Chapter 24
On Monday the following week, I’m woken up by a call from Mr. Ahn.
Through the door I can hear Dad’s side of the conversation.
From what I gather, the items for the public auction have been sorted through, and the rest of our belongings have been placed in a storage unit, waiting to be claimed by us.
“We have to leave now if we want to get to LA and back before it gets late,” Mom announces, standing at the door of our room.
“We have to go too?” I ask. Not that I don’t want to go to LA, but to go collect our old things from a public storage unit like we’ve been evicted from the city dulls the appeal.
“Can’t we just leave it there until we get back?
It’ll be, what? Like a month or two?” Gavin asks groggily.
He was up late again last night, talking to Callie.
He always tries to be discreet, taking the phone under the covers, which muffles his words but doesn’t dampen the giggling. So much giggling.
Dad frowns. “Until I start working my new role at the company, we have to economize. Paying for the storage unit seems unnecessary since we have the time to take care of it now.”
“And we only packed for two weeks. We should move the rest of our belongings—or what’s left of them—here,” Mom adds.
“How are you going to bring it all back on the tractor?” Gavin asks.
More importantly…“How are we going to all fit in the tractor?” I ask.
“I was thinking we could squeeze into the tractor until Bakersfield. From there, we could rent a car to go to LA and back,” Dad says.
Surprisingly, sharing a seat with Gavin isn’t the worst part of Dad’s proposal.
“You want the four of us to ride the two-person tractor to Bakersfield? Why don’t we just wear a sign that says: We’re poor,” I deadpan.
“Besides, that seems like a lot of effort to bring our things back. I’m sure someone can lend you a vehicle.
One that has doors and windows.” I sit up when I remember something.
“Jean has an old truck she uses to deliver flower arrangements. I’m sure she’d lend it to you. ”
“That could work.” Dad considers it. “I remember seeing it. It’s a four-seater, so it can fit us comfortably.”
“But I have plans to go to the town council meeting with Callie. They’re going to discuss what they can do with the beautification funds they’ve earned so far. I can’t miss it.” I’m surprised to hear myself say those words and actually mean them.
“And what about the soil?” Gavin says. “If we’re going to plant soon, it needs to be turned.”
I crane my neck at him. He’s starting to sound like a real farmer.
Mom and Dad exchange wary glances with each other, wondering if we can be trusted while they’re gone for the day.
“Fine,” Dad says.
“But make sure you get along,” Mom warns.
“We will,” Gavin and I promise at the same time.
After getting ready I leave by nine to meet Callie while Gavin stays behind to work on the field.
At first when Callie told me to meet her at the town hall, I couldn’t believe that there were parts of Blaire I still didn’t know about.
It’s been weeks since we arrived here. I’m sure I’ve walked the entire length of Blaire and back at least a hundred times by now.
Then, when she told me where the town hall was located, I realized I passed by it all the time.
It’s wedged between the convenience store and the observatory in a one-story stand-alone building.
The unremarkable features and the building’s bland color make it blend into the backdrop of the tall grass, which is why I’ve never noticed it before.
I would have missed it today, too, if it weren’t for the steady stream of people headed in that direction.
At the foot of the building, Callie spots me and makes her way over.
“Hey, you made it.” She smiles brightly.
“And apparently so did everyone else,” I say, looking around.
“If there’s one good thing about living in Blaire, it’s that we can count on one another…to not have plans.” Callie and I laugh. “Let’s go up front to get a good seat.”
While we walk to the front row, we spot Jean, Dr. Blaire, and both of Callie’s parents. We wave to them, and they wave back. Callie’s mom mouths, You got this, while her dad pounds his chest with his hand and points at her confidently.
“Wow, your parents are super supportive,” I say with a hint of envy.
“Yeah, they’re the best.” She smiles back at them, then finds a seat in the front row. “Make sure to save a seat for Supernova.” She points to the empty seat on the other side of me. Brennan appears as she says this.
“Hey, this seat taken?”
“It is now,” I say, peering up at Brennan through my lashes.
“Thanks,” he says, and waves to Callie. She waves back.
“I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say in a not-unwelcoming way.
“Wouldn’t miss it. You know me. If there’s a way I can help, I’m there.” Brennan’s smile widens. “I’m glad to see you here, lending a hand,” he says, genuinely pleased.
“Me too,” I say, matching his sincerity.
I may have faked it the first time we met, but I’m starting to realize that charity, the kind I have to roll up my sleeves for, is actually growing on me.
When he’s not looking, I wipe my mouth for drool, because damn.
I’d forgotten how good-looking he is. His smile that lights up his whole face.
The cute dimples on his cheeks. And were his eyes always this blue?
The light reflects off them, creating literal twinkles in his eyes.
Now that I’ve helped Gavin in the relationship department, maybe I can focus on myself.
Mayor Beecham calls the meeting to order and introduces the members of the council, who present today’s agenda.
When it’s time to discuss how to allocate the beautification funds, the floor is open to suggestions on what should be prioritized.
Callie gets up first and suggests making improvements on the outside of the convenience store, arguing that, since it’s the sole provider of our most basic needs, repairing it will improve much more than the store.
I couldn’t agree more. I’d say a facelift on the town’s most frequented place of business is long overdue.
I steal quick glances over at Brennan, hoping to catch his eye, but his stare never wavers.
He’s mesmerized by Callie. And I can’t tell if his expression is one of particular interest or general awe.
Because Callie’s managed to captivate everyone with her proposal.
Her suggestion isn’t just the best one of the day; it’s the only one.
So the council votes unanimously to allocate half of the beautification funds to restore the facade of the convenience store.
In support of her proposal, about twenty volunteers, including me and Brennan, offer to help with the labor.
With that many volunteers, it won’t only cut down the cost; it’ll ensure the job will be completed in a timely manner.
After the motion is passed, the meeting comes to a close. On their way out, a bunch of people come up to congratulate Callie: Mayor Beecham and his wife, Callie’s parents, and Jean, to name a few.
“That was amazing, Callie,” I say once I have the chance.
“You should seriously consider a career in politics. You won by a landslide,” Brennan says.
“It helps to not have any competition.” Callie laughs, and Brennan and I laugh with her.
With the volunteers gathered around, we decide to head to the convenience store to assess the damage.
That way we can get a head start on purchasing the materials we need to start working as early as next Monday.
At the convenience store, we give Hal the news that our petition to fix up the outside of the store was approved, which he’s happy about.
At least I think he is. I may no longer be wary of Hal, but I still can’t tell his happy face from his… not-happy face.
From the outside, Callie surveys the building and jots down which items need to be replaced.
The roof is the most obvious concern. “Repair is not an option, so we’ll need a new roof,” Callie mutters, scribbling on her pad.
Next are the wood panels on the sides. The ones that aren’t as damaged can be patched up, but there are quite a few areas that are rotting or splintered.
They’ll need to be replaced before painting the entire exterior.
After writing it all down, she does a quick calculation and frowns.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“With the amount of materials and tools we’ll need for the roof and siding, we’re already at budget. That doesn’t include the cost of paint.”
“I’ve got some paint.” Hal’s gruff voice startles us. We crane our necks to face him.
“You do?” Callie lights up with hope.
He nods. Then, without further explanation, he disappears behind the store to an outside shed. After unlocking it, he goes in, then comes back a few minutes later with paint cans in hand. To my dismay, the paint we’re presented with gives us little to work with.
“Brown again?” The words escape me before I have a chance to run them through my filter.
The group of volunteers turn their attention to me.
“It’s the same color it’s always been,” Hal says by way of explanation.
“That’s my point. I know the structural stuff is important. But how will anyone know the building’s updated if it looks the same on the outside? If we’re going to improve the place, we should, you know, improve the place.”
“But that’s going to cost money. Should we ask the town council to use the rest of the funds for paint?” Callie suggests uncertainly.
I’m as conflicted as Callie is. Completely depleting the funds for one project when many other places are in just as dire need as the convenience store makes overall progress seem hopeless.
“I have all kinds of paint in the back,” Hal offers.
“What colors?” I raise a skeptical brow.
Hal grunts. “What color are you thinking?”