13
Andrea Grinnell descended the stairs slowly but steadily while Julia stared in amazement. Andi had undergone a transformation. Makeup and a comb-out of the frizzy wreck that had been her hair had played a part, but that wasn't all of it. Looking at her, Julia realized how long it had been since she'd seen the town's Third Selectman looking like herself. This evening she was wearing a knockout red dress belted at the waist - it looked like Ann Taylor - and carrying a large fabric bag with a drawstring top.
Even Horace was gawking.
'How do I look?' Andi asked when she reached the bottom of the stairs. 'Like I could fly to the town meeting, if I had a broom?'
'You look great. Twenty years younger.'
'Thanks, hon, but I have a mirror upstairs.'
'If it didn't show you how much better you look, you better try one down here, where the light's better.'
Andi switched her bag to her other arm, as if it were heavy. 'Well. I guess I do. A little, anyway.'
'Are you sure you have strength enough for this?'
'I think so, but if I start to shake and shiver, I'll slip out the side door.' Andi had no intention of slipping away, whether she shook or not.
"What's in the bag?'
Jim Rennie's lunch, Andrea thought. Which I intend to feed him in front of this whole town.
'I always take my knitting to town meeting. Sometimes they're just so slow and dull.'
'I don't think this one will be dull,' Julia said.
'You're coming, aren't you?'
'Oh, I imagine,'Julia said vaguely. She expected to be well away from downtown Chester's Mill before the meeting ended. 'I have a few things to do first. Can you get there on your own?'
Andi gave her a comical Mother, please look. 'Down the street, down the hill, and it's right there. Been doing it for years.'
Julia looked at her watch. It was quarter to six.'Aren't you leaving awfully early?'
'Al will open the doors at six o'clock, if I'm not mistaken, and I want to be sure and get a good seat.'
'As a selectwoman, you should be right up there onstage,' Julia said. 'If it's what you want.'
'No, I don't think so.' Andi switched the bag to her other arm again. Her knitting was inside; so was the VADER file and the.38 her brother Twitch had given her for home protection. She thought it would serve just as well for town protection. A town was like a body, but it had one advantage over the human one; if a town had a bad brain, a transplant could be effected. And maybe it wouldn't come to killing. She prayed it wouldn't.
Julia was looking at her quizzically. Andrea realized she'd drifted off.
'I think I'll just sit with the common folk tonight. But I'll have my say when the time comes. You can count on that.'
14
Andi was right about Al Timmons opening the doors at six. By then Main Street, next to empty all day, was filling with citizens headed for the Town Hall. More walked in little groups down Town Common Hill from the residential streets. Cars began to arrive from Eastchester and Northchester, most filled to capacity. No one, it seemed, wanted to be alone tonight.
She was early enough to have her pick of seats, and chose the third row from the stage, on the aisle. Just ahead of her in the second row were Carolyn Sturges and the Appleton children. The kids were gawking wide-eyed at everything and everyone. The little boy had what appeared to be a graham cracker clutched in his fist.
Linda Everett was another early arriver. Julia had told Andi about Rusty being arrested - utterly ridiculous - and knew his wife must be devastated, but she was hiding it well behind great makeup and a pretty dress with big patch pockets. Given her own situation (mouth dry, head aching, stomach roiling), Andi admired her courage.
'Come sit with me, Linda,' she said, patting the spot beside her. 'How is Rusty?'
'I don't know,' Linda said, slipping past Andrea and sitting down. Something in one of those amusing pockets clunked on the wood. 'They won't let me see him.'
'That situation will be rectified,'Andrea said.
'Yes,' Linda said grimly. 'It will.'Then she leaned forward. 'Hello, kids, what are your names?'
'This is Aidan,' Caro said, 'and this is - '
'I'm Alice.'The little girl held out a regal hand - queen to loyal subject.'Me and Aidan...Aidan and I... are Dorphans. That means Dome orphans. Thurston made it up. He knows magic tricks, like pulling a quarter out of your ear and stuff.'
'Well, you seem to have landed on your feet,' Linda said, smiling. She didn't feel like smiling; she had never been so nervous in her life. Only nervous was too mild a word. She was scared shitless.
15