Page 132 of Sugar & Shadows

“No. This is the best thing to happen here since Betsy Ross got locked in the post office overnight,” Nina said.

“We need to focus,” I urged. I had to get control of this meeting. “I can’t think about the pregnancy right now. We have other shit to deal with.”

Meg, on the phone, laughed. “Oh, please. I once hacked a Russian satellite while tandem breastfeeding the twins. Step it up.”

The room dissolved into giggles.

I did not join in. I wanted to crawl under the conference table and take a nap.

“Can we at least try to follow the agenda?” I asked.

That request earned a series of annoyed looks.

“Phase one,” I said. “We’re nearing the end. What do we have so far?”

Harper popped the top of her energy drink can. This one sparkled. I shuddered just thinking about what was in it.

She took a long drink and sighed, then went on. “Social media is cooking. We’ve already got the syrup subscriptions up and running. We lucked out that Mary Fitzgerald’s granddaughter is taking a gap year and knows so much about digital inventory systems. And with the wool sock add-on from the Jamesons’ sheep farm, it’s pure nostalgia gold.”

Murmurs of agreement went up around the table.

“Local businesses are reporting upticks in web traffic. The inn has had more summer bookings since we did that collab last week. And the farmers are thrilled with the exposure.”

Nodding, I jotted notes. We’d successfully handed off the subscription project, and so far, people were happy for the short-term income.

“Nina?” I asked, tapping my pen.

“Public sentiment is trending in the right direction. Economic anxiety is still high,” she clarified, “but people seem encouraged. The social media attention has inspired a lot of small businesses to improve their digital footprints.”

A thrill shot through me. The locals were buying in. “That’s great.”

“And…” She pinned me with a glare. “The recall momentum is dying. People are saying really nice things about Mayor Gabe now, and the blame he’s been getting has lessened quite a bit.”

I noted the update. Wow. That was surprising.

“People are impressed,” she added. “At the salon the other day, my clients were saying that since he snagged a certified baddie, he must have some rizz.”

Pen held above the notepad, I frowned at her. Clearly, I needed a translation.

She eyed Harper, who shrugged.

“Basically if he could land you, then he must be more competent than they realized.”

“He did not land me,” I corrected, narrowing my focus on her.

Nina held up her hands. “I don’t need the details of your emotionally stunted situationship.”

I rolled my shoulders, shrugging off the need to argue. Great.

“Volunteer numbers are up,” Marigold said. “I’ve been recruiting, and they’re all ready for instructions. Aside from the mafia, I’ve got all the seniors lined up to chip in.”

“I made sure that Birch Hollow’s insurance application for next year’s Maple Festival was accidentally misfiled,” Meg added. “Also diverted a shipment of manure from the garden center to their mayor’s lawn.”

The room burst into giggles.

“Okay, okay.” I took a breath, gathering myself. “Thank you. I’d say we’ve successfully completed phase one. We’ve generated attention for the town, we found several lucrative short-term income options, and we’ve started turning public opinion around.”

Harper cheered and clapped, and the rest of us followed suit. They may have been the source of most of the headaches I’d suffered over the last month, but I loved my little team.