Rose nods, a closed-lipped smile making her look conspiring.
“That’s not how it works. We prank new-to-town folks. It doesn’t go both ways.”
“There’s no rule against it,” Poppy says. When I narrow my gaze at her, she adds, “I’ve asked around. Now”—she claps her hands—“let’s get down to business.”
A waitress swings by, and we place our order—half sausage and mushroom for Poppy and me, and half veggie for Rose. We spend the rest of the dinner hour talking about the duplex and trying to figure out a schedule when I can work on the things that Rose has deemed “priority.”
Poppy is playing mediator. “We’re grateful for any work you do…whenever you do it. There is no rush at all.”
Rose holds up her hand. “The bathroom is a must-fix, though. I can’t go to work with plaster in my hair.”
I grimace. I wish I could snap my fingers and make the place better for them. I truly do. But there are only twenty-four hours in a day, and I need about thirty to manage my current work load. Still, I find myself agreeing to come over this weekend to re-plaster the bathroom ceiling. “As long as there’s no water damage, it shouldn’t take me more than half a day.”
Rose sits back and gives me a satisfied nod.
I turn to Poppy. “Boo, you got a top-priority request?”
“As long as I know the sounds coming from the AC unit aren’t overly concerning, I can make do with things as they are.”
I make a mental note to get an air conditioning technician out to check it.
After we finish our food, I head to the bar and pay, tipping my hat to Pizza Master Kenny. We drop Rose off at the duplex, and then Poppy and I embark on our Party in the Park donation-gathering spree.
Her enthusiasm is contagious, and she knocks boldly on each door, making conversation with everyone who answers, collecting pledges and cash on the spot. She doesn’t need me at all, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t having a good time. The sticky air is cooler now that the sun is lower in the sky. I can faintly hear the sound of the water crashing against the rocky cove in the distance.
“There’s never been a dance at the Party in the Park, right?” Poppy asks me as we’re walking between houses in the lower district.
“A dance?”
“Yeah, you know.” She stops and jabs her finger in the air and then down to her hip.
“Not sure what that was.” I gesture in her general direction, and she punches me in the arm. I smirk. “But no, there’s not a dance—or there hasn’t been one.”
“We should do one this year.” Poppy whips out her phone and makes a note. “Scavenger hunt for teens. Dance for adults. Perfect.” She glances up at me. “I’ve been over at the park, and the courtyard right outside the lighthouse would be a perfect dance floor. Don’t you think?”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely,” she says with a nod. “Who doesn’t like a good town-wide dance? Besides, I bet you could make it a stunning scene with some extra lights. You’re the best electrician in the county!”
Before I can respond to that, she marches up to the lavender-colored house we discussed on our drive to my parents’ place on Sunday. When Willow Dunlap opens the door, Poppy beams at her. After making the requisite small talk, she asks, “Mrs. Dunlap, how do you feel about getting jiggy with it?”
“I’ve been known to bust a move,” Willow says without missing a beat.
“Would you and Earnest like to help me coordinate the first annual Party in the Park Promenade?”
Willow pats her hair. “Well, now, I’d be delighted.”
Poppy shoots me a triumphant grin as Willow goes to get her husband. We end up talking to the pair for a solid twenty minutes. Willow has the idea that people can donate money to get songs played during the promenade—which is, admittedly, genius.
As we’re saying our goodbyes, Willow turns to me. “Mack, dear, there’s an issue with the self-checkout kiosk at the library. Do you think you could look at it for us?”
I mentally flip though my schedule for the next day. “Sure, Willow. I’ll stop by first thing.”
“What a good boy you are.” She reaches up and pats my cheek.
We stroll back up the street to my truck, and I feel Poppy’s happy energy next to me. “I’d say that was a success.”
I nod. It almost feels normal to be out and about around town with Poppy. Everyone we’ve talked to has been generous and accommodating. No cold shoulder. It feels good. I feel good.
