There was a nice breeze blowing off the lake in Somerset today. The weather was perfect for a town festival. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, and unlike yesterday, no one had asked Gil about tearing down Sweetie’s for a parking lot yet. That was a good sign, especially considering Gil was officially announcing his decision to run for a second term as mayor today.
Gil stood off to the side of the stage, where a band was playing live bluegrass music for the occasion. This was as good a place as any to make his announcement. Almost everyone in Somerset Lake was out today. Gil sat and watched folks walking around, hitting up the vendors, and enjoying the music.
“Gil!” Doug’s voice was easy to recognize in the crowd.
Gil turned toward his brother, who was walking with their mom and dad. They were all wearing vote gil ryan for mayor T-shirts, which was both embarrassing and appreciated. “Hey, guys. Fancy meeting you here.”
“Well, we wouldn’t miss the big announcement,” his mom said. She wore a long dress and had her dark hair secured with barrettes on the sides today. She’d always taken Gil’s events seriously and had dressed for the occasion.
Gil gave her a hug as she stepped closer.
“Also, Doug wouldn’t let us stay home,” his father said, hugging Gil as well. Gil’s father appeared to be dressed for a game of golf, which was probably where he’d be today if not for this event. The courtroom and the golf course were his go-tos.
Gil’s mom elbowed his dad. “Not that we would have missed being here, because our son has a big announcement to make.”
Gil loved how proud his mom acted on his behalf. She supported Doug in his endeavors just as much, except for Doug’s latest endeavor to move out.
“What’s this about you shutting Sweetie’s Bakeshop down to create a parking lot?” his father asked.
Gil sighed. “Not you, too, Dad. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good. This is something the town needs. The only place for the lot is where Sweetie’s currently is.”
His father’s frown told Gil everything he needed to know. If Gil weren’t his father’s son, even his father might not vote for him.
His mother placed a hand on his shoulder. “You always do the right thing. I’m sure that whatever decision you make will be a good one.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Gil gave his dad a pointed look.
“Just don’t mention the parking lot up there.” Doug pointed to the stage. “It’s not good for your image.”
Gil sighed. “Some folks are upset, yeah, but others realize that a parking lot is needed. There are a lot of people who will vote for me based on my commitment to fix this problem.”
Doug frowned. “Gilly…”
“Fine.” Gil held up his hands. “I’ll do my best to avoid the topic.”
“Well, we’re going to have a seat out front,” his mother said. “Break a leg.”
Gil slid his gaze over to her. “This isn’t theater, Mom.” “Anytime you’re onstage, it’s theater,” she said wisely.
She wasn’t wrong. There was always some element of acting
that went on with public speaking. Gil glanced around and spotted Moira heading in his direction. For instance, he had to act like he wasn’t still smitten by this woman when he absolutely was. Was it him, or did she get more beautiful every time he saw her? Today she was wearing a beautiful baby blue sundress that fell just above her ankles. She had on a long necklace and bangle bracelets that gave her a feminine vibe that she didn’t always play up. He guessed she was dressed more formally to receive the award the town was giving her.
“Hey,” he said as she drew closer.
“Hey.” She stopped a couple of feet away from him. The clip- boards she’d been carrying earlier were gone, leaving her hands empty. She nervously interweaved her fingers, drawing his attention to the light coating of lavender polish on her nails.
“You ready for the spotlight?”
“Not really.” She blew out a breath and met his gaze. “I’ve never been much for public speaking.”
“Could have fooled me the other night at the town hall meeting.”
Moira winced, but her hazel eyes were smiling. “Sorry. I was a bit passionate. I am passionate,” she corrected.
“Can’t fault someone for that. My dad always told Doug and me to never apologize about fighting for something we believe in. There are so few things that inspire a person to break out of their comfort zone.”
“Speaking at the town hall was definitely out of my comfort zone.” Moira laughed.
“If I remember correctly, you were front and center a lot when we were growing up. Band. Journalism. Student treasurer.”
“I can’t believe you remember all my extracurricular activities,” Moira said with a disbelieving voice.
Gil suddenly felt self-conscious. He threw one out that wasn’t true just so he didn’t look like he’d been keeping tabs on her since grade school. “Cheerleading.”
Moira narrowed her eyes. “I was never in cheer.”
“You weren’t?” He scratched his chin. “Huh. I could have sworn you were.”
The look Moira gave him told him she wasn’t buying his act. Then she eyed the stage. “So you’re going to give me the award and then what? Do I get to address the crowd?”
Gil rocked back and forth on his feet. “If you want to.”
“I do,” she said quickly.
He was surprised, considering how nervous she looked right now. She hadn’t looked nearly this nervous at the town hall meeting, but there, there were fewer people and she hadn’t been standing on a stage. “Okay. Wonderful. I’m sure everyone here will be happy about that. They all seemed to enjoy listening to you the other night.”
Moira narrowed her eyes. “Did that upset you?”
Gil shook his head. “Why would I be mad at you for speaking up about something you believe in?”
“Because it isn’t what you believe in,” she said quietly.
Gil wished things were different, but she was right. They were on opposing sides right now. “I believe in you.” He noticed how Moira’s eyes narrowed just slightly. Had he said too much? He always seemed to wear his feelings on his sleeve where Moira was concerned.
“Gil! It’s time.” Doug stepped up to Gil and looked at Moira. “Hi, Moira,” he said with a large smile.
“Hi, Doug. I like your shirt.” She wrung her hands in front of her as she spoke. Gil hoped he hadn’t made her even more nervous than she already was.
“Do you want a shirt? I can get you one too,” Doug offered.
Moira grinned. “That’s sweet, but, um, it’s okay. I don’t want you to go to any trouble for me.”
“It’s no trouble,” Doug said. “I know how much Gil likes you. He’d love for you to wear his shirt.”
Gil avoided Moira’s sideward glance. He’d have to thank his brother for that later. “So, uh, I’ll go onstage first and talk for a few minutes before inviting you up. Sound good?”
She nodded, looking flushed and beautiful. “Yep.”
“Great. I’ll see you soon,” he said. Then he turned toward the stage and headed up the steps. He didn’t typically mind public speaking, but he was a little gun-shy after all the hate mail he’d gotten this week. And since Denise Berger had put in a bid for mayor.
The crowd clapped as he took the stage. Was it less applause than usual? Were there folks who weren’t smiling in the audience? Maybe even some who were frowning?
Where is this paranoia coming from?
He stopped behind the microphone and glanced out on dozens of familiar faces. “Hello, Somersetters!” he said, forcing more enthusiasm than he was feeling right now. “It’s a beautiful day to celebrate spring at Somerset Lake. It’s also a good day to make a very important announcement to you-all.” Gil spotted his parents in the crowd. “I don’t think this will come as a shock to any of you, but I thought at this happy occasion, I’d take the time to make my decision to run for another term as mayor official. The last four years have been amazing, and I am so fortunate to have such wonderful support from this town,” Gil said, scanning the faces.
“We support you, but you don’t support us!” a man’s voice shouted from the crowd.
Gil’s stomach dropped. He pretended not to have heard that comment and continued with what he had planned to say. “It has been an honor to represent Somerset Lake, and it would be an honor if the good people here were to vote me into office again this fall.”
“What about Sweetie’s Bakeshop?” a woman’s voice called out.
Gil tried to locate the source of the voice, but there were too many faces. He took a breath and turned to see Moira waiting on the side of the stage. She offered a reassuring smile, which told him she had heard the comments. Then he gestured toward her. “I have some more great news for you-all. I’m sure you’ve all heard about our local hero, Moira Green, and how she went above and beyond the call of duty last week. In fact, I have something special to present to Ms. Green today.” Gil held out his arm to Moira. “Moira, will you please join me up here onstage?”
Moira headed up the steps, her smile deepening as she approached him in the middle of the stage. She turned to the crowd and waved as the applause grew.
Were the cheers louder than what he’d just gotten? Was he losing ground with his supporters over this parking lot issue?
“No one owes Moira more gratitude than me because the person she helped is my brother Doug. As you-all may have heard, Doug called the emergency dispatch last week. He had fallen and twisted his ankle. He told me that he doesn’t mind if I tell you that he’s also recently discovered that he’s diabetic. He was struggling on the day he called Moira, and as luck would have it, bad luck at least, several drivers and passengers in a three-car pileup on Hannigan Street were also having a difficult afternoon.” Gil cleared his throat. “Long story short, all of the available emergency personnel were sent to the accident, and no one was immediately available to check on Doug, including me. So Moira went above and beyond her job description and drove over to where Doug was and helped him herself.”
More claps resounded from the crowd.
“My family owes her a debt of gratitude, and that’s one reason I was extremely pleased when Sheriff Ronnie told me that he wanted to present Moira with an award today. A hero is someone who helps another without any concern for themselves. They are sacrificial, honest, generous, and capable. All the qualities that I believe Moira Green portrays.” Gil connected gazes with Moira, and his heartbeat quickened. She was definitely more beautiful every time he laid eyes on her.
“Then why are you tearing down her family’s business?” someone called from the front row.
Moira’s smile slipped at the corners.
So did Gil’s. He could address the comment or pretend he didn’t hear it—again. He didn’t hide from things, but he also didn’t want to tarnish Moira’s time onstage. She deserved this award and the town’s admiration. This was her moment.
Reaching for the plaque on the podium, he held it up for the crowd to see. Then he held it out for Moira. “Moira, it’s my great honor to present you with our Hero Among Us award.”
Moira stepped toward him, her fingers brushing against his as she took the plaque and held it against her midsection. “Thank you all. This is such an honor. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love my job as an emergency dispatcher. Being there for people when they need me the most is some- thing I am passionate about. I love serving the people here in Somerset Lake.”
Gil wasn’t sure why she was anxious speaking in front of others. She was amazing up here, smiling and talking so naturally. He wouldn’t even know she was nervous if she hadn’t told him so.
“This is my hometown,” she continued. “And I am so very proud of that. In my opinion, there is no other place in this state, maybe even the country, with people who are as friendly, smart, resourceful, and honest.” Moira shook her head, deepening her smile.
Gil couldn’t take his eyes off her. Wow. She really was amazing. It almost sounded like she was a politician at this moment instead of a Good Samaritan accepting an award. He found himself grinning as he listened to her go on about how much this town meant to her. It was inspiring really, and he felt the same way. That’s why he had wanted to be mayor in the first place. It was why he showed up every day, even on the hard ones.
Moira hugged the award to her body and looked out on the crowd. “This is why I’ve made a decision that I would like to share with all of you today.” Moira seemed to take a breath. “I am so excited to announce that I am planning to run for town mayor this fall.”
Gil’s mind stumbled over her words. There was no way he’d heard her correctly. Moira for mayor?
“I believe in Somerset Lake and all the people here. I believe in the small businesses that make our town unique. As mayor, I won’t allow your livelihoods to fall to the wayside in order to save folks a couple extra steps with parking.”
Gil felt like the breath had been knocked out of him. This was about more than saving steps. He’d just gotten through telling everyone here how paramedics and firefighters had struggled to get to an accident on Hannigan Street. That was why there was no one available to help Doug.
“I will fight for the things that matter,” Moira continued. “I don’t think I’m a hero just because I did my job or because I helped someone in need. I do think those qualities are some- thing a good mayor should have though.”
“Yeah!” someone called out. “Unlike Mayor Gil!”
Gil turned to locate the source of the voice, and this time he spotted the person in the crowd. It was Donavyn Wilber. That guy hadn’t liked Gil since middle school when Gil had accidentally tripped him in the cafeteria, making him spill his tray of spaghetti. It was an accident, Donavyn. Get over it already.
“I think Mayor Gil has been amazing for this town,” Moira said, casting him an apologetic glance, “but I also think I’m up for the challenge. Sometimes change is necessary, but not at the cost of what makes us special. Like Sweetie’s Bakeshop.”
“Yeah!” Someone clapped, and then someone else joined in. Then the entire crowd was clapping, and Gil just wanted to slink off the stage and disappear.Excerpted from THE GOOD LUCK CAFE by Annie Rains. Copyright © 2022 by Annie Rains. Reprinted with permission from Grand Central Publishing. All rights reserved.