Page 93 of The Good Luck Cafe
“Well, yes, but the kids would be waterlogged if they spent all their free time at Somerset Lake,” Moira shot back with equal parts directness and politeness.
“The youth center,” Denise Berger said. She’d shown up after all, and she’d done her best to control the narrative for every topic so far.
“Younger kids like the youth center, sure, but the older ones usually stop going. I mean, they’re so bored that they’re throwing rocks at doors. It sounds harmless, but someone could really get hurt. I think it would cut down on teens getting themselves into trouble if they had a place to go. We adults have our places, right? Sweetie’s is mine.” Moira looked down for a moment. Gil knew she was regretting that soon her place would be leveled and paved into a parking lot. Looking back up, she forced a smile. “So I wanted to suggest that we start considering creating a hangout for the teens.”
“What kind of place are you suggesting?” Denise asked, practically looking down her nose at Moira.
Moira shrugged. “I don’t know. A skate park, maybe.”
“For skateboarders?” Sheriff Ronnie asked.
“Mm-hmm. There’s one in Magnolia Falls. The kids skate for hours on end. There’s also picnic tables for them to just sit and talk.” She shrugged and glanced over at Gil.
He offered another supportive smile. “I like that suggestion a lot.”
“You’re just saying that because you two are dating,” Denise shot across the table.
Gil cleared his throat. “And maybe you don’t like the idea because it wasn’t yours.”
The room went quiet, the tension thick and palpable.
Gil cleared his throat again. He didn’t usually let his tongue slip like that. “We’ll put the suggestion on the list and discuss it some more at the next meeting,” he finally said.
“This is what’s wrong with you as a mayor,” Denise said. “This is why I should take your place.”
A few people in the room took audible breaths.
“Why exactly is that?” Gil asked, tempering his response.
“Because you sit on things for too long. You’re a thinker whereas I take action. Moira’s idea is a bad one. If I were mayor, I’d strike it down and keep moving. If I were already in office, the parking lot would be built by now, and we’d all be discussing something else to improve the town.” She lifted her chin and looked Gil directly in the eyes.
He was wondering how to handle the conversation when one of the town council members spoke up in his favor. “I don’t agree, Mrs. Berger. A thoughtful mayor is a good thing. Only a fool takes action too quickly.”
Denise’s lips parted as she glanced over at the man. “A fool?”
“That’s what he said,” another town council member said.
Several members nodded.
“Mayor Gil has done a wonderful job for this town. The parking lot is coming at its own pace, and we’re all doing our best here, which means we’re not judging one another.”
“Speaking of rock throwers, people who live in glass houses,” one member said, wagging a finger at Denise, “shouldn’t throw them.”
Denise’s cheeks flushed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re not perfect, and you’re surely not the perfect candidate for mayor,” Vi Fletcher said, direct as always.
Gil had always liked Vi. She spoke her mind, even when hers wasn’t a popular opinion.
“If you continue your run,” Vi told Denise, “you’ll lose. That’s pretty clear. And after last year’s fall talent show, we all know how much you can’t stand to lose.”
Gil had forgotten about that. Denise had objected loudly last fall when her musical act had gotten only fourth place. She’d told everyone who would listen that the voting was rigged and she was robbed of the winning title.
“Lose?” Denise echoed as if that was an absurd idea. She looked around the room, where her peers either nodded to agree with Vi or lowered their gaze.
Gil didn’t contribute to the conversation. He just sat back and watched everyone in the council fight his fight for him. It was a humbling show of support that left him speechless and proud of the job he’d done over the last few years.
***
