Page 213 of Banter & Blushes

“Permits, Cal?” He continued down his list without looking at the grant.

“Done. County inspector is going out again tomorrow, but it’s a green light from him after our first meeting. The County is completely on board with the project and will make sure we have additional funding where needed. They’re working on securing two trucks from other locations and will handle the hiring of a crew.”

Raising her hand, Melanie waited patiently to be acknowledged. “And we’ve settled on the name North Shores, right?”

Everyone nodded. “I like it.” Bob smiled.

“Great. As part of the reboot of our town and unveiling of North Shores Station and the proposed townhomes and shops, I’d like to offer my experience in making a new website for the Landings to draw more people in.” Pausing her thought she looked at Bob, “not tons of people, but we need to be appealing to outsiders, maybe summer renters?”

Bob gruffled, “what’s next? Passing out brochures at the rest area on the highway?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” she made a note. “I don’t see why we couldn’t have brochures. Especially after I get the right photos we can use them for whatever works in our best interest.”

Shaking his head back and forth, Elva could tell he was getting upset. “I think we all agree that we need to modernize a smidge but we aren’t putting a for sale sign on the Landings. Right?” She looked at each face around the table. “Everyone agree?”

“Absolutely.”

“Agreed.”

“The Landings are not for sale,” Bob nailed in his point.

“We all agree then. But in promoting this new project, North Shores,” she glanced from her papers to the committee, “I think some publicity isn’t a bad idea. So thank you Melanie for spearheading that campaign for us. If there’s nothing else then I think we are good for at least another week. We’ll meet again next Thursday? And in the meantime, we can set up a visit to the site with the contractor this week?”

Everyone nodded in agreement before standing up to gather their papers and folders.

Jill rocked her shoulder gently into Josephine and giggled. Her blonde bob bounced on her shoulders. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to keep it together,” she teased.

“ME?” Joe smiled back.

“Oh, you two!” Elva stood up, switching to her disapproving voice. “Really?”

Jill and Joe looked at one another and shrugged. “Us?”

“I don’t know what we did.” Joe pulled her oversized sunglasses down on the bridge of her nose. “Maybe your mind is just someplace else.”

Pulling her messenger bag across her chest Jill added, “or maybe with someone else?” She offered withoutanother word she walked out of the community hall giggling to herself all the while.

“So…” Cal paused in the doorway, “what’s up with Mitch, then?”

“I don’t know,” Elva shook her head from side to side,

Whispering loudly in the hall, Jill turned her head toward Cal making her hair bounce at her shoulders. “She obviously likes him.”

Cal turned his head to the side, “likes? Mitch?”

“She gets all smiley when we even mention his name. And he’s so handsome. Rugged.” She shivered as if a chilly breeze blew through her.

“Oh honey,” Joe paused, “once Elva has her mind made up-” she stopped trying to think of the best way to put it. Turning her head to the side, she smiled, “let’s just say sugar wouldn’t stick to ‘er.”

“I have no idea what that means, Miss Joe,” Jill laughed. “If you’re saying she’s stubborn, believe me, I know.”

“That’s exactly right,”

“Well, girls,” Cal laughed, “I have news for you. Mitch is way more stuck in his own ways.”

“We will see about that.”

CHAPTER 4

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