Chapter 28
28
T he sound of laughter and the clinking of glasses filled Capri’s newly built patio as she carried a platter of deviled eggs to the rustic wooden table. The smell of pine and fresh-cut grass hung in the air, mingling with fresh raspberries plucked from her mother’s patch. Capri had to admit, everything looked perfect out here, with the sun filtering through the trees and casting warm, dappled light across the new wooden planks.
Reva, Lila, and Charlie Grace sat around the table, their faces glowing in the soft afternoon sunlight. Capri smiled as she joined them, setting the deviled eggs down on the table, her excitement barely contained.
“Okay, Capri, you’ve been grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary all afternoon,” Lila said, raising an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”
Capri laughed, feeling the excitement bubble up inside her. “I might have some news to share,” she said coyly, picking up one of the eggs and biting into it, savoring the moment.
Reva leaned in, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Spill it, Capri. We’re dying over here.”
Capri met Reva’s gaze, then winked, her lips curling into a secret smile. “Well, you know how we talked about cracked eggs?”
Reva’s eyes widened in realization, and a knowing smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Oh, really?” she teased, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “So, you’ve decided to be okay with a few cracks?”
Capri nodded, uncertainty tightening her chest as the words slipped out. “Jake and I...we’re moving forward. Slowly, but I’m not holding back anymore.”
A chorus of squeals erupted from the table. Lila nearly knocked over her iced tea, and Charlie Grace reached across to grab Capri’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
“Oh my gosh! Capri, this is huge!” Charlie Grace said, her eyes wide with excitement. “I didn’t think you’d admit it, but look at you, all in love!”
Capri blushed. “I wouldn’t go that far. But...I’m giving it an honest shot. Jake...well, he’s different.”
“Different in all the right ways, I bet,” Lila added, her grin widening. “I’m so happy for you, Capri.”
Reva, who had been silently watching the exchange, raised her glass of tea and smiled. “To moving forward, cracks and all,” she said, her voice warm with pride.
Capri lifted her glass in return, her heart lighter than it had felt in a long time. They clinked glasses, the sun high in the sky, casting a bright glow over the patio. For the first time in what felt like forever, Capri wasn’t looking over her shoulder at the past. She was finally stepping into the light—and it felt good.
As the happy conversation flowed around her, Capri leaned back in her chair, glancing at the new patio furniture Jake had surprised her with. She smiled to herself, realizing how much had changed in just a short time. Maybe things weren’t perfect, maybe she wasn’t perfect, but sitting here with her friends, with a future that didn’t feel so frightening anymore, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful.
And for now, that was enough.
The conversation slowed, and Reva straightened in her chair, her tone shifting. “I’m so happy for you, Capri. But while we’re all together, there’s something we need to talk about. You all know the government’s mandate to retrofit the city buildings after the earthquake? Well, the town’s finances are tight—really tight.”
The joy in the air quieted as the weight of Reva’s words settled over them.
“What are we talking about, Reva? How much is needed?” Charlie Grace asked, leaning forward.
Reva sighed, running her finger around the rim of her glass. “More than we’ve got. The estimates to bring the buildings up to safety standards are pretty staggering. The town doesn’t have the funds, and if we don’t figure something out, we’re going to be stuck.”
Capri frowned, feeling the reality of the situation hit hard. Thunder Mountain was a small town, and earthquakes weren’t something they had prepared for. “So, what’s the plan? Can we raise money for it?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Reva began, tapping her fingers on the table. “We need something big. A community event that brings people together and raises enough awareness. Something unique.”
Charlie Grace nodded. “You’re thinking along the lines of a fundraiser?”
“Exactly,” Reva said. “But not just any fundraiser. Something that would get the entire town talking and involved. Something that would gather interest beyond our tiny community and spark interest in donating to an online crowdfunding account.”
Lila perked up, a slow smile forming on her face. “What about a Rocky Mountain oyster fry? It’s different, it’s local, and you know people’s interest would perk up just for the novelty of it.”
Capri’s eyes widened. “You mean real Rocky Mountain oysters?” She stifled a laugh as the idea took shape. “Rocky Mountain oysters—only in Thunder Mountain would people line up for fried bull testicles without batting an eye.”
Lila chuckled. “Why not? People love that sort of thing out here. We could sell tickets, have donated prizes for a raffle, and maybe even get some local businesses to sponsor.”
Reva leaned back in her chair, her expression bright with excitement. “It might not cover everything we need, financially speaking, but it’s a start. And if we can get the town excited about it, maybe more people will step up and donate to the fund.”
Charlie Grace grinned. “I can already picture it—local businesses could donate items for the raffle, and we could get people from neighboring towns to come too. I’ll reach out to a few ranches, see if we can get some contributions.” She paused, an idea seeming to form. “I can ask Nick for ideas to get the word out. His production company has a whole marketing division.”
Capri nodded, feeling a sense of hope filling the group despite the challenges ahead. “It won’t be enough on its own, but if we can pull it off, it’ll show the community is serious about getting this done. Maybe it’ll inspire more people to help.”
Reva smiled, her shoulders relaxing a little. “It’s a start. That’s all we can ask for right now. I’ll send out an email about the mandate, detailing the requirements, and alerting residents of our plans.”
The friends exchanged looks, the energy shifting back to something hopeful. They knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, and the fundraiser would only scratch the surface of what was needed. But for now, it felt good to have a plan—a way to move forward, just like Capri had with Jake.