Page 32 of The Good Luck Cafe
Gil opened his eyes and looked over. His brother peered back through his round glasses. “Yeah?”
“Can I come with you tonight?”
“To the town hall?” Usually Doug stayed home. He didn’t like what he referred to as “boring” meetings.
Doug nodded. “Yes.”
“I guess. If you want. It’s not exactly fun though.”
“I’m your campaign manager. I should be there. It doesn’t have to be fun.”
Once again, Gil thought Doug looked defensive. “You’re right. A lot of things aren’t fun, but we do them anyway. I just meant, you don’t have to go, whereas I have no choice in the matter.”
“I want to go,” Doug said.
“Okay then.”
“I’ve got to shower and change clothes,” Doug told him, standing suddenly.
“Sure. Meet me back here in forty-five minutes?”
“Okay, Gilly.” Doug walked down the steps, taking them slowly. Gil wasn’t sure, but he thought Doug’s ankle injury from the other day was still bothering him. Goldie ran over to Doug’s side, matching his pace and following him next door.
Gil guessed he needed to get ready too. How did one dress when they were preparing to let down one of the people they admired most? He kind of felt like putting on his best funeral suit, because that’s how he felt walking into tonight’s meeting.
Standing, he walked into the house, opened the fridge, and reached for a cold bottled water. He twisted off the cap and drank half in one long gulp. Then he set the bottle on his kitchen island and continued walking toward his bedroom. Tonight wasn’t going to be pretty. He just wanted to get it over with. Or skip it altogether, but as the mayor, he couldn’t do that.
He changed into a short-sleeved shirt with a pair of jeans and brown leather boots. To give the jeans a more formal look, he pulled on a navy linen sports coat. He combed his hair, brushed his teeth, and then stepped back onto his deck to sit in his Adirondack chair and wait for Doug.
Goldie walked up to him and pressed her nose into his palm. He rubbed her head and scratched behind her ears, telling her, “At least I have one female in my life who’ll love me after tonight.”
***
The town hall was a full house.Great.Gil had hoped for scarce attendance tonight. He was also hoping somehow Moira wouldn’t actually show up. He should have known better though. Moira was strong-willed. Independent. If someone told her what to do, she dug her heels in harder to do the opposite.
He liked those qualities of Moira’s. Once, in third grade, their teacher had told Moira to take off her coat because it wasn’t cold in the building, and Moira had zipped her jacket up and told the teacher she didn’t want to. Even though it was hot, she’d kept it on all day just to prove a point—she couldn’t be forced. Being drugged by Felix must have hit Moira hard. Knowing what might have happened probably devastated her all those years ago.
Gil looked around the town hall from his seat onstage, spotting Moira in one of the middle rows. She waved when he looked in her direction. Gil waved back, stricken by mixed emotions. They’d made progress toward rebuilding their friendship the other night, and more than anything, he wanted to be friends with Moira. If he went against her tonight, that wouldn’t happen.
Gil swallowed hard.
“Hey, Gil.” Jake stepped onto the stage with him. Jake had joined the town council this past year. He followed Gil’s gaze. “Could you be any more obvious, man? I thought you were over Moira.”
“I am,” Gil said. “I was just waving at her.”
“Uh-huh. Sure.” Jake chuckled. “Looks like there’s a lot of interest in town talk tonight. I even see Reva here.”
Gil glanced toward the blogger. “She’s always here.”
“Moira doesn’t always attend though. I assume she’s here about her mom’s bakery?” Jake asked.
Gil nodded. “Yeah.”
“And I assume you’re going to back her up.”
Gil turned to look at Jake, dread hanging heavy in his gut. “No.”
***
