Interview with Dana Boylan
Alma Boots employee (title: Sales Analyst)
From day one, Eva got death threats. Did you know that?
Sorry, that was a dumb question. Obviously, you know. You’re writing about it. But a lot of people have no idea. These are the same people who think she came forward for the attention. I’m not sure how anyone can be so ignorant. But here’s the thing: it wasn’t just on social media. Eva got harassed at work, too. One time, someone left a nasty note on her desk with the c-word written over and over again and a line at the end that said WE ARE COMING FOR YOU. I feel sick just thinking about it. I don’t care what you think happened between her and Bobby, nobody deserves that.
I once overheard her crying in the bathroom stall. I felt really bad for her that day. Especially because it wasn’t like she could go looking for another job—who would hire her in the middle of a scandal?
I’ll say this: I admire her conviction. She must’ve felt very strongly that what Bobby did was wrong. If I had to guess, I’d say it was a lot worse than what she shared.
Thirty-Nine
Gina
Saturday, October 26th
Alma is decked out for Halloween. The shops on Main Street are decorated in orange, black, and purple, with ghosts, goblins, pumpkins, and witches. Gina adores all twenty-six businesses. Thirteen of them are made of whitewashed wood, six others have been painted red, and the remaining seven—the oldest shops in Alma’s main commercial strip—are made of exposed brick. The time between Halloween and Christmas is the busiest time of the year for the ASC, with the Festivities Committee overseeing the town’s decorations and official events.
Gina is standing under her favorite spot in all of Alma, the Clock Tower that contains a plaque honoring Backer Dewar. She hears Bobby’s footsteps before she sees him. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and snakes his arm around her. She feels warm and cozy in his embrace. They make their way towards Sweet Tooth, an old-fashioned soda shop that sells all types of candy. Gina has pre-ordered special Halloween sweets from the owner, Ewan Richards. While some Almanacs chose to drive to White Plains, where the nearest Walmart is only twenty minutes away, and stock up on bulk bags of Halloween candy, Gina handpicks her selection from Alma’s stores only. She believes in economizing, but she believes in supporting local businesses even more.
For Halloween, Sweet Tooth has been transformed into a witch’s lair. Ultra-thin, nearly invisible string has been used to suspend broomsticks in the air. Orange and purple lights give the place a sparkly, yet spooky feel. Four wisely placed iron cauldrons overflow with candy. There’s even a sound effect: a witch’s cackle goes off every time someone comes through the shop’s doors.
“Ah, my favorite customers,” Ewan says.
“Hi, Ewan.” Gina grins. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”
She scans the store. Ewan has managed to use every available nook and cranny in the shop to display and store deliciously sweet options ranging from the glutenous to the pure-sugary. Gina is admiring the bite-size marzipan ghosts and the jellybeans shaped as monsters, pumpkins, and skulls when she hears the witch’s cackle again.
“Bobby, dear, what a nice surprise,” says a woman’s voice that Gina recognizes all too well. “How are you holding up these days?”
Gina, who had been standing behind a life-size witch next to one of the cauldrons, walks over to the front of the store.
“Gina!” Missy exclaims.
Gina tries her best to smile, to act unbothered by Missy’s presence.
“It’s so nice to see the two of you together.” Missy moves in to give Gina a clumsy hug, her shopping bags bumping against their legs.
Gina studies Missy’s short figure, her chestnut hair and too-big nostrils. Seeing her next to Bobby always makes her imagine how different her husband would look if Charles had married Missy instead of Tish.
“It’s nice to see you too,” Bobby says.
She is about to tell Missy about the adorable jellybeans when the witch’s cackle sounds again and in comes Katherine with her eyes glued to her phone.
“Mom, we need to stop by Clive’s.”
“Katherine, honey! Look, it’s Gina and Bobby.” Missy uses the same tone that one would use to point out a white tiger at the zoo.
Katherine looks up. “Hey, how’s it going?” She pauses and smiles. “Oh, are you picking out your candy? My kids will be thrilled.”
Gina swells with pride. Theirs is the most popular house on the trick or treating trail. Bobby and Calan like to tease her that she spends too much time preparing her Trick-or-Treat Bags, an assortment of the best sweets and chocolates, plus surprise little delicacies like her miniature homemade cupcakes or lollipops. Two years ago, she made chocolate coins wrapped in gold aluminum paper with an image of Backer Dewar. Dewar Dollars, they were called.
Missy glances at her daughter. “Aren’t they a little old to be trick or treating, dear?” She turns her gaze to
