Page 74 of Home Town

“On behalf of the Sidney Historical Society I thank you for coming tonight to help celebrate this historic event. By that I’m referring not just to the anniversary of the settlement of Sidney, but also to the enormously generous donation of the actual compass that helped Reverend William Johnston navigate here more than two hundred and fifty years ago. And of course, our founder’s compass was so generously donated by Mrs. Martha Forester. Martha, could you please come to the stage?”

As they all waited for the older woman to slowly make her way, aided by the arm of her grandson, Josie scanned the room. She smiled when she saw Martha’s daughter-in-law frown while whispering to her husband.

Then, as the younger Mrs. Forester broke off her animated conversation with her husband and turned toward the stage herself, Kirk sprang into action as planned, stepping in front of her and shooting Josie a thumbs up behind the daughter-in-law’s back.

During the ensuing confrontation, Kirk was no doubt repeating the fib Josie had supplied him with—that the insurance company for the event had restricted the number of people allowed on the raised stage, for safety reasons, and they unfortunately had reached that limit.

Kirk was still waylaying the irate daughter-in-law when Josie introduced Martha.

The older woman, a showman at heart, took the mic and went on to tell the crowd the complete history of how the compass came to be in her husband’s family and how much it had meant to them over the years.

Magnanimous in the end in spite of the little moral wobble that only a small handful of people knew about, Martha concluded by saying how happy it made her that it now belonged to all the people of Sidney.

As the applause died down, but not the redness in the daughter-in-law’s face, Josie took the microphone again. “Martha, we have a surprise for you.”

Josie gave the signal and the carpenter who’d designed and crafted the wood and glass display case for the compass rolled it forward.

“The founder’s compass will be forever displayed inside this beautiful handcrafted display case within the Sidney Library for everyone to see, enjoy and learn from in perpetuity. You might not be able to read it from here, but that brass plaque reads, “Reverend William Johnston’s compass was generously donated to the people of the town of Sidney, New York by Martha and Ronald Forester.”

Martha’s eyes teared up. “You put my late husband’s name.”

Josie reached out to touch the woman’s arm. “Of course, I did. I think he would approve of your sharing it with future generations. Don’t you?”

She nodded, wiping away a tear.

Josie had to blink away the mist in her own eyes before saying, “Now, let’s get back to the party. And don’t forget, the silent auction is open for bids.” She turned toward the musicians. “Ladies, gentlemen, the floor is yours.”

The string quartet began a rousing classical arrangement of Katy Perry’s Firework. As the younger Mrs. Forester still looked ready to explode the song choice seemed more than appropriate.

Corey in his tux, looking every bit as dashing as Xander had, met Josie at the bottom of the steps, a smile on his lips as he took her into his arms.

Shaking his head, he said, “That was positively evil.”

“Was it?” she asked innocently.

“Yes, but it was also absolutely, positively perfect. You are amazing.”

“Amazingly evil?” she asked.

“Sometimes. It might be one of the things I love best about you.”

“Thank goodness for that.” She smiled. They might make this thing work after all.

They’d better, because she was absolutely positively irrevocably in love with Corey Jacobs. And this time, unlike the last time, he loved her back.

She intended to keep it that way. For the rest of their lives.

Epilogue

Two Years Later

Josie traced a scar on Corey’s chin and said, “I like this. I’m glad it didn’t fade all the way.”

“You like my scar?” he asked on a laugh.

“I do. It adds character.”

“Thanks, I guess.” But there were other parts of his body he’d prefer she handle, other than the scar that remained from the attack that had changed his life.

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