Page 19 of Kissing the Beach Town Fire Chief
"And by anyone, I mean don't tell your aunt either," Ethan says again after he notices that I didn't say anything. I nod in response. But how much do I believe him after all? This information can be vital for his campaign, and it might make him win if he tells people about it. I think he might tell it. I don't want to betray his trust either.
But then again, I don’t want to betray my aunt’s trust either. She is my family. I must look out for my family.
"And you must not tell your campaign people, either. No matter what. This information doesn't get out until we are both in agreement," I tell him. It's not just me who can leak this information; it's him, too.
“Deal,” He extends his hand for me to shake. I extend mine, and we shake hands and make a deal.
But how long is this deal going to last? Knowing how much this information can change things for both of us, how long will we keep it hidden from everyone else? One way or another, one of us is going to slip out, and then all that will be left between us is a broken promise and broken trust.
Chapter nine
Ethan
The next morning, the insistent knocking on my door jolts me awake, and I groggily stumble out of bed. With a yawn, I hurry to answer it, wondering who could be so eager at this hour. And there stands Ami. Of course. "Ami, what are you doing here so early in the morning?" Before I even invite her in, she walks inside.
She looks stressed. "I don't know what to do, Ethan; help me out," she looks at me with eyes full of desperation.
“What is going on?”
"I have to tell Aunt Maggie about the whole thing. I cannot hide this from her. This cannot go on. When the truth is out, she is going to be so mad at me that I didn't tell her earlier, not just because her campaign would go to waste but also because I kept something so big related to her family. She’ll be so disappointed in me." she paces around my living room.
"Okay, then tell her." I tell her what she wants to hear, but is this really what she wants to hear? She looks up at me.
"I don't know if I should. I mean, it can ruin her entire election campaign," she is clearly not sure which way she should go.
I advise her that she can tell Maggie, and then it is up to her aunt to let others know about it and possibly ruin her campaign.
"I guess you're right, but then again, I know her. She wouldn't want to keep this information hidden."
“Speaking of that,” I say, “I was also thinking we shouldn’t keep it hidden.”
She obviously startles and asks what I mean.
"I mean that this town deserves to bring back its old ways. We owe this place at least that much. So, I am thinking that we should reveal this," I hope she gets my point.
“But how are we going to do that?”
"Well, I was thinking I would tell my campaign people about this, and for starters, let's see how they react, and if we get more and more positive responses, then we can just tell everyone in town about this," I pitch in my idea.
Ami doesn’t say anything. She is thinking, I hope she agrees with me.
“Hmm, and I guess I can tell Aunt Maggie about this a little bit. Or just show her the documents.”
"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe she already knows something about it? I mean, we did find the boxes in her bookstore," I pose. “That could be the case. But if she knew, then why didn't she tell me before? Or anyone else? Why did she keep it all to herself? I don't think my aunt would do something like that." Ami doesn't believe it. I get it. I wouldn't either if someone told me that my aunt has been keeping something this big to herself.
So I agree that it’s best if she talks to her about this. She can get answers to all her questions. And in the meanwhile, I will let my campaign people know as well.
She asks me to drop by the bookstore later because she really doesn’t want to talk to her alone.
I agree and reassure her, and she smiles at me, mouthing the words "thank you."
I smile back and after talking about a few other things, we have breakfast together.
When she leaves, I head to my campaign office. "Good Morning, Everybody!" I enter and am greeted with laughter and smiles. "Ethan, I’m so glad you came in. We’re all waiting for you to explain your next campaign move," Todd, my party representative, says.
"Okay, well, it's good to know that everyone is already here. I do have some really exciting news that I want to tell you." I stand at the small podium and address everyone.
I break the news, telling everyone about the true history of Seabrook and how I plan to restore the old Seabrook when I win the elections.
