Page 83 of The Good Luck Cafe
“Oh, yeah. All for a good cause.”
Moira glanced around. “Since you come to these events a lot, I’m assuming you know the volunteers.”
Gil nodded. “Yeah. All of them.”
Moira looked at him hopefully. “Will you introduce me?”
He tilted his head. “You thinking about becoming a volunteer?”
Moira smiled and lifted a noncommittal shoulder. “You never know.”
“First running for mayor and now volunteering with rescue animals. You are one surprise after another these days, aren’t you?” Gil teased. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to the organizer, Beth Chimes.”
“Beth?” Moira asked, brows lifting.
“You know her?” Gil asked.
Moira shook her head quickly. “Not yet, but I’d love to meet her.”
“Your wish is my command.” Gil led Moira toward a table where three women were sitting. Folks had tried to set him up with Beth last year. She was young, single, and attractive, but there were no sparks between them.
“Hey, Beth,” he said.
Beth looked up from a notebook set before her on the table. “Mayor Gil.” A broad smile formed on her face. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
Gil gestured to Moira, who looked shell-shocked again. “This is my friend Moira Green.”
“Um, hi. Nice to meet you,” Moira said.
He got the feeling that Beth made Moira nervous somehow, which he found odd.
“You’re running for mayor.” Beth’s gaze moved to Gil, and her smile faded. “Against you.”
“That’s true.” Gil nodded.
“I was so sorry to hear about the town’s plans to demolish your mother’s business,” Beth told Moira. “I speak to your mom all the time when I stop in the bakery.”
“Right. I’ve seen you there,” Moira said.
“Well, now we’ve officially met. We can speak to each other next time.” She looked at Gil apologetically. “I mean, maybe there’ll be a next time before Sweetie’s closes.”
Gil wanted to move on from the topic of Sweetie’s and the Hannigan Street parking lot. “What can we do to help today?”
“Just being here is enough.” Beth stood from her seat. “Having both of you here is sure to reel people in. If you could just walk around and love on the animals. That’ll encourage others to do the same. Maybe snap a few pics and post on social media if you can. To draw more attention to the event. I would love it if every animal here found a good home today.” Beth looked at Moira. “That never happens, of course, but one can hope, right?” She stuck her hand out for Moira to shake. “Nice to meet you, Moira.”
Moira shook Beth’s hand. “You too. Really. You seem happy.”
Beth smiled awkwardly. “Oh, well, meeting new people and matching them with their ideal pet makes me happy, I guess. See you around.”
Moira glanced at Gil as they walked away.
He still couldn’t read Moira, and maybe that was part of her appeal. She was a good mystery, which he’d never been able to resist.
“Beth seems nice,” Moira said.
“She is. She’s really passionate about giving these animals good homes.”
“Was she acting the same way she normally does, when you see her?”
