Page 32 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

CHAPTER 6

The commerce committee meeting that I had been dreading all week suddenly didn’t seem so boring after all. In fact, I was downright excited about it. Because it was no longer actually a commerce meeting. Instead, the mayor had asked everyone in the office to spread the word that he wanted to see the entire town at the meeting. It was time to share our news.

I got to the gymnasium in the senior center early so I could help set up. Libby was there waiting for me. As the president of the commerce committee, she was supposed to be running the show tonight. But now all of that had changed.

“What’s this all about?” she asked me, the moment I appeared in the doorway to the gym. “Why did the meeting get changed? Why does mayor want everyone here?”

“I’m not supposed to tell you,” I said, failing to hide my wide grin as I grabbed a few folding chairs from the stack against the wall and moved to set them up. Libby blocked my path.

“You have to tell me,” she said, her voice pleading. “We’re friends, Riley. Friends don’t keep good gossip from other friends.”

I probably would have told her, even though I was expressly forbidden to do so by the mayor. But at that moment the side door to the gym opened, and Rose Powell and her friend Chrissy came in.

“Hello, ladies!” I called before looking back to Libby. “Sorry. Looks like you’ll have to wait.”

She made a face at me but joined me when I stood up to greet the newcomers. I said hello to Chrissy, and then Rose took me by the hands, peering into my face.

Andrew’s grandmother was one of the only women on the island that could match me in height. Even at seventy-something years old she stood tall and regal, her soft white hair piled in a bun at the top of her head. Growing up, I’d spent more time at Rose Powell’s house than my own, so I’d seen all the pictures of her as a young woman. She’d been a knock out then—and honestly, was still a knock out to this day. There was a shadow of sadness on her face now, one that hadn’t been there last year, that was obviously the effect of losing her husband ten months ago. Rose and Frank Powell had been more in love than anyone I had ever seen in my life. Her grief was palpable. But somehow she still managed to keep it together, helping Iris to run her cafe, taking care of her family, and being a friend to everyone on this island.

“How are you, sweetheart?” she asked. “You look tired. Are you working too hard?”

“Oh, you know how it is, Rose,” I said. “Lots of stress involved in soliciting vendors for the Fish Fry.”

She grinned, her expression a little wicked. “Yes, but you have to do it with that awful Millie Briggs standing over your shoulder. You know I don’t like to speak poorly of my peers, love, but what a terrible bitch.”

I burst into laughter, hugging her.

“What are you laughing at?” Andrew asked, appearing at our side. “Is my grandmother being dirty?”

“That’s none of your business, young man,” Rose said, releasing me to hug him. “You look too thin. Come to my house tomorrow and I’ll feed you.” He winked at me over her shoulder and I rolled my eyes. Spoiled rotten.

“So, what’s this about?” she asked. “Chrissy and I were planning to go out to the movies tonight before Posey came bursting into my cafe to say we all needed to come to this meeting.”

“Weren’t you supposed to be at the meeting anyhow?” Andrew asked. “I thought you were the treasurer of the commerce committee.”

“Vice president, darling,” she told him, waving a hand. “But these meetings are so boring. I always skip them.”

“You’re an upstanding member of the town, Mimi Rose, has anyone ever told you that?”

She patted the side of his face. “At my age you don’t have time for sitting around in gymnasiums, listening to Crystal and Fran fight over who should get the historical society plaque for first fudge shop on the island,” she muttered.

“Well, I think things will be a bit more exciting than that tonight,” I told her, grinning over at Andrew.

“You both know what’s going on,” Libby said, her voice accusing. “Tell us!”

“We have to get this room set up,” Andrew said. “Everyone else will be here soon.”

We got to work setting up the folding chairs, Rose and Libby helping. Town members began trickling in about ten minutes before the meeting was set to start, many of them helping with the set-up, more of them badgering Andrew and I about the agenda. Once we’d finished, Andrew and I went and stood near the mayor’s podium, watching our friends and neighbors fill the space.

“Holy crap,” he muttered. “This is a lot of people. It’s Friday night. Doesn’t anyone have plans?”

“It’s not every night the mayor calls for an emergency meeting,” I told him. “Besides, this is Lilac Bay. What kind of plans could they have?”

“You have a point there.” The crowd filling the space did seem to be rather excited, chattering and laughing as they greeted each other.

“God,” Andrew suddenly said, shaking his head. “This is the most exciting thing to ever happen on this island.” He grinned at me. “They’re going tofreak out, Riley.”

By the time the mayor arrived, the small gym was packed. People were standing along the sides of the room, crowded four and five rows deep in the back. I wouldn’t be surprised if ninety percent of the island was here. I felt a rush of affection for these people, my neighbors all crowded in here on a Friday night with only a few hours' notice. Their town had asked them to turn out and they had, no questions asked.We deserve a shot at this, I thought fiercely.These people deserve it.