Page 26 of Unspoken Promises

More people pour in filling the space with laughter and humming conversation. Luis and I stuff our faces with nibbles, and I gorge on the artisanal cheese brought here from the Cheese and Wine Shop. Anton never had much cheese around, and this stuff is off-the-charts good.

After some time mingling, Santi is back. I notice Rio has arrived on the scene as well. My God. An exact replica of Enzo in the same place and the same time must have the girls’ mouths all dry. Though these two are identical, including the strong chiseled jaws and scowls. I can’t explain why Enzo is still ten times for attractive to me. Is it the glasses?

The brothers chat for a few minutes then ring a cowbell which clearly indicates we’re supposed to sit at the tables and face the front, where it appears to be Enzo’s job to chair the meeting, because the other brothers sit at a table near him with Julia, and Enzo stands at the front with a whiteboard marker in hand.

“Let’s get Town Hall meeting number one hundred and fifteen started. Welcome to old and new.”

His gaze lands on me, and for some reason his acknowledgment unleashes a net full of butterflies in my belly. He’snot really made eye contact with me much, and even if I’m just an anonymous part of his speech, it’s nice to think he’s sort of introducing me to his neighbors. And family. He’s single-handedly in charge of my destiny here. Maybe that’s why it feels good to even get a simple gaze.

My boss continues, “We only have a couple items on the agenda tonight. One town item and one proposition.”

Enzo describes how there have been pesticides found in a local well and that a new water supply needs to be sorted for those using it. Town folk chime in. Various people talk about how they can help and develop a strategy for sorting the issue. I love what I see around me. Cooperation. People taking an interest in protecting this place they call home. Rio takes the floor for a moment. He’s commanding, a booming presence not just for his rich, deep voice but also in that he just knows his shit.

I can’t believe I might get to stay in a place like this.I have to stay here.I love it already.

It takes about an hour to fully discuss the problem with the well and put together action steps that will keep people safe and also track down the source. About six people take on roles together as a sort of action committee, with Rio and Santi assigned at the helm.

“Let’s follow up on this item at the next Town Hall,” Enzo concludes. “We also have a proposition tonight by Arthur Ernst.”

Enzo takes a seat at his table. He glances over to me again. He doesn’t smile but he holds my gaze long enough for me to imagine he’s checking on me. My heart stops and lands with a thud somewhere between my legs.

How on earth he has this impact on me is unreal. I suppose being attracted to someone you admire is normal, I excuse myself. Half this room probably has the samereaction to him. Look at him, for God’s sake. Perfect skin. I stare at his throat, never before realizing how sexy an Adam’s apple could be. There’s a small amount of shadowy stubble and I wonder how it would feel rasping over my skin if he ravaged my neck…

Penelope leans over; I nearly jump as she drags me out of my fantasy.

She wags her chin toward Arthur who has gone to the front of the room with several rolled-up parchment papers and speaks quietly. “Anyone can bring a proposition. It’s kind of like a chance to ask for help. Like when James, my boss, wanted to get the bookstore started, he came to ask for investment. The Mendezes helped with funding, some people helped do the site work and renovations… we make things come alive together to make the town better.”

I smile from the inside out. Maybe in this town, people give before they take. But by the sound of it, I’m guessing a lot give without taking at all. This isn’t just a town. It’s a community.

Arthur drops a few of his parchments on his way to the front. He’s a frazzled sort of character with hair to match his energy. I guess he’s in his fifties, but he has a deeply tanned skin and sun-squinty wrinkles that make him appear a bit older. It takes him some time to set up, and Penelope tells me more.

“Arthur is, a little…” She hesitates, perhaps not to sway my opinion. “Eccentric.” She takes out her cell and swipes.

Arthur seems ready to present and claps his hands together. “Well, after the success of my last series, fallacy…”

Pen leans over again and says, “You heard fallacy with an F, but it’s Phallasea…” She tips her phone screen toward me so I can see a painting of a squid that looks like a penis.

I swallow a giggle. “Oh. I see.”

She lifts her eyebrows. “He’s very creative. And he always sells out.”

Arthur unfurls his first roll. On it, is a red cat with one paw stretched out, but it has one middle finger and it’s flipping the bird. On the top, there is a title in script—Funky Pussy.

“My new series!” Arthur beams.

There’s an agreeable and supportive murmur in the room.

“The proposition is that I’d like to take this all online somewhere to sell it. But that’s not really my forte. Maybe this time I could do some prints, too?”

It sure must be hard to make a living from a few parchments and five canvases.

The crowd is as spirited as they were about the well. One person offers to take it up to their college in San Francisco and see if they can get prints for him.

Callum raises his hand and offers up one of his officers who is just learning how to set up eCommerce shops. The local coffee house owner offers his walls as “gallery” space. And Arthur glows, receiving this love from the town.

The whole experience of Town Hall makes me all the more desperate to stay in Echo Valley. My gaze wanders back to Enzo. He taps a pen on his boyish lips.

Iwillstay here. And I will stay at GhostEye.

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