Cornbread & Crossroads

by Bella Falls

  Lee popped out of his seat. “I’d like to join you and your people in your search. I figure it’s not a big secret that some of you may be having issues with your spell phones as well.”

  Alma Lewis waved her hand in the air a few rows in front of us. “I was able to use mine perfectly when out of town, but the moment I returned home, there have been consistent issues.”

  “Yes, my team and I are aware,” Lee admitted. “So far, the only people affected are just us. Right here in Honeysuckle.”

  Murmurs of discontent morphed into loud shouts of disbelief and frustration until the residents’ concern filled the entire hall. Aunt Nora did her best to gain control with formal requests to quiet down, but everybody ignored her in their panic.

  Flint waited with steady patience. It took a few more minutes for others to notice his silence and quiet down.

  “Is there anything else worthy to report?” the gnome asked.

  Henry stood up and placed his hand over his heart. “I for one want to say that living here in Honeysuckle Hollow with all of you fine folk is a true privilege. Even with a few problems, this is still the best place to live.” He turned and smiled at everyone around him before settling in his seat again.

  I pointed my finger and muttered to my friends. “There. That should be reported. My assistant has been kidnapped and replaced with a pod person.”

  Flint narrowed his eyes in confusion at Henry’s proclamation but asked for any additional information. Other than more confirmations of spell phone problems, nobody else added anything noteworthy.

  Aunt Nora banged her hand on the table in indignation. “Enough!” she roared. “This meeting will come to order right now!”

  The audience participation in the discussion died down at the insistence of my aunt’s shrieks. For once, her collected composure cracked, exposing the raw fury she contained and rarely displayed to anyone. The petty part of me took a little pleasure in her loss of control.

  Clearing her throat, she smoothed a hand over her hair. With a sniff, she kept her focus on the agenda she held in her hands. “That is quite enough rabble-rousing, Mr. Hollyspring.”

  “I think it’s in everyone’s best interest that they are made aware of the issue. If there is a problem with what makes our town safe, then it benefits us to have everyone looking for possible causes and bringing them to me,” Flint defended.

  “If anyone finds a problem, they should bring their concerns to me,” Aunt Nora pushed, tapping her chest with her finger.

  Enough people gasped at her bold claim that it sounded as if the entire room exhaled at the same time. Flint returned to his seat, unable to conceal his scowl.

  Tucker fidgeted in his chair. “I think what she means is that any observations should be reported to any of us on the council. Right, Leonora?” He raised his eyebrows at his mother-in-law, waiting for her to read the room.

  My aunt stopped arguing with the gnome long enough to register the stupefied scrutiny of the audience. She lifted her long, pointed nose in the air and sniffed again. “For now, bring any concerns to any of the council members, as Mr. Hawthorne clarified.”

  I relaxed into the back of my chair, ready for the meeting to be declared over. We waited for any of the council members to dismiss us, but Aunt Nora straightened in her seat with renewed energy.

  “One more thing,” Aunt Nora said, placing her agenda to the side and pasting that fake smile on her lips again. “Since the council recognizes that there are problems in our community, then I think it’s time we address the issue of the high seat.”

  “Oh no, she wouldn’t dare,” I hissed, poking my brother’s shoulder.

  Our aunt continued with more enthusiasm. “With Vivian Goodwin unable to fulfill her duties, I’d like to propose that one of us take over her position.”

  “It isn’t time for an election,” Flint commented.

  “Do you deny that you yourself presented information to our residents that there are power fluctuations in our town’s barriers? Or that the owner of the spell phone company admitted to his product having issues functioning properly?” challenged Aunt Nora.

  The gnome refused to back down. “Those things have been recognized, Nora. But I fear you are overreaching right now. Much like you did with my security team.”

  My aunt’s cheeks flushed with anger. “It is not my fault if you were not prepared to stop any more strangers from entering into our town.”

  “But that’s never been our way,” Flint responded. “We’ve always welcomed any of our kind who sought sanctuary.”

  Aunt Nora stood so she towered over the gnome. “But most of them aren’t our kind. And you failed to add in your report about the newcomers how many have experienced chaos due to their presence. The list of complaints grows almost daily.”

  Although I’d had some issues with Mug, Nug, and Bug, I wouldn’t have reported the incident as an official complaint. Scanning the audience, I wondered who’d been reporting to her.

  Lucky stood. “If one of them was the skirmish at The Rainbow’s End, Deputy Goodwin could tell you that it was much ado about absolutely nothing. A couple of pixies got a little too far into their cups, ’tis all.”

  Aunt Nora grinned like a predator at the leprechaun. “Did they not break some of your property, endangering your other customers?”

  “Pfft,” Lucky dismissed. “There have been worse incidents at The End with far more damage. As the proprietor of me own business, I have the right to decide what is and what isn’t a reportable nuisance. And those pixies have been working off their debt to me in fair trade.” He wiped his hands together twice and held them up in a gesture of no ill will. “Done and done.”

  Matt leaned back in his seat to talk to me. “Okay, you may get to perform your I-told-you-so dance after all. Aunt Nora’s getting out of hand.”

  While I might have been right about our aunt’s disposition, being correct didn’t fix the situation. Most of the room murmured in uncertainty at the chaos Aunt Nora bred by challenging Lucky.

  “Still,” she said, attempting to win back control. “I have heard other examples of problems with the newcomers. Add those difficulties to the other technical issues Mr. Hollyspring brought to light, then I reiterate that someone should be placed in the high seat. At least until things are back to normal.”

  “Or my grandmother returns,” Matt spoke up.

  Startled by my brother’s outburst, Aunt Nora’s arrogant assertion faltered. “Yes, of course. I would gladly step down when Vivi feels up to the task.”

  “Wait,” Flint interjected. “There are three of us capable of taking on the challenge. Why would you automatically take the position?”

  “Because I am the senior council member, having held the position far longer than either my son-in-law or you,” Aunt Nora replied, failing to hide her contempt for the gnome.

  “I’m afraid I must interrupt, madame.” Lady Eveline strode down the aisle toward the stage, her red high heels clicking on the floor. “It is my understanding that the high seat position is one chosen by election. Is that not the case in this situation? Should the residents not have a say who shall lead them in absence of the true leader?”

  The regal vampire stood at the end of our row of seats with a blank expression settled on her face. However, a quick flash of her eyes in my direction alerted me. Perhaps her bold interruption held more significance than a simple objection.

  I’d learned of her relationship with Uncle Tipper while trying to solve his murder. Maybe she had been with him long enough that he’d let a lot of the inner workings of the town’s leadership slip while together.

  Aunt Nora did her best to dismiss the vampire’s claim. “I would say that the state of the safety of our town warrants a quicker decision than to hold an election.”

  “But you called Flint’s report about security rabble-rousin’ and exaggerated the scuffle at my bar,” Lucky said. “You cannae make up your own mind on the degree of trouble.”

 
; My aunt refused to allow the challenge to sway her sudden campaign. “Still, with Vivian unable to be here, things would function better with someone at the helm. Someone with great experience.”

  “Or killer ambition,” I added under my breath.

  The next person who stood in opposition shocked me to my core. Clementine rose from her seat in the front, gaining the attention of every single resident in the hall.

  “Might I suggest that you do not make a decision in haste,” she suggested with a slight tremble to her voice. “And that we reassemble in due time once more information can be gathered and considered fairly.”

  Out of everyone present, my cousin would be the only person who could stop her mother from trying to railroad proper procedure or prevent her from unseating Nana from the high seat. I mentally high-fived her, reminding myself to give her the biggest hug ever after the meeting.

  “I second what my wife proposes,” Tucker agreed, his face relaxing. “There should be more discovery about all the problems brought up tonight, and then if we as a full council deem there to be a true necessity for a leadership change, we can consider an election.”

  Thwarted by her daughter and son-in-law, Aunt Nora had no choice but to acquiesce for fear of losing face in front of the whole town. “Fine. One council member vote for delaying the decision on the high seat. Mr. Hollyspring?”

  “Aye, I agree with Tucker and his fine wife.” Flint stroked his beard in satisfaction.

  My aunt controlled her reactions to the sudden opposition. “So be it. We will adjourn the meeting for now, but please be vigilant and report anything out of the ordinary, violent or otherwise, to the council. And be on the lookout for any future meetings.”

  After her dismissal, Aunt Nora exited the stage with hurried steps, no doubt to nurse her wounded ego. Tucker went to the front of the stage and jumped down to hug his wife. Residents filed out of the rows, many of them busy discussing the proceedings and possible ramifications.

  Lee excused himself with his nose buried in his spell phone and Alison Kate offered her apologies as she followed her husband out of the auditorium.

  Blythe clutched her notebook to her chest and scooted past us. “I’ve got to go make myself available, but I don’t want to miss out on any discussion.”

  “I guess we could all meet at Nana’s?” Despite my grandmother’s condition, it felt right to figure out how to prevent my aunt’s long-awaited coup for power at Nana’s house.

  As Blythe shimmied past me, I let her know my offer to house anyone needing accommodations since Bea moved out.

  “Would you be willing to let Fenwen come to your place? She’s been asking to move out of the Wilkes house, and you two might be a good fit together,” my friend checked.

  I liked the sprite, so I agreed immediately. “Why do you think we’re a good match?”

  Blythe paused as she made it to the end of the row and into the aisle. “Let’s just say you two are kindred spirits. Feisty and willing to fight for what you want.”

  Matt stayed behind after insisting TJ go on without him. He turned around to face us, bewildered. “Well, that almost turned into a disaster.”

  “Thank goodness for Clementine’s bravery,” I crowed with pride, glancing through the thinning crowd to find her. “Lucky and Lady Eveline also deserve some thanks.”

  “I would gladly take your gratitude,” the impeccable vampire said with a slight bow. “But I would much rather speak with you, Mr. Raynor, if you have a moment.”

  Despite the presence of his girlfriend next to him, Lady Eveline’s stunning beauty cracked his rational shell, and he faltered in response. “Please, call me Bennett. Or Ben. Or Mr. Raynor. Whatever you prefer.”

  Lily elbowed him in the stomach, and the slight pain shocked him out of his initial reaction.

  “My apologies for interrupting your conversation with your friends,” the vampire said. “But I fear haste may be necessary, plus I believe that Ms. Charli here can vouch for my assertion based on her knowledge of my relationship with her dearly departed uncle.”

  Without knowing her true purpose, I gave her my silent approval with a slight nod.

  “Many prefer to think of us vampires as an aberration to be ignored rather than the ageless beings we are with long memories,” she started. “I have been a resident far longer than most like to consider, and so they forget that I have experienced much and remember a good deal more.”

  “Is there something from your time living in Honeysuckle that bears relevance to the current predicament of power Charli’s aunt has stirred up?” Ben asked.

  Not a single strand of her hair wavered out of place as she nodded. “Mr. Hawthorne the third attempted to overthrow Tipper from his high seat position more than once. He admitted to me that he should have pushed for Vivian to take over long before he stepped down.”

  “Sounds like Uncle Tipper,” Matt said. “To Charli and me, he was always a jolly old man, but Nana used to speak about him like he’d been a force to be reckoned with.”

  Lady Eveline grinned at the memory of her former intimate acquaintance. “Even to the last, he was exactly that. In my long life, I have not met many to rival him. But let me not stray from my point. Tipper spoke of the necessity to be familiar with the town covenant and laws governing the council. He said he kept a copy of his own to use as a shield against Hollis. He liked to tease me that he possessed the rules of ruling. Our little in-joke based on his assumptions about my past.”

  My curiosity to interrogate her about her life almost distracted me, but I focused on the important details. “Wouldn’t the town covenant signed by the three founders be on file somewhere?”

  Ben grunted in realization. “I think I know where this is going. Jed warned me that some of the original papers that belonged to the town had gone missing. With all of the disarray of him transferring the advocate’s office to me, I wouldn’t know where to start looking.”

  “And this is why I address more than just you, Bennett,” Lady Eveline said, ignoring Lily’s cringe at the use of her boyfriend’s formal name. “Charli, I could never tell if Tipper was being serious or not, especially closer to his demise. But if he did have a copy of papers that might define how the council is run…or not run, in this case…then I suggest you search and find what you can.”

  “If we can get ahold of the covenant, then as town advocate, I can work on the interpretation of it and form a defense against a complete coup should the need arise.” Ben clasped Lily’s hand in his. “All we need to do is find the paperwork.”

  “Good thing Birdy here’s an expert in tracking things down,” Matt added in approval.

  After Uncle Tipper’s murder had been solved and the death curse removed from me, I had gotten his house that I inherited into pretty good shape. However, many bags of hoarded papers and items had been hauled to the dump.

  My stomach dropped. “What if I can’t find what you think Tipper possessed?” I asked the vampire lady.

  “Then a different battle may be brewing,” Eveline replied. “I am not the only non-witch in town who has great reservations should your aunt take the high seat position for her own. Nor am I the only one whose abilities have been underestimated or hidden.”

  Matt crossed his arms. “Not to sound indelicate, but that sounds like a not-so-veiled threat.”

  “Stop being a warden and think about the consequences of Aunt Nora taking over the high seat,” I warned my brother. “She’s right. If we can’t find a legal reason to keep her from reaching what must be her goal, then the future of Honeysuckle Hollow may be in serious jeopardy.”

  Before the vampire took her leave, I touched her arm. “Thanks for the help. And especially for loving Tipper. I wish you two hadn’t needed to keep your relationship a secret.”

  Her fanged smile unnerved me. “Prejudices have run deep despite the facade of acceptance here. But I thank you, child, for your kind words.”

  Although Matt wanted to help me search my home, he pla
ced more importance on going back to Nana’s house. Lily and Lavender agreed to go with him so they could make sure their grandmother didn’t exhaust herself.

  Ben gazed down at me. “Guess the hunt’s up to you and me.”

  “Yep,” I agreed, rubbing my hands together. “As my Uncle Tipper liked to say, it’s time for me to go bird doggin’.”

  Chapter Twelve

  We started our search at the advocate’s office that Ben now ran by himself. Jedidiah Farnsworth had retired and was currently traveling to visit family members outside of Honeysuckle.

  The front of the space maintained a professional appearance for a small-town legal business. Based on my knowledge of Ben’s training, I suspected he could have had his pick of jobs anywhere he wanted, and I thought about my trip with Mason in the bigger city.

  “Did you always know you were coming back here to work?” I asked as he escorted me to the back room filled with rows of filing cabinets.

  With a flourish of his fingers, he unlocked one and pulled out the drawer. “This cabinet and the next has town business in it, at least from what Jed showed me. I would start with these first. And to answer your question, no, I thought when I left here I wouldn’t be coming back.”

  “So why did you?” I pressed.

  Ben took a step back, considering his response before he gave it to me in true advocate fashion. “I know most people think I wasted an opportunity or that I was crazy to come back. But the simple answer is, I missed home. No matter how hard I tried or how well I did in my job, the hole right here,”—he tapped his chest over his heart—“it just never got filled. Not until the night I made the decision to come back.”

  “And now you’re where you want to be? With the person you want to be with?”

  He tilted his head. “Yes, but why are you asking?”

  I thought about Mason and the reason he’d stayed behind. Maybe life in a small town wouldn’t be enough to keep him satisfied. Maybe the happiness we had together wouldn’t be enough.