Chapter 23: A Fair Goodbye

The Port Calder Harbor Commission met on Tuesday evenings in the town hall.

The room had a flag, a water pitcher and forty folding chairs.

That night every chair was full.

I sat in the third row with Sawyer on my left and Poppy at the teacher friend's.

My mother-in-law sat at the front, at the long table, in her navy suit.

She had come. I had not thought she would.

The chairman was a retired dredge captain with a hoarse voice.

"Item four," he said. "Renewal of Mrs. Rutledge to the commission, as treasurer, for a further six years."

He looked up.

"Is there any comment from the floor?"

Lorna stood up in the aisle.

She wore the blue dress from the regatta and she held a manila folder against her chest.

"I'd like to speak, Mr. Chairman."

My mother-in-law did not turn her head.

"State your name for the record."

"Lorna Carmody. I'm not a resident, so I'll be quick."

Someone coughed.

"Last week I told this town what my brother did. I left something out, because I hadn't checked it."

She opened the folder.

"I thought the money came out of Mrs. Rutledge's own pocket. On Monday I went to the clerk and asked who signs for the commission's repair fund."

"Mrs. Rutledge," said the chairman slowly.

"Both payments to my brother cleared from that fund. Fifteen thousand in March, and fifteen thousand the next summer."

She turned a page.

"The ledger calls them pile inspections."

A low noise rose from the chairs.

I felt Sawyer go still beside me.

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