Maynia Day #1
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Maynia -- Day Six -- 1,719 words
Feeling myself tense as I regretfully let go and stepped away from Ms. Shiela, I watched as she gave me a sudden look of curiosity before we both turned and glanced up at the descending figure coming from Town Hall.
My father, Mayor Eric Heins, had the annoying look of triumph on his face as he straightened his coat whilst he made his way towards us. A quick glance behind him, showed that his “best bodyguard” wasn’t far behind. Derek Heins- my uncle and also my father’s older brother- was originally the one being groomed for Mayor by grandfather, but he chose a different path to be able to serve the people of Samheinrock. He was once the Sheriff of this town.
He still was, even after my father won over the ‘throne’ of being Mayor, that was until I started making plans for a future outside of Samheinrock. I didn’t want to be a successor to a ‘lame duck’, still don’t actually, my father only made my position available for me to keep me under his thumb.
Still, I found it as an alternative to serve my fellow countrymen, if only in a smaller scale. But the thought still remains, I don’t deserve this position nor do I deserve to be mayor of this town.
“Ms. Lancaster, it’s good to finally meet you in person! Those video calls didn’t do you any justice.” My father tried for a suave approach as he held out a hand towards Ms. Shiela, but his words only fell flat on my ears. Thankfully, she seemed to play along as she gave him her own sweet smile, shaking his hand in return. My job was done here.
Trying not to be noticed as I closed the passenger side door and started heading towards the driver’s seat, I then heard my father ask, “Jackson my boy, aren’t you at least going inside to say hello to your mother?”
“I’ve still got some rounds to make for the day, Mayor.” I replied with finality, even if I did want to stop by for mom.
“I made sure you’re off duty today. And tomorrow too. You have to personally escort Ms. Lancaster here to the inauguration tomorrow.” I frowned at his tone of voice, and started to voice out my protest when Ms. Shiela intervened.
“Mayor Heins, I’d feel more secure if Sheriff Heins could do his rounds today and make sure everything’s safe in your lovely town, especially with tomorrow’s public event happening.” I swear she even fluttered her lashes for good measure, but she didn’t really have to. My father already took the bait.
Blinking dazedly back at her, my father started saying, “Uh well- if that’s what you’d prefer, Ms. Lancaster. I’d just have to make sure he comes by to pick you up tomorrow..” and ended up muttering the last of his words. So much for a suave approach.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.” Still smiling sweetly at him, she then briefly looked back at me and nodded for my temporary reprieve. I noticed the earnest look she had in her eyes as she kept distracting my father, suddenly feeling grateful for her.
Nodding back at her in thank, I spied my uncle also had his eyebrows raised despite the dark sunglasses he wore, most probably surprised at the turn of events. Now driving off, it was only when I was a few meters away did I notice that Ms. Shiela forgot her cucumber wine in my car, seeing as it leaned on the passenger seat. Maybe I could drop by her place later and give it back.
That decision felt good to me and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my face before the ringing of my cellphone broke me out of my thoughts. Automatically putting it on speaker phone as I kept my eyes on the road, I then heard a female voice speak up, “You finally answered the phone! I guess that big, fancy tower works after all, huh, Sheriff?”
Smirking at the snarky tone that my cousin had, I decided to quit the small talk and cut to the chase, “Deputy, what’s the status?”
I heard her snickering from the other line before replying, “We’ve got an 11-81 here at Pumpkin Block sir, do you copy?”
“Roger that Deputy, I’m on my way.” Ending the call, I sighed at another incident report. These road accidents have been happening a lot lately..
“Tell me Mayor Heins, why’d you call me in for this meeting? I’m sure this has nothing to do with the inauguration happening tomorrow, right?” I asked as we walked towards his office, his bodyguard behind us.
“Ah, always sharper than you seem, Ms. Lancaster. But please, let’s talk about this away from prying ears.” Mayor Heins said as we now reached the double doors to his office and gestured me inside. Spying that his bodyguard now took to position outside the door, I then walked into his office and surveyed the interior.
Plush carpeting welcomed my booted feet as I entered and upon hearing the doors click shut behind me, I then observed how the Mayor passed by me and went straight for the mini bar located inside his office and poured himself a drink. He started offering me some but I refused and cut straight to the chase, “I was hoping you didn’t call me here just for some daytime drinking, Mayor Heins.” I stated pointedly at him.
My tone of voice must have caught his attention as he stopped pouring himself a second glass, deciding to just take it with him as he started pacing behind his mahogany desk. I slowly sat down on the chair right in front of his desk and waited for him to gather his thoughts.
Leaning back in the chair, I started observing him and took note that the Mayor was an older version of the Sheriff, albeit a thinner one too, like a husk of his former glorious self. But what really got my attention ever since I saw him walk down from the steps earlier, was the signet ring he wore on his left pinkie finger. I felt something off about it, but couldn’t get a close up look on what was engraved on its surface.
As if sensing my gaze on him, the mayor stopped from his pacing and turned back to me with a look of sudden clarity in his eyes. Slowly he stepped forward and gingerly sat down on the huge rest-back chair behind his desk, placing his glass on the table with a slight thump. Narrowing my eyes as I spied the engravement, I frowned in confusion as I spied that it only resembled that of a family crest. But why did it still feel off?
“My wife had this made for me.” Mayor Heins simply said. Looks like he's ‘sharp’ himself. I amusedly thought as I steered the conversation to the woman in question, “Where is Mrs. Heins anyway? I thought you mentioned she was here just now.”
“Probably off somewhere around here, fixing my mess. Some women are just good at that you know?” He looked at me as if I could understand his point but honestly, the only point I felt like giving to him now was the point of my blade. I simply felt the handle on the top of my boot, before crossing my legs and gently my chin on my hand as I leaned on the table, daring him to continue with what he was saying.
He didn’t notice the change in my demeanor though as he took a sip from his glass and kept talking, “But you, Ms. Lancaster, you’re a young woman who has it all. Me? At the end of the day, I’m just an old man asking for your added support in our little town. What do you say to a deal, Ms. Lancaster?”
A deal with the devil. Seems like he already made that choice long before I got here. That thought passed through my mind as Mayor Heins seemed to have taken my silence for a yes, raising his now half empty glass in a sort of cheer.
“You really know what you’re getting into here lil’ Shiela?” Ms. Chip worriedly asked me as she made the finishing touches for tonight’s dinner. Already having changed into a simple, green summer dress, I attempted in helping her with the preparation but only got shooed away for my efforts. I was now then cuddling with Jaden as I, told her about the events of the day, watching as she flittered around the kitchen like a fairy.
“I know what I got myself into the moment I had a tower built here.” I told her offhandedly as I focused on Jaden, the black cat seems to now have slightly regained his strength.
“Well you don’t look too troubled by it, so I’m guessing you’re really ok. Not that I can blame you, what with the guests you’re having over!!” Ms. Chip was all too happy the moment I mentioned I had guests coming over for dinner, but I think she practically squealed when I mentioned Dr. Luke.
Before I could tease her more about it though, I heard the ring of the doorbell. “Shiela, could you please be a doll and get that for me hmm?” Ms. Chip asked sweetly, and even though she had her back turned to me, I knew what she was exactly thinking.
Rolling my eyes in defeat as I gently put Jaden back on the floor, I headed for the door and was curiously shocked as I opened it; there was Mr. Clancy in a nice fitted shirt as he held up what looked like a dreamcatcher. Beside him was Dr. Luke who held a bouquet of flowers in his one hand while he had his phone raised to his ear with the other, his stance slightly turned away from me, as if seemingly also talking to the person behind him.
Curiosity go the best of me as I followed his line of sight and saw Sheriff Heins, with his phone raised to his ear as well while he held my forgotten bottle of cucumber wine in his other.
“Wait. Do you three know each other???”
to be continued...
Image from Pixabay, by Phan Minh Cuong An: https://pixabay.com/users/minanfotos-9565064/ (edited with dreamscopeapp)