Chapter 13

“Like I said, everybody with enough extramoney could buy an invitation to the opening gala or can eat at the restaurant. But most people are running on tight budgets and have been since the recession. It’s harder for them to bounce back now that the economy is getting better.

“Besides, nobody from town that I know of was actually invited. Beth and Kate weren’t. None of the tellers at the bank where Cuttings has an account were. Maybe the bank president, who’s not from around here, was, but not the regular people who do the actual work. If you hadn’t been cooking, you wouldn’t have been invited.” When he started cleaning, I pitched in to help. “All I can say is the whole thing left a sour taste in people’s mouths. The people against the Star are gaining local supporters. Maybe they aren’t so much against gays as they are against newcomers moving in and taking over with no regard for the folks who’ve lived here their whole lives and have kept the town going.”