Page 116 of Holding on to Chaos
She replied to comments and emails, trying not to let her head get too big when one reader compared her totheNora Roberts.
She felt her table jostle and looked up to find Rainbow and Gordon Berkowicz crowding a third chair around it. They settled and stared at her expectantly until she removed her headphones.
“Hello, Berkowiczs,” she said. Gordon was in his usual uniform of dirty, decades-old cargo pants and a t-shirt that fit him a bit better when he graduated high school. Rainbow was in her traditional bank attire in a neat-as-a-pin pantsuit.
“We’re here on official you-know-what business,” Gordon said in a hushed whisper. In the perusal of her pink heart binder, Eva had noted that discussing the Beautification Committee and its business was strictly forbidden in public.
“Shouldn’t we be discussing this in private?” Eva asked, glancing around them at the quiet café.
“Subsection 2C allows for public discussion in the event of an emergency.” Rainbow rattled off what Eva could only assume was B.C. procedural code.
“What’s the emergency?” Her curiosity was piqued.
They shared a glance and Rainbow nodded at Gordon. “We heard about your mother,” he told her.
Dang small towns.
“Yes, my mother broke into my home after blackmailing me for years. No, she did not escape a convent. And I don’t think it’s related to the planetary crossing. Anything else?”
“Well, how are you feeling, dear?” Gordon asked, patting her hand.
“We can only imagine the upheaval this has been for you. And if you feel at any time that you think it’s negatively affecting your abandonment issues, we’re prepared to drop all current projects and focus on you,” Rainbow jumped in.
“All current projects, including picketing Ellery’s wedding?” Eva asked.
“Of course. But only if you feel that this unfortunate run-in with your mother is going to have a detrimental effect on your relationship with Sheriff Cardona,” Rainbow said.
“Yes,” Gordon said. “We were surprised to find you two were getting so serious despite the B.C’s request that you work on yourself first. But that’s young love for you.”
Eva rubbed her eyes and debated just exactly how much she cared for Ellery.Hell.Her little goth pal, a woman who had been nothing but absolutely lovely to her, was getting married. And here was Eva’s chance to ensure her perfect day.
“You know, now that you mention it, I’ve been feeling a little…” she glanced at the two of them. “Unhinged?”
Rainbow slapped Gordon on the shoulder. “We had a feeling,” she said knowingly. “We’ll work out a treatment plan immediately.”
Eva cleared her throat. “And will this treatment beconfidential?” she asked, wondering what further damage Beautification Committee interference would do to her already dingy reputation.
“Of course. Everything we do is confidential,” Rainbow reminded her.
That word did not mean to Blue Moon what it meant to the rest of the world.
They rose and Rainbow patted Eva awkwardly on the shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. We’ll take care of everything. I’ll contact Donovan directly about his role.”
Eva opened her mouth and managed a strangled “Uhhhh?” before they hit the door.
“See you tonight.” Rainbow waved cheerily.
Eva walked herself through her usual coping mechanisms and discarded them immediately. Nope. Keeping this one to herself wasn’t going to do any good.
She dialed Donovan. “How good of a mood did last night put you in?” she asked.
“I’m skipping down the street leaving puppies and rainbows in my wake.”
“Oh good. Because I just did something you’re going to hate.”
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By the time Eva left the café, it was getting dark, and she was worn out. She managed to convince Donovan that going to whatever couples counseling options the Beautification Committee provided would keep them from stink bombing someone’s house and ruining Ellery’s wedding. He wasn’t happy, but she’d promised to fix that too with another stellar apology. That had cheered him up considerably.
