I get several effusive compliments from local business owners throughout the day, And I finally relax. This is working. It’s actually working.
Thank goodness the budget for the festival is huge. It brings in so many tourists, happy to spend money, that every business owner in town contributes to the festival fund and the town council allocates a good chunk of taxpayer money for the event.
I’m shoveling in a quick taco lunch at Jinglebell Taqueria when the owner, Sofia Saavedra, comes over. I’ve met her a few times before and she’s always been friendly.
Today she looks worried and harried. Her restaurant is packed, her pretty dark hair is falling out of the bun she’s shoved it up into, and her cheeks are red like she’s been running all day. “I’m so sorry I ever signed that petition, Blue,” she says as she slides into the seat next to me. “I had no idea until Garrick talked to me that the council was blocking you from getting anything done. I was angry, but I should have talked to you.”
“I didn’t even know you signed it.”
Sofia bites her bottom lip and shakes her head. “Did I just make it worse? Would it have been better if I never told you I signed it?”
“I don’t know…” I’m in shock and still trying to understand everything she’s saying. “Did you say Garrick told you the council is blocking me?”
She nods. “You’re lucky to have him on your side. He’s been talking to every business owner in town this week and…” She looks away, frowning, before turning back to me. “I’m just so sorry. I was the newcomer to town once, and I know how hard it can be. I never should have assumed anything about you.”
“I get it.” I’m in shock that Garrick really went to bat for me. “I think it’s the pink hair.” And the fierce fashion sense. “People don’t tend to take me seriously at face value.”
“I should have known better. But you can count on my support from now on.”
“You want me to continue on as mayor?”
Her eyes go wide. “Who else is going to do the job? Bro? He’s useless. According to Garrick, you have some great ideas, and I want to see what you do with the town.”
“Thank you. That means a lot. Unfortunately, unless the council gets on board, I won’t be able to do much of anything.”
She pats my shoulder and stands. “I think the council will come around. Give it some time.”
I finish my taco and hurry outside to check on the baton twirlers. I fling myself around a corner, hurrying to get to them before their show starts so I can ask for a music change-up - I keep getting feedback that everyone hates that one carol about the snow and the pushy date - when I run, literally, into Yvonne Cutright.
I wobble, she wobbles, and I catch her by the shoulders just as she’s tilting toward a snowbank. I halt her fall and keep holding on to make sure she’s steady while she glares at me.
“Ms. Porter,” she says in a tight voice. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Cutright. I’m in a hurry and I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
She huffs. “I hope this isn’t a demonstration of how we can expect you to behave now that you have the business association behind you.”
“The business association?” I have to be dreaming. There’s no way the festival can be going so well I’ve magically gotten the support of all the businesses in town.
Not magically. Garrick has done this.
“Don’t act like you don’t know. You’re probably the one spreading these distasteful rumors. The business association has voted to have a representative attend our meetings to ensure we’re working with you.”
“I guess they really don’t want Bro to take over my job.”
She huffs again, her perfectly coiffed hair falling into her face the tiniest bit. She swats at it. “I’ll be watching you, Ms. Porter. Make one mistake and that recall will happen. You don’t fit here, and it won’t be long until everyone else sees that.”
The hate blowing off this woman is so electric I take a step back. A step far enough back to see the frown lines etched intoher face and the sadness in her eyes. I’ve heard the stories about her around town, how she’s recently widowed and two of her three kids are estranged from her. I just didn’t see the deep pain in her until now.
Maybe because I was too caught up in the pain she was causing me. “I appreciate the opportunity you’re giving me, Ms. Cutright. I don’t mean to be rude, but I really am in a hurry.”
She sighs loudly. “The festival isn’t a total disaster, I suppose.” She waves a hand. “Go on and fix whatever’s currently broken.”
I don’t bother correcting her. If she wants to think my festival’s on the verge of collapse, she can go ahead and think it. “Thank you for understanding. Talk soon.”
I hurry off, my mind spinning. Garrick did all this, and it actually worked? He must have felt pretty bad about signing that petition. Still, he had to have spent hours changing hearts and minds over the past week. How did he find the time for that when he didn’t even have time to help me plan the festival?
I make it to the baton twirlers just in time to tell them to change up the playlist, and I’m hurrying to check on the fire eaters, because I heard a tourist mention burning hair, when I hear my name over the loudspeaker.
