Page 18 of A Moment In Time

“No. Not really. I’m pretty sure you’ve never dropped food onto your clothing.”

He took another bite. “I probably did when I was a baby.”

She smiled. “Only because you had no control over what you were doing.”

“Did you get one for yourself?”

“No. I went home and ate after the ice cream social.”

“Well, thanks for thinking of me.”

“I’m always thinking about you, boss.” She blushed. “Um…I mean.” She shook her head. “That came out wrong. You know what I mean, right?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Because you’re a good employee?”

“Exactly.”

He ate for a few moments, then looked at her. “About our conversation with Clem this morning.”

“Would you like my honest opinion with no enthusiastic influence from Clementine?”

“Yes, please.”

She pulled his chair around the desk and sat down a few feet from him. “I think you should do it.”

Gage ate the last bite of chilidog, then closed the box and set it on the couch next to him. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then got up and poured himself some water from the water dispenser. He drank it down, then returned to the couch and sat.

“Why?”

“Because you’d do a great job.” She held up a hand. “Let me finish. All the reasons you think make you unqualified for the job, are the things that will make you good at it.”

He leaned back and scowled. “I can admit I could do the day-to-day job. It’s the social stuff. I just can’t get past that. A lot of the job is bullshitting people.”

She shook her head. “Not bullshitting, per se. It’s more like handling them.”

“Well, I don’t want to do that either. I can’t tell people what they want to hear. If I was mayor, I’d be an honest mayor. No making deals, no political favors, no crap.”

“Which is what the people of Calaway Crossing want and deserve. Why do you think they want a Calaway back in office? I know you noticed how relieved everyone was when Mayor Bessler finished his speech yesterday.”

“I did.”

“What would you have said on the opening day of the Winter Festival?”

He thought about it for a moment. “Welcome to the Winter Festival. Have some hard cider and enjoy the bonfire.”

She smiled. “A little brief. But honest and from the heart.”

“Do you agree with Clem that I need a social liaison?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“Are you up for the job?”

She cocked her head. “Is it a paid position?”

“Strictly voluntary. Although you may get a free meal now and then out of it.”

“Hmm. I’d be honored to be your volunteer social liaison. Does this mean you’re going to run in the special election?”

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