Page 107 of A Moment In Time

Bessler laughed. “Of course. Congratulations. You are Calaway Crossing’s next mayor.”

Gage blew out a breath. “Thank you.”

“And just so you know. We had an eighty percent voting turnout.”

“Is that good?”

“That’s very good. The rest of them probably figured it was a done deal, and you didn’t really need their vote. I heard your family is going to help you celebrate. So, I’ll let you go. Take the weekend, and I’ll see you on Monday. We’ll start the transition.”

“On Monday? That soon?”

“I should’ve left a month ago.”

“Okay. I’ll see you Monday.”

Gage ended the call and looked at all the expectant faces in the room. “You may address me as Mayor Calaway.”

The family swarmed him with hugs, kisses, and handshakes. When Lincoln made his way to Gage, he put a hand around his shoulder, then whistled. “Okay. Let’s give the kid some room to breathe.”

Everyone backed away and moved to the prepared tables. There was a bottle of champagne and champagne glasses on each table, along with plates, silverware, and napkins. Gage and Sydney sat with Booker, Clementine, Cooper, Lyric, Cabe, and Jovie.

Remington, Brynlee, Becca, Cassie, Londyn and Rand headed for the kitchen and came out with prime rib, baked potatoes, two different vegetables, lots of bread, and salad. They set all the food on a long table, buffet style.

Remington waved toward Gage. “City employees go first.”

Gage stood, and Booker laughed. “That means me too, right?”

Clementine raised a hand. “Me too. Sort of. Ex-city employee married to the chief.”

She got in line behind Booker, then everyone else fell in place behind her. Sydney ended up in the middle of the line. When she got to the table with her food, Gage smiled at her.

“You need to be more aggressive.”

“I’m the only non-family member here. Except for Cassie. And she doesn’t count. She may as well be a Calaway. I was being polite.”

“You’ll go hungry being polite. And so will I.”

She looked at his untouched food. “You didn’t need to wait for me.”

“Sure I did.”

“You’re sweet.”

“Am I though? I believe you needed to take a walk to get away from me a couple of hours ago.”

“You have your moments. Good and some not so good. But more good than bad.”

“Hmm. Let’s eat before my prime rib gets cold.”

“It all looks so good.” Sydney looked at the family surrounding them. “Are you glad they’re here?”

Clementine answered for him. “Of course he is.”

Gage nodded. “What she said.”

The food was delicious as always and they were on their second bottle of champagne by the time Remy and Rand brought out the dessert. It was a huge chocolate cake with ‘Congratulations to Calaway Crossing’s Newest Mayor’ written on it.

Gage checked it out. “Wow guys. You went all out. What if some random write-in candidate had won?”

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