Holding On || Open
The last time Devil’s Knot had a potluck was under much better circumstances. The square had been filled with lights and joy and laughter, each and every citizen had been full and content. Tonight, the cool breeze penetrated everyone’s coats and stuck deep into their hearts. It was hard to pretend to be in good spirits when a child was still missing. They were entering the third week with no more information to go off of than they had before. Ken felt the questions burning in everyone’s mind: what happens now?
It was hard to see the Goode children around town. Even harder to see Linda’s hopeful face at each town meeting. He forced himself to give them each an encouraging smile, but he wondered how hopeful it really looked. His own father had kept his distance from the whole ordeal, and in the back of Ken’s mind he wondered if it was to force him into the hot seat. Everyone knew Ken would stop at nothing to help the town, and if this was Abel’s diabolical plan to get him into the Council once and for all...well so help him.
It was ten till 6 when Ken walked up to the Community center, noting a large group of church goers bustling about, setting up tables and small bonfires. The whole point of this thing was to raise spirits, but Ken wasn’t sure that would ever be possible. He set his dish – a crockpot full of sweet potato casserole that Aisha had whipped up – on one of the completed tables.
“Here we go,” he mumbled to no one in particular.