Harmony Cabins (Finding Home 2)

There’s something about a man out of uniform. Doreen frowned. Where did that thought come from?

She turned to Simon. “I read your interview as well. It’s clear to anyone that you’re not taking this campaign seriously.”

He waved the petition. “The nearly one hundred people who’ve already signed this form don’t agree with you.”

“You’ve collected a hundred signatures?”

Simon nodded with apparent satisfaction. “And there are one hundred more on the website.”

Doreen lost her breath. He was almost halfway to the number of signatures he needed. “Public office is a huge responsibility.”

“I know.” Simon tucked the petition back into his newspaper.

“The Founders Day Celebration is separate from the mayor’s office. That’s why I’m leading the celebration planning committee instead of Ramona.”

“I know that, too.” Simon folded his arms on the countertop. “Can I have a slice of Boston cream pie?”

Doreen swallowed her impatience and turned to get Simon’s pie from the display case. She set the dish and a fork in front of him. “If you’re aware of these things, why would you talk about making the success of the sesquicentennial celebration part of your campaign platform?”

“Because the celebration is important to the town. It’ll bring in money.” Simon dug into the pie.

“But it shouldn’t have a bearing on the campaign.”

Simon shook his head and swallowed more pie. “I disagree.”

Doreen crossed her arms. “That’s interesting, particularly since you aren’t on any of the committees. What are you doing in support of the event?”

“I got Jack Sansbury to agree to participate in the Founders Day presentation.”

Doreen thought her eyes would pop out of her head. “That wasn’t your doing. Darius convinced Jack to change his mind.”

Simon grinned. “And Darius is my son.”

The headache started right behind Doreen’s eyes. “You’re good at taking credit for what other people have done, aren’t you?”

His answer was another shrug. “Leo’s supporting my campaign.”

Doreen’s skin chilled. My Leonard? The man I’ve been dating for more than a year? “What are you talking about?”

“He signed my petition to be added to the election ballot.” Simon brought the sheet back out.

Doreen skimmed the piece of paper until her gaze settled on line seventy-three. She blinked twice, but Leonard’s name didn’t disappear.

CHAPTER 11

Why was he torturing himself this way? Darius’s blood boiled Saturday morning as he sat in his cubicle in The Trinity Falls Monitor’s building, re-reading the newspaper’s article on his father’s quest for the mayoral office.

“Now, Darius, if the story bothers you so much, why are you reading it?” Helen Gaston’s voice came from behind him.

Darius almost jumped from his skin. His chair squeaked as he spun to face his visitor, almost colliding with her in the process. “Ms. Helen.” He rose to his feet. “What makes you think I’m upset?”

Her faded brown eyes twinkled up at him in her elfish brown face. “My first clue was the way you clutched the edges of the newspaper in your fists, like this.” She clenched her thin hands and scowled in a brief reenactment.

Ignoring her antics, Darius gestured toward the guest chair beside his desk. “Do you have time to visit with me?”

“I’ll make the time, young man.” Ms. Helen settled onto the seat. “Why are you working on a Saturday? Are you making overtime?”

Darius returned to his chair, grateful for this distraction. “I won’t be here long. What brings you to the paper?”