Page 126 of Banter & Blushes #1

B ob stood up to address the room. “Everything's coming together, and the project is on track to be finished in the next two weeks. Other than all the inspections, which they should pass with flying colors, it’s just a matter of planning the dedication.”

“We’ll also have the crew who will be stationed at North Shores. The County is sending four of them. We may need to work on some temporary housing if they don’t have any other plans. We want to make them feel as welcome as possible.” Elva reported.

“OH!” Tom raised his hand as he nudged his wife. “Mel and I may have a scoop on that, actually. I wasn’t sure the right time to bring it up.” He nodded to Melanie to share the news.

“We got a call from Jake. As you all know, well some of you may know, he got certified as a fireman and EMT last year. He said after helping head off the storm here, he felt like he had a calling higher than himself.” She tried to hold back a laugh because everyone who knew Jake knew that his biggest calling was always Jake.

“Anyway, he put in to be transferred to North Shores. It’s not officially official, but he may be one of our four. ”

Elva nodded with pride, “good for him. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

Tom cleared his throat. “I know he’s certainly had his ups and downs, but he’s ready to redeem himself. I think this is a really good thing for him.”

“I know his mother will be happy to have him home, too.” Josephine smiled.

“I do have one more thing to share,” Melanie clicked on her computer screen, projecting a wall size photograph of Elva and Mitch walking down the shoreline with Dozer running through the breaking waves. “This is the new town website.” She smiled proudly. “I think it turned out great. ”

Josephine’s hands raised up to cover her open mouth as she gasped, “perfect!”

“Yes, well…” Elva turned around to see it. “WOW!” She looked at herself, holding hands with a handsome man on the coast. “Nice work as always, Melanie.”

“It looks like an ad for a retirement village,” Bob teased. “Maybe we’ll attract the quiet older crowd with it.”

“OH Bob,” Joe hissed.

“I think it’s just wonderful,” Jill bubbled. “Awesome photography, Melanie.”

“Thanks,” she glanced from Elva to the other faces at the table, “I had outstanding models.”

“Okay.” Elva closed her notebook. “Let’s adjourn the meeting on that note.”

Returning the conversation to the meeting, Bob stood up ready to wrap up. “We can meet next week with all the dedication plans.”

“Joe? Can we walk together?” Elva asked her friend as she gathered her papers.

They strolled along silently at first. Both just walking in step out of the community center waving goodbye to everyone.

Lowering her voice to make sure no one else heard, she couldn’t help but share, “so I have a little news.”

Josephine’s voice raised to match her excitement. “NEWS?”

“John Mitchell asked me out.”

“I KNEW IT!” Joe took a deep breath. “AND? What did you say?”

“Well, we talked about baseball a while ago. He offered to take me to a Blue Claw Baseball game and to meet his cousins who run a B&B in an old Victorian home over in Red Bird. Do you think I should go?”

“DO I THINK YOU SHOULD GO?” Her voice was even louder than before.

Raising her finger to meet her lips she shushed her friend. “Maybe we should have added this to the committee meeting agenda if you are going to talk that loud,” she laughed.

“Sorry.” She tried to calm down. “Okay. A baseball game and a historic B&B all in one day? How is that even a question?”

Looking from one side to the street to the other before they crossed, she shook her head, “I don’t know. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Oh, no you don’t!” Josephine put her arm out in front of Elva to stop her from walking. “I’ll fill in for you for the day. Mitch is a very handsome, very sweet man. You aren’t going to use work as an excuse not to live your life. Do you hear me, missy?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she couldn’t help but laugh at her friend. “But you don’t know the first thing about running things at the restaurant.”

“I think I can hold down the fort. Besides, it would be nice for you to have a day off.”

Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine it, “you know what? It would be nice. I think I’ll take him up on his offer.”

“Now, on to more important things.” Joe’s voice was high in excitement. “What are you going to wear?”