“May I speak to Anita Bedford, please?”
Anita frowned. Rusty had a southern drawl, but this man’s accent sounded straight out of Mayberry. She wouldknow; she’d seen every episode ofThe Andy Griffith Show. Oh, wait. This couldn’t be who she thought it was.
I hope not.“Speaking.”
“Well now, good afternoon, young lady. This is Mayor Quickel.”
Sure enough, she’d been right. Why would the mayor be calling her? Or should she saymayuh, because that was the way he pronounced it. Before she could ask him, he continued.
“I hope you don’t mind me calling you out of the blue, but your mother rang me up this morning and told me some wonderful news. I believe congratulations are in order.”
Oh no. What had her mother done? “Thank you,Mayuh, er, Mayor.” She winced.
“I’m always happy to welcome new businesses into the fold. We’re all about growth here in Maple Falls, ya know.”
She didn’t know, and she wondered if he was being genuine. Farley Quickel had been the mayor of Maple Falls for almost a dozen years, and the town had gone in the opposite direction of growth during his tenure.
“Now that you’re part of our business community, I’d like to invite you to our bimonthly business leaders’ meeting tomorrow evening at six thirty in the basement of the town hall.”
She hadn’t even bought #3 yet. She’d stick out like ten sore thumbs at a meeting with all the other business owners.Make that twenty thumbs.“Uh, Mayor Quickel, I’m not sure I can attend—”
“See you tomorrow, young lady.”Click.
She stared at the phone. Now she had to go, or she wouldlook like she wasn’t serious about her business.Mother!She scrolled through her Recents and made a call.
Mom picked up on the first ring. “Hello, sweetie,” she said, muffled sounds in the background.
Don’t “sweetie” me.Anita tempered her temper. “Where are you?”
“I’m in Little Rock at a custom paint store. There are quite a few people here. I guess Monday is a busy day.”
Dread danced with her annoyance. “Why are you at the paint store?”
“I’m picking up color cards so we can select a scheme for the café. They have several lovely cream shades.”
What was her mother’s obsession with all things cream-colored? “I was planning to purchase paint from Hayden’s store.”
“Thehardwarestore?” Mom clucked her tongue. “This paint is the best money can buy. You can’t go wrong with quality paint.”
“Price’s has quality paint.”
“Oh, I’m sure they havegoodpaint. Trust me, honey, I know what I’m talking about.”
Time to find my backbone.“Mom, I’m going to buy paint from Price’s, and I don’t want cream.”
A pause. “All right. I’ll put the cards back.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“But if you don’t find what you’re looking for at Price’s, then can we come here?”
That sounded reasonable. “Yes.”
“Wonderful!”
“Mom,” she said, needing to settle things right now. “Nexttime, let me know if you’re going shopping for something for the café. Then I can either go with you or we can discuss it further. I don’t want you wasting your time.”
“That’s thoughtful of you, and I’ll try to remember to do that.”
