Page 78 of The Oscar Escape
He observed her closely as if he were weighing her character. “When would you like to leave Havenmatch Island?”
Why did that sound so ominous? It was what she wanted, right?
She schooled her features. “The minute the festival ends.”
That would give her a handful of days to prepare for her last concert and do a mad-dash media blitz. This was doable. She could still hit double platinum if she worked her ass off.
The judge popped the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth, then came to his feet. “Delicious! It’s the apple butter that does it for me.” He dusted off his hands. “What do we have to lose? Appeal granted on the condition that you deliver results. If you don’t, you stay an extra week.”
An extra week? She wasn’t expecting that twist, but she’d come too far to back down. And she could do it. With Oscar’s help, they’d make the Love and Lobsters Festival a success.
“Let’s put it to a vote,” Etta said as she thumbed through a stack of papers. “Give me a second to find the sheet.”
“Aria, Oscar, a word,” the judge said, waving them in.
“Do you need me to sign something?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No, it’s your word that counts, but there’s something you need to know about Havenmatch islanders.”
She shared a look with Oscar. “What do we need to know?”
“If you pull this off, these people will love you forever. They’ll always have your back. But if you don’t come through, you won’t want to show your face in these parts again.”
Unwavering, Aria lifted her chin. “Here’s something you need to know about me, Judge Harpswell. I don’t fail. It’s not in my DNA.”
“She doesn’t,” Oscar confirmed.
“All right, then,” the judge replied with the hint of a smile sandwiched between his jowly cheeks. “Now, you’ll need every committee member to agree to your bargain.” He nodded to Etta.
Mrs. Alden held up a clipboard. “Let’s take a vote. The motion is to allow the Elliotts to take charge of promoting Havenmatch Island’s Love and Lobsters Festival. All in favor?”
Hands flew into the air. Even Margo and her husband were in. And then she spotted Del with his hands shoved into his pockets like it would take an act of God to get the man to remove them from their hiding place.
“I’m not saying I oppose,” Del grumped. “But before I vote yes, I need to see if Mrs. Elliott has the grit to get the bugs off the bottom. We’ve all done it. She should be held to the same standard.”
Bugs? What was he talking about?
Aria sharpened her focus on the crotchety old man. “I’ve got grit for miles, Mr. Alden. But I don’t know how cleaning up insects proves that.”
That got a rise out of him. He almost cracked a grin. “Bugs are what we fisherman calllob-stah,” the man shot back, his accent thickening.
“Lobster?”
“That’s right, Mrs. Elliott. Hope you’ve got a strong stomach,” he said and removed a lobster-red rain slicker from a coat stand. He stared out the window toward the sea. “Because she’s on rollers out there today.”
Aria scanned the ocean. It appeared . . .oceany, like oceans look. This had to be some type of test. “What do you want from me, Mr. Alden?”
The man casually picked up a grilled cheese and chomped a colossal bite. He chewed, swallowed, then gestured toward the window with the sandwich. “We’ll let the waters decide your fate.”
God help her. The festival was days away. She didn’t have time for trial by water. She exhaled an audible breath. “Is there some mythical island water god I need to win over?” she sassed back. She couldn’t help it. Yes, Del was worried about the island. But he was also trying her patience.
The old lobsterman barked a laugh. “Something like that, Mrs. Elliott. We’re about to find out what you’re made of.”
“Oh, I’m tough as nails,” she answered with a hefty helping of bring-it-on swagger.
He opened the door to the schoolhouse and gestured for her to pass through. “Like I said, we’ll let the waters decide. If the spirit of Havenmatch Island approves of you, you’ve got my vote.”
Chapter15
