“You’re the most beautiful pregnant woman I’ve ever worked with,” Lucy Hannigan said. Lucy was a midwife who owned and operated the Babymoon B&B in a prestigious neighborhood called The Village.
“You’re partial because I’m your friend.” Trisha rolled her eyes just slightly. “But thank you. I’m lucky to be under the care of the best midwife in town.”
“The only one,” Lucy said, “but thank you as well.”
Moira sighed, pulling her book from her bag. “Is this a lovefest or a book club?” she asked, not meaning it to sound as grumpy as it came out.
The women all turned their attention to her. Tess, Lucy, Trisha, Della, and the newest member, Lara.
“Okay, something’s up with you.” Tess leaned back into her leather recliner and crossed her long legs. “What’s going on?”
Moira hadn’t gotten a chance to fill any of her friends in on the town council’s decision. She was still in denial about it all, hoping it was just a bad dream. On a sigh, she said, “Mom sold the building that Sweetie’s is housed in a couple years ago when my dad was sick.”
“What?” Lucy’s mouth dropped. “I had no idea.”
Moira nodded. “She wanted to try some experimental therapies that insurance didn’t cover. So instead of asking me for help, which she’s too proud to do, she sold the building with the verbal agreement that she could still run her business here.”
“Unwritten agreement?” Lucy asked, obviously thinking like her lawyer husband.
“I would have told her to at least get that in writing,” Moira said. “But first I would have told her not to sell her building. The town has been champing at the bit for this piece of real estate for years.”
“Why?” Trisha asked.
Moira shrugged. “Because they own most of the downtown area. And now Gil and the town council are proposing a new parking lot for Hannigan Street.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Lucy said reflexively. “That is a welcome change.”
Moira narrowed her eyes. “Where do you think they’ll put the parking lot, Luce?”
Lucy seemed to consider the question. She finally shook her head and shrugged. “I have no idea. If there was a good spot, they would have done it years ago.”
“Exactly. In order to put a parking lot here, they’ll need to tear something down.”
Lucy blinked, and then her mouth fell open. “You’re not serious.”
Moira reached for a piece of fudge. No amount of chocolate would make this news any better though. “I wish I weren’t.”
Tess reached out and rubbed Moira’s arm. “I’m sorry. I know how much Sweetie’s means to you. It means a lot to all of us.”
Moira sucked in a breath. “Well, I’m not going to let this happen.”
“What are you going to do?” Tess asked.
“I don’t know yet. I was thinking about starting a petition. I’ll get the whole town to sign it. Then the council has to listen, right?”
“I think the council would at least have to reconsider their decision,” Tess agreed. “It’s a good idea.”
Moira broke a piece off her fudge square as she explained the idea she’d come up with last night. “Next weekend is the Spring into Somerset Festival. Everyone will be there.”
“It’ll be the perfect place to get your signatures,” Lucy said excitedly. She was the eternal optimist of the group while Tess was the wise one. “I have a booth already set up to take reservations for the B and B. You can put your petition at my table. Or one of them. I’m sure other people would be willing to help you with this too.”
“And you can keep a petition here,” Tess added.
Moira looked around her circle of friends. “Mom already told me to drop any plans to fight this. She doesn’t like others to make a fuss where she’s concerned. That’s why I’m doing this on my own and not telling her.”
Tess made a face. “I don’t like the sound of that. Keeping secrets from family is never a good idea.”
Tess’s late husband had kept a wealth of secrets from her. She and River Harrison, a private investigator in town, had done some undercover sleuthing last year to unravel the mystery of her late husband’s death. The secret Moira was proposing was on a much smaller scale though. It would be harmless, really.
“My mom will get over it,” Moira said. “This is for the best. For the town’s best. Sweetie’s Bakeshop can’t be turned into a parking lot. It just can’t.”
“That’s the spirit,” Lucy said. “Now let’s talk about this award you’re receiving at the festival.”
Moira rolled her eyes. “I was considering playing sick to get out of it. But now, with the petition idea, I can’t really do that. I need to be there.”
“Yes, you do.” Lucy’s green eyes lit up. “It’s perfect, actually. You’ll be onstage. You’ll have everyone’s attention. That’s a perfect time to plead your case.”
* * *
Gil bounced his leg under the table and glanced around the busy tavern. He was usually able to relax when he was at the weekly get-togethers with the guys. Tonight, however, he wished he were at home. All he wanted was to lie in bed and close his eyes.
“Earth to Gilbert,” Jake said.
Gil blinked his friends into focus. Jake and Miles, a local deputy, shared a look. River cleared his throat and started chuckling quietly across the table.
“What? What are you guys laughing about?” Gil asked.
Even Roman was chuckling, and he was the newbie of the group, ruling out any kind of inside joke he might not get.
“Denise has already got you worried, huh?” Out of their group of friends, Jake loved to tease Gil the most. It was just his easygoing way.
“What do you know about that?” Gil asked.
“She’s already started her campaign against you, buddy. Have you seen her ads?”
“Ads?” Gil looked at his pals. “What ads?”
“She’s running ads on Reva’s blog,” Jake said.
Gil scrunched his face. “Since when does Reva offer paid advertisement? Is that a thing?”
Miles shrugged. “Denise is calling herself the ‘Family choice for mayor.’”
Gil pulled back, bracing his arms on the table in front of him. “Why? Because I’m single and without kids, that means I’m not the family choice?”
“That’s the natural assumption.” Jake tipped his drink back and took a long swallow.
“You were voted Most Eligible Bachelor last year,” River added. “That’s the antithesis of the family choice.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m living a bachelor’s lifestyle.” Gil reached for his soda. The carbonation popped on his tongue as he took a sip. “I thought Reva liked me,” he said as he lowered his glass back to the table.
“She likes everyone,” Jake said. “Don’t take it personally. Just ask her to put in an ad for you too.”
Gil frowned. For his last mayoral election, he hadn’t needed to do any of that stuff. All he’d needed to do was get signatures petitioning for his run as mayor. He’d spoken at a few events, informing folks of his views and his goals for the town, and that was all. The previous mayor, Bryce Malsop, had been so unpopular that Gil was the shoo-in.