Page 62 of A Little Twist

Adam

Come to the ball field and you’ll see.

Pocketing my phone, I wave at the bartenders opening the tasting room on my way out the door. At four and a half, Pinky’s old enough for T-ball, but she does like to keep up with her cousin.

By the time I make it into town, a cluster of older residents has formed around the gazebo in the square in front of the courthouse. I park in an empty space across from the Star Parlor, just as Gwen walks out in her usual tarot-reading attire.

Today she’s in a floor-length, black, white, and pink caftan with gold bracelets down her long arms and a scarf tied around her billowy blonde hair. Hesitating, I try to picture her with my wizened old friend with his cowboy boots and cigars.

Her first husband was an escape artist, and as far as I know, Bender’s only talent is spotting a good bourbon, which I care about greatly. Not so sure he’s exciting enough for her.

“My daughter is supposed to be on her honeymoon.” Gwen crosses the street to where I’m standing, surrounding me in the scent of patchouli.

“Looks like they got cabin fever.”

We walk to the gazebo where Aiden is standing with his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face behind Britt. She’s at the head of the small group of residents, and she’s interrogating Drake like it’s headline news.

I glance around, and of course, Piper is right beside her, recording it all on her phone.

“How would a development like this affect property values?” Britt sounds pretty informed.

“I expect they’d go up as the location becomes more desirable.” Drake is ready.

“Which means taxes would go up as well,” she finishes, and the small group emits a collective groan.

Good one, Britt.I don’t say it out loud, because I’m not sure where she’s going with this.

“South Carolina still has some of the lowest property taxes in the nation,” Drake counters. “And any increase would support the schools.”

My eyes narrow. Drake Redford doesn’t live in Eureka, he’s not married, and he doesn’t have any kids. Like he cares about the schools.

I’m about to say as much when Gwen holds up her hand like she’s in class. Her bracelets fall down her arm with a clink. “How much would it increase traffic on Main Street?”

Again, I frown, considering her business is located on Main Street, and it’s possible an increase in traffic might be good for her. Not that she needs it from what I understand.

“We could build access roads around the town square out to the resort. Tourists would be encouraged to walk or bike here and not destroy the existing atmosphere.”

“In this heat?” Terra Belle’s shriekey voice pipes up from behind the gazebo, and I see her approaching with her sister Liberty. “Nobody’s going to walk from that distillery to town. It’s two miles!”

“How much is it going to increase crime in Eureka?” Liberty is as fussy as her sister, and I exhale a laugh.

Those two will shut Drake down pretty fast. Aiden catches my eye, and I lift my chin, pointing across the street in the direction of the ball field. He nods in response, and I leave him to it.

I’m ready to see my daughter and my future wife. Even if it is fake, I like the sound of it. Strolling up to the field, I notice a small, white board attached to the chain-link fence reading,Dreams do come true.

Interesting choice for a baseball field.

“Welp, they’re at it again.” Doug strolls up beside me, nodding at the small sign.

“Looks like I was wrong about it being Madonna. I guess it’s Kevin Costner.”

He wheezes another laugh, slapping the top of his leg. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

“Yes.” I shake my head at how much he likes that joke. “Still, it’s a good clue. Whoever it is loves the 1980s. Maybe he or she is somebody your age.”

“Maybe it’s Drake Reynolds.” Doug nods towards the dispersing crowd. “There’s aField of Dreamsbourbon, and Drake wants to build that big resort to attract all the fans of Stone Cold.”

“I never saw that movie, and the signs predate his plan.”

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