Interview With Toni
by Cal McCaffery
First off I want to make sure that it's okay for me to call you Toni. Second off, I hear there is a wedding in the future for you. Can you tell me a little about it?
Oh yes please call me Toni. The wedding yes...we've only just become engaged officially that is and I really haven't had much time to plan anything. My friend Ivy Braddock wants to help. I thought maybe something simple and elegant outside if the weather permits.
"This time of year in Australia is perfect for an outdoor wedding." He grinned. "So, you're engaged to Richie Roberts. Your name will be Toni Roberts then. I remember an actor with that name." He was teasing her a bit so he added a wink. "Since you haven't really made plans I don't suppose you have any idea where you'll honeymoon, do you? By the way I'll be asking Mrs. Braddock for an interview in the near future too."
"Actually, I think we will honeymoon here in Australia, we've only seen Sydney and Coffs Harbour, it's a good sized country and we'd like to see more of it. Toni Roberts, yeah I'm going to have to get used to that. Ivy's a treat...she's been there for me always."
"Actually, I think we will honeymoon here in Australia, we've only seen Sydney and Coffs Harbour, it's a good sized country and we'd like to see more of it. Toni Roberts, yeah I'm going to have to get used to that. Ivy's a treat...she's been there for me always."
"it's great to have friends like that. Colleen has been my gal Friday for quite some time now and I guess she's my best friend. Anyway." He shifted in his chair and turned a page in his notebook. "I understand Richie is a lawyer. Will you be working with him or do you plan to do something on your own?"
"Well I'm not qualified to work with Richie, I was a physical therapist before we came here I may get back into that once a clinic is established. Right now I'm gardening like crazy, I'd like to start up a gardening club...oh not the fussy kind my Mother belonged to, all hats and tea cups, no something where we could exchange plants, maybe visit local gardens that sort of thing and take care of the common areas in the village.
"That's wonderful. If you ever want to take care of the plants at the newspaper office we'd love it. Don't know how much we could pay right away but we could give you a free subscription for starters. If you start up a gardening club be sure to let us know. We'll publish and ad for you." He paused to scribble some notes down, "The Glen doesn't have a park yet. Perhaps you'd consider raising some funds to put that together? I mean with all of the couples here and pending marriages and the likes, we're sure to have a bunch of kiddies running around soon enough, at the very least the place could use a dog park.
"You know Cal, that's a great idea about the park, there's a good sized green space already where people are parking cars, we should do a fundraiser maybe a barbie at the Tavern. You have given me ideas! We could have booths, like a bring and buy, yeah....oh sorry I do tend to go off sometimes. I'd be happy to tend your plants, I'd like to see the newspaper office anyway I understand you have an antique printing press? Hm I can't seem to get this fundraiser out of my mind and here I'm supposed to be planning a wedding.
"I need to beg your forgiveness. Please plan the wedding before the park. You'll be the first in town and that's quite an honor. You can worry about other things when you get back from the honeymoon. By the way can I get you a cup of coffee or something?" Since he cornered her at the diner he should have offered a half hour ago. Cal raised his hand for the waitress. He could use a cup of joe, or a gallon of it.
"We have an older press. It won't cooperate with me but Colleen seems to have luck with it. Which reminds me, I need to pick up some of that oil she uses on the dang thing." he grinned "You know, I've noticed that you have a very distinctive accent. Let me guess. Alabama?"
"Coffee would be nice. Alabama? No a little farther north and way far east. My mother's people are from Virginia and my father's British. I lived in Yorkshire England until I was twelve and then we moved back to my Mother's house. She inherited from her father. So I'm a mixture and then being with Richie who is so New Jersey I'm sure I'd be hard to pinpoint as to my origins. You know I didn't realize I would be the first to marry here, now the pressure is on ha, ha."
"You are the first to become engaged. You never know what may happen around here. Someone may elope or something." He chuckled. "Your heritage is unique. That explains the accent. If you and Richie ever have children I want to be there for the kids first word. I'm sure he or she will have some kind of interesting way to say their A's." The wairtress set their cups down and he poured a bit of cream in his. "Speaking of Richie, I'm curious, what's his favorite food? I mean you'd have a knack for roast beef and Yorkshire puddings but I bet you could whip up a mess of fried chicken with a plate of greens to beat the band. Which way does his taste lean?"
"Ha, his taste leans toward food. He doesn't keep Kosher you know so I can pretty much cook whatever I like. I do try to respect his heritage though. Right now he's into beef anyway I fix it but he loves my fried chicken and squash casserole. I can remember my Mother when we moved to Virginia slowly turning my father around and introducing Southern cooking to him. I've sort of done the same thing with Richie. He doesn't cook at all...tried to fool me one time with a spaghetti dinner...that was funny, he never knew I knew where it came from but I saw a familiar bag in the trash when I helped him clean up after the meal."
"Saved by the take out. I got you." Cal snickered. "Been there, done that, got caught too. " Gathering up his notes, he looked them over quickly. "I think I have enough to put a pretty nice article together. Is there anything else you'd like the readers to know about you and Richie? Maybe your feelings on the Glen?"
"The Glen has become very special to us, it was a safe haven that came at the right time. A place to start a new life and I think its being a new community allows us all to put our stamp on it. I'm lovin' it out here and so is Richie. We've met a couple of our neighbors and can't wait to meet the rest, hey we just might have an open invitation wedding now that would be something to put in your paper."
"What a nice thing to say. I'll pass that on and I'm sure you'll have a long and prosperous life together. Thank you so much for your time, Toni. Everyone will look forward to attending your wedding. Best of luck to you and Richie."
With that he got up to leave. He'd have to go shopping for a wedding gift now. Something very special for a very special couple.
