Jessica Marcus from WTI-News turned when she saw Moira approaching. Moira had asked her for a meeting, proposing a small outdoor dining area that sat to the left of Sweetie’s Bakeshop. “Moira, I was glad you called. Are you ready to film?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
“Great.” Jessica gestured to her cameraman, and Moira saw a green light come on in his equipment. The reporter turned toward Moira and smiled. “Moira, you recently dropped out of the race to become mayor. Any chance you’ll reconsider?”
Moira shook her head on a small laugh. “No. Not this year, at least.”
“Well, I’m sure when you’re ready, your voters will still be out there waiting to cast their ballot on your behalf.”
“We’ll see about that.” Moira laughed awkwardly, looking between Jessica and the camera.
“You left this race because of your past. Is that correct?” Jessica asked.
Moira took a breath, wanting to bolt, but this was why she’d asked Jessica to meet her here today. “You could say that. I was hiding from this part of my past for a long time. I guess I was embarrassed about my actions. I didn’t want people to judge me.”
“And now?” Jessica asked.
“Now I want to confront my past. Yes, I did those things that were reported.”
Jessica’s mouth fell open. “That is not what I was expecting you to say. I suspect you had a good reason.”
It was almost worth telling the truth just to surprise a professional reporter like Jessica who’d likely heard almost everything. Moira rolled her lips together. “It’s my word against his, of course. That’s so often the case. All I know is I went on a date with this man, had one drink, and could barely walk out of that bar. He was going to drive me home. Luckily, a friend of mine was there, Mayor Gil. He stepped up and took me home instead. Mayor Gil actually insisted on doing so. I can’t prove what happened that night, but I know in my gut, and in my heart, what could have happened.” Moira took a breath. She’d been talking fast, trying to get her story out. She hadn’t spoken Felix’s name, and that was on purpose. The last thing she needed was a defamation lawsuit. “I wanted revenge. I was angry. I was hurt. That’s no excuse for taking the law into my own hands though. I know that. Being young is also no excuse.”
Moira took a breath. She had a figurative spotlight on her right now, and she needed to use it to help others. That was why she’d called Jessica in the first place. “I’d like to take this moment to encourage others who may find themselves in a similar situation as I was to report any potential crimes, even if you think there’s nothing that can or will be done, report it. Tell someone. Tell law enforcement, tell your friends, a family member. If you don’t have a good support system, find a counselor and talk to them. Holding the truth in doesn’t help anyone, least of all yourself.”
“Wow,” Jessica finally said. “You are such an inspiring woman, whether you run for public office or not. Thank goodness for Mayor Gil insisting on taking you home. Are you still friends today?”
How did reporters seem to know exactly which questions to home in on? “We are, yes.”
“Good. Well, in my opinion, when you’re ready to run for mayor again, this town would be lucky to have you.”
Moira went straight home after her interview with Jessica. It wouldn’t air until tonight, but Moira was already feeling exposed. Jessica was right. Thank goodness for Gil. He was a lifesaver. Her very own small-town hero. And she’d been treating him like the opposite, avoiding him again the way she used to before their truce.
It was just hard being around him and not being with him, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to jump back into their budding relationship. She didn’t feel like she could trust herself to make the right decisions now. She’d decided to run for mayor, and look where it had gotten her. Some part of her felt free though. She’d harbored so much guilt and shame about what happened with Felix for so long. Now everything that had happened would be out in the open.
She pulled into her driveway and stepped inside her home, where she planned to stay for the indefinite future. She didn’t want to see or talk to anyone. At the exact moment she thought this, her cell phone buzzed inside her purse. She walked over to the counter, pulled out her phone, and read the screen.
Gil: I’m still here. In case you were wondering. Not going anywhere.
She stared at the screen for a long time. Then she tapped back a reply.
Moira: Do you want to come over tonight and watch the six o’clock news with me?
So much for being alone. Gil would probably think this was a crazy invitation. She suddenly didn’t want to watch the news story by herself tonight.
Gil: Sure. If it means spending time with you, I’m there. Is there a reason we’re watching the news?
Moira: Yes. I’ll be on it.
Chapter Thirty
Gil had spent the day with Doug, touring the Somerset cottage one more time and watching Doug sign his first lease agreement. Doug also met his neighbors-to-be. He knew them already, of course. Doug was one of those people who knew everyone. It was one of his strengths and the reason why he made a great campaign manager for Gil. One of the reasons, at least.
This was going to be a good thing. Gil remembered when he was barely eighteen and wanted to leave his parents’ home so badly he could hardly stand it. Not because they were hard to live with but because it was a rite of passage. Doug deserved that as much as anyone.
Doug had smiled from ear to ear when Gil had been with him today. It was a good day—for both of them. Topping it off for Gil was the text Moira had sent, inviting him over to watch the news. This had him curious, of course, but just knowing that he was going to spend a little time with Moira also energized him. There was an extra lift in his step and in his heart, even if he didn’t think she was calling him over to recharge their relationship.
He took several steadying breaths as he pulled into Moira’s driveway, headed up the porch, and rang the doorbell. He wasn’t sure what to expect coming here tonight, so he’d skipped the flowers he’d considered buying at the florist shop, and he’d dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt. Moira was leading; he was following.
He rang the doorbell and waited anxiously for her to answer. He liked to think he was good at reading people. Her eyes and smile would tell him exactly where they stood, which was something he needed to know. Before word had leaked out about Moira’s night in jail, they’d been falling hard and fast for one another. Feelings like those didn’t just disappear. At least not for him.
The door opened, and Moira offered a hesitant smile. Her hazel eyes were warm and inviting, which made him breathe a little easier. It was all he could do not to step toward her, wrap his arms around her, and give her a kiss. He didn’t though. Warm and inviting could mean they were still friends. Or it could mean Moira’s feelings for him went deeper than friendship. He didn’t want to misinterpret anything tonight.
He offered her a wide smile in return. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Her cheeks flushed slightly. She looked like she was doing well. There was a glow to her skin, and a twinkle in her eyes. The weight of the world didn’t appear to be pressing down on her shoulders the way Gil thought it had the last time he’d seen her.