Page 80 of Not Home Alone

“I can’t hear you, there’s too much hair in my nose.”

I snort-laugh, because he’s such a goofball, and because I can’t believe how happy I am right now.

“Well, would you look at how busy it is in here!” Terry the mayor is standing by the counter, with his wife.

“Mr. Mayor!” my dad hollers. “It’s been non-stop ever since the story in the paper, I tell you.”

“Glad to hear it, glad to hear it.” Turning his attention to me, he says, “Hello there, Merrily. We actually stopped by to ask for your phone number so I could give you a call.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Mayor?”

“Well, it might be a question of what you can do for Holly Grove… You know, when Grant brought up the idea for a photo op and cross-promotion for my office, local businesses and community involvement, I realized we don’t have anyone who’s—well—doing any of that. And Cindy—the one I’m married to—suggested we create a new position. Community events manager. To make sure that, well, my wife explains it better. Go ahead, honey.”

Cindy steps in to explain, but I’m already in. “Well, they need someone to organize and publicize community events, get local businesses to sponsor and, as you said, create synergy. And the city can get behind them by announcing those cute proclamations.”

“Yes,” I say. “I’ll do it.”

“Really? You’d have to be here, you understand?”

“Yes. I will be here. I’ve decided to move back to Holly Grove. I already have so many ideas! I was already thinking I could direct a Christmas in July production with the community players—theater in the park! And Vinny’s can sponsor pasta-making classes for date nights. Let’s Keep Things Civil can sponsor, well, civil war reenactments at the schools. I mean, I have a lot of ideas, but I can write up some proposals ,and we’ll see what you think.”

“Oh, no. You’re the creative one, my dear. If you have an idea, you run with it. That’s the whole job. As long as the ideas are, you know, super cheap.”

“I’m your girl, sir. Super creative and super cheap!”

When the Smiths leave, my dad rubs my back and says, “You see, buddy? Everything worked out.”

“Yep. You were right.”

I manage to get through an entire run-through of the play, in which I had to stand in for two absentee actors, before I can finally tell Joy my news.

She’s texting back and forth with her boss while I tell her, but unlike my dad, I know she can focus on two things at the same time.

She lowers her phone and looks at me with her mouth open. “Merrily Tucker, you better not be fucking with me right now.”

“Of course I’m not.”

She squeals and grabs my hands, and I squeal too, and we jump up and down.

“I am so excited!” she squeals. “Finally, my prayers have been answered.” She hugs me tight. She’s rarely in one place long enough to hug me, so I savor it. “Ohhhh! Wow. So, are you planning to do a long-distance relationship, then?”

“With Grant?” I say, as we break apart and she starts packing up her gigantic shoulder bag. Lowering my voice, I say, “Oh, it’s okay. He told me. About taking over as CEO.”

“Good,” she says. “But have you guys talked about how things are going to play out with him in New York?”

“You mean when he goes back to finish up at his job and move his things here?”

Joy freezes, widens her eyes, and rubs her lips together. “Umm…”

My heart has been beating so fast ever since last night because I’m so thrilled, but now it’s racing for a very different reason. “What are you talking about?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

She slings her bag over her shoulder and takes my hands in hers. “Oh god. Please don’t hate me. I don’t have time to make new friends.”

“Tell me what about New York, Joy?”