Page 23 of July Skies
Christina isn’t a volunteer here, that’s for sure.“Thanks. Is it all right if I head on in? I’ll try not to bother the other guests.”
“You’re always welcome to come and go, Mayor.”
Karen offered one last glance in Sunny’s direction before opening the screen door and heading inside.
It didn’t take her long to find Christina. Or Dahlia, for that matter.
“…If you were to be on camera, I don’t see a reason to change anything about your appearance. We don’t have our own makeup person, but all we really ask is you don’t go too garish, you know?” That was Dahlia’s voice, and it was directed to the teenager sitting across from her at the small table in the study. Perfectly private enough for a clandestine interview, but right in Karen’s line of sight!
Honestly, it was rather insulting.
“M… Mom!” Christina saw Karen before Dahlia did. Yet within two seconds, the pair had gone from discussing their nefarious plans to jerking upright at Karen’s presence. “What are you doing here?”
That shock on her daughter’s face said everything Karen needed to know. “You. Car. Now.” She snapped her fingers and tossed a thumb over her shoulder.
“Mom, let me…”
“I saidnow!”
Christina slipped out of her seat. Back hunched and head down, she rushed out of the study with her metaphorical tail tucked between her legs. That left all of Karen’s attentions for the woman casually sitting in her seat, one leg hooked over the other and her fingers drumming on the table. Any shock Dahlia hosted had now been replaced with mild annoyance. Probably because Karen ruined yet another stunt for the filmmaker.
“Are you out of your mind?” Karen snapped. “She’s aminor,and I definitely did not give either her oryoupermission to…”
Dahlia held up a hand. It shouldn’t have made Karen stop speaking, but how could she continue when she was so coldly interrupted? “Relax. It was an off the record conversation. That bit about makeup was because she wouldn’t stop talking about being ‘in a movie.’ I had to throw her some kind of bone.”
“I don’t want to hear about the bones you’re throwing my underaged daughter.”
Dahlia knitted her brows halfway down her face. “There was nothing untoward going on here, I assure you. Christina offered herself as an interviewee because she heard her friend Leigh Ann didn’t want to do it, and we need a youthful perspective for the film.”
“I don’t care whose daughter you rope into it, but you are not usingmine.”
The slow shake of Dahlia’s head should not have enflamed so much of Karen’s body. Was it attraction? She wasn’t convinced. How could she be attracted to a woman who subverted so many of the rules? Who went out of her way to make people uncomfortable? Who carried such a chip on her shoulder that she was willing to villainize an entire town for who they were?
That only made Karen angrier.
“Look, it’s clear that you don’t like me or my crew.” Dahlia didn’t get up, but she also didn’t bother to look Karen in the eye.What a coward.Or, maybe, Karen was too put out by having to look at the little, curly ringlets dangling over the back of Dahlia’s ear. She had a striking profile, didn’t she? That’s how she weaseled her way into people’s good graces, probably.Probably.“We’re trying to make a documentary here.”
“You’re making a documentary that turns this place into something it isn’t! Now you’re interviewing children because you can’t get adults to talk to you?”
Was that a hearty chuckle Karen heard? Did Dahlia think this wasfunny?“How can you discern my narrative when I don’t have one yet? Everyone in this town is so closed-lip. You’d never guess we were anywhere else in America. You small town people are all the same. Don’t wanna talk about how this whole place is your identity. Doesn’t matter if that identity is logging, making soap, or…” Was she about to say something rude? Something aboutcarpet cleaning?Karen could practically smell it on Dahlia’s breath. Or maybe that was the large glass of lemonade sitting on the table. “Same-sex marriage. Guess what, Mayor? Nobody wants to watch a documentary about a lesbian utopia. Because nobodybuysutopias, especially in this day and age. There’s always a downside to everything. Hey, I’m nottryingto make you all look like racist hicks who pressure their kids to be gay, or whatever you think I’m doing. I’m chasing angles until I get a feel for what will make a compelling story. I don’t care if that story is,‘We moved here ‘cause we’re gay, but it makes us sad we had to leave our old homes.’Nor do I care if it’s,‘It’s great to live in a place where we all come together over sexuality, but humans are humans, and there are other issues that leave things to be desired.’Come the hell on.”
Karen unclenched her fists and took a deep breath. “I don’t pretend to know much about filmmaking, Ms. Granger, but I know a thing or two aboutyou.And I don’t think it’s a good for someone with so much negative bias stemming from her own personal life to be heading this project. I think I speak on behalf of a lot of my citizens of Paradise Valley when I say that.”
Dahlia uncrossed her legs and slowly stood from the table. She was careful to not knock over the glass of lemonade when she faced Karen and said, “The only person who keeps bringing that up is you, Ms. Rath. I’m starting to think that you’re the one with a chip onhershoulder.”
“What are you talking about?”
A snort of mischief fired from Dahlia’s nostrils. “You’re attracted to me, aren’t you? Must really bust your bubbles to know that the woman you liked so much is as critical as she is. You weren’t willing to listen to your daughter’s reasonings for doing this. She was sooo ready to tell me about what a great mom and mayor you are. Apparently, almosteveryoneloves you. Isn’t that nice? Simply beside myself with how much love people have for you.”
“Attracted to you?” Yes, that was the only thing Karen latched onto. “Don’t flatter yourself, Ms. Granger. Not every woman in this town is waiting for the right lady to come along for them to seduce. Nice try with more lovely stereotypes, though.”
“Who is stereotyping anyone? I’m merely calling out what I’ve noticed about you, Mayor. Just because I’m not experienced in the ways of lesbian love doesn’t mean I don’t recognize when a woman is into me.”
Karen gasped. What shocked her more? Dahlia’s bold assertions, or being called out like that? “I beg your pardon…” She fumbled for more words, each one more accusatory than the last. Did Dahlia enjoy the flushed cheeks and the drying lips, though? Karen had worked exceptionally hard on those. Why, it was almost like she barely worked on them at all! “You know what, Ms. Granger? I think it might be best if you simply leave.”
Their gazes locked for a heady moment. Karen had too much experience standing up to bullies in the world of politics to back down now, although that heavy, steady look dancing in Dahlia’s hazel eyes almost felled the mayor where she stood.This is so unfair. I’m kicking out the first person to come to this town who I actually…No. She had to do this. For the good of Paradise Valley and all the lovely – and curmudgeonly – people who lived there.
“Perhaps it is best.” Dahlia only briefly glanced at Karen again as she showed herself out of the room. “I’m sorry things couldn’t have worked out better between us, Karen.”
