“I hope so,” Dick replied, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. “It’s scary, you know? Facing the unknown, the uncertainty of it all. But, like Emily said, I’ve got a great medical team and support from family and friends, including you.” He looked up at his wife and squeezed her hand. “Emily has been my rock.”
Reva nodded in agreement. “You are not alone in this fight,” she assured him. “We’re all here for you, every step of the way.”
“I know, and I’m grateful for that,” Dick said, his eyes suddenly welling up with tears. “I haven’t always been a good person. It’s still hard to believe so many folks here in Thunder Mountain care about me.”
“Of course, we do,” Reva said gently. “It’s okay to feel scared. Allow yourself to lean on us when you need to. What we learn in AA isn’t only applicable to battling our demons with alcohol, the principles are universal and apply to life. Remember, strength is often found in our willingness to be vulnerable and honest.”
Dick nodded, wiping away a tear. “Thank you, Reva. Your support means the world to me.”
Driving away from her morning encounter, Reva made her way to her office, her mind filled with thoughts of Dick. His resilience in the face of his diagnosis left her feeling a profound admiration. The road ahead would be hard, especially for Emily and Capri. No doubt his diagnosis had served as a reminder of the fragility of life, prompting them to cherish every moment they had with him and to lean on each other for strength.
Reva entered her office in Thunder Mountain with purpose. She would be there for them, support those two women in every way possible in the coming months.
She’d been settled into her office chair less than ten minutes before her assistant appeared in the doorway, her silver hair neatly pinned in a bun and cat-eye glasses perched on the end of her nose.
Verna Billingsley was a character who seemed to have stepped out of a different era. Despite the world’s technological advancements, Verna had managed to remain steadfastly disconnected from the digital age. Her desk was cluttered with stacks of paper, and she relied on an old-fashioned electric typewriter to compose her memos and letters. When it came to dealing with emails and spreadsheets, she looked at the computer screen on her boss’s desk as if it were an alien object, unsure what to make of it.
Nevertheless, Verna’s charm lay in her sincere dedication and unwavering loyalty to her job, and to Reva. Despite her aversion to modern technology, she somehow managed to keep the mayor’s office and Reva’s law practice both running like clockwork.
“Nicola Cavendish showed up a half hour ago demanding to see you,” Verna announced. “I told her you were not due in for another hour. She said she’d be back.”
Reva’s heart sank. Nicola was not one to bring good news. “When she gets here, bring her on in.”
Verna had not made it back to her desk when the front door opened and Reva heard Nicola’s voice. “Well, is the mayor in yet? I hope she realizes she’s on taxpayer dollars and there are constituents who expect her to be here.”
The comment irked Reva. She was not bound to a set time behind the mayor’s desk and most certainly not obligated to be at Nicola Cavendish’s beck and call. Still, Reva knew better than to react. She pasted a smile and went out to greet the woman.
Upon seeing Reva in the doorway, Nicola’s face suddenly grew bright and cheery. “Well,” she said, making a point of looking at her watch. “Good morning!”
Reva swallowed her disdain. “Good morning, Nicola. What can I do for you?”
Nicola set her red purse down on the armchair and lifted her chin. “Reva, we need to talk,” she said, her tone suddenly dripping with condescension.
“Of course, Nicola. What’s on your mind?” Reva maintained a calm exterior despite her building inner apprehension.
“I’ve called an emergency town meeting for this evening,” Nicola announced. “And I expect you to be there.”
Reva’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “An emergency town meeting? What’s the issue, Nicola?”
“You’ll learn fully this evening,” Nicola shot back. “But I’ll tell you this much—it’s about the proposed television production I spoke with you about earlier.”
Reva’s heart skipped a beat. She’d been carefully handling the situation, fielding the few voiced concerns raised by some of the townspeople, mostly while in the grocery store aisle or the bookstore. Mainly, there were questions—many of which she had no real answers for. And for the number of concerns, there appeared to be an equal number of people excited about what the production might mean for tourism.
“Nicola, I understand that the local television production is a sensitive topic, but there’s no need to stir up trouble,” Reva said firmly. “Calling an emergency meeting could create unnecessary tension. Especially without discussing it with me first.”
“I brought my concerns to you, and you did nothing to alleviate the issue. I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands,” Nicola retorted. “I won’t have you dismissing the concerns of the people of this town.”
Deeply angered by her accusations, Reva took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure. “I am not dismissing anyone’s concerns, but I need to ensure we take all of the feelings of our townspeople into consideration and approach this issue thoughtfully and collaboratively. We can’t afford to let emotions dictate our actions.”
Nicola’s eyes narrowed, and a calculating smile played on her lips. “Do I need to remind you of my husband’s influence in this town…and mine? We have connections with important people.”
Reva felt a surge of frustration. Nicola was using her husband’s position at the bank to exert undue pressure, and it infuriated her. Nevertheless, she knew she had to tread carefully. She didn’t need this to blow up and become worse.
“I understand your concerns, Nicola,” Reva said, her voice measured. “Threats won’t sway my decisions. I am here to serve the best interests of Thunder Mountain and its residents.”
Nicola huffed in annoyance but seemed to back down slightly. “Fine, have it your way, Mayor. But don’t expect the town meeting to be an easy one for you.”
As Nicola turned to leave, Reva couldn’t help feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. The upcoming town meeting was now set to be a battleground, and Reva knew she had to rally the support of her townspeople to stand firm against Nicola’s attempts to manipulate the situation. That included Charlie Grace, Capri, and Lila.
