I crane my neck at him. He’s starting to sound like a real farmer.
Mom and Dad exchange wary glances with each other, wondering if we can be trusted while they’re gone for the day.
“Fine,” Dad says.
“But make sure you get along,” Mom warns.
“We will,” Gavin and I promise at the same time.
After getting ready I leave by nine to meet Callie while Gavin stays behind to work on the field. At first when Callie told me to meet her at the town hall, I couldn’t believe that there were partsof Blaire I still didn’t know about. It’s been weeks since we arrived here. I’m sure I’ve walked the entire length of Blaire and back at least a hundred times by now. Then, when she told me where the town hall was located, I realized I passed by it all the time. It’s wedged between the convenience store and the observatory in a one-story stand-alone building. The unremarkable features and the building’s bland color make it blend into the backdrop of the tall grass, which is why I’ve never noticed it before. I would have missed it today, too, if it weren’t for the steady stream of people headed in that direction.
At the foot of the building, Callie spots me and makes her way over.
“Hey, you made it.” She smiles brightly.
“And apparently so did everyone else,” I say, looking around.
“If there’s one good thing about living in Blaire, it’s that we can count on one another…to not have plans.” Callie and I laugh. “Let’s go up front to get a good seat.”
While we walk to the front row, we spot Jean, Dr.Blaire, and both of Callie’s parents. We wave to them, and they wave back. Callie’s mom mouths,You got this, while her dad pounds his chest with his hand and points at her confidently.
“Wow, your parents are super supportive,” I say with a hint of envy.
“Yeah, they’re the best.” She smiles back at them, then finds a seat in the front row. “Make sure to save a seat for Supernova.” She points to the empty seat on the other side of me. Brennan appears as she says this.
“Hey, this seat taken?”
“It is now,” I say, peering up at Brennan through my lashes.
“Thanks,” he says, and waves to Callie. She waves back.
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say in a not-unwelcoming way.
“Wouldn’t miss it. You know me. If there’s a way I can help, I’m there.” Brennan’s smile widens. “I’m glad to see you here, lending a hand,” he says, genuinely pleased.
“Me too,” I say, matching his sincerity. I may have faked it the first time we met, but I’m starting to realize that charity, the kind I have to roll up my sleeves for, is actually growing on me. When he’s not looking, I wipe my mouth for drool, becausedamn. I’d forgotten how good-looking he is. His smile that lights up his whole face. The cute dimples on his cheeks. And were his eyes always this blue? The light reflects off them, creating literal twinkles in his eyes. Now that I’ve helped Gavin in the relationship department, maybe I can focus on myself.
Mayor Beecham calls the meeting to order and introduces the members of the council, who present today’s agenda. When it’s time to discuss how to allocate the beautification funds, the floor is open to suggestions on what should be prioritized. Callie gets up first and suggests making improvements on the outside of the convenience store, arguing that, since it’s the sole provider of our most basic needs, repairing it will improve much more than the store. I couldn’t agree more. I’d say a facelift on the town’s most frequented place of business is long overdue. I steal quick glances over at Brennan, hoping to catch his eye, but his stare never wavers. He’s mesmerized by Callie. And I can’t tell if his expression is one of particular interest or general awe. Because Callie’s managed to captivate everyone with her proposal.
Her suggestion isn’t just the best one of the day; it’s the only one. So the council votes unanimously to allocate half of the beautification funds to restore the facade of the convenience store. In support of her proposal, about twenty volunteers, including me and Brennan, offer to help with the labor. With that many volunteers, itwon’t only cut down the cost; it’ll ensure the job will be completed in a timely manner.
After the motion is passed, the meeting comes to a close. On their way out, a bunch of people come up to congratulate Callie: Mayor Beecham and his wife, Callie’s parents, and Jean, to name a few.
“That was amazing, Callie,” I say once I have the chance.
“You should seriously consider a career in politics. You won by a landslide,” Brennan says.
“It helps to not have any competition.” Callie laughs, and Brennan and I laugh with her.
With the volunteers gathered around, we decide to head to the convenience store to assess the damage. That way we can get a head start on purchasing the materials we need to start working as early as next Monday. At the convenience store, we give Hal the news that our petition to fix up the outside of the store was approved, which he’s happy about. At least I think he is. I may no longer be wary of Hal, but I still can’t tell his happy face from his…not-happy face.
From the outside, Callie surveys the building and jots down which items need to be replaced. The roof is the most obvious concern. “Repair is not an option, so we’ll need a new roof,” Callie mutters, scribbling on her pad. Next are the wood panels on the sides. The ones that aren’t as damaged can be patched up, but there are quite a few areas that are rotting or splintered. They’ll need to be replaced before painting the entire exterior. After writing it all down, she does a quick calculation and frowns.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“With the amount of materials and tools we’ll need for the roof and siding, we’re already at budget. That doesn’t include the cost of paint.”
“I’ve got some paint.” Hal’s gruff voice startles us. We crane our necks to face him.
