No Angels (Willow Creek Christmas)

5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Mike

I hand over an iced maple latte from Cupcake on Main and drop into the seat next to her. She has a pile of paperwork in her lap, but she’s staring at the raised dais with a bemused look on her face.

“Zane said you’re thinking about running the Majestic.” I don’t say I hope the rumors are true. If she’s considering it, that means she’s considering other stuff too. Like staying here for good.

She snorts. “So the town gossip mill is still going strong. Farrah just told me about it over lunch. I haven’t had time to think about anything. Are you trying to bribe me with this latte?”

“I never said I wouldn’t resort to bribery if it’ll convince you to stay. So you’re thinking about it?” I hold my breath and wait for her answer.

“I don’t know, Callihan. Maybe. I always thought I’d never come back here. And running a community theater is a lot of work. Probably way more work than doing a Broadway show because usually there aren’t deep pockets to keep everything from going off the rails. I don’t know if I want to get stuck herding cats on a shoestring budget.”

“Can it really be that bad?”

“Yep. I have friends all over the country who do it and they swear it’s all held together with duct tape and dental floss.”

“Isn’t there grant money available to fill in the gaps?”

Her laugh is sarcastic this time. “Art programs and initiatives everywhere have been gutted in favor of math and science. I don’t know if I have the strength to fight those battles.”

“The town could really use a creative outlet like this. Farrah and Zane asked me to inspect it. If the town decides to buy it, I could help you fix it up. That place is the biggest eyesore on Main Street and the consensus down at Curl Up and Dye is that you’re the perfect candidate to breathe life back into it.”

“So the salon is still a hotbed of conspiracy and speculation.”

“At least they’re excited about the possibility and don’t think it’s a waste of time or money.”

She takes a sip of the latte and leans back. “At least there’s that.”

Her admission is wry, and I wonder how hard the town has been on her since she returned. “They didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for you.”

“Nope,” she confesses in the middle of another sip. “I think a lot of them see this pageant as nothing more than a break from their kids in the evening. Most of the parents don’t stay for practice and I had to beg my friends in the city for costumes since no one in Willow Creek seemed willing to volunteer their time or sewing skills. At least Farrah invited me to girls’ night. Which was amazing.”

“It’s the first pageant since we were kids. Just give them the chance to warm up to the idea. And I’m friends with all of the other halves you partied with, so I know you were in good hands.”

“I don’t think people warming up to the idea is the problem, Callihan. I think too much has changed and the things we grew up with just aren’t a priority. Farrah and her friends were encouraging, but I didn’t expect everything to be this hard.”

“Well Zane and Farrah are on a mission to restore a sense of community and this pageant is a way to bring everyone together for the holidays.”

“I haven’t met the mayor yet, but Farrah is one of the most relentlessly determined people I’ve ever met. I can see why he made her the town’s marketing and tourism director.”

Farrah is relentless. Probably because her twin stepdaughters keep her on her toes. She’s probably in permanent manic mode to keep up with them. “She is. She even convinced her husband to start a local star-gazing academy about twenty miles out of town. It’s an abandoned farm Blake Armitage snapped up because it was adjacent to his equine therapy facility. He donated it to the town’s rec department. She said we can bill it as a dark sky space.”

“Aren’t most of those out west?”

“Yeah, but she thinks all the commuters in the DC area will flock here because it’s a quick jaunt. They’ll be able to commune with nature and stop at Wegner’s on the way home.”

“If she has all of that planned, why is she so adamant about the Majestic? There are plenty of other tourism magnets.”

“Maybe. But the Majestic could be a way to lure people who want to relocate, not just tourists.”

“Won’t it create more work for you? You seem to have your hands full as the Public Works Director. I see you as often as I see your employees.”

I casually slide my arm behind her chair. “You know I was never the sit behind a desk type, Cassidy. My new project could be helping you fix up the Majestic.”

She gives me a quizzical look. “I thought the last thing you wanted was to be near me.”

I shrug, suddenly uncomfortable. She’s right. But not for the reasons she thinks. “It’s for the betterment of the town. Kind of part of my job description.”

“Well I thought the town was going to hire a contractor, but if I decide to take on the renovation and you want to help instead of enjoying your downtime, it would mean more money for the other stuff we need, like costumes and props and new lighting.”

“If that means you’ll be here longer, I’m in. My job’s usually only nine to five. We could work on it together in the evenings and on weekends.” I volunteer, even as I question why I’m walking toward the guillotine like I don’t care about the wicked blade that’s going to make my head roll.

“I’m not making any promises, Callihan. That isn’t what this is about. I just figured I’m here, and I don’t know what my future looks like and it’s time to give back to the community that’s been a safety net for Mom since I left.”

“I’ll take what I can get, Cassidy.” I reach for her hand and when I link our pinky fingers like I did when we were ten and holding the line during Red Rover at recess, she doesn’t pull away. I don’t care if I sound needy or unhinged because she’s all I’ve ever wanted.

“I’m still pretty determined to leave, Callihan.”

I flash a grin in her direction. “Pretty determined is a long way from gung ho. I think I’m weakening your resolve.”

She just shakes her head and laughs.