His words filtered through my brain until I understood his meaning. If we did nothing and allowed Aunt Nora to gain control, then we’d be setting up Honeysuckle Hollow up for failure. The lights dimmed and flickered until we lost power again.
“Maybe that’s a sign,” I said into the slightly darkened room.
“Of what?” Matt asked.
“Of what will happen if we don’t do something. I’ll need someone to take me home,” I requested.
Dash growled in protest. “Why?”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped away from my brother and stood on my own. “Because if I’m going to confront Aunt Nora and stop her from ruining our town, then I want to be dressed to kill.”
Chapter Fifteen
Matt and I snuck in a side door of the town hall. With all the changes going on, we didn’t know who we could trust other than the small handful from Nana’s house. After hearing about Ben’s proposal, I questioned how many of my friends had experienced a sudden change.
The heels I wore to match my sunflower dress clicked as I walked, and Matt raised his eyebrows at me in annoyance.
“Sorry,” I mouthed at him, slipping off the shoes and holding the straps in my hand.
Since the stage was used for so many different functions, the long velvet curtains that hung in strategic places provided a perfect way for me and my brother to hide out of sight of the audience.
Another nearby metal door swung open with a clang, and our aunt strode in. “Your wife is my daughter. I don’t think it’s very wise for you to vote against me,” she said as Tucker followed right behind her.
“Don’t threaten me, Nora,” my cousin’s husband warned. “When the time comes, I’ll be voting with my conscience.”
My aunt turned on her heels and closed the distance between her and her son-in-law. “Listen,” she said, poking his chest with her painted fingernail. “In a little less than nine months, my daughter will be giving birth to your child.”
An involuntary squeal burst out of my lips, and Matt clamped his hand over my mouth.
Aunt Nora looked around but dismissed the noise. “You might want to tell your conscience that I can make your life a living hell or heaven on earth. Clementine’s my daughter first and will be loyal to me. With my influence, I can make sure to alienate you from your future family. If I were you, I would think about what part you want to play in that picture. Present and happy dad or one that gets to see his child once a year? It’s your choice.”
I moved to go reassure Tucker that he didn’t have to listen to my aunt’s threats. After getting to know my cousin better, especially spending time with her recently, I knew Clem would never give her mother that kind of power over her life anymore. Matt held me back when Flint entered the area. I hoped the gnome would help Tucker see that Aunt Nora’s threats were empty.
“So, what’s the plan then? We skulk about on the side?” I whispered to Matt.
“I don’t know yet. But the only thing we have going for us is a possible element of surprise. And it’ll get a bigger reaction if we do it onstage in front of everyone,” he murmured to me.
My stomach growled, and I held my breath, hoping the other council members hadn’t heard it. Flint glanced our way but said nothing. Waiting his turn, he filed onto the stage and took his seat.
The crowd didn’t quiet down like normal. Instead, as soon as the council members were in place, they shouted their concerns until they whipped themselves into a loud frenzy.
Aunt Nora stood behind her chair, having let the others take their seats. She took advantage of her power play and raised her hand to gain control.
“Everyone, please settle down. Talking all at once will get us nowhere, and there’s much we need to accomplish tonight,” she instructed.
Keeping hidden behind the curtain, I pulled it aside far enough to be able to see most of the audience. My cousin Clementine sat in the front row, her hand cradling her stomach. I’d have to make sure to congratulate her at a more appropriate time.
I couldn’t see my friends from my current angle, so I risked stepping out a little further. Lily kept turning around and checking the entrance as if she was waiting on someone to fill the empty seat next to her. Lily and Ben cuddled together in a rare show of public affection. My advocate friend kissed her more than once, and I grimaced at the strange display.
“What are you going to do about the power outages?” someone shouted from the back.
“And what about the damage to our shops?” Ms. Patty asked. “Someone should pay for my broken window.”
“We’re still trying to sort out the mess from the unfortunate encounter the other night,” Aunt Nora said. “But I can understand your displeasure at such awful and targeted actions by such an ugly group. To that point, I think it’s best if we get straight to the purpose of this meeting.”
Flint stood up so fast his pointed red hat flew off his head. His bald pate glistened under the stage lights. “So, you would be judge and jury, casting dispersions at those who aren’t even here to defend themselves? Using the fear from the one-off incident is low, even for you, Leonora.”
My aunt sniffed, staring down at the gnome. “Spoken as one who’s been allowed to live here by the good graces of the rest of us.”
“There you go again, saying things like us and them. If you look at our town’s history, we’re all supposed to be equal here,” Flint challenged. “And under the right leadership, that’s how things would be.”
“Speaking of the right leadership, should I take your meaning to be that you intend to resign your position on the council?” Aunt Nora batted her eyelashes in mock innocence.
“Of course not. I just think—”
“You are not
