Page 53 of Axe Backwards
The longer the presentation went on, the brighter her expression got. It made her that much more gorgeous. The passion she had for helping people shone through every day. No matter how exhausted and sleep-deprived, no matter how many pallets she’d unloaded that day, she loved what she did.
The mayor eventually had to step in to urge citizens to hold their questions. If the meeting didn’t move on, then we’d never get out of here.
It was impressive, the way she got the room buzzing. This town had been down and out for so long that new events and the promise of tourism dollars motivated everyone to get involved.
Vic dropped into the seat beside me, and instantly, Tess squirmed in Jude’s arms, reaching over me. When my daughter was in the arms of the woman who was quickly becoming her favorite person and mine, she gave her a big, wet kiss on the cheek.
I leaned over and did the same. Maybe it was over-the-top, but I couldn’t contain my pride.
This felt right. Being here with my girls and my town.
I paused. My girls.
Turning my head, I stole a glance at Vic, who was snuggling Tess on her lap while the next people droned on about some boring municipal issue. Tess had her head on Vic’s chest and had a lock of her dark hair tangled in her chubby fingers. Vic was listening while slowly rubbing gentle circles on my baby girl’s back.
It was so natural, so maternal. It made my stomach flip.
After the zoning committee gave its report, Earl launched into an impassioned speech on behalf of a motion to ban motorboats on the lake on Sundays. The public debate got quite heated, and it was voted down.
There were lots of hugs and goodbyes as we made our way to the parking lot. People kept pulling Vic aside to ask questions, some of which she deferred to Cole, who I was learning had recently become the town’s expert on all things festivals and events.
The night air was chilly and clear, but by the time we got to the car, Vic’s face was flushed. As I buckled Tess into her car seat, an overwhelming rush of affection for my fake girlfriend washed over me.
I’d been floating along on a sea of grief and ambivalence for months, but every minute spent with Vic pulled me closer to shore, forcing me to see the vast opportunities in front of me.
She never called me out, but her example alone had my mind spinning. What could I do to help? How could I apply my skills in a way that would benefit the community?
My heart clenched. She was so fucking awesome and didn’t even realize it.
Once I was settled in the driver’s seat, I inhaled deeply and blew the breath out, attempting to compose myself.
Snagging her hand, I gave it a squeeze. “You were incredible in there,” I said softly. “Thanks for letting Tess and me see that side of you.”
She gave me a confused frown. “It’s nothing.”
I shook my head. “It’s not nothing. You are passionate and articulate, and you’re fucking trying to create change in this world.”
“It’s what I do, hotshot. My job is to raise money for the food pantry.”
“Yes, but don’t you see that you’re doing that while lifting up, inspiring, and helping the whole town? Everyone walked out of there buzzing. You just got an entire community to put together a whole weekend’s worth of events in less than a month.”
Grimacing, she shifted in her seat and gave a little shrug. “That’s the power of Lovewell.”
“No,” I said, giving her hand another squeeze. “It’s the power of Victoria Randolph.”
Chapter 17
Victoria
With one more sip of my latte, I shouldered my bag. I had a meeting with Ronnie, the bank manager, to talk about extending the food pantry’s line of credit. As a nonprofit, I didn’t qualify for most small business loans, but I could borrow against the property itself, and at this point, I was researching every option.
It was what Aunt Lou had taught me. Never depend on anything or anyone. Always have backup plans. And backups for your backups. It was the only way to survive in this world.
So while I was chasing the Huxleys, planning the lumberjack competition, trying to recruit more volunteers, and applying for every possible grant, I was also hitting up the bank. Because I was nothing if not determined.
Noah, Tess, and I had gone on a short run today. He’d dropped me off at home to shower, then he’d gone out for a few more miles while Tess snuggled her stuffed Olaf in the jogging stroller and babbled encouragement at him. By the time I’d showered, changed, and mentally prepared, they were at the Caffeinated Moose, with my regular latte waiting for me.
It felt good, having a routine, having people to come home to. Yes, I was working harder than ever, but I was also laughing more, spending more time outside, and having a hell of a lot more fun.
