How to Tame a Silver Fox novel · Chapter 18 of 32

Chapter 18: Counterplay

The courier came at seven in the morning, in a white van, up a gravel lane nobody had given him directions to.

I answered the cottage door in Arlen's flannel with my hair on end.

"Willa Chadwick?" he said, and handed me a stiff cream envelope, and left.

Arlen was at the stove, barefoot, frying eggs with the radio low, in the first morning of his unemployment.

He glanced at the envelope over his shoulder.

"Sabrina's stationery," he said.

"How can you tell?"

"It smells like she's judging me."

I slit it open with a butter knife.

The card inside was embossed in gold.

Mrs. Woodbury requests the pleasure of your company at a bridal shower for her daughter.

Thursday at two o'clock, at the Chadwick house.

Gifts will be opened.

Beneath it, in Sabrina's tidy hand, was a line in green ink: Bring the paper, sweetheart. And a gift.

"She knows where I live," I said.

"She knows where everyone lives. Eat your egg."

"She thinks I'll sign."

"She thinks you're scared."

He set a plate in front of me. "Are you?"

"A little."

"Good. It means you've read the room."

"You're not going to tell me what to do."

"I'm going to tell you I have a car, and nothing to do on Thursday."

He leaned on the counter with his coffee.

"Whatever you decide, I'll drive. That's the whole offer."

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