Page 132 of A Moment In Time

“My stomach is a mess. I’ll eat afterwards.”

“Nothing is going to be open afterwards. But I can make you something at my place.”

“We’ll do that, then.”

She went into the room. “Are you sure you don’t want a little something?”

“Yeah. How’s it going out there?”

“Pretty slow. I’ve got the paper laid out for tomorrow.”

“Thank you. I’ve been pretty useless today.”

“You’re entitled once in a while.”

When they heard the front door open, they both looked toward the outer office. When they heard. “Where are you guys?” Gage smiled.

“In here, sis.”

Clementine appeared at the door with a plate in her hand wrapped in plastic wrap. “I was out by Grandma and Grandpas, so I stopped by to say hi.” She held up the plate. “She sent cookies.”

“Grandma always knows just what I need.”

Clementine brought the plate to Gage’s desk. “Macadamia and white chocolate chip.”

He took the plate from her. “My favorite.” He unwrapped the cookies and picked one up, then took a bite. “God, the woman can cook.” He offered the plate to Sydney. “You need to try one of these. But only one. I’m eating the rest.”

Sydney took a cookie and tried it. “Wow. Delicious.”

When Clementine reached for a cookie, Gage scowled at her. “Hey.”

“I brought them to you. That should earn me a cookie.”

He sighed. “Fine.”

Clementine took a cookie. “Besides, are you really going to eat a dozen cookies?”

“I might.”

Clementine stayed for a few more minutes than left to go say hi to Booker. Sydney walked her to the door, then returned to Gage’s office. “That was sweet of her.”

“And Grandma.”

“It’s not lunch. But at least you’ll have something in your stomach.”

“I guess passing out from lack of food wouldn’t make a very good impression.”

Five o’clock finally came and they could lock up the office. The meeting started at six and Gage was supposed to be there by five-thirty to go over things with Mayor Bessler.

He took off the plaid shirt he’d been wearing and put on a dress shirt, then a sports jacket. He considered wearing a suit. But he wanted to establish right from the start he was going to be a casual mayor. He came out of his office as Sydney was locking the door.

She turned to him. “Don’t you look handsome. Do you want to go over your speech?”

“No. I’ve gone over it too many times already.”

“Okay. Do you want to pop in on Paxton and have a shot of courage?”

Gage laughed. “I don’t think that would make a good impression, either.”

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