Page 24 of Leo
“I noticed.”I sighed.
“And that’s’ what happens when you don’t listen to me,” he muttered, folding his arms and turning his face away from me.
He didn’t talk for the rest of the ride to school.
I was later than I’d planned to be, needing to sign Edward in late then having an impromptu meeting with the principal and Ms.Webb herself, who was turning in the absentee form in the front office while her aide monitored the classroom.Edward had practically shrunk in on himself when he saw her, but didn’t hang back when Ms.Webb told him to hurry to the classroom.His experience with her was disappointing on a lot of levels, not the least of which was because Gaynor Beach was such an accepting town, but, I reminded myself, it was still a town.Not a magical kingdom of perfect understanding and pixie dust where problems were solved with a kind word and a cup of coffee.
I hoped those squirrels were enjoying my dark roast.
* * *
I groaned,flopping into my desk chair.My spare charger wasn’t where I’d left it and I suspected Edward had been rearranging things in my desk, based on the number of sticky notes decorated with bugs and lizards I found tucked in the drawers and on file folders.Glancing at the time on my laptop, I saw it was nearly half past nine, which meant I didn’t have time to dink around looking for the charger or run back to the house to pick up my regular one.
Me: Sorry didn’t get to talk much yesterday.And kind of sorry for the weird convo on Saturday about dicks with mouths.Was that too weird for whatever we’re starting?*blushing face, grimacing face *
Ambrose’s text came just a minute or two later.
Ambrose:I’m glad too.It’s one of the most attractive things about you—the weirdness.*smile emoji, tongue sticking out emoji * Also *eggplant emoji, peach emoji *
Me:I feel like a piece of meat.Do it again *winking emoji *
Me:I just wanted to let you know that, but I left my charger at home so I’ll have my phone off till I can find my spare charger.I didn’t want you to think I was panic-ignoring you.
Ambrose:I appreciate that.
Ambrose:I still think we need to talk this out a bit more though, tbh
The soft chime of the home’s front door opening told me my free time was officially over.
Me:Tonight maybe?I know it’s a school night but maybe you and B can come over for dinner and we can talk a bit while the kids… talk about bugs?
His reply was another laughing emoji and a thumbs up emoji, then a string of them that I assumed must be sexual, but I’d never seen in that particular combination before.Still smiling, I shut off my phone and shoved it into my desk drawer before getting out from behind my desk and making sure my suit and hair were both smoothed down before heading out into the waiting area.
* * *
Willis Dempsey was justas unpleasant outside of a chamber meeting as he’d been during the meeting.“Mr.Dempsey,” I said flatly, stopping short at the sight of him on the waiting room’s sofa.“I have a family arriving shortly.Are you here to arrange services or can we schedule something later?”
Demspey’s oily smile made me want to lock him in the casket show room and walk away.“I just thought I’d stop by to talk with you about some rumors I’ve heard, Mr.Morris.Mostly about how you’re running your business in violation of the chamber of commerce’s terms for membership, and how you’re apparently throwing your name in the hat for my position when we hold board elections next month.”
I never had a good poker face and that was especially obvious when dealing with people like Dempsey.There was no helping the way my nose wrinkled up and my lips twisted into an expression ofwhat the hell.“Mr.Dempsey, in reverse order: I have absolutely zero plans to run for any part of the board, and how I run my business is not anything that board needs to concern itself with.I’m meeting and exceeding all local, state, and federal guidelines for a business like mine and I’m paying my regular membership fee to the chamber so whatever you’re accusing me of is likely a figment of your imagination.”
“You’re not running a charity?”he asked, shaggy brows beetling.His lips pursed in a small smile.I wanted to smack it off his face.
“No,” I said, drawing out the single syllable.“Is this about the family I helped?That’s no one’s business but ours.”
“Word gets around.”He shrugged.“Came to me through the grapevine that you were setting up a charity here, giving away your services and paying for burials out of your own pocket.While many members of the board find that admirable, the bylaws prohibit—”
“Slow down there,” I snapped.“Gaynor Beach is damn near picture perfect in many respects but that doesn’t change the fact we have people in our community that need help.We may not have the huge unhoused situation of San Francisco, or the level of unemployment or underemployment of other cities, but it exists.And I might not be able to fix everything for someone in need, but I’m in a position where I can make an already stressful, awful time a fraction less terrible,” I added.“And something anyone in my position would do if they’re able.Why that family needed assistance is no one’s business but theirs and I can’t help it if someone they shared their relief with decided to be a gossip, but my business is running just as it always has, since my uncle Benson started it.”
He grunted, not believing me from the sound of things.“We’ll have to discuss this at the next meeting.Along with the rumor I heard about Ms.Dennis’ funeral and some offensive cupcakes.”
What the hell… what the hell, what the hell, what the hell…“There were no cupcakes at her funeral.”Not a lie.They’d been gone by then.“Even if there had been, so what?”
“It’s a standard to which we hold our members, Mr.Morris.One I’m quite proud of.Lewd and lascivious businesses should not be part of the Rainbow Chamber of Commerce.We have an image to maintain as a, well, specialty organization.”
Everything felt tip-tilted as I stared at Dempsey, narrowing my eyes as if I could somehow see his point if I only concentrated hard enough.Realization clicked and I nearly gasped.“Are you playing respectability politics, Dempsey?”
He drew up, sniffing as he smoothed his too-wide tie and glared at me over the rim of his glasses.“The Rainbow Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to presenting the LGBTQIA-plus owned businesses in Gaynor Beach in the best possible light.For decades, people have painted people like us as sex-fiends and perverts.Allowing such businesses to be represented by the chamber would only reaffirm those ideas for some people.”
