AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Phoenix shrugged and turned away.
I sidled closer. “His name is Dylan. He’s twenty-one…”
“How do you know that?”
I shrugged. “I did my homework after I saw the notice about all this.”
Phoenix didn’t answer. But I didn’t miss the way he tracked Dylan through the crowd until he and his family reached the church steps. An assistant handed him a microphone, his family taking up spots behind in support.
“Imagine being the son of a politician,” Augie mused. “Must be nice. All that money and tennis lessons and fancy houses.”
None of us commented. At the microphone, William Reed cleared his throat, capturing the attention of his supporters. “Thank you all for coming out on this glorious day. Certainly does feel like summer is in the air, doesn’t it?”
There were nods and murmurs of agreement.
“We’re only weeks away from the local elections now, and so I want to delve into the real reason we’re here today, gathered at our church. We all know Providence is a great area. Most of you probably grew up here and raised your families on these very streets surrounding us. Am I right?”
Lyric sniffed. “Oh yes,” she mocked beneath her breath. “We all grew up in mansions with silver spoons in our mouths.”
I shushed her, though I could have said the same thing. Internally, I resented the suit assuming everybody here was Providence born and bred. Never mind that Providence shared a border with Saint View, one of the poorest towns around.
And home for the five of us.
“We love our hometown. It’s full of great schools, parks, and opportunities for our children to thrive. My own children grew up here, so Providence is in our blood.”
“Gag me with that silver spoon.” Augie scowled. “This guy is so smarmy.”
“That’s a big word for you,” Lyric quipped back playfully.
He stuck his middle finger up at her with a grin.
“Shut up, would you?” I had to interrupt their squabbling, or they’d go on and on for hours. “I’m trying to listen.”
William carried on like we weren’t already attracting attention. “But we all know why we’re here today. It’s the one thing so many of you have brought up to me when I’ve seen you having coffee in our bakery, and the same thing you’ve told me right here on this lawn after Sunday morning mass. It’s the elephant in every room, and the hot-button topic my esteemed opponent is too afraid to discuss. But I’m not.”
He gazed out over the crowd, pausing for dramatic effect.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I muttered. “Spit it out, old man. Some of us have better things to do. Just say the words.Saint View.”
Fawn tittered beside me.
William, finally done with his meaningful stares, opened his mouth once more. “Saint View.”
“Hallelujah,” I huffed. “It’s a miracle he actually got to the point before I went gray.”
William’s prewritten spiel carried on, despite my comments. “Saint View is the one problem our current mayor won’t tackle. He sweeps it under the rug like it doesn’t affect each and every one of us.”
There were nods of approval all around, and I gaped at their bobbing heads, stunned these people seemed to agree with him.
Though I really shouldn’t have been. We were no strangers to residents of Providence looking at us like we were gum stuck to their shoe.
“Saint View drags our property prices down. The crime rate is high, and it spills over into Providence. The housing situation there is dire. Many areas need to be completely demolished and rebuilt, and I have plans for all of that. Starting with Saint View Strip, the main road that runs through the center of the town.”
That was why I was here. That was why, instead of enjoying my day off and spending the unseasonably warm weather at the beach in a bikini, working on my tan, I was here, risking God shooting down a lightning bolt because a sinner like me dared step foot on His holy ground.
But some things were worth fighting for.
And the strip was one of them.
