Frost coveredthe front windows of the diner. Bells tinkled over my head as I stepped inside the bustling breakfast spot, met with the smell of coffee, bacon, and deep-fryer grease.
"Beckett." Muriel smiled. "You're going to have to wait for a table this morning, unless you want to sit at the counter."
In my week of schmoozing, I'd eaten breakfast and dinner at every restaurant in town. In some places I'd been treated like a king, and others, with obligatory small-town politeness. It waseasy to tell which Rapidians thought I was the scrooge trying to ruin their Christmas.
Muriel was in the latter, and still hadn't offered me a special coffee.
"I'm meeting Logan Brush.” I knocked the snow off my boots and caught a glimpse of Logan's baseball hat over the back booth.
"He's at table one. I'll walk you there." Her tone changed. One thing I'd learned over the past week was that Logan Brush was not only well-respected, but well-liked.
Muriel poured me our cups of coffee the left with our order.
"Good morning, Shepherd." Logan sipped his coffee.
"Morning," I replied. "Thanks for meeting with me. I have some updates on the project."
"Good." Logan crossed his arms. "Listen, before we start, you should know that there are quite a few people unhappy with the way this thing has been handled."
I sighed. "It went off the rails pretty quickly. I forgot how quickly rumors spread in this town."
Logan's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "This town loves gossip, almost as much as it loves that old barn."
"I wish I'd known about the charity programs. They didn't exist when I was a kid. I could've gotten ahead of that problem, if I'd…"
"Done your research."
I held up my hands. "You got me."
"Also, there are certain members of council that stand to benefit heavily from some of the land deals. Charlotte is concerned they are acting in their own interests, rather than the interest of the town. I'd have to agree with her."
The corner of the diner’s placemat had curled, the lamination separated from the paper. I flicked my thumb on the plastic as I listened. "Let me guess, it’s Rob.”
Logan nodded. “He's got a numbered company. Charlotte found it. He’s a scumbag and we will deal with this conflict of interest, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. Shepherd, you grew up here. You have to know how people in this town love that rink. It's the heartbeat of this town."
This was my time. "What if we could keep the programs, but have them on the secondary ice surface at the King rink?"
Logan tilted his head. "That might change things. I mean, you'd still have a few die-hards who want to keep the old building. I'm one of them. But I'm also able to see the big picture, and how every kid in this town could have ice time. And, if the NHPL expanded to Chance Rapids, this place would grow faster economically than it already has with the ski hill."
"Well." I sipped my coffee. "How do I get more people to see things your way?"
Muriel dropped off our breakfast. We'd both ordered the G-Spot classic: three eggs over easy, toast, and local sausage. "You're doing the right thing, getting out and talking to people, but Shepherd, for someone who grew up here, you haven't really gotten involved."
"Involved?" I dipped my toast in the runny yolk. "I'm only here for a few weeks."
"And people see that. You might have grown up here, but now you're a stranger." Logan set his eggs on his toast and cut off a piece.
As he chewed, I thought about what he'd said. "So what should I do? Volunteer to play Santa in the parade?" It was a joke, but Logan dabbed at his mouth with his paper napkin.
"That's not a bad idea, but we already have the perfect Santa. He came here to film a movie a couple of years ago and stepped in when we needed a Santa. Right now you're kind of the bad guy in this story.”
I sighed. "Listen, about Clara Dalton and her opposition—“
Logan brushed his hands together then held them up. "Megan told Charlotte all about your history with the Dalton girl. I'm staying out of that."
"She's poisoned half the town against me."
His lips drew to a line. "Maybe so. And hell hath no fury, but don’t let that stop you. There's still the axe-throwing contest. If you're good with a chainsaw you could help out with the log carving, and we always need more help at the beer garden."
