Chapter 23: Spring

The apple trees bloomed in the last week of April, white and pink down every row of the south slope.

The north rows were black stumps with green shoots at their feet.

I stood on Gran's porch with a cup of coffee and counted the blossoms on the nearest branch.

It was something I could count.

Behind me, the kitchen was full again.

This time nobody had brought a casserole.

The county supervisor sat in Gran's chair at the head of the table, with a folder.

The man with the pie sat on her right.

"I'll read it plain," she said, and cleared her throat.

"Redwing's fire district contract is void as of Monday.

"Its board removed the founder the Monday after the gala, and the state aviation board has opened its own inquiry.

"The county has accepted an offer from the new majority owner."

"Which is who?" the stand woman asked.

"The man who held forty percent.

"He bought out the rest, and he's putting up the money for a county unit. Two aircraft, based at the Pine Hollow field.

"The households on Larch Ridge pay nothing, ever."

Nobody said anything.

The man with the pie took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"There's one condition," the supervisor said.

"He wants a chief pilot who can't be told what to do by a man with a phone."

She looked across the kitchen at Jonah.

He was leaning against the counter by the stove, in a clean shirt, with his arms folded.

His certificate had come back in March, after a ninety-day suspension.

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