Chapter 20
PRUDENCE, DOVES & THE HEADMISTRESS
MORE BOOK BANS ON THE HORIZON!
Prudence Fowler has placed the entirety of the Book Nest LGBTQIA stock on sale this month as Banned Books Week is approaching and more challenges to the titles in the town’s library have been registered.
Anonymously, of course. Christian Astor has expressed his frustration as the Library Board is to meet again this week.
“The system is unfair.”
Well, yes, Your Honor, it is. While the Board will be taking up the newly submitted challenges, the town’s councilfolk and the mayor could not be reached for comment.
Watch this space.
—Crow’s Caw
Prudence had heard tell that Paloma Allende was gorgeous. She just didn’t need it thrown in her face quite like that. Or was it in Rhiannon’s?
She watched from afar as the boss of the Astronomy Resort stood way too close to Rhiannon, leaning in slightly, and her mind couldn’t keep from conjuring all the horrible, seductive, awful, sexy things she must be whispering.
She had never been the jealous type. Moreover, what was there to be jealous of? They weren’t anything to each other. A few weeks of amazing sex and taking care of pets and sleeping in the same bed… Ah, heck. Hell even. If any moment deserved a damn curse word, it was this one.
Prudence prided herself on being ever faithful to her own name.
Prudent. Careful. Hadn’t she known? Hadn’t she understood that Rhiannon was on the island like her own proverbial wind, wrecking havoc one minute and gone the next?
Hadn’t Rhiannon herself told her as much?
So why this neediness? Why this clinginess to a woman who, as she herself put it just a few minutes ago, wanted nothing on Dragons?
“Because you’re afraid she wants no one as well as nothing. And you very much want her to want you.”
She whispered the words into her still full champagne flute, unable to hold the sigh and the truth inside.
“I don’t think that fear is entirely warranted. In fact, if I were a betting woman, I’d say it’s not warranted at all, Ms. Fowler.”
A stunning redhead stepped in front of her as if conjured by magic, and Prudence blinked at the suddenness of the appearance.
“Headmistress! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.
” Prudence presented her cheeks for the now customary greeting between them and watched the faint crow’s feet appear under the dual-colored eyes.
The small smile playing at the corners of the full mouth attested to the pleasure seeing Pru had brought the other woman.
And what a woman. Magdalene Nox, resplendent in an Armani skirt suit, sipped from her own flute before reaching out and patting Prudence on the cheek she had just kissed.
“You must not read The Caw these dasy, Ms. Fowler. They always have the scoop on who’s attending what. Also I heard you are consorting with the Devil these days, Ms. Fowler. I was not appraised that she is also a redhead. Warms my little heart.”
The intimacy of the joke in the velvety voice made Prudence relax completely, wanting to stretch like a cat in the sunbeam.
“And I was so sure you’re above all this, Headmistress.”
“Ah, so it is true, then!” Nox gave her an encouraging elbow. “Are congratulations in order? Or is this more of a commiseration? She is beautiful, I’ll give you that. But we redheads do tend to have a bad rep.”
Congratulations or commiseration? Prudence had no idea how to answer that question, certainly not at the moment when Paloma Allende was leaning even closer, speaking directly into Rhiannon’s ear.
“I hope you know that since you came in, said Devil has had eyes only for you, despite being what looks like purposefully accosted by our newest mayoral candidate.”
Prudence turned so quickly her hair almost fell out of its bun.
“Really?”
“Oh, love. Really. Though while your girlfriend has nothing to be afraid of from the corner occupied by the Viridescent lease holder, your father, I’m quite certain, must hold on to his proverbial hat. Allende is something. And she is determined.”
Prudence shrugged, the vise around her chest loosening a touch.
“I’m sure he will be prepared. He is stubborn as well.”
Headmistress Nox threw her a careful look that had Prudence staring back just as cautiously.
“He is indeed very stubborn, Prudence. And some could say a change in the old guard who ran the island for decades might be in order. New times demand new methods, wouldn’t you agree?”
The words were too carefully chosen for Prudence to ignore their significance.
“Are you saying you will be voting for Paloma Allende because she is a newcomer and thus would bring new blood to the island?”
Headmistress Nox straightened, and her smile was kind when she looked at Pru.
“I’m saying that I know exactly what Mayor Fowler brings to the table. He has been doing it for years, and plenty are unhappy with—how did you put it? His stubbornness?”
The Headmistress tsked and took another sip of the sparkling wine.
“Fourteen separate anonymous challenges at Crow’s Nest Library, Ms. Fowler. All eventually leading to removal of books form the shelves. Now ask me how many of those Dragons has received and how many I fought to remain in the school’s library.”
Sadly, Pru knew the answer to that question.
“All of them were challenged, Ms. Fowler. Exactly the same titles. And all of them are still available in my school. A leader leads. Otherwise, he’s an accomplice.
Some might say Crow’s Nest is due a change of menu.
Chefs do tend to become set in their ways, or obstinate, wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Crowhart? ”
Victoria’s cackle was only a touch malicious.
“I’d say you are not going to have any free delivery anymore, Headmistress, if you keep maligning the chefs of this world. Though your mother can have it any time, any place. Make sure you tell her I said so.”
The surprised and perhaps a touch horrified look on Headmistress Nox’s face was comical.
“You did not imply what I think you just implied, Victoria!”
This time there was no doubt of the sheer slyness in Victoria’s cackle. Pru settled in for the show.
“I’m here to serve, Headmistress. But I do so with more eagerness for the gorgeous women.
Kind of like that one.” Victoria motioned with her sharp chin toward the front of the reception area where Rhiannon was still caught in the clutches of Paloma Allende.
“Gorgeous, and lethal in the boardroom. Or so I heard, Headmistress.”
The Headmistress pursed her lips before answering.
“She didn’t make it easy on either the school or the town during the negotiations for the Tower, I’ll give you that. And you have to admit that her ideas for Crow’s Nest are ambitious.”
“More like groundbreaking.” Victoria leaned closer before whispering, “Your father’s cronies are scared shitless of her.
That new golf course? If she wins? They can kiss it goodbye.
She wants to expand the park, and she believes the damn golf course would consume too much water and serve too few people.
That vague museum-schmuseum idea for the history of the island he has been floating about for decades? Will never happen—”
“What’s so wrong with the museum of the town?
” Pru heard herself ask, the shrill not quite hidden in her voice.
No, she wasn’t at all interested in her father’s dealings.
And no, he was no saint. Victoria wasn’t wrong about some of his hangers-on being old cronies, but surely a museum wasn’t a bad idea?
“Nothing.” Headmistress Nox tone was decidedly neutral.
“Depending on what said museum is for. And what it is meant to glorify. After all, to the victor go the spoils, and the side that has the might more often than not makes itself right. And writes the history to suit itself. These people choose what they will display in said museums. What they will glorify. And what will never see the light of day.”
With that she patted Pru on the cheek once more and disappeared into the crowd, the scent of jasmine the only trace of her left behind. Jasmine and secrets, that is.
“What did she mean by it, Victoria?”
“Who knows with her?” Victoria shook her head, but Pru was having none of it.
“A second ago you and her were exactly on the same page. Heck, you were singing from the same note sheet. So what gives?”
Victoria sighed and moved close in once again. But before she could proceed, Rhiannon emerged from the crowd directly in front of them. Her eyes looked tired, the uncharacteristic shadows under them speaking volumes.
“I should’ve known I’d find my aunt gossiping. Do you ever take a break?”
Instead of getting cross, Victoria just tsked and took Rhiannon’s arm.
“It pays to keep your ear to the ground. Otherwise, how will one find out that Paloma Allende is freshly divorced and on the prowl for a new Mrs. Allende?”
Rhiannon’s laughter sounded forced.
“Why are you even talking about her, Victoria? Who cares if she is single or a lesbian?”
“Everyone cares, Rhiannon. Just like when she arrived, everyone cared about Headmistress Nox and her sexuality and marital status.”
Rhiannon made a face.
“Why is nobody calling that woman by her first name?”
Victoria threw a vicious side-eye her way, and Pru had to hide a giggle.
“Would you call Vice President Harris ‘Kamala’ to her face? Secretary Clinton ‘Hillary?’ In public?” When Rhiannon’s eyes widened and she slowly shook her head, Victoria’s voice turned gleeful.
“That’s what I thought. As for Ms. Allende? She is rich, beautiful, invested now in a considerable chunk of the island, and stands as the only viable candidate to run against Jed Fowler. No offense, Prudence.”
Pru wanted to say that she took none, since she wasn’t her father, but something in the way everyone was talking about him here was raising her hackles. She bit her lip and turned away, trying to tune out the chatter.
“And now you’re just upsetting Prudence, aunt.”