Page 8 of Christmas Home

I should’ve gotten Amos’s number myself, but if I asked now, Corey would pout. He was already upset enough about the circumstances that I didn’t want to upset the applecart more than I already had.

I went to the kitchen, pulled a sparkling water out of the refrigerator, and sat at the counter to drink it. I was about to consider returning to the bedroom for a nap when Corey said Amos and his husband were available to meet.

“Where?” I asked.

“Town hall,” Corey said.

I nodded and left him to do his million phone calls and whatever else he did when I was occupied.

I remembered the old town hall, which, to be honest, looked about as ragged as it had in my childhood.

The old school next to it had been refurbished and was now a public library. The café sat just across the street. I could see the improvements now I didn’t have Corey clouding my vision. Most of the buildings were occupied. There was even construction going on across from where the hotel and condos stood.

Most small towns this size were dead or dying. Crawford City, however, seemed to be moving in the other direction. I had to wonder what was behind that.

I climbed the old stairs to the second floor, where I found Amos sitting across from another man in an office. Amos smiled when he saw me, then stood and opened the door.

“Hi, Rutherford. I’m glad you had time to visit. This is my husband, Emanual. You weren’t sure if you remembered him or not.”

I noticed the frown on his husband’s face and for a brief moment, I wondered if maybe my family or I had said something that offended the man back then. Maybe it was just my imagination because he quickly smiled and shook my hand.

“It’s been a long time since you’ve come to these parts. How does it feel being back?” he asked.

I nodded. “It’s…well, it’s time, I guess.”

I looked up and saw the same man in a painting behind his wide oak desk. It was titled,Mayor of Crawford City.

“You’re the mayor?” I asked. “That’s unexpected, assuming you and Amos are out.”

The mayor smiled. “Crawford City is special, and compared to the rest of the state, it’s rather progressive.”

We spent the next hour catching up. I learned Emanual had been the town doctor until his son took over the practice, then he decided to run for mayor. Amos also had a son, apparently a construction manager here in town, and they were in business together.

It felt like we were long-lost friends, but nothing could be further from the truth. Our lives hadn’t been remotely similar, and had barely even intersected in our youth, but I enjoyed hearing about their lives. Given their prominence in town, maybe I wouldn’t have to deal with bigots while here. That was something, at least.

eight

Clyde

Blast that stupid woman.The same one that showed up late yesterday didn’t show up at all today. Mrs. Cole was hot enough that we could fry eggs on her forehead. I’m guessing my new boss was trying to give the poor soul one last chance but she was, for sure, getting fired after this.

I put my head down and worked at whatever needed doing. By the time the noon hour hit, the kitchen was in full meltdown. Knowing what was needed, I simply handed the bussing equipment to the kid who’d just come in, slipped into the back, washed up, and joined the line cook.

At first, the guy looked at me funny, then nodded. “You do the chicken. Crawford City can put away a lot of fried chicken, and it never does well for us to run out.”

I nodded as I reached for the flouring tub. Mrs. Cole walked in and spotted me tossing battered chicken in the fryer. I almost expected her to complain about me taking the initiative, but a smile crossed her face instead.

Okay, well, I’d done right.

We rushed through lunch, then I joined the kid bussing tables to help clean up the dining room before the dinner crowd hit. Once again, as the crowds increased, I slipped back to the line and helped keep the food coming.

I worked an extra couple of hours before Mrs. Cole sent me packing again. “I don’t have the money to be paying overtime, so you get on back home,” she chastised, but then patted me on the back, letting me know she appreciated my efforts today.

I ate quickly, knowing from experience I was so tired that I’d probably fall asleep standing up, and I hadn’t been wrong. Even though the sun still shone, I knew I had just enough energy to walk back to my motel room and take a shower. Then I’d crash like a lead balloon.

The old motel sat across from a beer joint. I knew to stay away from there. It seemed every man I’d ever dated came out of a place like that, and every man I’d ever dated was about as worthless as a cracked tooth and just as painful.

As I rounded the corner, I ran headlong into someone walking in the opposite direction. “Ouch,” I said, grabbing my head where I’d bumped it after ricocheting off the man’s hard frame.

---