Nancy say?
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