Anyway, I had to put myself in her shoes—well, flipflops—and imagine what I would do if I were gorgeous and made an old shirt look like the cover of “Seventeen” magazine.
I would want the kid to really like me, for one thing. So, I asked her if he was her boyfriend, or going to be.
She laughed and said no, not exactly. Eric told her he doesn’t want a girlfriend (he’s on vacation for a few weeks with his family) and just wants to have fun. He lives in…Texas, I think, so that’s a long way from Ithaca.
Anyway, she rolled her eyes like that was normal and said it didn’t mean anything, that’s just how boys are. Who cares what they call it?
I told her I wouldn’t sneak out for a boy who wouldn’t be my boyfriend. I said if Eric wants her to risk the wrath of Artie Wylie if she gets caught, then he should at least be willing tocome to the door, meet her mom and dad, and take her on a proper date.
She snorted.
And I didn’t get that. She’s worth a date, right? I told her that and I thought she’d wave it off or get defensive or laugh at me and accuse me of being all “Little House on the Prairie” or something.
But she didn’t. She got really, really quiet for a long time. Then—I’m not lying—she put her arm around me and said, “Thanks, Viv. That actually makes sense.” She said she didn’t want to feel stupid about it later, and that kind of surprised me because Tessa usually acts like nothing bothers her.
After she went inside, I stayed out there by myself for a little while. I kept thinking about how weird it was that she asked me. I’m not the pretty one. I’m not the boy-crazy one. But tonight she wanted my opinion, and she listened to it.
It made me feel older somehow. Or maybe just more real. Like maybe I’m not always the side person in everyone else’s story.
I think I like giving advice. It feels good to feel needed. And I’m really, really glad Tessa stayed in the house tonight.
Sweet dreams!
Viv
Vivien had been expecting the board member of the Destin History and Fishing Museum to be an aging docent with silver-streaked hair and reading glasses.
Not this board member. Natalie Cartwright looked to be in her mid-thirties, with dark hair parted down the middle and cascading over her shoulders, and intense brown eyes that sparkled when she walked them through the humble museum that few people in Destin even knew about.
In a modest conference space decorated with framed black-and-white historic photos, she described herself as a “third-generation Destinian” with a love for the town’s history that she inherited from her father, and his father, who’d been born and raised right here.
After some small talk, Peter, who had kindly arranged the meeting, took the lead and explained that they were concerned citizens who’d vacationed here as kids and now lived in the area as adults.
And when they mentioned the Left Coast Bridge, Vivien instantly saw a shadow cross the other woman’s face, and knew she agreed that the decision to tear it down was wrong.
“That was an, uh, unexpected battle with a disappointing end,” she said, adding a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I wish I had a different story to tell you.”
“How did it all come about?” Vivien asked.
“I’m not sure, but there is a salvage company driving the effort,” she told them.
Quinn Hargrove. Vivien and Peter shared a quick look and nodded.
“He has a lot of influence then?” Vivien asked.
Natalie gave a soft snort. “If by influence you mean cash, then yes. Pockets are getting lined and, trust me, it’s no one in this office.”
“Then who?” Peter pressed.
She shrugged. “You said you’re with the sheriff’s department, right?” When he nodded, she leaned in. “Then you know about…”
“Graft and corruption in small-town government,” he finished for her.
“That’s what you call it,” she countered. “They call it ‘public safety infrastructure removal and navigation improvement.’ Which sounds like they’re doing everyone a favor and also saving baby ducks.”
“Navigation improvement?” Vivien scoffed. “That bridge hasn’t been used for navigation since—since?—”
“Since the dinosaurs,” Natalie agreed. “But the phrase hits certain triggers in certain offices.”
