“Does this mean you’re not going to tell me what’s wrong?” Mama asked, slinging an arm around Rosie.
Rosie pulled away, feeling as if a crab were pinching her inside. “There’s nothing to tell. I’m sorry I kept you up,” she said in a rush, anxious to change the subject. “I better get these last papers filed before school.”
“You can always finish them tomorrow,” Mama said, her eyes puzzled. “I forgot to tell you. Molly Lawler came in yesterday about her property taxes, and I asked her if you could use their old field off Poplar Lane for your film. She said no problem.”
Now Rosie felt even worse. Here was Mama thinking about her again, helping to solve her problems, the same way she always did. “Thanks for doing that.”
Mama ruffled her hair. “No trouble at all. I wonder if I missed my career calling as a set finder.”
“It’s called a location scout,” Rosie said.
“Location scout—I like that,” Mama replied. “I see an entirely new career in my future. I’m clearly meant for Hollywood.” She assumed a pose, one hand on her hip, the other flung above her head.
Rosie couldn’t help giggling.
A jingle of bells signaled an opening of the front door.
“Now, who could possibly have a complaint this early in the morning?” Mama sighed.
“I’ll check,” Rosie said, and rounded the corner into the lobby.
Sheriff Parker stood in the center of the room, his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels. Rosie glowered at him. He was the last person she wanted to see before eight o’clock in the morning or before eight o’clock at night. Really, he was the last person she wanted to see ever.
“Good morning, Rosie,” Sheriff Parker said.
“The office isn’t open yet. I’m helping Mama out.” Though Rosie was only helping out because Sheriff Parker had gotten her in trouble in the first place.
“It’s good to see you doing something productive after the other week.”
“I do a lot of productive things,” Rosie said, trying not to glower at him. “In fact, I’m working on a new project with Mayor Grant, and I’m going to need some permits.”
Sheriff Parker sighed and muttered something that sounded a lot like not again. “You’ll have to go through all the official channels and fill out the paperwork. I expect it will take some time to process. We do have a system in place for these things, which everyone has to follow.”
“Fine,” Rosie said shortly. Sheriff Parker made everything less fun with his “official channels” and boring “systems.”
Mama made her way into the room. “Why, Sheriff Parker, I didn’t know you were here. What can we help you with this morning?”
Sheriff Parker’s lips curled up in a weird expression like Mr. Waverman’s donkey when she wanted an apple. It looked as if he were trying to smile but his face wasn’t sure what to do.
“I was hoping for some coffee,” Sheriff Parker said.
“We don’t have any ready,” Rosie said quickly.
Mama gave Rosie a surprised look. She gestured to the coffeepot on the table behind the receptionist desk. “Don’t be silly. I made some when I got in this morning.”
“I thought you drank all of it yourself,” Rosie said, shrugging.
“No one can survive without coffee,” Sheriff Parker said with another one of his weirdo smiles.
Rosie waited for Mama to make her usual coffee jokes—how she would trade her arm for a cup of coffee, how coffee was the only thing she’d bring to a desert island—but she only turned and busied herself pouring Sheriff Parker a cup. “One sugar, right?”
“You know me,” Sheriff Parker said, reaching for the coffee cup.
“No she doesn’t,” Rosie mumbled so Mama couldn’t hear.
Sheriff Parker fiddled with the stirring straw in his cup. “I was thinking about that budget meeting yesterday. Your point about taking the time to allocate costs to the proper department made real sense.”
Mama waved a hand in the air as if it were nothing, but she looked pleased. “It’s just good business. It helps us see where additional resources are needed within the town infrastructure.” Her voice was oddly serious.
“Well, it was a good idea. I was never in these meetings when I lived in DC. It’s interesting to see how all the departments work together. If you need help on the budget, let me know. It would be a nice break from answering questions about the state’s law on finding stolen treasure. I got seven calls yesterday alone. I swear half this town is losing its mind over that train treasure.” Sheriff Parker grinned at Mama.
This was the first time Rosie had ever heard Sheriff Parker sound friendly. Was Anna Lee right about him having a crush on Mama?
“Mama prefers to work on the budgets alone,” Rosie said.
Mama cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t say that. My job requires me to work with other people all the time.”
Had Sheriff Parker’s smile widened? Did he think Mama meant she wanted to work with him? Rosie narrowed her eyes.
“You told me you could get everything done a whole lot faster if everyone would stop sticking their nose in your business,” Rosie said.
Mama gasped out a laugh. It was true she had complained about the planning commission last week, though maybe not quite in those words.
“I did not say that. She’s kidding.” Mama turned to Rosie, her eyebrows somewhere up near her hairline. “Tell Sheriff Parker you’re kidding.”
Rosie shrugged and hoped he didn’t think she was kidding. She knew she was pushing it, but this was a desperate situation. She couldn’t have Sheriff Parker thinking he had a chance with Mama. He’d never stop hanging around.
Sheriff Parker only laughed. “Hey, I understand. Sometimes it’s easier to do the job yourself, but keep my offer in mind. I know you’ve got a lot going on with the festival coming up. You probably need your own Miracle to get everything done.”
Rosie glared at him. She didn’t buy this nice-guy act for one second.
“The Miracles don’t work that way, you know. Mama isn’t going to wake up one morning to the entire festival planned and her desk cleared,” Rosie jeered.
“I was only kidding,” Sheriff Parker said in a patient voice, as if she were five years old instead of practically a teenager.
“The Miracles aren’t a joke,” Rosie said. “They’re real.”
“I didn’t say they weren’t,” Sheriff Parker said, but there was something about the way he said it. Rosie bet he was one of those people who thought the Miracles were all some big coincidence, one of those skeptical, unimaginative people who wouldn’t notice magic even if it was spitting in their face.
Mama placed a firm hand on Rosie’s shoulder, digging in with her fingers. “I thought you had filing to do.”
“It can wait,” Rosie said, twisting away. “I’d rather stay up front.”
Sheriff Parker clutched his coffee and took a step backward. “I should get going anyway. But I really am happy to help. I’ve got some time to spare. Things are a lot quieter here than what I’m used to. I’m not complaining though. It’s one of the reasons I moved to Glimmer Creek in the first place.” He stopped and reddened. “Anyway, see you around.” He bumped into the door and stumbled over his feet before turning and heading outside.