I look around with a smile at the scene in the public square by the Devil's Keep. The Death Dealers have put together a charity carnival for the local Shriners club, and the whole town is out to celebrate. I know Drew would tell me that they're just trying to stay in the town's good graces, but it's hard to ignore all the kids who are just excited to play skee ball.
"Five tokens, please," a teenage boy requests, holding out his money, and checking out my breasts.
"Here you go," I tell him, handing them over. It's my job as a sweet butt to run the ticket counter today. I catch Ford's eye from by the cotton candy, and he winks at me. I wave back awkwardly and blush as I feel desire surge in my stomach. What is wrong with me? I feel like a teenager myself.
"What was that?" Candice whispers to me.
"How long have you been standing there?" I ask, surprised to see her standing right behind me.
"Long enough to see that look! Wait a second, when you didn't come home a couple nights ago, were you with Ford?"
"Well, yes, but don't tell anyone," I murmur, looking around.
"Don't tell anyone?! Why not? He's gorgeous!"
"I don't know! What if he's private or something. Maybe he doesn't want everyone to know."
"How was it?" she asks, her eyes dancing.
"Candice!"
"Oh, come on, please?" she begs.
"It was…intense," I finally tell her.
"Intense good or intense bad?
"Intense amazing," I tell her. "But that's all you're getting out of me!"
"Ugh, fine," Candice pouts.
"How's it going with Buzz?"
"He's so cute, but he's really busy with prospect stuff. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but what if when he becomes a brother eventually he asks me to be his old lady?"
"That would be great…" I reply, worried that she is definitely getting ahead of herself. All of a sudden, Candice straightens up and starts shuffling the tickets sitting on the counter. I look around, confused, and see Liz approaching.
"Beth, you look like you could use a break," she says. "Candice, you take over here."
"Sure, Liz!" Candice chirps back, though she casts a slightly jealous glance my way. I hesitate, surprised to be the recipient of any sort of kindness from Liz, but she motions for me to follow her so I head out from behind the counter.
I walk next to her, trying to think of something interesting to say, but my mind's a blank. I realize we're heading toward a picnic table on the side of the square where a group of the old ladies are sitting. I feel my mouth get dry. I haven't ever spoken to these women before, but they're an intimidating bunch from afar. They're not friendly to the other sweet butts, and really only talk to them if they're requesting a sweet butt go get them a drink.
Which makes it all the more shocking when they all look toward Liz and me at once, and give me an inviting smile. "Ladies, this is Beth Harlow," Liz says, gesturing me toward an empty seat.
"Hi," I say, sitting down.
"I'm Rhonda," a beautiful, red-headed woman says from across the table. "I'm Marsh's old lady. Here, have a drink," she adds, pulling a beer out from a cooler next to her.
"Oh, thanks," I reply cracking it open. It's only early March, but the ticket stand is in the direct sun, and I can feel a slight sunburn starting on the back of my neck.
"So, Ford says you're from Washington?" Rhonda asks.
"That's right," I reply. Ford's been talking to the old ladies about me? "I just moved here a couple months ago."
"And what do you think?" Liz asks. I look around. All the other old ladies are watching me intently, though not unkindly.
"Well, there are definitely fewer trees…" I begin, then clear my throat. I feel like I'm being tested, and I don't want to fail. "At first, I was missing my old hometown. I mean, there were certainly some negatives about it, but I had my friends. I guess what I missed when I moved here was… community. But since I've been a sweet butt, I have more of a sense of that again."
"It's so rare to find a sense of community these days," a brunette from down the table agrees. "Everyone's on their tablets or whatever, never leaving the house…"
"Girl, you're on Facebook more than any of us," Liz teases her, and the group bursts out laughing. "Wait, Rhonda, you gotta tell everyone your idea about the seniors."
Rhonda claps her hands together excitedly and launches into this idea she has about improving the quality of life of the people living at this retirement community nearby. Dances, visits from therapy dogs, that kind of thing. I begin to feel more relaxed, and before I know it, I'm laughing with them and piping up with my own ideas.
I feel two broad hands on my shoulders, and glance back to see Ford standing behind me. Marsh has come up to Rhonda on the other side of the table.
"Looks like today's going well," Ford says to Liz.
"Why, thank you," Liz replies proudly.
"Liz and the other old ladies are in charge of all the charity events," Marsh explains to me.
"Nothing would get done around here without us," Liz says with a smile, and all the women chime in to agree with her.
"That so?" a deep voice asks, and Tank, the club's president, walks over to stand next to Liz.
"Uh-huh," Liz replies, not giving an inch. I try not to stare at Tank. I've never even seen him up close. It's hard to match Drew's description of him with the man standing in front of me, joking around with his wife.
"Honey, this is Beth," Liz says, gesturing to me.
"Nice to meet you, sir," I say.
"Sir!" Tank crows. "Ooo, I like that. I think you should call me that, too," he says, nudging Liz.
"Yeah, and you can call me the Queen of Fucking England," Liz replies drily. The table bursts out laughing, and I feel Ford give my shoulders a squeeze.
I smile, and rest my head back against his hard stomach. The beer sweats in my hand, a breeze blows across the square, and for the first time in a long time, I feel content.