Moira face-palmed. “We have an agreement. Whatever happens, happens. It’s not personal.”
“Hmm,” Tess hummed, chewing and swallowing her bite of bagel. “Seems very personal to me.”
They enjoyed their breakfast together, and then Moira got up to leave. As she was making the trek to her car parked farther down the street, her cell phone rang. She dug it out of her purse and checked the caller ID, not recognizing the number. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Moira Green, candidate for Somerset Lake town mayor?”
“Yes, it is.” Moira reached her car and slid behind the steering wheel. Her dispatch shift started in twelve minutes. She needed to go home and get settled. “Who is this?” she asked, putting the call on speakerphone so that she could have both hands for driving.
“This is Jessica Marcus with WTI-News. I’m calling to see if you’re available for a live interview for the news this evening.”
Moira cranked her car and pulled onto the road. “News?”
“That’s right. I don’t know a mayoral candidate who would turn down free publicity. We’re the most watched TV news station in the area.”
Moira swallowed past the sudden flutters in her chest. Tess said she was proud of her, but public speaking still made Moira nervous. If she was going to do this though, she needed to get used to it. She’d been second-guessing herself with Gil last night, but she really did want to continue on this path. It scared her, yeah, but it also invigorated her. “Sure, I would love to interview with you. I have to work until five.”
“We can set it up at six. Does that work for you?”
Moira’s palms were suddenly slick against the steering wheel. “Y-yes. That works well.”
“How about I interview you in front of Sweetie’s? I know that’s part of your running platform. We can meet, say, around five forty-five?”
Darla probably wouldn’t be thrilled about this meeting place. She didn’t want to draw attention to the town’s plans. Moira did though. “That would be great. I’ll see you tonight.” Moira disconnected the call and grinned to herself as she drove home. Tess was right. She was doing things that the old Moira would never do. Moira liked this new version of herself as well.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I can’t believe the most pressing thing on my list right now is looking for a few kids tossing rocks at folks’ doors,” Ronnie said with a drawn-out sigh.
Gil sat across from the sheriff at his desk. “Well, that beats the alternative, I guess. At least you’re not looking for a serial killer or something.”
“In Somerset Lake?” Ronnie looked amused. “You’ve been watching too many cop shows.”
“More like reading too many true-crime books while I try to fall asleep at night...So you don’t have any leads on the rock-throwing case yet?” Gil asked.
“All I know is that the perps are just a couple of kids being bored. This is the one time I advocate letting bored kids play video games versus driving around and looking for trouble. I have a few deputies patrolling the neighborhoods at night. That’s all I can do. That and hope someone witnesses the rock throwing in action and calls in a description or a license plate number. Or catches one of the perps on one of those Ring cameras. Those things have solved quite a few crimes since they’ve come out.” Ronnie ran his fingers over his overgrown beard.
“Small towns have perks and drawbacks. When kids throw rocks at doors for fun, that’s a drawback.”
Ronnie gave a low chuckle. “We have to make our own fun around here, that’s always been the case. I remember the old days of catching fish in the lake with our bare hands as sport.”
“And skinny-dipping too,” Gil said. “Not that I ever joined in that recreation.”
“I’m pleading the Fifth.” The sheriff leaned forward. “I’m not sure I ever properly thanked you for agreeing to the lock-in here at the jail. We raised a lot of money to cover some much-needed sprucing up in the cells. Spring cleaning isn’t just for our homes.”
“You’re welcome. I’m always glad to help.”
“And you got a day with Moira out of the deal. I hear you two have gotten close these days.”
Gil didn’t agree or disagree. He wasn’t ready to spread his and Moira’s relationship around town just yet. It was new, and he didn’t want to invite anyone else’s opinions or negativity in.
“Well, if you two get married, maybe you’ll have your wedding at the jail. For sentimentality’s sake.”
Gil scoffed. “A jailhouse wedding? No wonder you’re still single, Sheriff.” He stood and reached out to shake Ronnie’s hand.
Ronnie shook it as he laughed. “I’m still single because it suits me. Thanks for dropping by, buddy.”
Gil turned to leave.
“Hey, Gil?”
“Yeah?” Gil turned back.
“I just want you to know that you’ve got my vote. You’re the best mayor this town has seen. I believe in you.”
Gil swallowed thickly. “Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you.”
“I also want you to know that I told Moira the same thing.”
Gil narrowed his eyes. “You only get one vote, Sheriff.”
Ronnie leaned back in his chair. “That’s too bad because both of you would make an excellent choice, in my opinion.”
“There’s three of us running,” Gil pointed out.
Ronnie shook his head. “Denise is a hard no for me.”
“Well, I appreciate your support,” Gil said. “Even if you’re cheating on me with Moira.”
* * *
Deep breaths.
The deeper Moira tried to breathe in, the less calm she felt. Who said this was a good technique for remaining calm?
Tess stepped up beside Moira and wrapped an arm around her. “You look amazing. That cream suit really looks good on you. Deep breaths,” she coached.
Moira side-eyed her. “It’s not working.”
“You’ll be fantastic. Just answer the questions honestly, and it’ll be over in ten minutes or less. These things are hard to mess up.”
Moira nodded. “You interviewed with this woman when you took over the bookshop from your aunt, right?”
“I did. She’s a bit ambitious with her questions. Just try to remain calm, hold your smile, and don’t answer anything too quickly. You’re allowed to think about your responses. And if you don’t want to answer a question, just say no comment.”
Moira watched her friend. “Wow. You make a great campaign manager, you know that?”
“Don’t flatter me too much or your other campaign managers will be jealous.”
Moira laughed. “Thanks for being here. I feel a little better.”
Tess leaned in and whispered only for Moira’s ears. “But I bet you wish Gil was here.”
Moira took a shuddery breath. “The reporter would really have a field day with that, wouldn’t she? Two mayoral candidates dating.”
Tess shrugged. “You don’t choose who you fall for.”
Moira glanced over. “We’ve had two dates.”