I’m quickly getting settled into my new role as mayor (and I love it!).
The crisp Fall-like air has me in a very … oxygenated mood. No clouds overhead. I’m noticing on my ride that the trees have taken on a slightly amber hue.
I feel energized simply by this day!
Which is a good thing because today’s the day I am getting everyone together – my new team! – for our very first kick-off meeting.
Elyse, in all her zeal for her new gig, has kindly agreed to host our little gathering today, and for this I am thankful, as the cleaning crew at the main office can be a bit … well, untidy at times. (Note to self: Speak to Bentley about switching providers.)
I’m not even sure they all know each other. I’m wondering if I need an icebreaker of some sort … you know, when you go to speed-dating or networking events, and they have you do a Mad Lib or something.
Of course, I can’t quite picture what an icebreaker between Bentley and Elyse might look like, so perhaps that isn’t the best of ideas!
As I park the car, I run off my to-do list in my head. Yes, I have the presentation ready. CHECK! Breakfast is being delivered. CHECK! I can park the car while thinking of all of this …
THUMP!
Oooof. Or I can hit the curb. No fancy coffee for you, lady!
This will be epic! Just epic! And now that we know the Riverside renovation plan is beginning to see some daylight, it is perfectly appropriate to share that progress! After talking to them about Riverside, I want to talk to each member about their responsibility and expected interaction with the others.
I’m either manic or overly excited as I open the door to my old stomping ground … Elyse has arrived ahead of me, no doubt to see to the opening of the office and receive the morning delivery.
“We all ready?” I ask her, throwing my coat in its old nook behind the desk.
“Seems so,” Elyse replies. “Go right on in.”
As I enter the room, I see Silas at the table, texting intently with a cup of coffee in front of him. Thornton and Bentley sit a few chairs down chatting warmly, Bentley’s young face covered in pastry (does the boy ever eat?).
I reach for a bagel and cream cheese when a gush of air flows in behind me.
“Good morning, all!” Bitsy exclaims, her red poncho flowing from either of her arms. “And what a morning it is! Mayor Moreno, congratulations! What a beautiful group you’ve brought in!”
I chuckle under my breath. “Have a seat, dear,” I tell her. “We are just about to get started.”
No way is this one stealing my thunder today. Not even a chance.
“Welcome, one and all!” I say. “Find a seat, have a seat, have a meal, relax. This is meeting one of what I am sure will be many!”
Silas rises to refill his coffee cup with, clearly, little interest in the food. Bitsy fills a plate and her cup and retires to the table next to him, removing her poncho and adjusting her chunky jewelry. She raises her arms.
“Now look, Madam Mayor, I know I’m not a formal part of your team here, but I felt it would help you if I showed up and lent a little moral support as you kick off your endeavors. I hope you don’t mind.”
I laugh again. “Of course not. I was going to cover the Riverside changes here today anyway. I will be happy to defer to you … however, in the meantime, I’ll ask everyone to take out their packets and refer to page 3, our agenda for the day.”
I make a show of pulling an agenda out and handing it to Bitsy, since she doesn’t have a packet. She wilts slightly as I walk by her.
I seem to have made my point.
“The first order of business will be introductions,” I tell everyone. “We all know Mrs. McMurtry, of course, and how pivotal a role she played in my campaign. Give it up for Bitsy!”
Everyone claps.
“To my left, Elyse Hughes … wait, I should ask, are you still using the Rossie at the end of your name?”
She shakes her head.
“Well, I’ll make a note for the website. Elyse, of course, will be taking over my slot here at the tourism bureau and, I expect, will find a long-time home here as I did.”
Elyse takes the lead and talks a lot about her ideas, about how to entertain and handle tourists, food, overnight accommodations, transportation – all of it. (She is into it!)
“As for you, Thornton,” Elyse says, finishing her remarks. “We will need your expertise all across the board! I am anxious to connect with you directly and begin discussing how we might work with Albert on … well, enhancements, shall we say, to Hilltop.”
Thornton chuckles at the notion. “There are only so many enhancements we can suggest to someone regarding his own private property.”
She nods. “Yes, yes. Well … we have a lot to talk about anyway.”
(Why do I think that Elyse is not going to be deterred?)
I look toward Bentley, his hands still in his pastry, feeding himself as if he hadn’t seen food in a year.
“Bentley Rhodes, our man behind the wheel … well, he will be taking the wheel of the Parks & Rec department, keeping an eye on our blessed open space and keeping our infrastructure strong and moving forward. Bentley, any initial thoughts now that you’re in your new position?”
He shakes his head. “Not for the moment, but I’m excited and can’t wait to get going.”
I nod toward him. “Well, not every day will be like the one when you found the time capsule over by the Courthouse … or at least I hope!”
“Silas!” I say, turning in his direction. “You will have your hands full as we pursue our intense expansion agenda. Safety and security in Middle Valley will be of the utmost importance,” I tell him. “But for now, let’s focus on snow prep, and making sure all the trucks are running smoothly.”
“For sure,” he says, turning toward Henry, the new sheriff. “I’ll need your help, too, Sheriff.”
With that, Henry takes a dramatic pause, stands, and steps back from the table.
“I would just like to say something.” The young man (dashing, I must say, in his uniform) looks down, shifting his hat from one hand to another. “I … well, I realize a lot has gone on in my office, what with Paul and his arrest and all. I want you to know – Madam Mayor and everyone here – that I am taking the appointment very seriously. I want to see the best for this town. I hate that it’s been through all this.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think a tear came to his eye.
I stand up to rescue the man, who clearly needs to get out of his patrol car more often.
“Sheriff, that is tremendous, and we thank you,” I tell him, ushering him back to his seat. “But this is a celebratory occasion. Let’s leave the past in the past.”
I launch into Cassie’s plans for the Riverside, then throw it to Bitsy.
“Yes, we are meeting with some contractors this week, so we’ll get the lay of the land,” she tells everyone. “The gist is we’re talking about expanding the downstairs dining room, adding first-floor outdoor tables, expanding the kitchen, and adding another whole floor.”
“Whoa,” Bentley says. “You need some contractors for that ‘cause I got friends … ?”
Bitsy pats him on the arm. “I think I have that sewn up, young man.”
At this point, it’s clear that the momentum has left the room. Before adjourning, I let everyone know of Mercury’s new project, building the new regional forensics operation, and that it will involve Hilltop.
As each leaves the room and I mill around cleaning up, Elyse re-enters.
“Good meeting, Boss!” she says, smiling. “Let’s go get ‘em.”
Jenny Page