Read Online For Your Love by Beverly Jenkins - Free Book Online Page B

him.
    Bernadine and Lily joined him at the table. Lily functioned as meeting secretary, so she immediately opened up her laptop in preparation.
    Most of the residents were now inside, filling their plates from the buffet provided by diner manager Rocky and her head chef, Siz. Bobby and Kelly hadn’t arrived yet, though. Wondering if they’d encountered some kind of difficulty, Trent took out his phone. Before he could begin a text to them, they walked in.
    â€œSorry we’re late,” Bobby gushed. “Had a time getting the twins’ carriers locked into the backseat.” Seeing Lily, he took a moment to introduce her to Kelly and the twins, and she and the smiling Bernadine leaned down to give the babies a welcome.
    â€œHold on a moment before you sit down,” Trent said to the ­couple, looking for his dad. As he and Mal had arranged previously, when Trent nodded, Mal paused the music. Everyone stopped and looked Trent’s way.
    â€œFolks. Want you all to meet Bobby Douglas, his lady, Kelly Page, and their twins. They’re our newest citizens. Let’s give them a big Henry Adams welcome.”
    Roof-­shaking applause and yells followed the announcement. As wave after wave rolled over the young residents, the applauding Trent watched Bobby swallow emotionally and do his best to remain stoic and unmoved. He failed miserably. Everyone was on their feet. Kiki had tears in her eyes. The still-­applauding Trent saw her and Bobby share a look that turned into a smile. The welcome continued, as did the cheering. Even the kids joined in. Finally Trent said into the mic, “Okay. Thanks everybody. Give them a few minutes to find a seat, and we’ll get the meeting started. You can welcome them personally after we’re done.”
    Genevieve and school superintendent Marie Jefferson had the young ­couple sit with them at a table in the center of the room. A very pleased Gen was helping the babies out of their snowsuits when Trent announced, “I had a meeting with Mayor Wiggins over in Franklin this morning.”
    Booing and hissing followed that. He used his gavel to quiet the room. “Hold on. You’ll get your chance to express yourselves once you hear what she’s done.”
    When he finished telling them, the place erupted with angry denunciations, boos, and lots of hissing.
    â€œHas she lost her mind?” schoolteacher Jack James barked. “Can we sue her for backing out of the fire department agreement?”
    Bing Shepard yelled, “I vote we ship Her Horsiness to France and let them turn her into a roast!”
    That was met with a chorus of sarcastic amens, laughter, and applause.
    Trent used his gavel again. “Since the fire last spring, we’ve been talking about starting our own department, and now we’ll have to stop talking and get it done. We’ll need to get someone in to train us. I should have someone lined up soon. Being trained on hoses and the like in the middle of winter isn’t going to be a picnic, but it’s necessary.”
    Trent turned to Bernadine. She took the floor. “Jack, I’ll need you to open up two unused rooms in the school that we can turn into a library, then get with Lily ASAP and let her know what we need to purchase so we can have it up and running. Marie?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œCan you work with Jack on the GED program? I’m not letting Astrid wreck the students’ futures. Need you to find out who’s enrolled, what hoops we need to jump through to start our own program, and if we can do something to salvage the present term for the folks being impacted.”
    â€œGotcha!”
    Tamar raised her hand. Trent gave her a nod, and she stood. “Don’t tell Astrid this, but her mean-­spiritedness is a good thing. It’s forcing us make to lemonade out of her lemons. If we want this town to grow, we need our own ser­vices, and this will be