"Everyone, we will get through our scheduled order of meeting points and then take open mic at the end," Carman said.
The person sat down but then someone else stood up and demanded they talk about them now. Then a second person stood and a third.
Carman sighed and looked to Cora who stood to take over. She was the visual of strength in her dark green blouse and black pencil skirt with matching green heels.
"You all know my stance here," she started. "We can't legally push out members of our town, especially without proper evidence of wrongdoing. And we certainly won't do it for subjective ethical reasons." Her eyes connected with various people around the room with her strong declaration.
"You're saying that because one of them is your friend," someone called and Cora held up a hand with a firmness that was felt.
"Now, I have created a space for us all in Salem to speak freely. I have created a space for us all to be who we feel the most free being. What that doesn't mean is feeling free to point fingers at people, again without evidence," she paused, looking around the room again making eye contact in a powerful move of letting her words settle. "Tonight we have an agenda to get through. After that, if you have a valid concern, please bring it forward. And by valid, I do mean unbiased and intentional."
Cora's eyes connected with the row of ostracized women. It was a moment of power, a moment of connection, a moment of women standing together.
The message was received around the room.
Eloise watched the chief carefully, looking for any sign that he may take up the town's pitchforks, but the man was a lesson in masking.
After the meeting, most mingled, though they kept away from the six women who stayed and talked and laughed, leaving behind their imprint in this place where others tried to uninvite them. Cora, the Chief and Taylor were taken hostage by multiple people wanting their ears for issues they didn't have time getting to during the meeting.
"Hey, Eloise?"
Eloise turned toward the voice and smiled up at the man who was supposed to have been her first date here in Salem. He had thick brown hair, a nice smile that was kind and brown eyes that made her think of cattails swaying in the summer breeze.
"Graham Bledsoe, right?" she asked, smiling and holding out her hand.
He shook it laughing. "Yeah, I have been told by some that my family emergency was an absolute asshole move."
"Is the 'some' an intense woman named Jen?"
His smile widened and his laugh was warm. "You would be correct. But in all fairness, my grandmother truly did have an emergency and we only just got her into an assisted living after her fall."
Eloise raised a hand to her chest. "Oh no, I'm so sorry. That's terrible. Is she alright?"
"Oh, don't worry about her. She's living it up in a place nicer than my house and taking advantage of everyone there in poker. She just tried to slide me a one-hundred dollar bill when I dropped off her favorite croissants."
Eloise threw her head back laughing. "I feel like I would like her."
He took her in and nodded. "Yeah, I get the feeling that you would. Even though I don't know you very well. Yet," he added and it felt like a promise. The way he was looking at her was thoughtful and curious, but something prickled along her skin and a wash of a familiar scent hit her nose.
When she shifted her eyes she found a blue gaze on her so intense that her breath caught. There was nothing friendly about the way that Taylor White was looking at her from where he stood ignoring Carman Jones talking animatedly. She was gesturing adamantly, with a loud voice needing his attention but he was looking at Eloise.
"Eloise?"
Graham's voice pulled her back to him and he was looking at her with a question in his brown eyes.
"Sorry?"
"I wanted to know if you would possibly give me another chance, even though Jen called me a red flag for abandoning you," he smiled, the ghost of being appropriately admonished in his eyes.
"Sounds like it was a fair abandonment and I call no foul," she told him. "And I would love to." When the words left her mouth there was a pinch in her chest. But she pushed it aside as they made plans. She needed to move on. She felt a moment of relief at this small, yet monumental decision. But it was short lived when a familiar warmth spread over her.
"Graham," a deep voice interrupted and that pinch she had felt turned to a flutter and she had to tell her heart to ignore it.
"Hey Taylor, how's it going?" he asked shaking the detective's hand.
"Great, great. How's your grandmother?"
"Great. A vixen, like usual," Graham smiled widely. "I was just talking about her with Eloise and she magnanimously has agreed to give me another chance, which I am grateful for," he finished looking back at Eloise who was trying to regulate everything going on inside of her.
