Page 9 of His Curvy Distraction

“No thanks necessary. It’s not easy being a first-time parent. It’s been a while, but I remember those days.” Amelia smiled.

I stood there, again feeling out of place.

“Jane, is— Oh, Amelia. You’re here. Ms. Edwards,” the mayor said, appearing out of nowhere.

Mayor Omar Knight was the kind of man that was impossible to ignore. And impossible to relax around.

Amelia didn’t seem to feel the same.

“Omar, so good to see you again. Thank you for making time to speak to us.” Amelia smiled and winked at Jane, then followed Mayor Knight into his office.

I followed behind them like a child going to work with her parents.

Amelia took a seat and wasted no time asking Mayor Knight about the budget. “What are we working with, Omar?”

Omar drew a breath and gave her a number that made Amelia suck in a breath.

“I know it’s not as much as you were likely hoping, but it’s the best we can do right now.”

“Omar, you know that’s barely going to be enough to do the minimum. We need more money,” Amelia argued.

“I told you I wasn’t sure we could afford much.”

“You and I both know we can do better. This is for the residents of MacKellar Cove. The summer camp helps out the working families with kids in school. The families that need kids somewhere safe.”

“Amelia, I don’t really know what else to say.”

“Say you’ll do better.”

He groaned softly. His gaze cut to mine and held. “What plans do you have for the campground? I understand you’ll be the one running it.”

I opened and closed my mouth and looked at Amelia. I wasn’t prepared with a proposal. I didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to do.

But Amelia nodded, silently telling me to speak.

I thought back to the things Daisy and I spoke about and channeled my best friend.

“The pool needs to be repaired so we can use it. The kids will love it. And the courts fixed up. A large covered area with picnic tables for a place to sit out of the sun during lunch, and for when the weather isn’t so great. And a paved lot for cars would be ideal. Maybe a soccer field, tennis courts. Lots of space for the kids to run around and play and enjoy their summer.”

Mayor Knight stared at me like I was out of my mind. His gaze hardened with every suggestion I made. “There’s no way all of that is in the budget.”

“She’s talking big picture, Omar. Not right now. We know it’ll take time to get to that point.”

“But it’s for the kids. This is going to help the town and give the kids a safe place to be. We have to do whatever it takes.”

“No,” he said.

Well, crap.

3

What a heartless jerk! He had no compassion. No vision. No sympathy. Did he think all kids were given these opportunities? I knew from personal experience they were not. There were tons of kids in MacKellar Cove who only went outside during recess at school. Kids who only ate when they were at school. Kids who didn’t have someone at home looking out for them.

Amelia and I created a place for those kids. We gave them the kind of summer kids should have. And now we were being given the opportunity to do that for more kids, and the big stuffy jerk of a mayor was saying no.

Not even maybe, just no.

I sat there with my arms crossed, trying not to fidget, while Amelia did her best to talk him down.

---