Page 9 of A Cup of Autumn
“No, but it’s your turn.”
“No.” The word shot out. “I was in charge of the Valentine’s Sweetheart Dance in February.”
Margot’s eyes widened. Her mouth parted as if surprised. “Oh, I forgot. It appears everyone else did too because no one brought that up. But no matter, everyone else is too busy right now to take on the Boo Bash.”
Raine’s muscles knotted. This was the last thing she needed or could handle. “I’ve been down an employee for months, and Timmy’s cut back his hours because of college. I haven’t had a day off in almost two weeks.”
“All of us are in a similar position. I’m sorry, but you know the rules. Once voted for, you’re it. No take-backs.” Margot patted the bin’s lid. “You’re the coordinator for this year’s Boo Bash. The materials you’ll need are inside the box.”
Raine opened her mouth and then shut it. Her thoughts were a jumble, but she had to figure out how this happened. “Was the vote unanimous?”
“Callie, Taryn, Pippa, and Beth voted no.”
Too bad Anna worked for Callie or that would have been another vote in Raine’s favor. At least her friends had stood up for her. That had to count for something. “No take-backs, huh?”
“If you quit, you’ll be assessed a significant fine. You know the rules.”
“I do, which is why I should have never been nominated in the first place. We’re only required to do one event a year. I did that. I organized the Valentine’s dance.”
Margot said nothing.
Not unexpected. Still, Raine needed to get this out. “I’ll be fully transparent and tell you the Boo Bash won’t be anything close to what it’s been in the past. I don’t have the time.”
“That’s your choice. But you may have fallout from that decision.”
“Don’t care.” Raine didn’t. If she had the extra money, she would pay the fine. “This falls on everyone in the association who voted for me when I shouldn’t have been up for consideration.”
She would make sure the kids had fun trick-or-treating at the shops on their early release day the Wednesday before Halloween and call it good, but less would be more this year.
Raine had worked hard for the association, including in February after Emmett broke up with her for the first time, and she’d felt empty inside not romantic. She’d given her all then. She had nothing to give now.
Forget about remaining in the association. No way would she renew for next year. Not after they’d done this to her. Now wasn’t the time to tell Margot, the founder of the association, who loved it as much as her two dogs and nephew. But enough was enough. A business association should support its members, not enforce rules and assess fines that made their lives harder.
She pushed back her shoulders as if preparing for battle. Given what these events meant to the association and the town, she was in for a fight. “I can handle whatever people have to say. Especially when I remind them how I put on an event earlier this year and should have been exempted from this one.”
Harsh, perhaps.
But true.
Just let someone complain, and words would fly. Was it horrible she looked forward to that?
Must be from keeping all the stuff that happened with Emmett inside her for too long.
Surprisingly, Margot’s smile spread across her face. “It’s good to see you showing some backbone finally.”
Raine cringed, even though Margot made a valid point. “Been trying.”
And she had.
Ever since July when Emmett showed up unannounced to pick up the boxes he’d left in her garage. His mother wouldn’t keep them after he’d moved out of his apartment in January, so he’d dumped them on Raine. He now lived in Seattle, which was where she’d grown up.
They’d swapped hometowns.
Ironic or fitting?
She hadn’t decided which.
“You’ve been through a lot. Emmett’s mother said he’s enjoying Seattle.” Margot’s voice was sympathetic. Not unexpected. But she had blinders on when it came to the First Avenue Business Association. “It’s time you replaced him.”
