Page 34 of The Good Luck Cafe
Moira nodded, too stunned to say anything more. She’d tried, but she wasn’t done yet. This fight was far from over.
***
When Moira got home that night, she retreated straight to her bedroom and stripped off her clothes, changing into a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. Then she stepped out on her deck and looked out on the starry night. Something about the way Gil had been so distant tonight really bothered her. No one on the town council had said anything to make Moira believe they were going to look for alternate locations for the parking lot.
Moira glanced down at her cell phone. She wanted to text Gil and ask him what the deal was. She really had no right though. She’d been shying away from him for years. One night didn’t erase how she’d treated him. Maybe this was payback. If it was, it wasn’t okay. She didn’t want her mom’s bakery to suffer. Whether her mom said so or not, she didn’t want to lose her business. It was her life.
Moira swallowed back tears and looked up at the sky again. She was long past wishing on stars, but what else could she do?
“Hey.”
Moira startled at the unexpected voice. Her eyes searched the darkness, finding Gil standing there. She hadn’t heard him drive up.
“You didn’t answer your door, so I decided to walk around back.” He shrugged. “I know my deck is where I usually am if I’m not inside.”
Moira’s heart was still pounding. “You scared me.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
She relaxed a little bit. “I’m surprised you’re here. After the way you ghosted me at tonight’s meeting.”
“About that…” Gil headed in her direction. He climbed the bottom step and stopped, leaning against the deck railing.
His attractiveness struck her more and more lately. “Yes?” she finally asked.
Gil held out his hands. “Moira, there’s nothing I can do about your mom’s bakery.”
“That’s not what you said last night.”
He shrugged. “I shouldn’t have led you to believe I could help. I wasn’t thinking. I was too caught up in the moment.”
“What moment?” she asked, inwardly denying there’d been any kind of moment between them. Had there been? Was it just her imagination? She looked down and realized she was wearing only a tank top and skimpy shorts. Heat flared through her chest.
Gil seemed to understand what she was thinking. He cleared his throat and looked away. “As the mayor, I have to do what’s best for the town as a whole. The parking issue is a safety concern as much as an inconvenience.”
“I refuse to believe there’s no other way. As the mayor, it’s also your responsibility to protect the livelihood of the people here.”
Gil turned his attention to the starry sky where she’d been looking a few minutes ago. “I know. I would find another way if there was one.”
“That’s a cop-out, Gil. I thought we’d come to an understanding. I thought we were becoming friends.”
He looked at her. “I hope we are. I don’t want to fight with you, Moira. That’s why I came by.”
“Why exactly?” she asked.
“To shoot straight with you about your mom’s bakery.”
Moira lifted her chin. “Well, thank you for being straight this time. I guess I’ll see you around.”
“On Saturday at the festival,” he reminded her. “I’m presenting you with an award.”
“Are you going to take that back too?” she asked, knowing she sounded defensive, but shewasdefensive.
“No. You deserve it, Moira. If it’s any consolation, I’m sorry.”
Moira gave her head a shake. “It’s not.”
Chapter Eleven
