“I’ve just met the latest visitor to our town,” she continued, following behind him and slipping onto the stool next to his.“She was telling me how exciting the life is in New York City.”
Ally wanted to correct her, but Tillie was ahead.
“You still have that problem with your hearing, Frannie?Ally said she loved this small town, and New York was just too busy all the time.Maybe you should get your ears checked?”
Ally had to focus on an object at the end of the bar in order to keep from breaking out in a laugh at how Tillie was handling the woman and her twisting of truths.She could watch that go on all day.But she had other places to be.
“I’m sorry but I’ve got to run.I have a meeting at the school for the Fall Fest committee.”
“I have the same one.I saw your car over here and came in to see if you wanted to ride over together.Then I can bring you back and we can discuss the fest lists I’m sure we’re going to have on the way there.”He was already on his feet and the woman beside him was not liking how things were turning out.
“That’s a plan,” Ally agreed.“And Jillie has that sleepover this evening so you and I can have dinner at my house.”
“That’s my girl,” Matt said with a wide smile.“I do like your planning.”
“Your girl?”That had Frannie’s attention.
“Well, you certainly heard that without a problem,” Tillie threw in, but didn’t stop there.“You’ve been gone a while.Things have changed for our sheriff.Goodbye bachelorhood.The whole town is happy for him.You two are going to be late.”
She gave them the cue and they didn’t hesitate.Although Ally would have enjoyed staying a bit longer to bask in the look of shock and anger that brought out the wrinkles despite Frannie’s obvious facelifts.Both she and Matt were out the door and in his vehicle in minutes.Then as they turned the corner, both couldn’t help it any longer.They burst out laughing.
“What got into Tillie?”
“I have no idea, but I’m glad it did,” he responded to her question.“It was long overdue in Tillie’s mind, I guess.She’s like the rest of us…trying to ignore Frannie’s rudeness and tune her out.”
“She didn’t tune her out today,” Ally said.“I hope it wasn’t on my account.I’ve come across some rude people where I come from.You get to where they just become background noise, and you put on your headphones and tune them out.”
“Well, it has become increasingly difficult to do that.Seems she is dead set on my being husband number two…or is it three?”
“Oh, my heavens,” Ally said, shaking her head.“You have been lucky to escape this long.”
“It was thanks to you and Tillie.We do seem to be making a good team.Thanks, by the way.”
“Thanks?”
“For going along with Tori’s scheme to give me some breathing space from the single women in this town.Although most of them seemed to take a hint early on.But then Frannie has always been that lone wolf not heeding any warnings.She writes her own rules.”
“I’ve seen her type before.And with her broken marriages, I guess it does add up to her being a lonely and bitter person.”
“Are you a psychologist?”
“No…I’ve just seen enough and heard enough among the rich friends of my former employer.I sat with her kids as one of my jobs.You pick up a lot of things when those bored ladies get to talking.Sad really.”
“You have a soft and empathetic heart.That’s rare these days.”
“I won’t deny it.I prefer that to having a hard heart and being unhappy.Guess Annie rubbed off on me more than I know.”
“From what you’ve told me about her, I’ve come to think she was more of a surrogate mother to you than good friend.”
“I suppose that may be true.I know I miss her wisdom.I do hope she knows I’m trying to carry out her wishes to come back to Destiny’s River.”Then she corrected herself.“To come back for her.She wanted me to experience it.”
“Well, I hope you are.And you are about to go into this school and experience a whole bunch of it.”He laughed, parking the vehicle.As he came around to open her door, she drew in her breath.She had almost slipped up with him.Annie had wanted her last wish to be kept a secret and that was what Ally was doing her best to accomplish.
*
“How was themeeting?”Tori asked a couple of hours later when she called to check in with Matt.“How did people respond to Ally?”
“You don’t need to worry about Ally.She handled herself like she was used to disorganization and too many ideas and curious stares and you name it.She ended up moving the discussion where it needed to focus, a lot like you would have, and the agenda was on track, and we had responsibilities divided out before people knew what was going on.And they left smiling and inviting Ally to various other activities.She was a hit…by being herself.”
