by Regina Hart
“I’m not thanking you. I’m not taking you to dinner, either.”
She straightened, facing him as she shrugged out of her navy blazer. Her coal black eyes sent him a sizzling look. “You may change your mind once you see what’s on the menu.”
Darius wasn’t interested in her games. “Why did you let my father take credit for things you know he didn’t do?”
Opal stilled. “What?”
Darius lifted the newspaper in his hand to help jog her memory. He wanted an answer, damn it. “When you interviewed him Friday, you let my father take credit for other people’s work.”
He tracked her as she maneuvered herself farther into her cubicle.
“Hey, I was taking notes. He was the one making the claims.” Opal took her seat behind her Formica desk and crossed her long legs. Her short navy skirt rose midway up her thigh.
“And you didn’t think to question him on anything he said?” Darius struggled with his irritation.
“It’s not my job to vet his answers.”
“Yes, it is.”
Indignation snapped in Opal’s eyes. “How?”
“You’re supposed to interview the subject. You’re a newspaper reporter, not a Dictaphone.”
“Did you talk to Daddy about his lies?”
“Yes, I did. Now I’m talking to you.”
Opal leaned forward on her chair. She aimed a finger at his face. “You’re pretty high and mighty, lover. If you’re God’s gift to journalism, why are you here at the Monitor, instead of at The New York Times?”
“Why are you?”
She threw herself back against her chair. “Back off, Knight. Liu already read me the riot act.”
Opal sounded as though she expected Darius to feel sorry for her. He didn’t.
“Liu spoke with you?” Darius mentally crossed Loretta Liu, the Monitor’s managing editor, off his hit list.
“She woke me Saturday morning, then spent fifteen minutes screeching at me and threatening my job. She put me and the entire weekend copydesk on permanent detention.”
“Good.” Darius was satisfied his editor would keep a closer watch over Opal’s work. He straightened from the other reporter’s desk.
Opal caught his wrist. “Why are you so upset about the story?”
Darius shook off her hand. “It’s not accurate.”
“Give me a break, Darius. Do you have some sort of hero worship for Doreen Fever?”
“She’s done a lot for the town.” Darius turned to leave, but Opal’s next question stopped him.
“Why don’t you want your father to run for office?”
“I never said that.” He met her eyes over his shoulder.
Opal gave him a shrewd look. “It’s written all over your face.”
“Are you claiming to have reporter’s intuition now? Pity you didn’t use it Friday.”
“Are you saying I’m on the right track?”
“No, I’m not.” Darius’s tone was as icy as the anger he held in check.
“It would make a good story.” Opal lifted her arms as though framing a photo. “‘Hometown Hero Votes Against Father in Mayoral Election.’”
Darius’s blood ran cold. “Try sticking to the facts. It would be a refreshing change for you.”
Opal’s black gaze frosted over. “What does your family have to hide, Darius?”
He returned Opal’s heated glare with a cool regard, then left her cubicle. The trouble he’d predicted had started even before Simon’s petition passed. What would happen to his family once his father’s campaign began in earnest?
Doreen checked the next agenda item for her Monday meeting with one of the town council’s subcommittees. It was the Founders Day Celebration invitation to State Representative Isaac Green. She hated the idea of Representative Green attending the event, but it would be a mistake not to invite the elected official.
She looked at the three council members seated across the table in the Trinity Falls Town Hall small conference room. They seemed bored.
Doreen tapped the agenda with her clear plastic pen. “We need to let Jack know we’ve invited Representative Green to the Founders Day Celebration.”
“No, we don’t.” Council member Christopher Ling’s tone was flat, as though he didn’t want to debate the issue.
“Why not?” The air conditioner blasted the small, blue-carpeted room. Doreen pulled her rose linen blazer more tightly to her.
“Doreen, I believe you’re being hasty.” Nessa leaned back on her seat. Her round brown eyes were clouded with concern. The dark brown skin around her mouth was tight. “Representative Green may not even attend the event.”
Doreen faced Nessa. “But he might. I don’t want to leave this to chance.”
CeCe Roben snorted, drawing her fingers through her pencil-straight auburn hair. “I would be more concerned about pissing off Jack unnecessarily. It took you long enough to convince him to participate. Why risk having him change his mind when we don’t even know whether there’ll be a problem?”
“It’s common courtesy.” Doreen swept her hand to encompass the council members. “Wouldn’t you want to know?”
Christopher shrugged. “What’s the worst that could happen? They’d see each other on the stage. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is Isaac Green was sleeping with Jack’s wife while they were still married and their daughter was dying.” She shouldn’t need to remind him of that painful scandal.
CeCe folded her hands on the table. “The situation would be very awkward. I understand your concern. But I still say we can afford to wait, at least until we hear back from Green’s office.”
These meetings with members of the Trinity Falls Town Council’s Events Subcommittee were intended as updates. She wasn’t seeking approval.
Doreen sat straighter on the blue-cushioned swivel chair. “I’ve followed up with Representative Green’s office twice. I haven’t heard from anyone.” Yet another reason she disliked the state representative. “I don’t want to wait too long to tell Jack. He’ll need time to prepare.”
Nessa glanced around the table. “Do we really believe Jack will honor his commitment to the event if he thinks his ex-wife and her new husband will be in attendance?”
Doreen’s resentment stirred at the insult to Jack. “I think Jack deserves the opportunity to make that decision.”
Nessa’s eyebrows arched. “I don’t. Besides, Kerry may not accompany Representative Green to Trinity Falls. The situation would be uncomfortable for her as well.”
Doreen could only hope Jack’s ex-wife would show that level of sensitivity. “We can’t take that chance.”
CeCe shook her head. “I’m sorry, Doreen. I, for one, vote against our telling Jack the sesquicentennial committee invited Representative Green to the Founders Day Celebration.”
There was a general murmur of agreement around the table.
The council members were wrong on this count. Luckily, Doreen didn’t have to listen to them. “I’m sorry. I somehow gave you the impression this decision was open to a vote. I’m not asking for your permission. I’m keeping you informed.”
Christopher exchanged glances with the other two council members before returning his dark gaze to Doreen. “You aren’t mayor yet, Doreen. You can’t make decisions like this on your own.”
CeCe chuckled. “That’s right. And, since Simon is petitioning to run against you, your election isn’t guaranteed anymore.”
Doreen counted to ten, then drew a calming breath. “Thank you for your input. I do realize I’m not mayor. That’s why I consulted with Ramona. She agreed that I should tell Jack that Representative Green may attend the event.”
“Why did you speak with Ramona before meeting with us?” There was a hint of censure in Christopher’s tone.
Doreen tilted her head to the side. “She’s the mayor.”
CeCe waved a hand dismissively. “But we’re the council’s Events Subcommittee.”
Doree
n inclined her head. “Representative Green’s invitation to the sesquicentennial came from the mayor’s office.”
“You’re quite right, Doreen.” Nessa lifted her hands, palms out. “Your group is in charge of the event. You don’t need this committee’s approval.”
“Thank you.” Was she imagining things or was the councilwoman’s tone patronizing?
Nessa returned her hands to the table. “I just hope Jack proves to be more reasonable than his past behavior would indicate.”
Doreen dropped her gaze to the table. She dreaded her coming confrontation with Jack.
“Leo signed Simon’s petition. And then he broke up with me.” Doreen sat at Books & Bakery’s kitchen table with Megan, baking and drinking coffee before the store opened Tuesday morning.
Megan blinked. “I can’t believe it. Why?”
Doreen lowered her mug. “Why did he break up with me, or why did he sign the petition?” Their conversation seemed surreal, as though other people were having it.
Megan covered Doreen’s hand with her own. “Doreen, I know you’re worried about Simon’s petition, but there’s no reason to be. Even if his name is added to the ballot, Simon is not a viable challenger to your campaign. Leo knows that.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Doreen stared into her mug of coffee. “He signed the petition because he doesn’t want me to be mayor. He wants me to be his wife.”
Megan blinked again. “Leo proposed?”
Doreen balanced her elbows on the table and propped her head in her palms. “Yes, but I told him I need more time. I need to know who I am without Paul before I can be myself with him.”
Megan came around the table to hug Doreen’s shoulders. “Give Leo time, Doreen. He’ll soon realize he’s being an idiot. Ean didn’t want you to run for office at first, either. Now he’s your biggest supporter.”
Doreen met Megan’s eyes. “I announced my decision to run for office seven months ago. If Leo hasn’t come to his senses by now, he’s not going to. Instead, he’s signed Simon’s petition to hurt my campaign.”
The bell chimed on the industrial oven. Doreen grabbed a mitt from the wall. She pulled out the brownie tray and set it on the counter to cool.
Megan replaced it with several trays of cookie dough. “I can’t understand why you’re worried about Simon. You were prepared to run against Ramona. She would have been a much stronger challenge to your campaign than Simon. So why are you concerned about him?”
Doreen crossed back to the table and sat. “I could handle losing to Ramona. I didn’t agree with some of her plans for Trinity Falls, but she’s a good mayor.”
Megan followed Doreen. “I agree.”
“But losing to Simon would mean that all of my hard work, all of my efforts to help improve the community, mean nothing to anyone.”
Megan’s hand closed over Doreen’s wrist. “You shouldn’t feel that way.”
“Why not?”
“First, Simon hasn’t filed his petition.”
“Yet.”
“Second, if he’s allowed to campaign, you’re going to defeat him, so stop worrying about Simon and let’s figure out what we’re going to do about Leo.”
“There isn’t anything to do. He broke up with me.”
“He’ll come around, Doreen. Just give him time.” Megan checked her watch. “Come on. We need to open the store.”
Doreen followed Megan out of the kitchen. “He wants me to choose between him and the mayor’s office. I don’t know why I can’t have both.”
“This is the twenty-first century. You can have both.” Megan’s voice was tight with indignation.
“Not in Leo’s world.” Doreen peeked around Megan at the sight of a customer waiting outside. “Is that Alonzo?”
Alonzo tipped his brown felt campaign hat at them from the other side of the front door. Megan turned the lock to let him in.
“Morning, ladies.” The sheriff crossed the threshold, tucking his hat under his arm. He looked very official in his short-sleeved tan shirt, black tie, and spruce green gabardine pants.
“Good morning, Alonzo.” Doreen’s worries eased under the warmth of her old friend’s regard.
“Are you making Books and Bakery part of your morning routine?” Megan’s tone teased him.
Alonzo nodded toward Doreen. “I could get used to Doreen’s breakfasts.”
Doreen led him back to the café, while Megan went to her office. “That’s nice to hear, Alonzo. But the scrambled eggs and bacon you order aren’t anything fancy.”
Alonzo’s husky chuckle further lightened her mood. “You haven’t had my eggs and bacon, or my coffee.”
“Tired of your own cooking?”
“And my own company.” A dimple appeared at the right corner of Alonzo’s mouth.
“I can understand that.” Doreen remembered those lonely mornings after Paul had died.
She continued behind the counter as Alonzo settled onto one of the stools. She poured him a mug of coffee, careful to leave room for cream this time.
“Thank you.” Alonzo’s gaze was direct but wary. “I need to tell you something.”
Doreen returned the coffee to its warmer, then searched his eyes. “What is it?”
Alonzo held her gaze. “Simon again asked me to sign his petition. I—”
“I understand, Alonzo.” Doreen looked away. “If Simon wants a chance to campaign for office, we don’t have the right to stand in his way.”
“I didn’t sign his petition.”
Doreen’s head snapped around in surprise. “What?”
“I don’t want to call Simon Knight ‘Mayor.’” Alonzo stirred cream into his coffee. “But I thought you should know he’s accusing you of exerting undue influence on your customers to convince them not to sign his petition.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” Doreen studied Alonzo’s proud, tan features, his kind coffee eyes. “Why haven’t you ever married?”
Alonzo sipped his coffee. “Never found the right woman.”
“You’re only a few years older than me. Are you telling me you’ve never been in love?”
His gaze wavered. “I didn’t say that.”
“Morning, Ms. Doreen.” Darius interrupted them.
Doreen reluctantly turned away from Alonzo. “Good morning, Darius. The usual?”
Darius settled onto the seat beside the sheriff. “Yes, ma’am.”
She filled Darius’s mug with coffee. “Two orders of bacon and eggs coming up.”
Darius sensed Alonzo’s tension beside him. It didn’t take a mind reader to know he’d interrupted something important. “Morning, Sheriff.”
Alonzo pulled his gaze from the kitchen door through which Doreen had disappeared. “Morning. I was surprised you hadn’t written the Monitor article about your father.”
“It would’ve been a conflict of interest.” Darius was satisfied with his cover story. It wasn’t a lie.
“Is that right? I think you would’ve done a better job, though.” Alonzo drank more coffee.
Darius inclined his head. “Thanks.”
“Saw you heading out of town again Saturday. You left later than usual.”
“You don’t miss much, do you?”
“Wouldn’t be much of a sheriff if I did.” Alonzo met Darius’s gaze. “You’ve visited this person every weekend for years. Must be very special.”
“Is there a question in your future?” Darius enjoyed the game of wits with the sheriff.
Alonzo shook his head. “Just an observation.”
“I have a couple of questions for you.”
“Is that right?”
“Why would a person return to his hometown after more than forty years? And why wouldn’t he go after the person he’d come back for?”
To the casual observer, the sheriff appeared relaxed. But Darius noticed the tight grip with which his companion held his mug.
“You’d have to ask that person.” Alonzo’s gaze flickered, but he didn’t look awa
y.
“I just did.” Darius picked up his own mug and savored his coffee. “I’m glad Quincy finally found the courage to admit his feelings to Ramona. He’s a changed man now, much happier. What do you think?”
“Yes, he is.”
“They say confession is good for the soul, Sheriff.” Darius’s words echoed in his own mind. Maybe confession would be good for Simon’s soul as well. Should he dare force the issue?
CHAPTER 13
“Doreen invited me to Quincy and Ramona’s going-away party.” Audra’s delivery seemed deceptively casual.
Jack packed their breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. He watched Audra scrub the pan she’d used to cook their breakfast this Tuesday morning.
“Would you like to go together?”
“Yes, I would.” She tossed him a smile as she set the pan on the drain board.
Audra and Jack had fallen into a morning routine: a five-mile run, breakfast, then a kiss before work. He was getting used to it. Perhaps, too used to it.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” Audra dried her hands on a kitchen towel.
She’d changed into a vivid orange T-shirt and warm purple shorts after their jog. When she returned to L.A. in two weeks, he’d miss the color she’d brought into his life. He’d have to soak it in while she was here.
“For helping me talk about Zoey.” Jack turned away from her soft champagne eyes. “I’m still not comfortable talking about my feelings, but it’s easier now than it’s ever been.”
“I’m glad.” Audra laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’d love to hear more about her, whenever you’re ready.”
Jack’s skin warmed under Audra’s touch. “What about you?”
“What do you mean?” She let her hand drop.
Jack resisted the urge to put her hand back. “Is there anything you’d like to share with me?”
“Like what?”
Jack held her gaze. “Wendell.”
“I’ve told you all there is to say about him.”
“Would you take him back?”
“He’s with someone else, Jack.” She turned away from him and left the kitchen. “Do you honestly think I’d have a relationship with him when he’s engaged to a woman who’s having his baby?”
