Page 166 of Story of My Life
Hazel and Zoey were building a salad and watching the chaos with glasses of wine from the safety of barstools. I was up to my elbows in ground beef, eggs, and breadcrumbs, which forced me to keep my hands to myself. Something I wasn’t thrilled about.
Mom had taken one look at my face when I’d reappeared from my all-too-brief make-out session with Hazel and reassigned me to meat duty. We’d never figured out how she could take one look at us and know things, but Pep Bishop had elite parenting instincts.
Between the fight with Levi and Hazel disappearing all day, I’d realized there were more important things than the family knowing I was “dating” a client.
But that discussion would have to come later since I was forced to strangle raw meat while Hazel explained what she’d overheard in Dominion.
“They can’t just absorb Story Lake, can they?” Zoey demanded with indignation.
“Technically yes. It’s called annexation. But it wouldn’t be easy. There’d have to be some kind of financial motivation, and the councils on both sides would have to agree. I don’t see that happening,” Gage said as he and Laura peeled potatoes.
“Well, Nina’s obviously got someone from our side in her pocket already,” Mom pointed out as she swung around holding a platter of sweet corn. She stopped short and nearly bobbled the plate as Melvin cut in front of her. “That’s it! Kids, take the dogs outside and go husk the corn.”
My nephews shepherded the dogs to the door, and Isla took the corn.
“Don’t know what you did to that girl, but she sure carries a grudge,” Dad said, clapping me on the back.
Hazel and I locked gazes for a beat.
“Cam dated Nina in high school and for a year or two after,” Mom explained to Hazel helpfully.
“She knows, Mom,” I said in irritation.
“How does Nina think she’s going to force us into annexation?” Levi asked from the table, where he was peeling a small mountain of potatoes.
“For a candidate for chief of police, you’d think you’d be more up-to-date on town secrets,” Gage said.
“The sewer treatment clusterfuck,” Laura explained.
“We don’t have the money,” Dad continued.
“Shit,” Levi said.
“Literally,” Laura said.
“So what do we do?” Zoey asked.
Mom looked pointedly at Hazel, who ducked her head. “No use being shy now. Not when you have a plan to present to the whole town tomorrow.”
Hazel looked like she wanted to throw up in the salad bowl. “Can’t someone else do it? I mean, shouldn’t someone else do it? I’ve only been here for a few weeks.”
“This town needs some fresh ideas,” Dad insisted. “And I’m not just saying that because you’re our biggest client right now.”
“I appreciate that, Frank,” Hazel said wryly.
“What’s the plan, Big City?” Gage asked.
She hesitated. “It’s more of an idea.”
“Revenge,” Laura said gleefully.
“Let’s hear it,” I said.
“So basically we’dbe stealing tourists from Dominion. The ones who aren’t looking for a busy town and drunken speedboat races and partying till dawn.”
“Parents with little kids,” Laura said.
“Retired couples,” Dad said, goosing Mom at the sink as he went for a fresh beer.
