Page 9 of Outspoken Hearts
Walking to my car, I realize I somehow ended up partnered with the committee chair—a man who seems genuinely interested in my ideas, who looked at my portfolio beforehand, and who wants to shake things up.
Tuesday at three. This rebranding might be more interesting than I thought.
Tuesday afternoon finds me arriving at Meadowbrook Brew fifteen minutes early, laptop and portfolio in tow. The coffee shop is busy but not crowded, with a mix of students, remote workers, and people catching up over cappuccinos.
I claim a table by the window, ordering a latte to calm my inexplicable nerves. It's just a work meeting. With the town's most prominent citizen. Who I contradicted within five minutes of meeting him.
Totally normal.
At precisely three o'clock, the door opens and James walks in. Several heads turn—a reaction he seems oblivious to as he scans the room. When he spots me, his professional smile transforms into something warmer, more genuine.
"Eva. Right on time." He slides into the chair opposite me, setting down a leather portfolio that probably costs more than my entire outfit.
"Actually, I was early," I admit. "Chronic punctuality disorder."
"A condition I share." He glances at my half-empty latte. "Mind if I grab a coffee before we dive in?"
"Please do."
While James orders, I take the opportunity to observe him without the pressure of direct interaction. In the casual setting of the coffee shop, he seems slightly more relaxed than at the meeting, though still very much put-together in his button-down shirt and tailored slacks. He chats easily with the barista, who's practically beaming at the attention.
He returns with a simple black coffee. "So, tell me what you've discovered about our little town in your research."
I open my laptop. "Well, I did a deep dive into Meadowbrook's history. Did you know the town was almost named Riverdale until someone pointed out there were already three Riverdales in the state?"
He raises an eyebrow. "I did not know that. Where did you find that tidbit?"
"Historical society archives. They've digitized a lot of their records." I turn the screen toward him, showing a scanned newspaper from 1802. "It's actually fascinating how much debate went into the naming. There was a whole faction pushing for 'Adams Settlement' after the founding family."
"My ancestors, actually," James says casually.
I freeze. "Wait—you're descended from the town founders?"
He winces slightly. "Distantly. It's not something I usually mention."
"Because people might expect you to live up to some historical legacy?"
The question slips out before I can censor it, and I immediately regret the presumption. But James looks at me with something like surprise.
"That's... perceptive," he says slowly. "Most people just think it's interesting trivia."
"Sorry. I tend to see connections where others see facts. Occupational hazard of being a designer." I hurriedly change the subject. "Anyway, I've been looking at other town rebrandings for inspiration. The successful ones all capture something authentic and distinctive about the place."
James leans forward, seemingly relieved by the shift in topic. "What stands out to you about Meadowbrook? As a newcomer, what's distinctive?"
I consider this. "The river, obviously. But it's more than that—it's how the town has grown around the river rather than trying to contain it. The way the parks and paths follow its natural flow."
"Like the town respects the landscape rather than imposing on it?"
"Exactly!" I pull up some photos I've taken. "And these historic buildings downtown—they've been maintained but not sterilized. They have character, little quirks. The crooked weathervane on the clocktower. The mismatched bricks on the library where they did repairs after the flood of 1923."
James watches me with an intensity that would be unnerving if it didn't feel so...appreciative. Like he's genuinely interested in my observations.
"What else?" he prompts.
"The people," I say without thinking. "Everyone knows everyone. When I go to the farmers' market, the apple guy remembers I like Honeycrisps. The barista here knows my order. It's connected without being intrusive."
"Mostly," James says with a small smile.
