“We want as much of the town involved as possible,” Ms. Delmore continued. “Not only to give back but to come out and have a good time. Some local businesses have already signed up, but there are still several that we would love to have participate, owners who need to hear about what a great opportunity this is to not only give back but also promote their business, etcetera.”
“Do we need volunteers to man some of the booths and help with the actual drives?”
“Yes, and they are the hardest to convince, so be prepared to get creative.”
“Creative is my specialty,” Mia said, her mind already racing with ideas. “Are there booths from last year I can use?”
“The city owns ten but we already have twice that registered. Like I said, the event has really grown since you’ve been gone.”
Mia did some quick calculation. She’d need booths, nothing fancy, but at least twenty more because that was her goal. Thirty different representatives of local businesses to come out.
“What is the budget?” Mia asked, hoping a single booth didn’t cost more than—
“Zero,” Ms. Delmore said. “This whole event is solely based on donations.”
Mia let out a breath. She had an entire town event to plan and no money to do it with. And even if she did have the cash, where the hell would she rent the booths? The nearest party rental store was two towns over. “But,” Ms. Delmore said happily, “the city will pay you for your efforts and time. Three-thousand dollars if this event raises ten-thousand dollars or more.”
Mia’s eyes went wide. Three thousand dollars was a huge amount to her and Kyle. That was a nest egg, a term of tuition for Kyle, or rent for three months!
“And, if this event goes well, I’ll take the notion to the board to hire you for a permanent position of Community Event Chair.”
Mia’s mouth hung open. For the first time in, maybe ever, someone was interested in her ideas and in giving her a shot. Ms. Delmore looked at her like she was a capable woman charged with a task that she wouldn’t fail in. And Mia wouldn’t fail. Ms. Delmore, the city, or herself.
“You can count on me, ma’am.” Mia took the packet and stood. “Oh, who are the coordinators I’ll be working with?”
She sat back in her chair and smiled. “Noelle Randall is heading up the hospital’s committee this year.”
Mia smiled. Noelle was Jen’s older sister and a sweet woman.
“Abby McAdams is your contact at the fire station.”
Mia checked the urge to roll her eyes. Abby had been two grades ahead of Mia in school and always gave Mia a hard time. Mostly by cracking jokes at her expense and starting unsettling rumors. Mia had been a virgin until senior year but the way Abby talked about her most people assumed Mia was just as promiscuous.
Abby also had perfectly curled hair and all her sweater sets matched her sensible heels. She was the kind of woman people respected and listened to.
“And over at the Sheriff’s Department you’ll be working with my son, Deputy West.”
Mia’s eyes went wide and she fumbled with the packet, almost dropping it. “But I…he’s your son?” Though Mia grew up in Sweet Hill, she barely paid attention to who Tate was back in the day, let alone his parents. Plus, Mia was pretty sure Ms. Delmore had become council woman in the time Mia had been gone.
“Oh, the last name throws everyone off. I kept my maiden name.”
Mia nodded dumbly. “I see.”
“Great. I trust you will make this an event worth remembering.”
Oh, Mia had no doubt about that. Question was, would she be able to power through three weeks with Tatum West and all the sexually charged testosterone that came with him?
~
“Ever find out who really graffitied the wall last week?” Sheriff Branch asked Tate, looking up from his desk.
“No, but Kyle Blake took responsibility cleaning it up. It’s gone now.”
Branch dropped the paper he was looking at on his desk. “Wasn’t his sister a trouble maker too? Thought they left?”
“Well, they moved back and I don’t think Kyle did it,” Tate said.
He saw the look in the boy’s eyes. Someone was likely giving him a hard time. But he wasn’t about to tell anyone. That much was clear.