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Cherry’s cheeks were as red as a summer tomato. “I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed as she took her hands off the strange blond-haired woman.
“Well!” was all the woman had to say as she glared at the flustered nurse.
“Next time be more careful,” the man barked. “You could have hurt my wife!”
“I’m so sorry, ma’am” Cherry stammered. “I’m a nurse. Perhaps I should give you an exam to make sure I haven’t hurt you.” She looked closely at the woman, giving her a quick visual check for bumps and bruises. Her eyes grew wide when she realized that the woman she had almost knocked to the ground was the very same passenger of the brown Impala that had passed them on the road earlier that evening.
“It’s you!” she cried.
The woman’s eyes grew big in alarm. “I don’t believe we’re acquainted,” she said icily. She hastily donned a pair of cheap white plastic sunglasses.
“No, it’s you. Now I’m sure of it,” Cherry insisted. “A man in dark glasses and a straw hat, and a woman with blond hair, a red scarf, and glasses just like yours passed us on the road outside town,” she explained excitedly. “You were in a dusty brown Impala.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the woman glared at Cherry. “You must have us mixed up with some other people. Now, please stop before you further embarrass me.”
“Can’t you see my wife is very sensitive?” the man hissed. “Why don’t you leave her alone!”
Cherry felt dizzy with confusion. What a horrible mistake she had made! “I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “If there’s anything I can do—”
She was just about to offer the woman a fresh handkerchief when the husband waved Cherry away and snapped in an angry tone, “I think you’ve done quite enough already.” He hastily retrieved his hat and glasses and donned both, pulling the hat low over his face. “Now, just leave us alone before you really do some damage.”
Cherry was stung by the man’s harsh words. Tears filled her eyes. She who had given so selflessly to others now stood accused of deliberately harming another human being! She tried to explain that she had slipped accidentally, but the indignant couple would hear none of it. They turned their backs on Cherry. “Miss, we’re in a big hurry. Could we please be seated?” the man snapped at a passing waitress carrying a plentiful platter of potato pancakes.
“Please,” Cherry tapped the woman on her shoulder. “At least take an adhesive bandage with you. You might find a scratch later, and it’s best to keep germs and dirt out of an open wound.” She fished in the purse under her arm and realized with a start that she had left her handbag at the table and had taken Nancy’s summer straw bag by mistake.
“If this is Nancy’s purse, then where is Nancy’s jewelry box?” she exclaimed after a quick but thorough check of the bag’s contents. Now she really felt like crying! The jewelry box was gone!
In a flash, the strange couple was back at her side. “Did you say you’ve lost a jewelry box?” the woman asked in a helpful tone. She put a hand on Cherry’s arm. Her angry demeanor had vanished. In its place was a friendly face full of concern.
“Yes, it’s my friend’s, and it’s chock full of expensive things, like sapphires and diamonds, not to mention family heirlooms,” Cherry explained. “It was in this purse a minute ago. It must have flown out when I bumped into you.”
“You mean, when I bumped into you,” the woman insisted. “Really, it was all my fault. I can be so clumsy at times! I was just telling Harold—he’s my husband—well, I was just telling him that you seem like the nicest young girl, and so helpful, too! Isn’t it funny how you confused us with another couple? They say everyone’s got a twin somewhere.”
“That’s true,” Cherry blurted out, relieved to find a reasonable explanation for her mix-up. “As a matter of fact, I recently met a girl who looks a lot like me and—” But before she could tell the fascinating story of her recent adventure, the woman patted Cherry on the arm and said, “Let’s all look for your jewelry box, shall we?”
“We’re sure to find it,” her husband Harold said heartily. “Miss, you go look behind the counter while the wife and I search under the tables. I think I saw something fly from your handbag and land back there. Now isn’t that the darndest thing?”
Cherry slipped behind the counter and searched with all her might, but could find nothing more than a handful of pennies and some after-dinner mints covered in dust.
“Did you lose something?” a nice waitress bent over the counter and asked her.
“Yes, a small, white leather case, with a little brass latch and the initials N C stamped in gold on top!” Cherry cried.
“Does it look like the one that man has in his hand?” the waitress wanted to know.
Cherry looked at Harold. He was standing there with a big smile on his face. And in his hand was Nancy’s jewelry box!
“Oh, thank you!” Cherry exclaimed as she raced over to him. “I don’t know how to repay you,” she bubbled. “My friend has tons of nice jewelry at home, but still!” She breathed a sigh of relief. “If we hadn’t already eaten, I’d ask you to join us. The Potatoes Au Gratin here are simply delicious. We’re in a bit of a hurry ourselves,” she confided. “We’ve got to get to … well never mind. We’re just in a hurry. But our car’s been damaged, and a nice mechanic recommended this restaurant, and a motor court for the night, too. The Pocatello Komfort Kourt. Mel said it’s inexpensive but clean. Oh, I can’t even begin to thank you!”
“I should be thanking you!” Harold enthused.
Cherry looked puzzled.
“I mean, for your perfectly charming company,” the man added hastily. He handed Cherry the jewelry box with a flourish.
“Perhaps we’ll meet again!” Cherry cried to the nice couple. She waved good-bye and headed back for her booth, clutching the precious case in both hands.
“I imagine we will,” the man murmured softly. His companion raised one over-plucked eyebrow.
“I imagine we will,” she echoed with a sly smile.
“Guess what silly thing I almost did?” Cherry cried the minute she got back to the booth. But she forgot all about her adventure with the nice couple when she spied Nancy’s tear-streaked face. “What’s happened?” Cherry cried, as she slipped into the seat next to Nancy and threw her arms around her chum.
“The police are after me!” Nancy choked out.
“What?” Cherry shrieked in surprise. “How did they find out you killed your father?” she cried.
The noisy restaurant, packed with the supper trade, suddenly grew very quiet. Cherry cringed when she realized everyone had heard her. The family behind them was peeking over the top of the booth and staring at the girls in alarm.
“We’re rehearsing a play,” Midge said in a loud, calm tone. “Hamlet.” That seemed to do the trick. People went back to their many delicious potato dishes and left the girls alone.
Nancy quickly filled her chums in on the terrible news. She took care to keep her voice down. “When I couldn’t get in touch