Gunns & Roses(60)
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Annie briefly placed a hand over Ansley’s fidgeting one. “How is she doing now?”
“Better, thank you,” Ansley said. “She’s gained some strength and has been home for a week. It was touch-and-go for a while.” She paused for a moment. “I had hoped to respond to your note sooner, but this was the first day I felt comfortable leaving her for the day.”
“Ans was determined too,” Fin inserted. “She was not going to let a bit of fog keep her from coming.” He quirked a smile in her direction. “I wouldn’t have let her come alone today, even if I hadn’t already planned to accompany her on whichever day she was able to come to Stony Point.”
“Well, we’re very glad you did,” said Ian. “Driving a distance in fog like this is dangerous enough when you’re alone. Hopefully, the fog will lift by the time you head back home.”
Annie glanced at the clock on the wall. “Alice should be here soon. Perhaps we should move over to the conference room.”
“Yes, let’s get settled there before the food comes.” Ian stood and escorted his guests out of his office and down the hall to the large room outfitted with a long table surrounded by generously cushioned seats. The mayor had always maintained that town board members could work harder and longer only if they were physically comfortable.
The guests selected chairs across from each other; Annie sat next to Ansley and Ian beside Fin. They had all adjusted their seats and were sitting back when the door opened.
“Hi!” Alice shut the door behind her and approached the table. Settling her smiling blue eyes on the visitors, she said to them, “Thank you for allowing me to crash the party.”
“Alice, this is Ansley Bell,” Ian began the introductions. “Ansley, this is Alice MacFarlane, another lifelong resident of Maine like yourself.”
Ansley extended her hand to the newcomer. “I’m so happy to meet you, Alice. I apologize for interrupting your lunch plans.”
“Oh, please don’t worry,” Alice told her. “I’m thrilled you were able to come, whenever you could.”
Annie briefly informed her friend of the reason for Ansley’s delay in responding to her message.
“What a blessing for you to be near your mother-in-law during her illness.” Empathy shone in Alice’s eyes.
Ian gestured to his right, where the other visitor was seated. “And you will remember Finley Rose, Alice.”
Having been prepared by her phone conversation with Annie, no surprise showed on Alice’s face. She held out her hand to the falconer. “Welcome to Stony Point.” She exaggerated peering around the room. “Did you bring Athena with you?”
A wry, but thankful, grin spread across Fin’s face. “Fear not, she’s at home today.” His face grew more serious, and he asked Alice’s forgiveness for the event outside the food tent at the Highland Games, as he had with Annie and Ian.
“It may surprise you, Fin, but I’ve been known to exhibit impetuous behavior every once in a while,” Alice said, her eyes daring Annie and Ian to laugh. “I certainly forgive you, although I hope we are to learn the full reason behind your decision to use Athena on that Saturday.”
Ansley answered for him. “You will, as soon as lunch arrives so there are no interruptions.”
“It’s a rather long story,” Fin added.
“Just the kind I prefer on a foggy day.” Alice rubbed her hands together in anticipation before turning away to take a seat.
Once she was seated, Ian looked at his long-time friend. “Alice, I ordered you a large coffee with lunch. I hope you don’t mind.”
She cocked her head at him. “Now Mayor, what I would have minded is if you had forced me to drink the Town Hall coffee. That would simply be cruel and unusual punishment.” Aside to Ansley and Fin, Alice added, “Poor Ian, he’s consumed so much of the bad stuff, his taste buds must be permanently crippled.”
“If you have any suggestions for a new coffee vendor, Alice, please feel free to pass on the information to Charlotte,” said Ian. “Just keep in mind the town does run on a budget, and our constituents may not appreciate additional taxes for caffeine fixes.”
“I’ll see what I can find and let Charlotte know. Seeing as she’s a tea woman, it makes sense she wouldn’t know bad coffee from good.” Over the years, Alice had learned how to enjoy the finer things in life on a tight budget. She relished the idea of passing on her hard-won knowledge to the mayor’s secretary.
Three staccato raps thumped at the door, and Ian rose to open it. “Hi, Peggy. Thanks for delivering for us,” he said, spreading the door wide to make room for the waitress and the large box she carried. She hadn’t bothered to cover her pink uniform or her hair for the dash across the street in the fog, and her dark hair glistened faintly like she was wearing a fog hairnet. “Can I take that from you?”