The Empire

by C. L. Alden

  She took a bite of her hotdog. It tasted just like she remembered. The Original was a hot dog on a steamed bun with grilled onions, a little sweet relish, and a secret sauce that tasted a lot like mustard with a dash or two of ketchup. In all her travels, she had never found a hot dog that was good as a Mo’s Original. When she was a kid, the only thing Mo’s made were hot dogs, and at that time, the menu only listed three variations: the Original, the Mustard dog and the Kraut Pleaser. Over the years, as their popularity grew, the number of menu items increased. They now also sold chili dogs, corn dogs, french fries and ice cream bars. Darcy thought it was smart that they didn’t stray far from what they did best.

  “Millie come back here!” Just then Millie came running up to Darcy with a ball in her mouth. She stopped directly in front of Darcy, dropped her tennis ball and sat down watching Darcy eat her hot dog. “Sorry about that. Oh! Hi….” Will came running up and put a leash on Millie. Her heart started pounding. She was more than a little embarrassed about the other night. She still had no idea why all of that had bubbled to the surface and then boiled over. It was so long ago, and she had moved past it. Will looked a little uncomfortable too.

  “Hi”

  There was a silence hanging between them that bordered on unbearable, though it was really only a couple seconds.

  “Sorry for the intrusion. Come on, Millie.” Will said pulling on Millie’s leash. Millie, however, was firmly planted. Her eyes were not leaving the hotdog in Darcy’s hand.

  “Hi Millie! Remember me?” Millie looked up briefly and wagged her tail in acknowledgement, but quickly went back to the hotdog.

  “Come on, Millie, stop staring, it’s rude. We’ll leave you to it.” Will said picking up her ball and trying to get her to move.

  “Millie is more interested in hot dogs than tennis balls” Millie was the icebreaker that they needed to get past the other night.

  “Apparently.”

  “It’s okay. I like hot dogs better than tennis balls too Millie. Especially if they’re from Mo’s”

  “None better,” Will agreed. Millie was beginning to salivate.

  “Listen Will, I want to apologize for the other night.”

  “No, I’m the one that’s sorry. I pushed you.”

  “No, I don’t know what got into me. That was ancient history and I should be able to talk about it like a mature, rational adult. And I can. I got past all of that ages ago. It’s just that, this whole trip has been weird.”

  “What do you mean?”

  There was no way she could tell him everything that was happening. “Lots of reunions and memories…I’m just over emotional, or something.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “Anyway, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to and shouldn’t have lashed out at you like that.”

  “I’m sorry too. Really, I should’ve backed off when I saw how upset you were getting but—”

  Darcy couldn’t hear it. As much as she had her ‘big girl panties’ all straightened out, she knew in her heart of hearts that what she had said the other night were all things that at one time or another she had buried inside her about the situation. It was time to move past it and change the subject. She looked down at Millie. “Awww… Look at her.” Millie’s eyes were still on the hotdog, and drool was beginning to drip from her mouth. “May I give her a bite?” As if Millie understood, she looked at Will with big brown pleading eyes. “Please, I can’t stand it! And she’s shown such self control this whole time while we weren’t even paying attention. She looks so pitiful.”

  “Okay… But Millie, we’re not making a habit of this.” Millie looked back at Darcy, wagging her tail and patiently waited, her eyes back on the hot dog. Darcy broke off a piece and held it out to her, on a flattened palm. Millie quickly, but gently gobbled it up.

  “Good girl. Very lady like Millie.” Darcy said patting her on the head as Millie resumed staring at the rest of the hotdog. Darcy looked up at Will, “I’m impressed—hey!” at that moment, Millie snatched the rest of the hot dog out of her hand. It was gone before she could say another word. Darcy and Will looked at her shocked.

  “Millie!” Will admonished, wagging a finger at his dog. “I am so sorry!” he said to Darcy, clearly embarrassed by his dog’s behavior. Millie did not look repentant.

  “It’s okay. She’s got good taste.” Darcy laughed.

  “Let me get you another.”

  “Oh no, that’s alright.”

  “No, I insist,” Will said. He held out the leash to Darcy. “Would you mind holding this little thief for a moment? And no. No more for you! Little scoundrel. I’ll be right back.” Will jogged over to stand in Mo’s line. He returned a few minutes later with a box of four and a root beer.

  “I couldn’t resist. Do you mind?” he asked gesturing to the bench space beside her.

  “Of course not, please.” Will sat down beside her. She look at the full box, “Hungry?”

  “Oh come on! Who can eat just one? I got two for me and two for you.” He looked at Millie who was now staring at the box, full of anticipation. “And none for you.”

  “Oh I can’t eat two.” Darcy said, knowing full well that she probably could.

  “Yeah right.” He said chuckling to himself.

  “What?” she said feeling a little defensive, as if he were somehow insulting her.

  “You forget I’ve seen you eat four of these at a sitting with chips, and a root beer.” Darcy smiled. He wasn’t lying. The memory of happier, easier times melted the last bit of awkwardness away, and Darcy relaxed into the comfortableness they used to have. She could still feel the sting of what might have been, but she buried it down as deep as it would go.

  “Yeah well…” she had nothing. “So what’s your point?”

  Will laughed. “Here, I’ll trade you” he said holding the box out with one hand and taking the leash from her hands with the other. He got up and tied the leash to the opposite end of the bench, then came back and sat beside her. Darcy handed him the hot dogs. “Please, dig in.” He said holding the box out to her. Darcy took one and he handed her an extra napkin.

  “Thank you.” She said taking a bite. “Mmm, this is one of the things I missed most about this place.”

  “Agreed.” Will said having already eaten half his hot dog in two bites.

  “What are you doing here in the middle of the day?”

  “If I don’t take Millie with me to work, I try to stop home in the middle of the day and let her out to stretch her legs.” Will was making short work of his hotdog. Darcy heard a small whine from Millie who was staring at them intently.

  “You live around here?” Darcy asked. Will lit up at the question.

  “Yes! Just down the way. I bought that old Federalist style a couple blocks down on Harper St. Do you remember it?”

  “The one with the widow’s walk?” How could she not remember? Harper St. was part of one of the oldest neighborhoods on the water side of Shoreton. It was comprised of four streets, Harper, Elm, Oak and Maple. She remembered the summer after their freshman year at U. Maine, she and Will walked all around the old neighborhoods of Shoreton looking at the architectural features of all the old homes. He had found his calling that first year of college. He started that year thinking he would pick a field in engineering, but it was actually one of the few classes they took together, a Humanities class, that made the lightbulb go off in his head about architecture and design. From that point on he was passionate about history and old buildings. She remembered listening to him go on and on about the features of each of the styles they came across on their walking tour.

  “That’s the one.” Will said smiling.

  “That’s a lotta house! That’s great though. I remember that was always one of your favorites.”

  “It needs a lot of work.” He said beaming with excitement.

  “And you’re loving every minute of it” she replied. Will had always loved to work with his hands, building models, working on cars.
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  “Yes, I am. Most of the big old houses in that neighborhood have been converted to multi-family homes. I’m working with some owners and their contractors to convert a couple of them back, but mine is still a single family house.”

  “How’s it coming along?”

  “Slow. You should come by and see it while you’re here. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

  “I’d like that.” Darcy could feel herself getting uncomfortable again. They were moving back into territory that was a little too close for her comfort for now. This was the perfect opportunity to try and pick his brain. “So, that’s crazy about the fire last night, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What do you think caused it?”

  “In an old place like that, it could be any number of things.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought, but when Eddie came into the diner this morning, there were a lot of people throwing around the idea that it was arson.”

  “Huh.” he said turning his body to face the ocean in front of them, his eyes looking down at the last bite of his hotdog instead of her.

  “You don’t sound surprised.”

  “I’m not.” His tone caught Darcy off guard. Will and Eddie were never friends in high school, and based on both of their reactions to each other the other night at Schooners, she knew that hadn’t changed, but this was a whole new level.

  “Do you think Eddie would actually burn down his own family’s property?”

  “Do I think he poured the gas himself and lit the match? No. Do I think he’s capable of hiring someone to do it for him? Oh yeah.” He tossed the last bite of his hotdog to Millie and turned to face her.

  “You’re serious?”

  Will nodded.

  “Why would he do that? What’s the motivation?” She was starting to feel a little defensive, and it crept out in her tone.

  “Come on Darce, that’s prime real estate sitting there for years just collecting dust.”

  “It’s part of his family’s history.”

  Will chuckled. Now he was starting to sound a bit defensive. “Do you think that matters to a guy like Eddie?”

  “Of course it does. We’ve talked about how proud he is of the Barrett legacy.”

  “Oh you have, have you?” There was that tone that she’d heard the other night at Schooners.

  “We have, and I don’t think he’d go to those lengths just for money.”

  “He’s a businessman, Darce. Businessmen make money. There’s no money to be made in vacant broken down factories.”

  “He’s more than just a businessman.”

  “Oh really? You know this how? Never mind it’s none of my business.”

  “Okay, let’s for argument sake, say that he did intentionally destroy those buildings. What do you think he’s gonna do with the property?”

  “Develop it.”

  “Is that bad?”

  “No. The right kind of businesses could be good for Shoreton.”

  “But you don’t trust him to bring in the right kind of business.”

  “I didn’t say that, exactly. You know that we’re on the planning committee together, right?”

  “Yes. Eddie mentioned that when I— we ran into you the other night at Schooners. He calls it the Great Debate.”

  “What it comes down to is a difference in opinion as to which is the best way to revitalize Shoreton. We’ve gotta do something.”

  “Oh yes, because of the possible bypass. That’s all my dad talked about for weeks before I came.”

  “That’s pure speculation right now, but either way Shoreton is in trouble. We’ve taken a big hit over the last several years in our tourist industry. Visitor numbers are way down. We can’t survive like that. A good percentage of the businesses here rely heavily on what they make in the summer from visitors. We need to find a way to bring up our numbers.

  “So what’s the plan?” Darcy asked.

  “Well, that’s the debate. Half of the committee wants to focus on the quaint New England charm and history of this town and work on restoring some of the old buildings to bring them back to their former glory. Shoreton was a big deal for a couple hundred years.”

  “I’m realizing that more and more on this trip.”

  “Our families, Martins and Adams, helped build this town. It’s part of what makes us who we are. I guess I have a sense of pride about that, and I don’t want to see it ruined.”

  “Ruined meaning changed?”

  “No, change is fine. Change is inevitable. We need to change, at least a little, to keep moving forward. But, I don’t want to see it torn down and re-created into something that doesn’t reflect who we are, or where we came from.”

  “Is that what the other side wants to do?” She could already tell what the clash was between him and Eddie.

  “The other half wants to do market studies and build attractions and new shiny buildings. They want to make this a new and modern jewel of the northeast coast.”

  “I see. So what you’re saying is that you fall on the side of restoration and evil Eddie falls on the side of destruction and shiny new things.”

  “I never said he was evil.”

  “But you think he’s capable of burning down his own building to push his agenda.”

  “I do.”

  Darcy let out an exasperated sigh. “Why can’t there be a compromise? What’s wrong with some new buildings and new business?”

  “There can be, and nothing is wrong with that. Look, I’m not saying that Eddie’s ideas of bringing in new business to expand our demographic are all bad. I just think while focusing an eye on the future, we need to remember to look back and remember and honor what got us here to begin with.” What he didn’t say was, that he didn’t think Eddie’s goals to create his own legacy and expand the family’s included that.

  “Well that sounds doable.”

  “It is, but both sides have to compromise, and that’s where we’re struggling.”

  “Compromise isn’t always easy.”

  “I agree. And I especially don’t think it’s easy for someone as ambitious as Eddie.”

  “Okay, I can see that. But it’s not impossible” She couldn’t disagree. She knew Eddie was ambitious and that his family’s standing and his standing in that legacy were also very important to him. “Well I have faith that it will all work out.” What she didn’t say was that she was sure that Eddie’s heart was in the right place and that he would do what was best for the town.

  “And I’m sure you’re right. Sooner or later.”

  “Since we’re on the subject of the town and history, ever heard of the Founding Society?”

  “No, I don’t think so. Why?”

  “They’re another group I’ve come across that seems to have a divided opinion on the future of Shoreton.”

  “Not surprising. Seems everyone in town has an opinion.” Will looked at his watch. “Oh, Millie, it’s time to go.” He got up and went over to untie Millie. “I’ve got a meeting in Weskeag in an hour. So you’ll try to come by and see the house some time this week?”

  “Yes, definitely.”

  “Great! I’m glad we ran into each other again, Darcy Jane.”

  “Me too.”

  ***

  Darcy met Ali in the archive room. They sat at the long wooden table over the location of the mysterious stone, and started pouring over some of Abraham Bishop’s Founding Society journals. She filled her in on her meeting with Will. Ali didn’t seem shocked to hear Will’s opinion about Eddie.

  “Well this is a snooze fest.” Darcy said, flipping through a journal from 1775.

  “Yeah, well he wasn’t writing about his hopes and dreams. He was keeping records of the town and it’s citizens.”

  “What are we looking for?” Darcy asked.

  “I don’t know...Something. I just wish ol’ Tempe or Aunt Ruth would show up. I wanna know what the hell is goin’ on over there.”

  “I feel like we’re just waiting for the
other shoe to drop.” Darcy admitted.

  “Any word from Eddie?”

  “Nope.”

  Ali drummed her fingers on the table as she scanned through a journal. She was restless too. Looking at old journals was pointless and she knew it. “Do you think they’d answer if you called them out loud?”

  “I don’t know. I have no idea how this works.” There was no one else in the archives room and the volunteer was wandering around dusting.

  “Well try. Can’t hurt.”

  “Okay” She glanced over to the volunteer to make sure she wasn’t looking. “Can she hear us?”

  “No. Well maybe if you scream. Don’t scream, just call their names.”

  Darcy stood up “Temperance Bishop. Ruth Bishop.”

  “Well?”

  She looked around to see if anyone had appeared.“Nothing.”

  “Try again. And concentrate.”

  “Concentrate on what?”

  “Calling them, bringing them to you, reaching out to them. Something!”

  Darcy scowled at Ali, but tried. She thought about Temperance and Ruth, visualizing them in the room. “Can you hear me? Temperance Bishop. Ruth Bishop. Please come here.”

  “Maybe it takes a minute.” Ali said, still hopeful.

  Darcy walked around the room hoping that at least one of them would appear. After about five minutes she walked back to the table and sat down with a sigh.

  “Third time’s a charm?” Ali cajoled.

  “Why not.” She had no expectation that it would work, but it couldn’t hurt. “Come in Temperance Bishop, can you hear me? Calling Ruth Bishop, come in Ruth Bishop.”

  They sat and waited. Minutes ticked past. Finally Ali couldn’t take it anymore. “Alright, we’re done. Let’s go get a drink. Should we go to Pete’s and see if Rosie is around?”

  “I saw a pirate at Schooners.”

  “Schooners it is.”

  ***