Page 78 of Fresh Old Bounties

How had she heard that? She wasn’t even a shifter!

Or was she? The question was going to keep me up at night.

“The shop keeps me busy, but I’m trying my best to get to know everyone.” I turned to the crowd and produced one of my brightest smiles.

A few chuckles and friendly smiles met my proclamation. From the second row across, Veva gave me a nod of approval.

I gave Sonia a pointed look. See?

Sonia’s right eye twitched, but she moved on. “We need to have these at the printers by Sunday, so please make sure no more changes are needed.” She scanned the attendance and focused on Hutton and Keith. “Garreth the Hound?”

Hutton’s scowl didn’t change. By his side, Keith gave Sonia a thumbs up. “All ready.”

“At least something’s ready,” Sonia muttered, making another note on her paper. “What about the cemetery tours?”

“No,” said Ian, loud and clear from the last row.

Sonia glared at me.

I lifted my hands in a what can you do? gesture.

She lifted a brow in a perfect figure it out arc.

“Working on it,” I mumbled.

“Work harder,” Sonia said, then added to herself something that sounded a lot like, “Since you can’t smarter.”

Someone stood with a question about the banners and flags that were supposed to go across some of the narrower streets. The Tea Cauldron sat opposite a series of private houses with front yards, so no banners for me. But maybe we could do some of the flags? I made a mental note to email Sonia about it later—I was within cane-throwing range, so I didn’t want to chance writing a reminder on my phone.

As Sonia moved on to the next topic, I tried to study the attendees without rousing suspicion, which was hard since I was sitting in the first row. Nobody was paying me undue attention other than the occasional glares from Hutton and the natural curiosity by some of the other business owners who caught me staring at them.

A few points of discussion later, Sonia opened the floor for questions, and I jumped to my feet before Dru attempted to break my ribs again.

“Yes, Avery?” Sonia asked.

“I’d like to make a formal complaint about Tabbies buying the Corner Rose.”

Loud murmurs filled the room, and Sonia clapped her hands to quiet everyone.

“Explain.”

I mentally reviewed the list of cons I’d come up earlier in the day and with Dru during the drive. “I think Old Olmeda should remain in the hands of small business owners. It’s not a place for more big chains—we already have enough of those.”

Assenting murmurs rose behind me.

“Old shops full of history like the Corner Rose deserve a personal touch that simply can’t be achieved by a chain like Tabbies,” I continued. “If we allow them to open, what’s stopping every other big company from also opening a local store? Soon there will be nothing quaint or unique about Olmeda. It’ll look like every other town out there. Visitors will stop coming and our tourist trade will dry up.”

Bosko stood, nodding vigorously. “Lady’s got a point, Sonia.”

His agreement was a bit of a shock, and I hoped it didn’t show on my face.

“Yeah,” said another man. “Don’t want the town to be filled by big conglomerates that only care about the bottom line.” He slammed his chest. “Our shops have heart.”

“Oh, c’mon. It’s just a paper store, not some evil conglomerate,” a woman said. Dru glared at her, no doubt adding her to her personal list of revenge targets. “I’ve met with their guy. He’s a nice boy.”

Keith snorted. “Janet, you think every man below the age of forty is a ‘nice boy.’”

Laughs and snickering spread along the room.

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