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Bidding them goodbye she went in search of Edna, who had ordered a racy romance novel. A nurse directed her, and she found Edna watching a talk show with two other women. All three were crocheting and talking over the show.
“Hello, Edna?” Kylie said.
“Yes, I’m Edna. Hello to you too. What can I do for you?”
“I have your book from Harrington’s.”
“Lovely! Give it here.”
“Um…did you want me to get a bag for it?” Kylie asked. “It’s just that the cover…” The cover was a picture of a scantily clad couple embracing.
“Oh it’s quiet all right, dear.” Edna reached for the book. “Everyone here knows my reading tastes.”
“Everyone here knows everything,” the woman beside her said.
“That’s because you have the biggest mouth I have ever seen, Grace,” the third woman said, and they all tittered.
“Don’t mind them,” Edna said to Kylie. “If I wasn’t here to separate them, they’d be talking each other’s ears off with all of Meadowbrook’s gossip.”
“Is there a lot of gossip here?”
“Deary.” Edna lifted an eyebrow. “We’re stuck here with each other every day. Drama is how we keep things interesting.”
Kylie laughed, and Edna winked at her.
“Thank you for my book, miss…?”
“Kylie.”
“Well Kylie. It’s nice that Sandy has some decent help now. You best get along before you get fired and someone else on the outside learns of my specific reading proclivities.”
The women all giggled again, and Kylie left them to their crocheting.
Later that day, the man Kylie had seen talking to Derek outside of town hall and another vaguely familiar man came in together and sat at a table by the window. While she was fixing lattes and scones for them, she overheard them talking about the water plant business Derek had been so upset about. As they were currently the only customers in the place, she couldn’t help but overhear them.
“I still think public education is the key,” the new man said.
“I agree at this point,” Town Hall Guy said. “But we’re still at a loss on how to educate the public. I’ve spoken with Dr. Aphra, and she’s more than happy to come out and talk to folks about the dangers of the plant, but how do we convince people to come to listen to her?”
Kylie’s mouth opened before she could catch it. “Why don’t you throw a party?”
“Excuse me?” New Guy said, turning to face her.
She gathered her courage and approached their table with their mugs and plates.
“Sorry. I couldn’t help overhearing. You’re talking about getting the town to see your side of the water treatment plant issue, right?” she asked, and they nodded. “Derek told me a little bit about it. The way he explained it made perfect sense to me, but I know you’re up against Bette McDonald. You need people to stop and listen long enough to understand what’s happening so they can pressure the rest of the council, correct?”
They nodded again, so Kylie continued, “In my last job we were always putting together campaigns to raise awareness for issues or to raise money, and hands down the easiest way to get people in the door was to throw a party. Then while people are there having fun, you hit them with the goods.”
“What kind of party do you suggest?” Town Hall Guy asked, clearing his throat.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be a big gala or anything,” Kylie said. “Maybe a barn dance or a barbeque?”
The two men considered her.
“It’s not a bad idea actually,” New Guy said to Town Hall Guy. “We’d have to plan this fast. Thank you, uh…?”
“Kylie.”
