There is this dirty side to him. I think there are a lot more sides to the man, and I want to know them all.
“This is Kindred for Mayor Hollis’ office. How can I help you?” I say, answering the office landline when it shows 'private caller.' I am fielding a few wedding calls from people with itemsand services we need from the city. With everyone in town practically invited and them being guests, we need some outside vendors.
Since Hollis still has pull pretty much everywhere, it’s all gone pretty smoothly. That’s what happens when you have money; we’ll still be able to pull it off, and people are more than happy to jump and help him to get in his good graces. Vomit.
For the third time today, all I hear is heavy breathing. “I’m starting to get worried. This breathing issue you got going on can be a sign of having asthma, a pulmonary embolism, COPD, or being a douchebag.”
“Fuck you, whore!” They end the call. I was joking, but now I’m really worried for them. Their voice went robotic. That can’t be healthy either. I'll ignore it. We have too many other things going on to give attention to stupid prank calls.
"You're going to kill me," Candy says, entering my office, already wringing her hands together in front of her.
"Nah, I only want to kill Katie."
"I heard about that."
I gasp. "Are you getting news and gossip elsewhere? The betrayal!” I grab my chest over my heart as though she just stabbed me.
"Oh." She glances around, her eyes growing bigger.
"I'm teasing you, Candy. I'm happy to see you've made it on to the town's tree line."
“Well, you’re still going to be upset with me.”
“I doubt that.” Candy is as sweet as her name. If she did anything that would upset someone, it was by accident. “How could I be upset with the mother of my goddaughters?”
“We don’t know if they’re girls.”
“If you say so.”
“Right, see, you can’t be upset with me.” Candy says it confidently, stepping closer to my desk, but now she is wringingher fingers together instead of her hands. I do think that’s a step down in the anxiety range. I don’t really get anxiety, but I give it so I can see the signs.
“Sweetheart. Just hit me with it.”
“This morning we took a walk to the bakery because I wanted the sugar cookie coffee. They said they could make it with decaf. It’s really good.”
“It is.” I bite back a laugh at this side quest we’re taking.
“I also really wanted one of those cranberry things. Ah?—”
“Cranberry orange scone.”
“Yes! They’re really good too.”
“They are.” We stare at each other.
“Oh right, yes. Then I was walking by the diner, and the new deputy stopped to introduce herself to Hollis and congratulated us on the wedding, and the invite just came out. I couldn’t help it. It was the polite thing to do.” She gets the rest out in one impressive breath before covering her mouth with her hand.
“I don’t care.”
“Really, I thought after the whole thing—” She makes a gun with her fingers. “She would really be dead to us.”
“Oh, she is, but Cash and I are going together, so she can suck it and watch us from the front row.” A giggle bubbles free from her as my phone starts to ring again. What year is it? Who calls people like a psychopath anymore?
“This is Kindred for Mayor Hollis’ office. How can I help you?”
“You could die.” They say it in that weird-ass voice again.
“All right, this is New Hope. We’re the Christmas town. You need to be calling Hollowsville. Now, you’re either two months behind or ten months ahead of schedule, both concerning, but they will appreciate yourScreamreenactment more than I will."
