Page 28
I swallow. “Um, yeah. Friday should work if we go early in the day. I have a flight out that afternoon.”
Beth’s open expression shutters for a millisecond, but then she smiles. I don’t know what to make of her wariness about me leaving, and I try not to dwell on it.
“Great. Let’s plan on that.” She closes her planner after jotting down a note.
My eye catches on a middle-aged guy walking toward our table. He looks semifamiliar, but I can’t place where I know him from.
He stops at the foot of our table. “Ah, Beth. You’re up and at ’em bright and early. Working hard, I suspect.”
Beth sits up straighter. “Hi, Xander. Yep. You know me. A little worker bee.”
She shoots me a different kind of smile; it’s slightly strained now. “Xander, you remember Gabe McKenzie, right?”
Xander extends a hand to Gabe. “Xander Falon. Chamber of Commerce president. Owner of X Realty. I believe we met years ago. Good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
“Well, I hear you two have lots to do, so I won’t bother you. We’re all expecting great things from the Christmas Dash.”
“We’re excited about what we’ve come up with so far, right, Gabe?” Beth widens her eyes at me.
“Right. Though it’s been mostly you.” I nod at her and then turn to Xander. “I’m just a fill-in for my mom. Beth, here, is the brains behind the operation.”
“Not surprising. Beth is a vital member of the Dasher Valley business district.” Xander nods. “I’ll be on hand for the event. Can’t wait to see how it all comes together. We’re counting on you to make it a home run for Dasher Valley.”
“I wouldn’t come up with an event that was anything less than a grand slam,” Beth assures him.
“Attagirl. Hit it out of the park!” Xander beams.
I frown because baseball season is over, and these analogies are really rubbing me the wrong way.
Why is Xander putting so much pressure on Beth? Why is she letting him?
“See you tonight for the Christmas Kickoff.” Xander bids us goodbye and heads for the counter.
“I’ve gotta go too.” Beth rises and scoops up her mug. I follow her to the bin, where we place our dirty ceramics. We retrieve our jackets, putting them on and stepping out into the frigid December morning air.
“What’s with Xander?” I ask as Beth tugs on her mittens.
“You heard. He’s the president of the Chamber of Commerce. Basically the fate of my business is in his hands.”
My eyebrows lift of their own accord.
“I’m eligible to be elected into the Dasher Valley 8 this year.” She looks at me expectantly, and I get it.
“Ah, right. That’s a big deal.”
“It is.” Beth turns on the sidewalk, and I fall into step with her as she makes her way toward Dash Away Books.
“How’re you feeling about your chances?”
She tips her chin up and looks at me before staring straight ahead again. “I’m hopeful, but trying not to be too hopeful, you know?”
“Do you know who else is in the running this year?”
“All the usual suspects of course. Your mom’s café is a shoo-in. I feel like once you get into the 8, your chances of being reelected are high. It’s just breaking in that’s tough. But there’s an open spot this year because the video-rental store shut down.”
“That place was still in business?” I shake my head. “The fact they stayed open this long is actually incredible.”
