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“Good afternoon, everyone,” Todd said as he settled into a seat opposite Maye at the table.

“I didn’t know you’d be here today,” Maye said as Tracy snagged a seat next to her.

“Alright, let’s save the personal conversations until after the meeting? We have a lot to get through today,” Todd said as he laid out a variety of documents on the table in front of him.

Maye and Tracy exchanged judgmental glances at the scolding.

“First order of business,” Todd continued, “there’s been some committee member changes. Robin, our beloved Robin, has decided to retire and enjoy time with her family. So, we thank her for her service.” Todd began clapping and nodded to encourage others to join him. “Come on, everyone! Let’s give her the respect she deserves! Keep it going!” Todd clapped louder, until a Town Hall staff member interrupted and asked him to keep it down. “And we have a couple new members joining us. Everyone please, at a reasonable volume, welcome Maye and Tracy.”

“We’re definitely going to need the help—”

“Melvin,” Todd raised a hand, “we don’t have time for this right now. Anyways…we’re going to need all hands on deck to get the downtown business window displays done the first week of November.”

Maye raised her hand. “Excuse me, Todd?”

“Yes, I see that hand,” Todd pointed at her.

“Is this the first planning meeting for the whole holiday season? It feels like there’s so much to do to get…” she trailed off as the snickers around the room got louder.

“No,” Todd waved her off. “The CPC proper meets all throughout the year to make sure everything stays on track. We’re now roping in seasonal volunteers—” Todd stopped mid-sentence. “I just had an idea. Maye, can you coordinate helpers again like you did for Fall Fest? Come to think of it” he placed both hands on the table and looked around the room. “All in favor of a new Volunteer Coordinator Subcommittee say ‘aye.’”

All of the people around the table, with the exception of one, raised a hand and said ‘aye.’

“That’s four ayes and one,” Todd glanced at Melvin, “one abstained.”

“I said nay,” Melvin clarified.

“Moving on,” Todd said.

“I can help Maye with that,” Tracy offered.

“Wonderful!” Todd made some notes as he continued. “And Ellie has once again come up with some wonderful designs for our events. All while preparing for a little special delivery—”

“Todd, no spoilers,” Ellie said, with a hand on her belly.

The remainder of the meeting went a lot like Melvin had predicted. There was talk about grand new ideas, arguments over the logistics of making them happen, and a laundry list of action items and follow-ups added to the next meeting agenda.

When she arrived home after the CPC meeting, Maye heard a familiar voice as she dug through her purse for her keys. She looked up to see Randall sitting on a bench outside her condo entrance. His right arm was propped up in a cast and he was wearing a neck brace.

Maye froze as Randall slowly creaked to his feet. “What…are you doing here?” she said with a mix of shock and disdain.

“Hey, Maye,” he said tepidly. “I don’t know if you heard, but I had to come off the trail a little early—”

“Early?” she argued. “You said you were going for ten days. It’s been three months, Randall.”

He stood awkwardly for a few moments. “Yeah…” he finally managed. “I thought about reaching out, but I wasn’t sure what to say. So I just just kept going, and now I guess I’m back.”

Maye wondered what he meant by ‘back,’ and where he was planning to stay while he was back, and why exactly he showed up on her doorstep.

“Can we talk inside for a little bit?” he asked.

“I guess so…” she said as she started walking towards her door. “I’m a little curious what you have to say.”

Inside, Randall took a seat at the dining room table and she brought two flavored soda waters from the fridge.

“Black cherry, huh?” he said. “Do you have any lemon-lime?”

She glared at him.