But I can do it.
And everything will get easier when I’m not drowning in past due bills.
I nod to myself as I pull into the garage.
I kill the engine, grateful for another day where the car is still functioning. I gather my stuff and trudge to the backdoor. I take a cleansing breath and grin, ready to be a positive light. I open the door and say, “Hey I’m—”
Squish
I step directly into…is that? Yup. That’s poo. Inside the house.
Whoever my white knight is, they cannot come soon enough.
CHAPTER 2
Harper
Harper Brown
The Roasted Chestnut
I pick up the plastic clip-on lanyard, a noticeable upgrade from our usual sticker name tags, which we only ever use if we have visitors. Which, obviously, we do today!
We also have better snacks, better wine and a big barrel of nerves. Not to be confused with my large basket of goodies. I went with purple ribbons on this one, since that is the official color of the Canton brand. I couldn’t get a hold of Janie, who is overseas somewhere, but I’m positive that’s who our new benefactor is. Any moment now, a gorgeous dark blonde woman, one of the five Canton daughters, will walk in, smile and save us all.
I waddle my way over to the large tables, drowning in my huge coat, fluffy scarf, and big purse. Plus I have the giant baskettucked in one arm, a plastic cup of wine and lanyard now in the other. But I make it without dropping anything.
I set the gift on a table to the side and slide into one of the chairs. Ron (and his Evergreen Grill) are playing host tonight, since they have better food and beverage offerings for an evening meeting. He’s closed on Monday nights anyway. Most of us are these days.
But! That’s about to change!
Maybe?
The group around me is split. Only the business owners and residents with commercial property are at tonight’s meeting. Again, half are hopeful, half are pulling a Chicken Little, saying the stars are falling. Guess we’re about to see who is right.
I get up, take off my layers and quickly make a small plate of appetizers for myself, listening to the buzz around me.
“Remember, we are the ones with the leverage here,” Gary says.
“Leverage? Pft, what leverage? I literally had to move chairs because the one I first chose broke, Gar. Just busted under me and I’m not a small man! I’m very petite!” Steven may have already had a couple cups of wine. The mayor objects to the nickname, clearly, while Ron stands up to defend his establishment.
“I told you to check before you sat down, there’s two that have a wobble to them!”
“More than a wobble, I’d say!”
“Anyway,we may be a little, uh, worse for wear but we weren’t out clamoring for a buyer, they came to us. We’ll sit and listen to the presentation and see what we think. Just…” Gary puts both hands out and pats the air. “Just be cool.”
I almost snort. He needs to stop borrowing phrases from his teenage son.
“You’ve never been cool a day in your life and neither have any of us,” Shelly chuckles. Everyone laughs and piles on making fun of ourselves, except for Steven. He maintains he’s very cool.
“Did you double check your wifi?” I catch Miles ask Ron quietly. Ron grunts. Miles is not comforted by the sound. “Well, they’ll be here any minute.”
Ron gets up with a heavy sigh but it’s cut short as the front door to the Grill opens. I brace myself. I’ve seen the Cantons online for years. They’re not just glamorous or gorgeous. They have that kind of beauty that looks AI-brushed.
But instead we see a short, elderly woman. Glamorous in her own right, though. Very Meryl Streep in that devil movie. Sleek white hair, a kind, aging face with impeccable skin and subtle makeup. She’s holding an old-timey briefcase and the kind of severe expression that makes me sit up straighter in my chair. Like I’m about to be graded on my posture.
A large, younger man files in behind her, a huge Italian-looking...gangster? Scary. Possibly her bodyguard. So is it her then? This formidable little old lady is our savior?
