Town Hall

Town Hall Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen

Chapter Thirteen

I felt itchy and irritable, working on my inevitable excuses to leave. I wanted to be there for him, obviously. I wanted to see him, meet the few folks he wanted me to. But I already saw the stack of cars, the people milling around the yard, smashing down wildflowers when he'd made a perfectly nice party space out in the backyard. I was hoping to drop off things, say hello to whoever he wanted me to say hello to, greet whoever I had to, and ignominiously leave again. Able to breathe deep behind my closed door, feeling vaguely guilty and relieved to have escaped.

I went in, feeling hot and crowded, already counting down the conversations I'd have to have before making my exit. My heart swelled against my rib cage though, seeing him laughing, across the whole of his house, seeing him out the sun room door. I walked blindly towards his kitchen, arms overfull with the things he'd asked for, so I could leave them in his kitchen and go to him.

"Let me," someone said, invading my space, taking my Dutch oven from one hand. Sheriff Andy of course. I let him or was unable to stop him anyway, and we moved into the kitchen together.

A few other women were there, so I could keep counting down as I also helped to lay things out, slice things, and put spoons into bowls on the table. I finally managed to break, get around Andy as well and head out into the backyard, so I could say hello to Elijah. He looked up, seeing me immediately in the throng moving both into and out of the house.

"Dusty! Good!" he called. I was liquid, heart-pounding. To be called for and by my first name, and a "good" right after that. How he sounded happy but unsurprised. I went to him, about to explain what I'd brought, or how the kitchen looked.

"Come on, just a few folks," he said aloud and then bending to my ear to be quieter, "I promise." He moved easily in a group in a way I couldn't. He'd make conversation and make people smile but was able to smoothly and politely break away, not get stuck as I'd so often felt stuck. A few of his folks from his previous jobs, his old town.

"My absolute best man, Chuck," he said, introducing me to a man about his age. Chuck laughed.

"You say 'best' and she's going to expect best and how could I deliver?"

I laughed, shaking hands with him, telling him my name. He held on a little longer. I hadn't grabbed his hands with both of mine because I saw I didn't have to play games with him.

"Oh, Dusty!" he said, and I blushed, realizing I'd been talked about. He started tugging me across the yard.

"Come meet my wife, Char. We've been curious."

I was dragged, waving my hand over my shoulder. I had a perfectly lovely, only slightly nosy conversation with his best friends. They did an excellent job giving nothing away while trying to draw me out. They didn't seem suspicious or upset, only deeply curious. They also managed to be discreet. They didn't say anything like "So are you dating?" or "How did you meet?" They'd presumably been slightly debriefed on the situation, but they certainly knew we had feelings for each other. When I was about to disengage Char took my hand again.

"He hasn't stopped talking about you."

I slid my hand from hers but slowly.

"I don't know what to do with that," I said honestly because I knew I could be with her.

"You don't have to do anything. I am only telling you." She smiled and let me move off. I was moving around the backyard now trying to finish mingling when Andy cornered me again.

"He's too old for you," he said, leaning towards me. I blinked up at him, keeping my face smooth.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"