Ava Was Accused of Taking Missing Money — Then the Security Camera Showed She Had Only Picked Up Cash Someone Else Dropped
Chapter 8 — The Anniversary Lunch Nearly Has Another Money Problem
By early afternoon, preparations resumed.
The cake arrived.
The banner went up.
Flowers were arranged.
Michael moved extra chairs into the dining room.
Sarah’s parents were due at three.
Then the caterer called.
“We have your balance listed as three hundred and twenty dollars.”
Nicole immediately looked at her handwritten note.
CATERING BALANCE — $300.
Her old reaction appeared.
Someone had made a mistake.
Probably the caterer.
Then she stopped.
“Can you tell me what your invoice shows?”
The caterer explained.
Three hundred dollars for food.
Twenty dollars for the additional dessert tray Nicole added by phone the previous evening.
Nicole stared at her notes.
She had forgotten to update them.
Again.
Sarah watched from across the room.
Nicole laughed.
“Apparently I am no longer allowed to trust handwritten totals without checking.”
Sarah smiled.
“Progress.”
Nicole paid the correct amount.
Then crossed out her old figure and wrote:
CHECK BEFORE PANICKING.
Ava wandered past.
“What that say?”
Nicole read it aloud.
Ava nodded seriously.
“Good.”
Sarah laughed.
Nicole deserved that too.
