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Chapter 17
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember the Fire Department usually uses water.
I’m feeling thankful for the snowy weather as I throw on a bulky sweater before making my way to the monthly business meeting. Since my belly popped, I know I need to tell the people of Winter Falls about my pregnancy, but I’m not ready. Not ready for all the questions, offers of advice, and million tips about raising a baby.
But mostly, I’m not ready for questions about me and Cole. Are we together? Will he co-parent? Will he relocate to Winter Falls? The only thing I know is he won’t abandon this baby. The rest? Damned if I know. I know what I want, but Cole staying in Winter Falls is a fool’s dream.
As soon as I enter the meeting room in city hall, Ashlyn waves me over to where my sisters are sitting in the front row as usual. She presses a bottle of beer in my hands.
“Today’s word is never.”
“I can’t drink,” I hiss at her.
“It’s non-alcoholic.”
I sigh. “Must you play these childish games at every meeting?”
Ashlyn and Juniper invented a game where they drink every time anyone in the meeting says the word of the day. They claim the meetings needed livening up. As if anything in Winter Falls is ever boring.
“Don’t tell me you’re becoming a stick in the mud.” Ashlyn scrunches her nose. “Do we need to rename you Uptight Number Three?”
Aspen’s Uptight Number One, and Lilac’s Uptight Number Two. It’s obvious why Lilac’s been dubbed uptight – my middle sister wrote the book on being rigidly conventional – but I don’t know why Aspen has.
Juniper offers me some popcorn. “Want some?”
My stomach rumbles at the smell of butter and salt, and I snatch the bucket from her. “Thanks.”
“If we can get this meeting started now,” Forest booms from the front of the room.
“Where’s his gavel?” I ask Ashlyn.
She widens her eyes and rears back. “Why are you asking me?”
I snort. “Don’t come crying to me for bail money.”
“Don’t worry. I have connections with the police department.” She winks.
Aspen reaches across me to slap Ashlyn. “Stop abusing my husband.”
“Still not your husband,” she sings.
Mom and Dad slip into the row behind us. Mom’s hair is in disarray and her lipstick is smeared. No need to ask why they’re late. Rowan and Cole sit next to them, and I wave at Cole because I promised to grow up and stop hiding from him. He winks and my body asks if we can hide somewhere with him.
“As this is our last meeting of the year, it’s time to pick the mayor for next year,” Forest announces, and I return my attention to the meeting before deciding my body has the right idea.
“Pick?” Cole asks.
“We don’t elect a mayor. The mayor is drawn from the names of business owners out of a hat,” Rowan explains.
Aspen crosses all of her fingers and begins to chant as she rocks in her seat with her eyes closed. “Don’t be me. Don’t be me. Don’t be me.”
Lilac rolls her eyes before standing and joining Forest at the front of the room.
“Winter Falls should hire Lilac to be the mayor. She does all the work anyway.” Lilac handles the finances of Winter Falls and is the person everyone goes to when there’s a question about the town charter.
“Shush your mouth,” Ashlyn hisses and slaps my shoulder. “Lilac’s head is big enough already.”
“My head is perfectly proportional to my body,” Lilac answers from the front of the room because Ashlyn can’t whisper to save her life.
