Page 23 of The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

“What money? And who are they?”

“A large sum of money was bequeathed to the city by the clock’s creator, including an endowment for the maintenance of the entire waterfront.” The mayor gestures toward the bank of windows overlooking the Hudson. Outside, people stroll down the boardwalk past well-kept planters and comfortable-looking benches. “People walk along the river, they stop for a drink or an ice cream or to browse in one of the little shops…”

“The waterfront is an amenity that the town values. That makes sense.”

“Exactly.”

“But why does the clock ring at random times? Is it some kind of mindfulness thing?”

“Depends on who you ask.” Hands behind her back, she moves closer to the windows, and I follow. “And whether you believe the answer.”

“What’s there to believe?”

“Supposedly, the bell tolls when someone’s falling in love.”

“How the hell would it know that?”

Her knowing smirk makes it clear that she sees right through me and my besotted heart. “Have you ever heard of an Ormolu clock?”

Again, not what I was expecting to hear. “I… no, I have not.”

“Okay, well,” she begins, and then proceeds to tell a long and winding tale about Climax Clocks and its founder Klaus something-or-other. “He had what they used to call Mad Hatter’s disease.”

“Oh, like that guy in theS-Townpodcast? They think he died of mercury poisoning from restoring clocks?”

“Yes, like that guy,” she says with a huff. “Anyway,creatingthe Ormolu clocks was just as dangerous as fixing them. Something to do with how they applied the gold paint. Anyway, he was some sort of genius, but also not quite right in the head. He said that when two people kiss or”—she breaks off, her neck and chest turning as pink as her cheeks—“um, you know…”

“Climax?”

She snorts. “Yeah. That. He claimed that he created an instrument that could detect some sort of vibrations that are emitted when soulmates, uh, come together.”

“And that sets off the clock?”

“That’s the legend. If the bell tolls, someone’s found their one true love.”

Is that what happened last night? Is Avery my one true love?I let this line of thought go for about forty-two seconds before chastising myself. I may read my kids fairy tales, but I don’t believe in them.

Thankfully, the mayor is gazing out the window, a dreamy look on her face. “Somewhere in Climax, someone fell in love at ten twenty-two this morning.”

“Did he?”

“He who?” She blinks for a moment before looking over at me. “Klaus Clijsters?”

“Right. The clock guy. Did he fall in love?”

The corners of her lips lift slowly as she gazes at the bell tower. “He did, actually. According to the book in the gift shop, anyway.”

“At least he had a happy ever after.”

She turns back to me with a wince. “Well, only for a couple of years. I think they both died horrible deaths from mercury poisoning.”

“Oh.”

“You want to know what’s worse? Up until a few years ago, the gift shop did a lovely job selling the romance. But just when local businesses busted out romantic hotel packages and restaurant menus all centered around the clock, that darn podcast took off and now, all anybody wants to talk about is the similarity to the clock guy inS-Town.” She shakes her head. “That is not the image we were hoping for.”

ChapterNine

AVERY

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