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Aria gasps and brings a hand to her mouth.
“It’s not like they’re dead,” I offer in a whisper to her, surprised at her reaction. “At least, I don’t think so.” My head whips up to Liz.
“Dead? Carl and Amanda?” Marjorie asks. “Oh no. They’re very much alive.”
“We only wish they were dead.” A man’s voice deadpans behind me.
“Now, Sheldon. That’s not nice of you to say,” Marjorie says.
“What? We’re all thinking it, right?” he shoots back.
A low murmur snakes its way around the room.
Liz clears her throat. “Regardless of our personal opinions about their actions, we have a job to do. The festival starts in less than a month. We’ve got to do all we can to nip any ill effects from Carl and Amanda’s choices in the bud. We’ve got to keep our focus on the festival itself.”
“And wring their spray-tanned necks later?” Now it’s a woman’s voice, and those sitting next to her laugh.
Liz pulls the lever on her rocker recliner with such force she shoots up and out of it with impressive speed. “We have the dignity of the festival to think of. We won’t be reduced to a scandalous memory.” Her pointer finger punctuates her words. “Wewillsee this through. Without mocking or indulgences.” Her eyes, large and round, twitch, unblinking, as she stares everyone down.
Darrel clears his throat. “Look. Guys.” His gaze goes between Aria and me. “Basically, Carl and Amanda have been ousted because the charity they formed, as an arm of the festival, Shoes and Dues, turned out to not be so charitable.”
The reedy voice of Stewart, the hard of hearing one, has more vinegar than I could have predicted. “They told everyone the money goes to kids’ shoes and to help pay for their involvement in the arts and sports programs. Well, they lied. They’ve kept most of that money for themselves for years.”
“Yeah, Shoes and Dues?” a woman two chairs down from me adds. “More like Poo Poos.”
Another voice pipes up. “Carl and Amanda don’t have a clue!”
“I hope they get the flu!”
I can’t stop a snigger at the impromptu rhymes.
“Okay, okay,” Liz says, holding out her arms. “That’s enough, everybody. It is a bit of a trainwreck, though,” she says to Aria and me. “Since word got out two days ago, we’ve been fielding complaints. Several vendors have pulled their booths from the festival and sponsors are withdrawing. This is serious. It feels like there are people out there grouping us all together—like they’re fixing to cancel culture us! We are not Carl and Amanda and their sorry excuse for a charity!”
“It would be a shame to have the festival negatively affected by this,” I agree.
“It’s not okay for everyone to assume the festival had anything to do with that,” Aria says.
“Which is why it’s all-hands-on-deck,” Marjorie joins Liz. “Our community has to band together. If the festival—” she swallows, and her bottom lip trembles, “—can’t overcome the negative press, the outrage—well, we have to do all we can to make sure the festival goes on.”
“We’ve been in touch with Santa’s Helpers,” Darrel says. “A charity that’s near and dear to many people around here. Partnering with them instead could do a lot for our public image.”
Liz steps closer to our recliners. “Aria, we’ve loved the graphic design and branding work you’ve done for us. We appreciate you volunteering your talents and precious time to help turn this around. I know with your skills we can spin this back in our favor. And your age is a bonus too. If you couldn’t tell, we’re all getting on in age.”
“Did she say we’re getting on in age?” Stewart asks the person next to him. When they nod, he grumbles, “Ah, speak for yourself!”
Darrel’s moustache twitches. “We wanted to hand the reins over to someone younger.”
Aria looks confused.
Darrel turns to me. “And Mr. Carter? You were recommended by Allen Weatherby as someone who can keep an eye on things, to head off any potential legal dangers we might be getting in as a result of Carl and Amanda’s, uh, poor decisions.” He frowns and shakes his head.
“And look at you!” Now Liz is beaming. “Don’t they look gorgeous together?” There are murmurs of agreement. “I think our decision is perfect. With your professionalism, you can make the whole area forget all about the scandal.”
“Yeah, everyone will be saying ‘Carl and Amanda who?’” Marjorie adds.
“I don’t understand,” Aria says, sitting forward in her chair.
“You two are the new Carl and Amanda!” Liz announces. “The faces of the festival!”
