“I think this is all we’re gonna get, Wonder Woman. We’d best prioritize the work that needs doing and see what we can manage with this group.”
Tearing her brain back to the issue at hand she said, “Just wait
a little bit longer.” Even she heard the trace of stubborn desperation in her voice.
“Honey, if you wait any longer, you’re gonna start losing your workforce.” He nodded to where a contingent had broken off and headed toward Sweet Magnolias. “We need to go ahead and get started with what we’ve got.”
Disappointment weighed heavy as she nodded. “Who’s got the bullhorn?”
Norah retrieved it from Liam. Stepping onto the ledge of the fountain, she put on her best cheerleader face as she called out, “Good morning! First off, I want to thank all of y’all for giving up your Saturday to work. We’ve got tons to do and a somewhat smaller group than expected, so it’s important that we prioritize our projects.” Since she’d been so closed-mouthed about her full plan, no one knew exactly how short they truly were on man power except for her co-conspirators, Mitch and Tyler. “The goal of this work weekend is to give downtown Wishful a makeover. We want to clean up and spiff up the area with much-needed curb appeal. In the long-term, we have plans to address each individual business on Main Street, but for today, we’re going to focus on the public spaces, those that will impact everybody.”
She gaged the level of interest and enthusiasm, scanning faces as she spoke. “We’re going to divide you into teams based on skill sets. Those with any sort of construction experience will be working with Mitch Campbell on things like external repairs and awning replacement. Another group will be pressure washing the sidewalks and building exteriors. Others will be on trash pick up. Others on painting, once the buildings dry from their washing. The gardeners among you will be working with Cam Crawford to get trees planted and new planter boxes installed and filled. On the front end, this is all about window dressing, making downtown appealing so people will want to stop in and stay a while. We want to get people in the door. And if, at the end of the day, we’ve still got time, we’ll revisit some of those individual businesses and see what we’re able to accomplish.”
“And how exactly are you going to prioritize those?” called a voice from the back. “Are you the person who will make the decision which businesses are important enough to move to the front of the line?”
Norah peered through the crowd, trying to find the speaker as several folks started nodding. She struggled to maintain a friendly face as she recognized Vick Burgess. Of course he’d show up trying to sow seeds of dissension when they were already low on workers.
“All the businesses will be addressed eventually. What gets dealt with today will depend upon how much time and man power is available once the main public spaces are complete.”
“But how will that be decided?”
She bit down on her temper as she noted more than a few people murmuring in agreement. They didn’t need his brand of bullshit today. She’d pulled these people together and they couldn’t afford to lose a single one. “Given our current turnout, the likelihood that we will make it past the public spaces today is highly unlikely. Speculation on what’s to be done next is a moot point until such a time as we know we have the opportunity to do additional work. Those business owners who are in the greatest hurry are free to come speak to me after work assignments have been passed out. We’ll see what we can work out.”
“Why don’t you just admit you’ve bitten off more than you can chew with this project of yours? It’s pretty cruel to get everybody’s hopes up and then renege on your promises.”
She was going to kill him. Surely nobody would blame her if he turned up floating in Hope Springs. Except it seemed a shame to taint the springs.
“Listen—” Before she could actually give voice to the insult all but choking to get out, someone laid on their car horn. Norah turned to see an aging Grand Cherokee turning onto Main Street. Behind it came a procession of other unfamiliar vehicles. As the Jeep pulled to the curb, a blonde head rose up out of the sun roof, and Norah began to smile.
“Sorry we’re late!” the girl called. “Last night’s formal ran a little later than expected and we had to make a stop to roust out the boys. We didn’t figure you’d mind if we brought some friends.”
“The more the merrier,” Norah shouted, leaping down from her post and crossing to the newcomer. Cam followed, close on her heels.
“Where should we park?”
“Tucker!” Norah called.
He bounded over, taking in the line of idling cars. “Yes’m?”
“Will you direct our volunteers over to Church Street? I’ve already cleared it with First Baptist and First Methodist to use their parking lots.”
The girl dropped back through the sun roof and opened the back passenger door, offering her seat to Tucker. “Hop on in.”
The Jeep pulled away from the curb and led the caravan around the green and off again. Behind her, the townsfolk stared as vehicle after vehicle rolled past.
“Who are all these people?” Cam stared in no little bit of awe.
Norah grinned up at him. “The cavalry.” She turned to introduce him to the bouncy blonde in a pink hoodie with Ole Miss stitched across the front and an anchor embroidered on one side. “Cam, I’d like you to meet Chelsea Patterson, junior marketing major at Ole Miss and current chair of public relations for Delta Gamma.”
Cam shook her hand and offered a confused smile. “I still don’t understand.”
“I was the DG PR chair back when I was at Ole Miss. Part of that job has to do with organizing philanthropic activities. At their heart, sororities are service organizations and members are expected to put in a certain number of service hours each semester. I went up to Oxford on Tuesday to meet with my old chapter to offer up this service opportunity.”
“We weren’t about to turn down a request for help from one of our most distinguished alumnae,” Chelsea said.
“So who exactly were these extras you recruited?”
“Oh, well Lacey—she’s our chapter president,” Chelsea added for Cam’s benefit, “—is dating the president of Sigma Chi, so she talked him into offering up his chapter for slave labor today.”