Out of Ideas
OUT OF IDEAS
Amanda: The theater troupe is out.
Jason: The Gaming Guild was no help.
Amanda: I have an idea…
Jason: I’m scared.
Amanda: Hear me out…
Jason: Very scared.
Amanda: What if we hire strippers?
Jason: Strippers running a carnival?
Amanda: I’m sensing judgment.
Jason: Consider yourself judged.
Amanda: I don’t see you coming up with better ideas.
Jason: Stripper carnies are NOT a good idea.
“So this is the Bistro on Maine?”
I gave Evie a deep bow as I opened the door. “I know you’re craving city food.” It was less about a good meal and more about her having a conversation with Simon about the bed-and-breakfast. She remained shaky about the idea, and I thought a talk from one business owner to another would settle her nerves.
“It’s charming,” she said, as if surprised Firefly had more than a grocery store. “ Really charming.”
Dorothy waved her in. “Welcome to Bistro on Maine. Simon’s on fire today. I’m going to recommend the breakfast sandwich. We also have fresh squeezed orange juice. It’s a little pulpy for my taste, but what can you do?”
She guided us to the only empty table. I dropped my backpack to the floor as I took my seat. I knew the town showed up for their own, but I didn’t expect it to be this busy. Gladys and Gloria waved from three tables away. Harvey and Walter moaned while chowing down their meal, loud enough to be unsettling. Almost everybody I knew in town was having a late breakfast today.
“Whatever you suggest, I’m game. But coffee, please.” Staying up late packing with Evie had left me a phantom of a person. “Strong. Like, moose levels strong.” Dorothy shot me a wink before vanishing into the kitchen.
I spotted Sheryl reading the paper. If Laurel walked in, we’d have the entire carnival committee. I prayed they didn’t come up and ask if I had found a solution. I did not. The longer I thought about it, the more I liked Amanda’s idea of strippers. She continued bombarding me with every listing in the state. Who knew there were so many exotic dancers in Maine?
“Coffee.” Dorothy set down two cups of coffee. “Sip slowly. I’m not responsible if your heart races.” She leaned back, eyeing us both. “So you’ll both be having the breakfast sandwich?”
Eggs were calling my name. “I was thinking?—”
“Breakfast sandwich, right?”
Evie raised an eyebrow at Dorothy’s determination. I opened my mouth to object, and she leaned in, making it clear there was no arguing. “Breakfast sandwich sounds great.”
“I would like?—”
“Two breakfast sandwiches coming up.” Dorothy took the menus off the table. “Good choice.”
I smiled at Evie’s confusion. “I don’t think you understand how small towns work. Embrace the madness.”
“That was the most city experience ever. If she had hurled an insult, it’d be just like Boston.” Comparing Firefly to Boston bordered on comical. “She pronounced her R’s, so we know we’re not in Boston.”
“Wait till she speaks in Quebecois.”
“Really?”
I tilted my head. “You came here every summer. Did you learn nothing? What did you do for two months?”
“Made out with boys, mostly. Stole alcohol with Laurel from her dad’s liquor cabinet.” My eyes widened at the confession. “Did you know they grew pot behind the elementary school?”
“Evie!”
She gave a slight shrug. “Who’s more of a native now? ”
My sister took after Mimi more than I imagined. I wondered if Evie had ever drank the whisky from the flask? Or worse, the image of them on the back porch smoking a joint came to mind. No. No. No. I refused to think about my sweet little grandmother… never mind, it wouldn’t shock me if she had.
“Chef will be out in a moment,” Dorothy said as she zipped by our table.
“Oh, good,” I smiled at Evie. “He’ll have great info for you.”
“What do I ask him? What if he?—”
I reached across the table, resting my hand on Evie’s wrist. “Remember who ran that hellhole? You’re a boss. You’ve been ready for this for a long time.”
“Thanks.”
It was barely a minute before the door burst open, and Simon came out holding six plates. I was impressed with his balance as he moved through the tables like a dancer. For a big guy, Simon had moves, and as he reached us, the remaining plates slid down his arm onto the table before he grabbed a seat.
“I hear somebody’s starting a business.” He poked the plate closer to Evie. “Go ahead and eat. I’ll do the talking.”
I didn’t need encouragement. The breakfast sandwich had been the right call. I’d thank Dorothy before entering a food coma. I barely had time to smell the herbs before I bit into the sandwich.
“Here’s the good news. You’d be the only bed-and- breakfast in all of Firefly. I don’t even think Merryville has one. You’ve cornered the market. That’s the easy part. The trick will be maintaining occupancy during slow times.”
I’d compare this sandwich to sex. Amazing. Messy. Delicious. I had barely started on this one, and I already plotted the next time I ordered. I’m pretty sure whatever he put… oh, I tasted the bacon. Cue the orgasm. I was about to melt into a puddle on the floor. They both eyed me as I let out a slight moan.
“Keep talking,” I muttered between chews.
“I only do special event dinners because I wouldn’t have enough customers for it. Firefly is a brunch town. Figure out your high and low seasons, and then, in the low, come up with strategies to hit those minimums.”
I mostly understood. Evie, on the other hand, nodded along in agreement. I hoped whatever he said instilled confidence. While they talked, I’d just drown myself in the sticky goodness of my sandwich.
The front door chimed, and to my delight, Bobby stood at the front of the restaurant, scouring for an empty table. Without thinking, I waved at him, gesturing for him to join us.
Bobby pulled up a seat, and Evie and Simon gave him a wave before they continued talking about partnerships and reaching the broader community. It turned technical. It’d be another minute before their business talk went over my head.
“Are they talking about the bed-and-breakfast?” Bobby asked in a low whisper .
I nodded, swallowing. “Yup. Speaking of, do you think you could come over and help us price out some work?”
“What are you thinking?”
“We have a massive attic, and it’d be good to have extra rooms to rent out.”
“Don’t just think of the Inn,” Simon added. “There are always other opportunities.”
Bobby nodded. “Sure. It might not be cheap, but if you guys help, we might be able to drop the price.”
“How do you mean?” asked Evie.
My raising a hammer would only end in disaster. I could help paint; at least, that was in my skill set. “I’m sure you’re super busy, but?—”
Bobby stole a hash brown off my plate. “It’s what neighbors do.”
Simon chuckled, pulling me back into their conversation. “I’ve started doing cooking classes online. It started with me teaching Jason how to cook, and the internet loved it. It’s become our fun evening activity.”
“Do you want just rooms, or thinking of plumbing as well?”
“We could feature all the small-town things that happen here.” Evie said, getting more excited with every word. “Selling Firefly’s small-town charm wouldn’t be hard.”
“Suites would be great,” I said.
Bobby and Simon grew silent before eyeing one another. What mischief went through their heads as both grinned. The boyfriends were up to no good. I could sense it .
“Are you talking about Valhalla?” Gladys to the rescue. She and Gloria had purses in hand, stopping by our table before they exited. Before anybody could answer, she continued. “I have some bed frames you’d love. Oh, and armoires, they’d be perfect for a small bed-and-breakfast. Consider it a fair exchange for all the treasures you gave me.”
“Why don’t we all sit down and have coffee one night?” Gloria said. “Hazel must still have her kettles. We’ll get a few people together and see how we can help.”
“I’ll bring cupcakes.” Glancing past Gladys, I spotted Patty at a nearby table. This had snowballed.
“Are you having coffee without us?” Harvey asked.
“They don’t need roosters in the hen house,” Walter chimed in.
Evie’s face had grown slack as all conversations in the bistro turned to the bed-and-breakfast. Her eyes darted back and forth until she stared at me. Their goodwill had turned into an overwhelming force of positivity. She feared that she’d start something, and at best, it’d survive; at worse, it’d fail, and we’d be out of a lot of money.
I smiled. Evie had the support of Firefly, and they wouldn’t let one of their own fail. I watched the expression as she transformed from flatlander to local. From here on, Firefly would do everything in its power to ensure she succeeded.
“I’ll text everybody,” I said, taking the heat off her. “I’ll make sure there’s coffee.” Gladys patted me on the shoulder as she and Gloria exited the bistro .
Evie leaned forward, eyeing me and Bobby. “What just happened?”
“Remember how you said your bosses did nothing to support you at work?” Her confusion amused me, and I couldn’t help but snicker.
“You’ll never have to worry about that in Firefly,” Bobby said.
“Now, eat your food before it gets cold,” Simon added. “Let us know when you have details on coffee night. I’ll bring snacks.” He hopped off his chair, and a second later, he vanished into the kitchen.
“I’ll come by later tonight and check out the space. Now I need to see some men about a chicken coup.” Bobby’s attention turned to Harvey and Walter. He slid off his chair before walking to their table. “How’d you break the coup this time?”
We were left alone, and I continued chowing down until I finished my sandwich. As quickly as the brainstorming session started, it ended. I almost laughed at the absurdity. The residents of Firefly would make their voices heard, whether or not Evie wanted it. This is how they showed love, and all eyes were firmly on her.
Meanwhile, I still needed to figure out a solution for the carnival. If they were going to help Evie, I wanted to return the favor. Before we left, I paused at Dorothy’s station, reaching into my bag and pulling out a page from the sketchbook. I admired the image of Simon in his apron at home, focused on the pots and pans on his stove. I flipped it upside down, setting it on the podium before heading out. It was the least I could do for his support.
Now, to find solutions to my dilemma.
Simon: It’s beautiful.
Bobby: I’m getting jealous.
Jason: You? I’ve known him thirty years!
Simon: Have you thought of showing off your art?
Chris: They’re popping up all over town.
Jason: I need me some radical loving.
Simon: Oh… you’ll get plenty tonight.
Bobby:…
Chris:…
Jason:…
Simon: Shut up. You were all thinking it!
Silence.
Silence meant bad. I don’t think in all the years I knew them, they didn't have something to say. Why, of all nights, did Amanda and Jason stare at me as if I had grown another head? Amanda, with her head in Jason’s lap, stared at the ceiling, raising a hand as if she had an idea.
Her hand dropped as she shook her head.
“You don’t have any ideas? You’re killing me.”
I paced back and forth in the living room, the same one where we came up with the idea for the calendar. Raising money to save a library, no problem. Finding manpower to run the carnival only a week away? That was the situation we couldn’t solve?
“It can’t be town people,” Jason said. “What if we got people to work in shifts? I bet they’d be willing to pitch in if that’s what it took to make it happen.”
Amanda shook her head. “I don’t think we have enough people.” She scoffed. “Or the organizational skills. I could call Tessa? I bet she has some carnies in her contacts.”
Jason gave a half-laugh. “You burned your favor with the calendar.”
“I’ll need to blackmail some new favors,” she said.
I stopped to look at the shelves. Evie had gone through the books we pulled from the shelves and started curating the ones she put back. It was the first of many steps to turn Mimi’s house into a bed-and-breakfast. There’d be months of construction in her future, but seeing the book hiding Mimi’s flask made me smile.
“What if I call Merryville? They must have a community service?—”
“I wouldn’t,” Jason said.
Amanda shook her head. “A bunch of us showed up at their Flannel Festival dressed as deer and terrorized their residents.”
I stopped, blinking in disbelief. “You what?”
They both chuckled. Jason gave a slight shrug. “They started it when they showed up at the carnival in sad clown outfits. I’m pretty sure it’s the saddest rivalry in the world. I don’t think they’d help.”
The grandfather clocked chimed eight. I waited for it to finish before I pointed at the end of the couch. Amanda lifted her legs, and I plopped down. She draped her legs across my lap. The three musketeers could save a building, but we could solve the one thing Firefly lacked: manpower.
“I think I know the answer,” Jason said, “but why does this matter so much to you? It’s just a carnival.”
In my complicated rekindling with Tyler, I had never shared our origin story. I couldn’t help but smile. Without fail, whenever I thought of that first kiss, I couldn’t help seeing our adult selves reliving the moment.
“I know that look,” Amanda said.
“Definitely about a boy,” Jason added.
“Do you guys remember the last summer I visited?”
“You mean the summer you ditched us half the time?” Amanda shot me a dirty look. “I still write about it in my journal.” I didn’t doubt her words. Amanda knew how to hold a grudge.
“I met a boy.”
“Knew it,” Jason said.
“Jason, I always envied how easily you came out of the closet.” As I confessed, Amanda reached for my hand, gripping it tightly. “I knew for years, but I wasn’t ready to tell anybody. That last summer, I was sitting at a picnic table reading Great Expectations , and a boy sat down at the table.”
When I closed my eyes, I could see a younger version of Tyler over the top of my book. I thought my interest in him came from wanting to procrastinate reading that darned book. In all my time in Firefly, I don’t think I had ever seen him. My curiosity piqued as to why he had taken a seat across from me.
“I had no idea what was happening. Part of me wanted to get to know him?—”
“But the other half worried he knew your secret.”
Jason’s expression had softened. Everybody on this couch had walked through this process in their own way. They were my friends by choice, but we shared a bond that went even deeper than blood. I didn’t have to explain the excitement clashing with fear. They had lived it.
I nodded. “He’d hunt me down whenever I was in the town center. We’d walk around town talking about school. The first time we went to the quarry, I swore he made excuses to touch me.”
“Wait…” Amanda’s head shot up. “Was it… no…”
“Tyler kissed me at the carnival.”
Her hand threatened to break my knuckles. She gasped, fanning herself with her free hand. Amanda might appear a hard-ass at times, but she was the first person to sit down and watch the Romance Channel with me. At her core, she loved love almost as much as me.
“I was sitting at the same table where we first met. It was my last night in Firefly. I got brave.” My eyes were watering. “I put my hand on his knee and left it there.” That’s when it happened. I could almost feel his lips as he slobbered all over me. “It was the worst kiss ever.”
“That makes it even cuter,” she said.
“I never said anything because?—”
“You don’t have to explain,” Jason said. “I kissed Tony. ”
All eyes turned to Jason. He couldn’t possibly mean the Tony from the calendar? The married man with the adorable kid? I thought Jason had been brave coming out of the closet, but that? I guess we all had little moments we kept secret.
“He politely said he was straight.” Jason cracked a smile. The memory held a spot in his heart. “Then he hugged me.”
“You two are sickeningly cute.”
“Just because we’re not on the prowl?” Jason said.
“Amanda? She’s not on the prowl anymore.”
“What?” Jason gasped. “Say it ain’t so.”
“You can stop talking about me like I’m not here.”
“I witnessed it myself. Our little Amanda is smitten.”
Amanda pointed at me, her lip curled in a snarl. She might think of herself as this cat ready to pounce, but based on what I saw at the photo shoot, she had a secret. If she wasn’t going to share during our revelation, I’d gladly fill in the blanks.
“She might think she’s being coy, hitting on Tessa.” My eyes narrowed at her. “But I caught the casual touching. That wasn’t a move to add her to a list of conquests.”
“I hate you both.”
Jason put a hand over her mouth. “Which one of us will be the best man?”
I laughed. “Forget best man. Which one of us will be the ring bear?”
Her arms crossed over her chest as she pouted. If I wasn’t sure before, her determination to keep it a secret told us everything. They were the first to say that there were no secrets in Firefly. If I were being mean, I’d grab my cell phone and alert the masses.
“So.” Jason turned to me. “The carnival?”
“The carnival,” I repeated. We were no closer to a solution. If we couldn’t tap into the community aspect of Firefly, I wasn’t sure how this was going to work. Yes, I wanted it to happen to relive a big moment with Tyler, but I’m sure there were others who experienced a first kiss under those fireworks. Families brought their kids, and memories were made. I could pretend I wanted to make it happen for selfish reasons, but I wanted to pay back Firefly for all it had done for my family.
“I can still call Tessa,” Amanda said.
“Give me the night. I don’t want to abuse your relationship.”
“What happens between us is anything but abuse.”
Jason snickered as I shot her a dirty look. She shrugged before spinning her legs around and sitting upright. I appreciated the offer. Them , I appreciated them and all they did to support me. The people under this roof were my family.
“Anybody up for a drink at Spectrum?”
Jason shook his head. “Simon’s expecting me. I’m on dad detail tonight while he takes Lucy to the airport.”
“Amanda?”
“Sorry, I have some lingerie and a video call scheduled for tonight.”
I couldn’t blame her .
“I’ll keep brainstorming,” Jason said as he got up. “If anything comes up, I’ll text you.”
Amanda gave me a hug, and a moment later, they were out the door. I let out a long sigh. Being the hero of my own story wasn’t going according to plan. I need to get out of my head, out of this house, and see the problem from a different perspective. A cocktail or two wouldn’t hurt either.
Jon: Evie, gone out. Will be back tonight.