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“Tom told me our band booked a gig for the long weekend,” he continued. “He also told me the gig was booked by the young lady who started working at the bookstore. So, I asked around and heard a story about how you grew up here, but no one’s seen you for years.”
“Oh, that story.” She sighed. “Yeah, I moved away. Big city calling and all that.”
“Don’t worry dear.” He patted her hand on the armrest. “We all make mistakes when we’re young.”
“When exactly do we stop making mistakes?” She grinned.
His lips pursed for a moment. “I suppose we stop making mistakes once we’ve made them all.” He returned her grin.
“I’m so glad you’ll be playing on stage for the fair. Is that a usual gig for you guys?”
“We play every Wednesday night at the Legion Hall, I’ll have you know. But a large outdoor concert will be a new one for us.”
“I can’t wait to hear you. I love bluegrass.”
“Is that so? Is there much bluegrass music in the city?” Forrest asked.
“I’m sure there is somewhere, but I never happened on it.”
“Well, you can’t just happen upon the good stuff there, missy. You have to search for it.”
She sat with him for a few minutes guessing at the prices of items up for grabs on the game show, before excusing herself to return to work.
Pushing through Meadowbrook’s doors into the sunshine outside, she saw an interesting scene on the side of the street. It would’ve caused confusion in any other town, but in Camden it had been a common sight since she was young. Derek’s cruiser was stopped behind a vehicle. The vehicle in question was a ride-on lawn mower and sitting on top of it was an elderly man in a puffy plaid jacket and red tuque stretched down over his shoulder-length gray hair. His grizzled beard didn’t improve upon the scowl on his face. Randy was a Camden legend.
Derek handed the man a ticket, and Randy restarted the lawn mower’s engine then drove away slowly down the street. From the back, Kylie admired the cut of Derek’s uniform. He was always tall and strong, but his shoulders and arms had gotten more muscular. Randy revved his lawn mower’s engine before rounding the next corner, and Derek slapped his ticket pad closed.
“Randy’s still riding that thing?” She startled Derek, and he spun around.
He chuckled and stepped onto the sidewalk.
“Yeah, I finally had to take his license away for good,” he said. “But since you don’t need a license to operate a ride-on mower, he still drives that thing. I feel bad for the guy. He’s getting older, and it’s the only way for him to get around anymore.”
“At least it’s much slower and less destructive than a car, and you can hear him coming,” she said.
“I figure we are all safer this way, but every once in a while, I have to cite him on reckless operation of heavy machinery to remind him to obey the stop signs.”
“I’m honestly surprised he’s still alive.”
“Oh, he’s alive all right and still a troublemaker.”
When she raised a questioning eyebrow, he added, “He likes to come to town hall meetings and heckle. I think it’s his version of going out for a show.”
She snickered. “I guess there isn’t much else for entertainment around here.” She immediately regretted the words as Derek’s face went from warm and friendly to closed off and cold. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“That this town is a hole in the earth?”
“No, I didn’t say that.” Kylie tried to think of a way to make this conversation go better. “It was an unfair thing to say. Toronto isn’t all it’s cracked up to be really. Camden has a lot going for it.”
“Sure.”
“I mean it. People here are generally more friendly and easy to talk to,” she said, noting the irony of how their conversations usually went. “And it’s peaceful. I don’t mean boring, well, it’s different. Each place has its ups and downs.”
He scoffed. “Well please don’t race back to Toronto before the fair happens.”
“I wouldn’t leave you like that.” She threw up her hands. “What exactly is your problem with me, Derek? I’m trying to help you. Yes, I lived in the city for a while. Yes, I liked it. But I don’t deserve this attitude from you.”
He looked down the street and turned back. “Sorry. You’re right. I’m wary of outsiders, is all.”
