Chapter 2
Love Local DM
Adam
Hi! Adam here. Can’t deny I got a really big smile when I saw we matched. I’m new in town, was wondering if you could advise on good coffee?
Me
Hi, Adam! My favorite coffee shop in town is Coffees and Commas. It’s also a bookshop (I noticed you’re a fellow bookworm!).
Adam
Maybe I’ll get lucky and we’ll run into each other there sometime?
Me
There’s a good chance, I’m there most mornings!
Iwoke up the next morning to the sound of Olivia’s morning podcast playing through our kitchen speakers and a box of cereal shaking. My room shared a wall with the kitchen, so I often woke up to the sound of my sister and roommate rummaging around in the apartment kitchen.
I stretched in my bed and so did my cat, Stevie, who had been snoozing on my feet. Stevie was adopted so I wasn’t sure of her breed, but my best guess—and the vet’s—was an American gray shorthair. She was a misty gray, still energetic and playful even at seven years old. She’d found her way to the front steps of my old college apartment. She was a scrappy, hungry little kitten. I’d leave her food. My roommates kept joking, “Lucy and her big ole heart. She’s going to wind up making this kitten her baby.”
Until one day Stevie showed up wounded. I scooped her into my arms and took her to the vet. My roommates were right–I made her my baby. Maybe my heart was too big, but it usually led to good things, like purring kittens.
After breakfast I headed to Coffees and Commas to work, but stopped myself before I walked out the door. What if he was there? I made a quick detour to my room to add a little extra touch to my makeup and fluff my messy, red bun. Just in case.
I held nervous energy while I waited in line, glancing around the coffee shop for Adam. “Hey, it’s one of my favorite customers,” Katie, the coffee shop owner, greeted me with a big smile. “Your usual?”
“Yes, but add one of the blueberry muffins, too,” I said, smiling back at her. Katie had worked here for years before she became the owner. Her presence was as much of the warmth here as the scent of coffee and old books. “How are you and Terrence doing?”
“We’re good. Since the wedding we’ve been planning a big trip to Vancouver so I can see Canada in the summer. Terrence is planning an extensive trip that involves a ferry to Victoria and everything. Now we’re playing phone tag with his family as we sort it all out.” She punched my order in before brushing a strand of her chestnut hair out of her eyes.
“You have to take pictures for me. I’d love to visit Victoria. I remember the photos from Hawaii on your honeymoon. Travel photography must run in your family; you give Gabe a run for his money,” I said as I handed her my debit card.
“Oh, any of my skills have been taught to me by Gabe. He’s always hooking me up with the best tips and gadgets.” She swiped my card and gave it back to me.
I tapped the counter anxiously as I glanced around the coffee shop, just in case.
“Looking for someone?” Katie asked as she set my muffin on a little white plate.
“Not really.” I laughed it off because I couldn’t say, see any hot guys named Adam lately?
I sat down to try and get started on the summer festival. But every little chime from the shop door sent my pulse racing. I kept twisting in my seat to see if it could be Adam. I opened my message thread with him. Should I reach out?
I closed the thread. Focus, Lucy. I started typing away, but then I heard the door chime again. What would I do if it was him?
Should I go to him and introduce myself? What if he asked me to dinner? Should I say yes? What if this was the beginning of something? Something good.
I shook my head at my own thoughts. I’ve only messaged with the man like two times. I needed to dial it back. Still, I let my eyes pop back over to the door.
No one walked in.
My phone rang, waking me from my thoughts. A local number I didn’t recognize.
“Hello,” I answered.
“Hi, is this Lucy Rhodes?” a gruff male voice asked.
“This is her,” I said, distractedly scrolling through my inbox as we spoke.
“Hi, I’m the new city manager here for Sweet River. I’m running our local summer festival this year and I was given your number to reach out to for the information on our sponsors and vendors. Is that right?”
“Um, you’re right that I have the contacts for the festival. I actually have every file for the festival—” I got a sense this guy could be a nuisance to my usual festival workflow. I needed to nip this in the bud right away.
“Oh, great?—”
“Because I run the festival. Are you…Do you know that? Did anyone tell you that part? That’s why I have that information.” I looked away from my laptop, putting my full attention on the call.
“I know you’ve had a hand in running the festival, that’s what I was told. I also know, correct me if I’m wrong, that you’re not a city employee. This is a city event.” His voice sounded as dry as pavement on a summer afternoon.
“I’m a city resident.”
“This festival needs to be run by a city employee.”
“It hasn’t been run by a city employee for over a decade. It’s a festival for the city by the city,” I said the last line cheesier and more emotional than I intended.
“That’s nice and all, but while I’m manager there will be a city employee overseeing the festival. That’s me. I will be overseeing it from now on. These contacts and files need to be overviewed and kept by our offices. I’m calling to ask you to please share them with?—”
“No one in your offices has ever had a problem with me running this festival before.” I snapped my laptop shut angrily. “I think it was seen as a giant favor!” Honestly, they treated my grandma and me like downright heroes for handling the event for them.
“Well, it’s not a favor. It’s an important event that I would like to oversee with an eye on every detail. I also have to say, you don’t actually have every file on the event, as you said before. I have the reports—and based on the reports from the last couple of years, I see a lot of room for improvement. It’s my job to see to those improvements.”
I was standing up now at my little table by the window. “You’ve obviously never attended this festival. You think you can march in here?—”
“Miss Rhodes, I am not intending to insult you,” he cut me off.
“No, you’re just taking over the festival I’ve poured my heart into since I was a little girl!” My voice was getting higher. I could see Katie’s eyebrows shoot up behind the coffee bar.
I grabbed my stuff, too outraged for decorum, and angrily shuffled outside with my arms full and my phone wedged between my shoulder and cheek.
“Okay, I-I think I went about this—” he started to stutter.
“Is Jeff Parks there? He’s been my point of contact the past couple of years and I think he could help straighten this out.”
“Well, I have Jeff’s job now. I’m the new Jeff.” He cleared his throat.
I wanted to scream. Jeff always simply thanked me for my love for the community and the time I devoted. He called me his volunteer of the year. He gave me my budget and let me run the show. He didn’t feel the need to oversee every detail and make it all about the city office instead of the community.
I suddenly felt an onslaught of hot tears. I heard Olivia’s voice from last night warning me against making the festival my life. This was one way to make that happen.
I sat down on a bench outside the coffee shop.
“I’ve done a great job running this festival!” I said, refusing to give up. “I could get a reference from every single vendor and sponsor vouching for me and my grandmother, Clara Rhodes. I bet some of them would?—”
“Okay, listen. I am not kicking you out of this festival, I think there has been some major miscommunication. Can you come to the city offices? Let’s meet in person. Come up with an arrangement.” I could hear him pointedly trying to sound calming. Like he could soothe me out of caring, out of disrupting his workday, out of the festival.
“Okay, I’ll come right now. I’m only a few blocks away,” I said, immediately leaping off the bench.
“Oh, well, actually—” I heard him shuffling some papers.
“Are you busy?” I asked, already walking toward the city offices.
“Well…sort of. I guess, no? Okay, come on over, Miss Rhodes.” For the first time during this call he sounded flustered.
“And you’re, Mr.…”
“Mr. Stevens.”
We’ll come to an arrangement, sure, Mr. Stevens. I rolled my eyes.
This festival meant more to me than some silly reports could ever communicate. Mr. Stevens would realize that when he started looking into the details because my grandmother and I were the details.
Ipushed open the heavy glass doors and weaved through the entryway. I found a map on the wall and saw CITY MANAGER – 311. I found an elevator and headed to the third floor. It was cold. I rubbed my arms, looking down at my black biker shorts and loose, white tee shirt, completely underdressed for a business meeting.
I stepped off the elevator and found a smiling guy at the front desk. I gave a little smile as I walked toward him. His name tag said, Victor Hernandez.
“Hi, I’m here for the city manager,” I said. “I’m Lucy Rhodes.”
“Yes, please hold,” he said, with big, puppy-dog, brown eyes. He picked up a phone and after a click said, “Adam, Lucy Rhodes is here for you.”
Adam? That name keeps popping up lately, I thought. How funny.
Victor then nodded at me saying, “Go right in,” gesturing toward the office open behind him.
I walked into the office to find a very handsome man with curly, dark hair and big blue eyes behind stylish, wiry frames. I recognized those wiry frames. I recognized this man who was definitely pulling them off.
His eyes opened wide in surprise. Oh, maybe he recognized me, too.
I felt speechless. Which was a rarity for me.
Our eyes locked and it made my heartbeat quicken like there was something crackling between us. Like fireworks, but not in a good way.
My eyes dropped to the nameplate on his desk: Adam Stevens. Amazing Adam, as Olivia had said. I spotted the Coffees and Commas to-go cup sitting by a pile of papers. So he had been in today.
Had he looked for me, too?I couldn’t help but wonder.
“Hi,” he finally said. “Miss Rhodes.”
“It’s Lucy Rhodes,” I said, hoping to jolt his memory in case he hadn’t memorized my photos in the way I had his. “I think we have…connected…before.”
He cleared his throat. “Yes, I think so, too.” I should’ve known not to get my hopes up when he identified as a dog person.
“I’m sorry we are meeting like this,” he added, looking at me regretfully.
I nodded. “Your profile says you’re new to town, which would explain why you don’t realize how involved I am with this festival.”
I could see him fight the urge to roll his piercingly blue eyes. My eyes dropped to his jawline. Yep, perfect amount of five o’clock shadow.
“Lucy, I respect your involvement with the summer festival and how much it seems to mean to you. People have informed me that you’re a very committed volunteer.” I snapped my eyes back up to his face. “I am not kicking you off the planning committee. You are welcome to remain a volunteer. See it as a big workload off your shoulders! You can keep busy with the fun parts.”
“Ha,” I let out a sarcastic laugh. “So, you’re not ‘kicking me out’, but you are giving me a huge demotion.”
“I wouldn’t put it like that.” He adjusted his glasses. “Have a seat. I’m sorry. I think I was just caught off guard earlier. I should’ve invited you in.”
I walked over to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. I chose the one on the right and let my bag fall to the ground.
“Are you thirsty?” he asked, loosening the tie around his neck.
“No, thanks. Listen,” I said, getting straight to the point, “my grandmother, Clara, planned this festival every summer for two decades, Mr. Stevens. It was her festival, to be honest. She had the original idea. I was always by her side every summer helping her. Then she left it to me after she passed away and I’ve run it for the last two years. I think I’ve done great work with it. I do it out of love for this city, not because it’s my job. I would like to keep doing it. I think you would quickly see what I bring to it and how no one else could know it quite like I do.” I made my impassioned speech. Please, don’t take this from my grandmother.Please don’t take this from our little legacy. Don’t erase her fingerprints, along with mine, from something that meant so much to us.
His eyes were on me the entire time. I could see by his expression that I had pulled on at least a couple of his heartstrings. He took in a deep breath, weighing his words. “Like I said, you’re not being kicked off the team,” he said slowly.
“I’m asking to keep this in my family. In honor of my grandmother. You won’t regret it. It’s always been this way. It’s a well-oiled machine.” I clasped my hands together in promise.
He nearly winced. “I have to do things differently.”
“Well, to be frank, you’ll be doing them wrong,” I said quickly without thinking.
He blinked at my words, surprised, and said, “Well, to be frank, I disagree.”
“There’s a good reason I did it the last two years. That I think you would realize?—”
“That reason is because Jeff was lazy,” he interjected.
“No, Jeff was just smart enough to know a good thing when he had it.”
“Lucy, I respect that this was your grandmother’s idea and that she was such a passionate volunteer that they let her take the reins. The town has grown and changed, and now the festival must, as well.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“But she left it to me. I could help it grow and change,” I said, though the task sounded daunting. I liked calling the same people and setting up the same booths year after year. It felt as traditional and reassuring as following your grandmother’s apple pie recipe.
“It wasn’t hers to leave to you. She was a passionate city volunteer, but this originated as a city event. It has remained a city event. It is under our umbrella.” He gave a weak smile.
“So, it was her idea, she ran it every year, but you feel fine minimizing her efforts by saying it wasn’t hers?” I was on the edge of my seat, leaning toward him.
“Miss Rhodes, I’m not dismissing her, but it is Sweet River’s Festival, otherwise it would be named Rhodes Summer Festival.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his desk and eyes on me.
I blew past his attempt at a joke. “This is your first year here. Why wouldn’t you wait and see how it’s done before making me a measly volunteer in charge of handing out hot dogs?”
He let out a small laugh. “I had no intention of putting you in the hot dog stand. But I will say, to be blunt, I saw the reports and knew I needed to make some changes to the festival.”
“Why? Why are you so set on changing things?” I threw my hands into the air.
“Because…” He bit his lip and fidgeted with paperwork on his desk. “There’s been a steady decline in fundraising and attendance the past few years. It’s getting smaller and smaller, which is the opposite of our city’s growth. We’re getting bigger, so our event should be getting bigger, too. This festival has so much potential to give back to the city, our small businesses, and schools. I’d like to see it thrive.”
I felt punched in the gut. My cheeks went red. I’ve made the festival…worse?
“You’re not a professional,” he said simply. “No one should’ve expected this job of volunteer.”
They could expect it of Clara Rhodes,I thought bitterly.
“Fine, point made.” I stood up. “I’ll send you everything you need.”
“Miss Rhodes.” He stood up, too. He was taller than me, which wasn’t hard to do at my five foot three, but he had a presence. He was in a button-down with a tie that was hanging loose. “You’re still welcome to volunteer.”
I laughed. “Sure you want the crazy redhead who fought with you on the phone to join the planning team?”
“I think the crazy redhead seems like a total MVP. No doubt you care.” His words were nice, but his tone was overly professional. Like a boss letting you go, but sending you off with a pep talk.
I was too embarrassed to take it any other way. He had just told me that under my “care” the numbers had plummeted.
“You can shoot me an email if you find yourself in a pinch, but as you said, you’re the professional. Hope you can get the numbers up,” I said, my tail between my legs, already regretting things I’d said.
He walked out from behind his desk as I started toward the door. He looked like he had more to say, so I slowed my pace, curious despite my tornado of bad feelings toward this man. He’d taken not only the festival but my pride in a couple of hours.
He opened his mouth as my eyes met his, but then he stopped himself. “I’ll see you around,” he finally said as I walked out the door.
I didn’t say anything back as I walked toward the elevator. I felt his eyes on me.
I sincerely hoped I wouldn’t see him ever again. I wished I hadn’t told him about Coffees and Commas. Now I’d have to fear running into him.
Tears started to stream down my cheeks as the elevator doors closed around me.
One day into summer break and Adam Stevens had already flipped my summer plans upside down. He stole the only semblance of family legacy we had in this town.