Sundays on Squire's Isle, page 3
"You don't mind trying to sell me like I'm a product?"
"When you love the product, you don't mind pushing it." She squeezed Patricia's hand and led her into the swarm of people. "Hi! I'm representing Patricia Hood-Colby for mayor, and I'm hoping we can count on your vote this November." She took a button out of her pocket and offered it to the woman she'd spoken to. One of the other people in the small group asked for a button, and Jill handed out five without breaking a sweat. When the people moved off, Jill smiled at Patricia. "See? Not exactly selling ice to Eskimos."
"I guess not... oh. Hold on." Nadine Butler passed by with her wife in tow, and Patricia hurried to catch up. "Mrs. Butler."
Nadine turned. "Oh! Madame Mayor."
"Not yet, but thank you. I was, um, ordered by my campaign manager to see if I could get a few minutes on your show. An interview, or just a quick who's-who at the Easter festival..."
"Um." Nadine glanced at Miranda.
Miranda shrugged. "The station is run by the Dugans, so I'm sure they'll try to push your opponent on the air at some point. Equal time and all that. Come on by the booth before the Easter egg hunt and you can have a few minutes to speak with each other."
Nadine smiled. "Great. Can I have a button? The station may be equal time, but I'm not." Jill handed her a button and Nadine fastened it onto the front of her dress just underneath the blue KELF button. "I should probably get back on the air. I'll see you later?" Miranda nodded and they kissed goodbye. Miranda waved and followed Nadine through the crowd.
Jill grinned. "They're so sweet."
Patricia put her hand on Jill's shoulder and squeezed. "I think you're a better campaign manager than Leah. Thank you for being here."
"Sure thing." She looped her arm around Patricia's and pointed toward the Gail's Seafood Shack lemonade stand where two women dressed as well-dressed rabbits were working. "Come on. Pretty much everyone will pass by there at some point today. Let's see if the bunnies will support you."
#
Kate had one foot on the pavement, her other foot hovering as she leaned into the car. The balancing act was made even more dangerous by the fact she was wearing a rather flimsy dress - stupid Spring, stupid Easter - and she was trying to keep the display strictly PG-13 without dumping her delivery all over the backseat of her car. She almost had it free when she heard footsteps on the grass behind her and a woman said, "Can I give you a hand with that?"
She twisted and saw Alex Crawford, the town's fire chief, standing a few feet away. She sighed with relief. "Yeah, if you don't mind. I'll take all the help I can get." She stepped to one side and Alex joined her in front of the back door. They each took a side of the large covered plate and hauled it out of the car with little effort.
Alex breathed deep as she handed the plate over to Kate. She took the other plate out by herself, kicked the door shut, and followed Kate across the green grass of the hill by the parking lot. "Oh, wow, that smells delicious. What is it?"
"Cookies, fresh from the oven."
"Cookies... oh! You're, uh... your wife runs Coffee Table Books."
Kate's smile wavered. "Uh... sort of. My girlfriend owns the place. We're-we're not married."
"Oh. Sorry. I hate when people make assumptions like that about me and Rachel. They still smell delicious, regardless of your relationship to the woman who made them."
Kate grinned. Marriage was a point of contention in their household. Now that Washington had legalized gay marriage, Amy seemed to feel it was necessary they take the plunge. Kate wasn't so sure. She loved Amy and couldn't see ever leaving her or being with someone else. The only thing she could claim she desperately wanted was to spend the rest of her life with Amy at her side. It was the idea of marriage, being married, being spouses... she didn't like the sound of wife-and-wife, but what else could they call it?
Her real argument was actually ridiculous, even to her own mind. If they got married, she would feel like she was putting a leash around Amy's neck. In a year, two years, ten years, she would start to wonder if Amy stayed because she wanted to or because it was just easier than leaving.
They arrived at the Coffee Table Books area, which had three tables set up underneath a tent awning. Amy and two of her employees were standing behind a buffet-style table, and she waved when she spotted Kate. Kate hoisted her armful and stepped under the shade of the awning to deliver the fresh supplies.
"You're a lifesaver. Just when we were running low."
"Thank Stephanie. She's running the place like a dictator. Hi." She kissed Amy hello. "Do you know Alex?"
Amy smiled. "We've met. Hi, Alex." She picked up a rabbit-shaped cookie. "If you carry, you get a free cookie."
"Well, I'm not going to turn that down." She took the cookie with a nod of thanks. "I should probably head out. Rachel's expecting me home..." She looked at her watch. "Ah, shit. Well, I still have to go home to get my ass kicked. Thanks for the cookie. It'll be a nice peace offering." She waved goodbye and headed off.
Kate stepped behind the buffet table and picked up a pair of plastic gloves. "We have a while before the next batch is ready to be picked up. What do you need me to do?"
"We need a backup pitcher of iced tea if you don't mind making it."
"Nope, not at all." She thought about what Alex had said, and her own ruminations on the topic, and slipped her hand around Amy's elbow to pull her into a semi-private corner. "Hey. The marriage thing."
Amy blinked, surprised at the change of subject, but nodded. "What about it?"
"My problem is with marriage. Not the idea of being married to you. If I were to marry anybody on this planet, it would be you."
Amy pressed her lips together in an effort to contain her smile. "Good to know. Because I don't see myself walking down the aisle to anyone but you."
Kate frowned. "Who said you got to walk down the aisle?"
"You? In a wedding dress? Oh, Kate, please."
Kate had to concede that point. She hugged Amy briefly before she looked at the table to see what needed to be done to make tea.
#
Leah Kincaid closed the car door and tucked her hair behind her ears as she scanned the festival. She spotted a lot of people wearing Patricia's buttons, which was good. This was her first official political campaign, and Patricia had shown a lot of trust and faith in hiring her. If Patricia failed to get the office, Leah didn't want to be the one to blame.
There were speakers set up to broadcast the egg hunt sponsored by KELF Radio, scheduled to begin in just a few minutes. She hurried across the field, smiling to everyone who caught her eye. It wouldn't do for someone to see the highest-ranking member of the Hood-Colby campaign looking frenzied or dour. Her search for Patricia was cut short by the sound of the Pixie coming through one of the tower-mounted speakers she passed under.
"Welcome back and, before we get this Easter egg hunt under way, we have a very special guest joining me. Our current deputy mayor, soon to be top dog, Patricia Hood-Colby, wanted to wish luck to all the contestants today."
Leah made her way toward the broadcast booth as Patricia started talking. "Thank you, Nadine. I would say this isn't a political message, but who would believe me?" She and Nadine laughed. "The truth is, I've been coming to this hunt every year for the past decade because my son used to participate. I loved coming out, seeing all my friends, getting sunburnt--"
"I think I've got enough of one to share, if you're feeling nostalgic."
"No, thanks. But really, coming here today to campaign was just an excuse for me to participate now that Michael says he's too old to join in."
Leah turned a corner and saw a small group had gathered around Nadine and Patricia. Nadine said, "You're never too old for Easter. You and I are evidence of that, I think. Thank you for stopping by, Patricia, it was really nice talking to you. And we're going to have a sit-down interview with you before the election. We'll have to work that out with your campaign and our management and blah blah blah."
She turned to face the crowd. "But you're not here to listen to politics. You're here to find some eggs, am I right?"
The crowd cheered and whooped. Patricia snuck away from the platform and found Leah. "Hey. I thought I saw you over here. Sorry about that. I saw Nadine and--"
"No, it was great. I was just a little disappointed I didn't see you before you went on. We got Alex Crawford's written support, but her partner brought up some concerns. We haven't earned her vote yet, and I think she made some valid arguments. We can win her and other people with the same problems over if we get the speeches right."
Patricia nodded. "Okay. I think, uh, Jill is still around here handing out buttons."
"Great. I'll leave you alone... you've done enough politics for today. Go, be with other human beings."
"Thanks, Leah. I'll glad-hand a little while I'm enjoying the day."
"That's all I ask." Patricia disappeared into the crowd as Nadine carried her microphone toward the roped-off egg hunt area. She untied the rope from the stake in the ground, and three dozen pre-teens came to life with a frisson of energy. "Ah, ah, ah, kids! Not until I blow the whistle! As soon as I blow the whistle and drop the rope, it's a free-for-all. No punching or pinching or violence; egg hunting is a sport of ladies and gentleman. Be polite and generous. Now, is everyone ready?"
A cheer went up.
"Okay... the egg hunt begins... right... after the seventeen-minute version of In-a-gadda-da-vida!" The crowd jeered and Nadine rolled her eyes. "Oh, you guys are so impatient! Fine!" She closed her lips around the whistle, held the microphone behind her back, and dropped the rope as she blew a staccato little song through the whistle. As the kids rushed forward, Nadine did knee-lifting, arm pumping dance and waved them past her.
Leah chuckled and turned to walk away, nearly colliding with another woman. "Oh, my gosh. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. No harm done."
Leah looked at the swarming kids. "Is one of them yours?"
"Ah, yeah. The little girl right there." She pointed. "Pamela. You?"
"Oh, no. I'm here on work, but I thought I'd get a little fun in." She turned and stood next to the other woman. "Remember when you could be happy just because you found a plastic egg with little chocolates inside? Was that ever really all it took?"
"My memory is hazy, but I seem to recall giddiness, yes." She held out her hand. "I'm Jaime. Jaime Morgan."
"Leah Kincaid. Hood-Colby for Mayor." She reached into the bag slung over her shoulder. "Do you want a button?"
Jaime hesitated. "Um. Sure. I'll take one... I'm not sure how invested I am in the election, though. I just moved here, so politics. Hood is the woman, right? And Colby is her deputy? Or--"
"No, no. It's a little confusing, I guess. Patricia Hood-Colby is running for mayor. It's her married name. She hyphenated."
"Oh! I see. I'll get educated on it but, for the time being, I'll wear the button. I've always supported women in politics."
Leah nodded. "Excellent. There's going to be a few debates between now and the election, at the town hall... Have you been here long enough to know where that is?"
Jaime smiled. "Not really. But I think I'll be able to find it."
Leah hesitated. The campaign was going to be going full-swing until November, and she couldn't afford the time to start any kind of meaningful relationship. Still, if she didn't have something to take her mind off the election from time to time she might go crazy.
"Listen, if you ever need someone to show you around town, like where to eat or... just to show you the sights... I'd be happy to lend my services."
Jaime had been watching her daughter, but she turned to look at Leah as if gauging her question. Finally she said, "The campaign won't keep you busy?"
"Not every single night. I'm bound to have some time free. I-if you wanted. I mean, sometimes part of the pleasure of moving to a new town is exploring it on your own, and--"
"I'd love a tour. Or even just a dinner. I think it would be lovely. Thank you, Ms. Kincaid."
"It's Leah."
Jaime nodded. "And you can call me Jaime. But it's 'Ms. Morgan.'" She smiled. "Just so you know."
Leah smiled and ducked her chin, too shy to believe what had just happened. She watched as the kids swarmed the field, while Nadine ascended back onto her platform and took a seat. Near the entrance, Patricia and Jill were speaking with a pair of supporters who promised Patricia their vote, while Kate hurried back to the parking lot for another trip to Coffee Table Books.
At the Gail's stand, Molly pushed the plastic bunny nose up onto her forehead and scratched the side of her real nose frantically. Shane watched her, stifled a laugh, and started to say something.
"If you say I look cute again, I swear I'll kick you right in your cottontail."
Shane laughed, and so did the people waiting in line for their lemonade. Shane sighed. Any mockery Shane doled out today was keep Molly too angry to be truly embarrassed. She was grateful for that. Once they got home and doffed the ridiculous outfits, she would show Shane just how much she appreciated it. She put the nose back into place, poured a glass of lemonade, and handed it out the window to the next customer in line. She faked a smile and a chirpy voice.
"Happy Easter!"
May 13, 2012
Mama's Girl
Butler Photography was always closed on Sundays, but Tamara Butler tended to go in just to make sure everything was ready for the start of the week. The morning light through the front windows was enough to see by, so she left the lights off as she checked orders and made sure all the prints were ready to be picked up. Once everything was in order, she left through the back door, tugged on the knob to make sure it was locked, and slipped the keys into her pocket as she walked down the narrow alley to the street.
Her eye caught on the building across from the studio she and her husband had run for nearly thirty years. It had always been there, but she'd never paid much attention to it until a few years ago. Tamara crossed the street and stood in front of the building's glass entrance. No one was on-duty at the receptionist desk, but she knew it was open. A sign hung in the building's front window, next to the glass door, identified it as KELF RADIO - 1220 AM.
She wondered how many times she had walked past that sign without even noticing it. She didn't like classic rock even when it was just rock, so she hadn't listened to the station before Nadine started working as a disc-jockey. She hadn't particularly liked the idea; who wanted their little girl to grow up to be a DJ, of all things? But Nadine loved the work, so Tamara supported her. And then the whole... situation... a few years ago, when Nadine had truly shown what she was made of... well, now Tamara looked at the radio station with pride. She was even starting to enjoy the music. The Beatles weren't exactly the best band she'd ever heard in her entire life, but they were passable.
She took the long way around the block, going down the pedestrian side street where tourists rarely ventured. She passed Coffee Table Books, their front doors open to accommodate the swelling line of customers waiting to be served. A sign in the window proclaimed that "MOTHERS EAT FREE! Fathers Pay Double" and Tamara couldn't help but smile. She had never loved Mother's Day until one morning about thirty years earlier when a tiny little girl in braids and pink overalls brought her a handful of Easter candy and stood silently by the bed for Tamara to wake up before she handed it over.
She smiled at the memory. Nadine had always done Mother's Day so right that Tamara almost looked forward to it more than her birthday. Even when they were fighting, if May rolled around they put aside their differences long enough to have lunch together. Usually by the time the meal was over the argument had been settled and they were hugging.
Tamara reached Spring Street and joined the stream of people. Tourists and citizens mingled together, everyone eager to show their mother a wonderful day, and Tamara was reminded of the one afternoon she'd spent in New York. She understood the need for tourists on the island, but that didn't mean she had to like sharing her paradise with them. She went north on First Street, choosing to approach Gail's from the far side rather than risk getting swarmed in the ferry lanes.
The restaurants she passed were all filled to bursting. When she reached the boardwalk, she saw boats in the harbor with people enjoying their meals out on deck. How they managed to eat on a boat without getting seasick was beyond her. As she approached the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Nadine and her wife, she craned her neck and scanned the al fresco dining area and spotted her daughter almost immediately.
Nadine had gotten a haircut since their last meeting; it was cut extremely short on the sides and back, left a little longer and feathered across the bangs. Two tufts of hair hung in front of her ears, and the stems of her glasses disappeared into them. She was sitting at the railing with her back to the harbor. Miranda was seated beside her, close enough that they could have shared a single chair. Her arm was around Nadine's shoulder, and Nadine's right hand was turned up to lace their fingers together.
Tamara stopped and let the other people on the boardwalk swarm past her. She remembered worrying about Nadine during her teen years. While all her friends were pairing up and going out and breaking up and making up, Nadine had stayed in her room and gone out either not at all or in groups. Tamara had tried to prompt her to date, but Nadine didn't show any interest in the idea. When Nadine grew up and seemed to have the same feelings about relationships, Tamara began to fret and form images of her daughter as a spinster.
Now she knew the truth. It had been shocking at first, of course, to discover her daughter was attracted to women. But the revelation had come not long before Miranda entered Nadine's life. Seeing them together... Tamara thought of struggling over a crossword puzzle clue and then having someone tell her the answer. The sudden insight, the "Oh, of course. I should have known that" feeling was how she felt when she saw her daughter with Miranda Powell.
Nadine wasn't dedicated to remaining single. She had just been waiting for the right person to come along. Enter Miranda Powell. Nadine may have had an 'oh, of course' moment of her own.
