“There is so much more here,” Mayer says.
All of our attention snaps back to her and I swear she’s gone a few shades lighter than normal while reading the email. I can also see the pure rage in her eyes.
Bart Simmons might think he’s dealing with four girls who simply grew up in this town, but he’s underestimated us. He’s forgotten growing up here means we have deep roots. He’s also forgotten that we’re four grown fucking women.
We aren’t going to cower just because a man thinks he has some power and wants to throw it around.
Gemma’s voice is tentative as she asks, “How bad is it?”
Meadow, at the same time bites out, “He screwed us over, didn’t he?”
“Bad,” Mayer says and glances at Gemma. “Screwed over would be preferable to the way he outright fucked us.”
When she looks at Meadow, I can see the shadows in her eyes. This has taken its toll on our best friend. Something is going to have to change, and it’ll have to happen soon.
She can’t keep doing this.
I have no idea how I can possibly end this. If Mayer hasn’t gotten it to stop yet, I’m not sure anyone can at this point.
Making peace with that is next to impossible.
My chest aches and I find myself rubbing the spot. Missing Aiden is a strange sensation. There’s no reason in the world for me to be missing him.
We spent one night together.
“I have a laundry list of changes and adjustments which must be made.” Mayer says the words while eyeing Meadow like she’s expecting the woman to explode. I’m kind of bracing for it.
Meadow takes a few deep breaths and then nods slowly. “Okay. Print the list, please. I want to see it.”
“What else?” Gemma’s question is tentative in a way I feel down to my bones.
“There’s a fine,” Mayer explains, her eyes squeezing closed. “And we have to post our inspection grade.”
“I already knew that was a requirement,” Meadow gripes. “I don’t like it. If we lose business because of this health inspection crap, isn’t that malicious intent? It’s theft, in a way, and he’s using his office to do it.”Meadow looks toward the woman we trust to hold us all together. “I know you’re trying, but this needs to end Mayer. The plan cannot be for us to keep our heads down and hope he tuckers himself out, or the evidence tips in our favor.”
“I know,” Mayer reminds us, “but he’s too good at keeping up appearances. People really believe he’s some great mayor who cares about the people in this town.” Her lip curls in disgust, “Bart Simmons only cares about himself. The whole thing is ridiculous.”
“Do you think people will stop coming to the bakery?”
Meadow’s question is so small that I almost don’t hear it. Gemma sucks in a breath while Mayer’s eyes turn a little glassy with unshed tears; and she is not the type to cry.
“I think Storyville has fallen in love with your treats,” Mayer says as she gets up from her desk and makes her way over to the couches while grabbing whatever printed out. “They also can see how meticulous you are when it comes to the bakery.”
“Yeah,” Meadow breathes out, “but I can’t help but think that people could stop coming in. What if this inspection grade is like the scarlet letter? No one will want anything to do with us. All of our hard work will have been for nothing.”
“Meadow,” Mayer snaps. Meadow snaps her mouth shut and turns toward our friend. “Sorry,” Mayer winces, “you were going off the deep end and there was no way I was going to slap you.” She waves around the list of issues that need to be addressed and Meadow snaps it up.
I watch Meadow’s face intently as she reads through it. She points to one and then looks up at us, “I’ve never been so insulted in all my life. He smiled to my face, even made a few jokes, and then he goes behind my back and tells lies about me and my kitchen.”
She stands up and starts to stalk toward the door. I call out to her, “Where are you going?”
When she looks over her shoulder and back at us, she’s so mad she’s practically breathing smoke. “I’m going to defeat all the evil in the world,”she sasses and then scoffs. “No, I’m going to go knead some dough. It’ll help me get out my frustrations, of which there are many. When I’m sure I won’t drive to whatever government building he calls home to smack the shit out of that man, I’ll be back and we can put a plan together for how to take care of everything on the list. Most of it is petty crap, but if it can make us better then I’ll deal with it.”
She stalks off which is when I turn toward Mayer who winces when she notices that Gemma and I are looking at her intently. She sighs and shakes her head. “The good thing is we can afford this fine. What I’m worried about is it becoming a regular occurrence. We already get hit with enough crap with him pulling out archaic city ordinances and laws.”
“At least we can get over this hurdle and onto the next one.”
As I look at the way Mayer grimaces and tries to hide it, I’m starting to wonder what happens when we don’t clear a hurdle that comes our way. Too much is at stake to fall flat on our face, literally and metaphorically speaking.
