Page 1 of Love Over Easy

David

From the back of the meeting hall, I lean against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest. Usually these meetings are dull and laborious, but lately, since Kimberly Westmoreland came to town, they’ve been unpredictable and interesting. She alone keeps the meetings on track and productive by shutting down long-winded discussions.

Mayor Young raps on the table with his gavel. “The meeting will now come to order. Kimberly, honey, why don’t you come on up here and start us out with an update.”

All eyes in the room move to the lovely woman as she kisses her boyfriend Bode, stands, and walks to the front. As soon as she gives a nod of greeting to the committee, she takes her place behind the podium. Giving herself a moment to collect her thoughts, she turns her smile to the gathered crowd, but she has a special endearing look for her boyfriend. I still can’t believe Bode is the one Kimberly fell for. I can’t feel bad about that because the two are sickeningly in love. I expect her to start blowing him kisses any moment now. Barf.

Kimberly straightens her notes and says, “Good afternoon, everyone. I have a lot of exciting news to share with you today. First, let me give you a quick update on our internet connections. Dimensions Cable is on the last leg of installation. Within the month, every house and business will have access to the internet.”

She pauses and grins at the burst of applause before continuing. “After much review, the Faire Island Regeneration committee has approved three technology startup companies. Within the year, they will break ground on new facilities. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that with those new businesses come jobs. We project around two to three hundred jobs in all. And I’m happy to tell you that Westmoreland Hotels has broken ground on their new boutique spa and resort on the island. Completion date, according to my brother Cord, is next summer. He anticipates beginning the interview process by spring of next year.”

Applause and excited conversations start immediately after Kimberly’s announcement. Hell, hearing that many job opportunities will be available almost brings tears to my eyes. The mayor raps for order and the crowd quiets.

Kimberly looks down at her notes. “That’s not the only good news we have. We have been advertising on our new social media accounts about the wonderful business opportunities Faire Island offers. We’ve gotten over five thousand applications. As you can imagine, this is going to take time to process. It seems that the incentive packages we’re offering are proving extremely effective. This time next year, Faire Island will once again be a booming town. As you know, Common Grounds, the organic coffee shop, has already opened in the previous Renfrow’s gift store. If you’ve not had a chance to stop by, you should. Jennifer Marsh hand grinds the beans and it’s delicious. Every afternoon between two and four, she offers a coffee of the day at half price. It’s a great way to try new flavors.”

I clap along with the rest of the group, but I have mixed feelings about Kimberly’s update. Having people move to Faire Island is the lifeline we need desperately to become a thriving town once more. I’m just concerned that along with a surge of residents, construction workers, and visitors, will also come an increase in needs for my services. We’ve always been a law-abiding town. It sounds like that could change.

Faire Island has only one law representative—me. I’m basically a one pony show. Sheriff, attorney, judge and jury. We also have a small volunteer fire department, with a fire truck that needs replacing with something from this decade.

These are all growing pains we’ll have to find solutions for if we expect progress and growth.

My radio goes off and I step outside the room to answer. “Hey, Sadie, what’s up?”

“Hey, David. Mrs. Hanson called. She’s hearing noises in her attic again.”

I laugh. When did I become animal control? Last month, Mrs. Hanson had a neighbor’s cat in her attic. “I’m on it. Do you think it’s Pumpkin again?”

The radio clicks for a response. “Could be. She described it as someone walking across the attic floor.”

That’s a new one. “I’ll let you know what I find.”

“Roger that,” Sadie replies and signs off.

With the meeting at its end, I might as well get it over with and head to Mrs. Hanson’s. I walk back to the police station and jump in my truck. No fancy police car here, just my old truck. At least Mrs. Hanson always has cookies for me.

She’s waiting for me on the front porch and she greets me as I walk up the steps. “Good day, Sheriff.”

I respectfully pull off my cap. “Hi, Mrs. Hanson. I hear you might have another visitor in the attic?”

She links her arm with mine as we walk inside. “Yes. It was the strangest sound. Now you come right in I just made a fresh batch of your favorite cookies.”

As it turns out, Mrs. Hanson’s son, who had been the little league coach years ago, had stored a box of baseballs in the attic. The side of the box split open, probably from age, and balls had fallen to the floor producing the “walking” sound. Mystery solved. Balls that are now in the back of my truck to donate to the thrift shop and a box of oatmeal raisin cookies are in the passenger seat. Minus two.

I would have donated the baseballs to the school or community sports teams, but we don’t have any of those any longer.

Thirty minutes later, I’m back in my office where I plan to spend the rest of the day doing never-ending paperwork. When I graduated from law school, this had not been the plan for my career. I planned on working in a law firm in Raleigh for a few years before going out on my own.

Then my dad died unexpectedly. He’d been the only law the island had for over thirty years. I felt it was my responsibility to move back home to look after my mom and hang up my shingle in my dad’s old office.

How I became sheriff still leaves me scratching my head. I suppose being the only one even remotely qualified resulted in my election after seventy-five year-old Warren Wright died. Warren held the position of sheriff for more than forty years. He didn’t have a law degree, and I’m not really sure if he even had any previous police experience.

I’m content in my many positions, but do I see myself doing the same thing ten years down the road? Hell, no.

Just as I’m closing down my new computer, Sadie sticks her head in my office door. “I’m clocking out now, boss.”

Sadie, who looks a lot like Kerry Washington in Scandal, is an islander who also had lofty plans of going into hotel management, but ended up back on the island when she married her childhood sweetheart, Griffin Price. She’s been a lifesaver, working as my assistant, dispatcher, and sometimes even crossing guard when the ferry has a large shipment to unload.

“Thanks, Sadie. See ya tomorrow.”

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