He''d crafted the bouquet himself, every stem arranged with care, all for "Fidelia.” He wanted to hand it to her personally, not just pass it along through someone else.


    Fidelia stared, perplexed, her gaze fixed on Jacques.


    What was he doing? Weren''t the flowers meant for her? Then who were they for?


    Just then, Jacques stepped in front of Effie, blocking the sunlight that had been warming her.


    Effie looked up, startled. Wasn''t this the man she''d nearly hit with her car the other day?


    What on earth was he doing here?


    A sh of realization streaked through her mind. She seized it immediately.


    Wait-could this be the man who was supposed to meet Fidelia for a blind date today?


    Before she could fully process it, Jacques had already offered the flowers to Effie. "Fidelia," he said.


    "What?!"


    Everyone froze.


    Since when did Effie be Fidelia?


    Fidelia''s face turned crimson with a mix of shame and anger. She red at Jacques. "Jacques, what is the meaning of this?"


    Her voice trembled, on the verge of tears.


    Jacques looked at Fidelia, baffled. Why was she acting as if he''d broken her heart? Had he ever led her on?


    Meanwhile, Effie had already put the pieces together. Instinctively, she nced over at Lyman.


    But Lyman was no longer where he''d been standing. He was moving toward her. "Hey, sweetheart," he called.


    Effie replied, "Hey, darling."


    With a dull thud, Jacques'' carefully wrapped bouquet slipped from his hands and hit the ground. He gaped at Lyman and Effie, jaw ck in utter disbelief.


    "You''re married? Then why did you agree to a blind date with me?!" Jacques finally spluttered, his voice brimming with outrage.


    Cami and Baade exchanged nces, realization dawning-they saw Jacques had made a terrible mistake.


    "1


    e hurried to his


    side,


    low and urgent, "your Miss Fidelia


    Sis her sister-inw Ethene.


    This


    Effie."


    "What?!"


    Jacques swayed on his feet, as if all the strength had drained from his body. He nearly copsed.


    He''d gotten it all wrong.


    But then, who had he been thinking about all this time? Night after night, the


    Fidelia he''d been dreaming of who was she?


    "Oh, Fidelia, are you crying?" Charis


    piped up, feigning concern but


    clearly savoring the scene. Just


    moments ago, the Etheridge family had looked so proud; now, they were mortified.


    Marcia and Fowler stood there, heads bowed so low it seemed they might burrow into the floor at any moment.


    Fidelia had tried to cry quietly, but Charis''s remark made everyone turn her way. With nowhere to hide, she covered her face and fled the room.


    Meanwhile, the truth finally dawned on Jacques. The girl he''d just passed-the one who''d looked so stunned-she was the real Fidelia.


    No wonder she''d been so shocked to see him with flowers.


    If only he''d known earlier that Fidelia was her, he''d never have agreed to this


    date. He didn''t even know this woman!


    He stammered, "Mom, I messed up. I—"


    But Cami had had enough chaos for one day. "Jacques, not another word!" she barked.


    Jacques felt wronged-he''d triple-checked, hadn''t he? How was he supposed to know he''d still get it wrong?


    But what he didn''t know was that at that very moment, Marcia and Fowler were both fantasizing about wringing his neck.