Page 37 of Mistletoe Dreams
"I suppose that's true. A demotion. I am overqualified for this job. And the sheriff's job is an elected position, so that was definitely out."
"Because you weren't able to be here in time to run?" she asked, assuming that's what he meant.
He shook his head. "I would never run to be elected. I... don't know anything about that. I'm just a cop, and that's really all I want to be."
"So you wouldn't consider running?" she asked, surprised. "That's a law enforcement position and you would be great at it."
"I suppose it is. I guess I just never considered it," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
But he looked like he was thinking about it now.
"I wouldn't even know how to go about getting started.”
“Greg is a great guy, and I suppose if he were running again, I wouldn't recommend running against him, but if for any reason he decided to move on, I would definitely think that you should apply for the position. Not necessarily because I think you need to or anything, other than the town could use someone like you in a higher position. I think they would be foolish not to jump on the chance to vote for you."
He laughed. "Well, considering that you have just agreed to a first date with me, perhaps your opinion is a little bit biased."
"You're right. My opinion might be a little bit biased, but then again, maybe I just have really good judgment." She lifted her brows and grinned at him.
He laughed. "I'd like to agree with that, but it seems a little arrogant. No offence, but maybe you have really poor judgment."
Chapter Seventeen
Ben tried not to show his amazement. He hadn't even considered running for sheriff. He had just assumed that the deputy position that he had taken was what he was going to have as long as he lived in Mistletoe Meadows. But Greg had mentioned that he might be moving back to the DC area where he'd come from to take care of his aging parents, and while the implication there was that he was not going to be running in the next election cycle, Ben had just ignored it, considering that he wasn't the slightest bit interested in trying to run and get elected to any position. He'd never been interested in politics. But Hannah made him feel like maybe it was possible.
"I'll definitely have to keep that in mind." It made him feel like he could do it because she believed in him. It was crazy how just a few suggestions and a smile and that feeling of being able to do it just almost magically appeared.
Everyone should have someone behind them believing in them.
He thought about his son and how maybe that was part of the problem. He had expected his parents to stay together, providing that foundation for him, and it had thrown his whole world intochaos when he perceived that his mother didn't care anymore, even though it might not be entirely true. Although Peyton definitely had given off that feeling even to Ben. After all, if she cared about her family, wouldn't she have counted the cost of cheating and decided that it wasn't worth it?
"You know, I've been thinking lately," Hannah began, and he pulled his thoughts away. He didn't want to be thinking about Peyton now. Not with Hannah sitting across from him. He had been looking forward to this all week.
"About?" he prompted.
"About how I had considered that taking this job was just a little stop on my way back to the city and back into a career that was demanding and had the potential to be illustrious and huge, but... maybe it's Terry having a baby and deciding that she wanted to find another doctor to work part-time so she could stay home part-time and raise her family, or maybe it's just the small-town atmosphere, but I found myself shifting gears in my head and thinking that giving up a career is a small sacrifice in order to have a slower lifestyle, to be available for my friends and neighbors and a family." She lifted a shoulder and adjusted her placemat absentmindedly. "It's just something I've been thinking about. And I suppose you've already done that. Left your big career and the opportunity for advancement and awards and recognition behind. And you did it for your son. I admire that."
There was the difference. Peyton had looked at what she had and decided that it wasn't worth giving up anything for. In fact, she almost acted like she just wanted to throw her family away. While Hannah, on the other hand, saw the value and realized that the sacrifice would be worth it.
Suddenly, everything clicked together, and he knew for certain that any risk that he took to deepen their relationship would be worth it.
"I really admire you. I think a lot of us chase fame and fortune for far too long. Sometimes we never get that figured out. Andsometimes when we do figure it out, it's way too late. I think you figured it out at exactly the right time, while I can't say that I necessarily figured it out. I was more forced into it."
She shook her head, huffing out an ironic laugh.
"I can't take the credit. I was forced into it as well. I told you that I made a mistake and was fired on the spot. And I had that whole mourning period where everything that I had dreamed about had gone up in smoke, and I missed it and wanted it back. I was forced into the slower lifestyle. I might not have seen the benefits if I hadn't been." She tilted her head and squinted her eyes as though she were thinking about it. "I struggle with that some, though, because to some people, it's a calling to be able to work long hours and save lives, to practice medicine in a way that is beneficial to a lot of different people, and I appreciate that dedication to their craft. If I ever get sick or anything happens to me, I would want to be able to have someone like that taking care of me, operating on me, handling my case. You know?"
"I get it. You think you're making the best decision, but you appreciate the people who have made the opposite decision, and just because you've made one decision doesn't make their decision wrong?"
He phrased it as a question, but he was almost positive that was what she was saying.
"Exactly," she grinned.
He loved her smile. It lacked any artifice and just seemed to light up the entire room. Or maybe it was just him. But he had a hard time taking his eyes off of it.
The waitress came, delivering their food, and after she left, Hannah waited for him to say grace before they began to eat.
"Do you think that you're going to be too busy to help with the festival?" he asked, noting the dark circles under her eyes and realizing that she probably was exhausted from the extra work she'd taken on.
