Page 61 of The Good Luck Cafe
“It’s just dinner,” Moira said again, her voice growing weaker.
Lucy pointed at a chair against the wall. “Sit there. We will find all the clothes and bring them to you,” she ordered.
Moira plopped down in the cushy chair and watched as her friends went on a mission to make her over. Truth be told, she needed a makeover. She was stuck in a nondating rut, wearing the same holey jeans and fitted T-shirts much too often. She wasn’t sure why tomorrow’s date with Gil was special, but she had to agree with her friends. It did feel monumental in a way. Like she’d finally dropped this huge resistance and a tsunami was heading in her direction to slam over her routine and transform it into something new. Something that excited her in the same way that running for mayor did.
As she waited, she pulled out her cell phone and stared at it blankly. She’d been thinking off and on all day about the caller on her dispatch. She’d even gone so far as to pull up the number that she’d saved in her phone and let her finger hover over it. What would she say though? Whatever the woman had decided was none of Moira’s business. She could even get disciplined or worse if she reached out to the woman.
“Here.” Trisha held up a pair of dusty-rose-colored capri pants and a black sleeveless blouse.
Moira dropped her phone back into her bag and looked up.
“It’s feminine but also simple and no fuss. It’s very you. My best friend in Sweetwater Springs owns a boutique there. I learned everything I know about fashion from her. This outfit suits you.”
Lucy stepped up to Trisha with a dress in her hand. She lowered it when she saw what Trisha was holding. “Yeah. That’s it. That’s perfect for Moira’s date.”
Moira studied the selection for a moment more. “I love it, actually.” Her gaze lifted. “Okay, what shoes do I wear?”
***
By the time Moira left True You with her friends, she had four pairs of capri pants, five blouses, a pantsuit, and three different pairs of sandals.
“My debit card needs a rest for the next six months,” she said in Tess’s car on the way home.
“You rarely buy yourself anything.” Trisha narrowed her gaze at Moira in the back seat. “There’s no reason to feel guilty.”
“Plus, these are work clothes,” Lucy said. “If you’re going to be mayor, you need to dress the part.”
“Am I going to be mayor though? Can I really beat Gil?”
Trisha nudged Moira with her elbow. “Just because you’re dating him doesn’t mean we’re going to go easy on this election. We believe in you. Yes, you can be mayor if that’s truly what you want.”
Moira nodded. “At first it was just about my mom’s bakery. I wanted to fight. Now I want more than that. I want to change things. I want to do things.”
Lucy spun around from the front seat and winked at her. “Well, in that cream suit, you’re going to convince anybody of anything you want.”
Tess dropped off Trisha first, and then Lucy. Moira was grateful when Tess pulled into her driveway.
“Thanks for the ride and the shopping trip. It was great,” Moira said, unbuckling her seat belt. She had moved to the front seat after Trisha and Lucy had been dropped off.
“Of course. You okay?” Tess asked, glancing over and peering at her. “I know you have a lot on your plate right now.”
Tess really had no idea how true that statement was. “I’m fine. Thanks again.” Moira pushed her car door open and stepped out. She retrieved her bags from the back seat and then waved at Tess on her way to her front door.
The biggest thing she had on her mind wasn’t the campaign or even her date. It was the caller, and her willpower was wearing thinner every time her mind retraced the interaction. She closed her front door behind her and dropped her bags on the couch. Then she pulled out her cell phone, took a breath, and gave in to her need to dial the caller’s number. Just to see if the woman was all right.
Moira’s heart pounded as she listened to the dial tone. She was beginning to think no one would pick up. Then a woman’s voice answered.
“Animal Rescue Ranch. This is Beth.”
Moira froze. She wasn’t actually planning to talk to this person. At least she didn’t think she was. She’d just wanted to hear the woman’s voice and make a judgment on her well-being based on the tone. She hadn’t expected to get a name or a place of business.
Animal Rescue Ranch?
“Hello?” the woman, Beth, said.
“Um, yes. Hi.” Moira had no idea what she was doing right now.
“Are you, um, looking for a pet?” Beth asked.
