Harmony Cabins (Finding Home 2)

Leonard gave her a curious look. “I ate lunch at home.”

Doreen chewed and swallowed a bite of steak, giving herself time to get her temper and her tone under control. “Simon came in today.”

“Oh? What did he want?” Leonard seemed disinterested.

“To talk about his interview in today’s Monitor.”

Leonard ate more steak and potatoes before answering. “I read it.”

“What did you think of it?”

Leonard shrugged. “It was OK.”

Doreen almost choked on her iced tea. “It was OK that he took credit for things that I did?”

“No one’s going to believe it.”

“Why not? It ran in the paper.” Doreen drew in a breath. “He also showed me his petition to be added to the mayoral ballot. Your name was on it.”

Leonard looked up from his plate. “He asked me to sign it. I didn’t think there was any harm in it.”

Doreen’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “Do you really think Simon’s qualified to be mayor of Trinity Falls?”

Leonard cut another slice of steak. “Just because I signed his petition doesn’t mean I’m going to vote for him.”

“Simon thinks you are.”

Would he? Doreen desperately wanted an answer to that.

“I didn’t tell him that.” Leonard continued eating.

Doreen lowered her knife and fork. “Then why did you sign his petition?”

“If he wants to run for mayor, he should be able to. Who are we to decide who runs and who doesn’t?”

Doreen pushed aside her half-eaten dinner. Tonight the steak and mashed potatoes didn’t deliver the comfort they usually gave her. “You surprise me, Leo. You don’t have any trouble with Simon running for mayor. But you resent my campaign. Why is that?”

“I’m not in a relationship with Simon.”

Doreen willed Leonard to meet her gaze. “You’re supporting Simon’s petition because you want someone else to be mayor.”

Leonard finished his dinner. He set his knife and fork on the empty plate. “I’m not going to campaign for Simon, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“But will you vote for me?” Doreen barely breathed while she waited for Leonard’s reply.

Seconds stretched like minutes. What was taking him so long to answer? It wasn’t a trick question.

Leonard leaned back on his chair. “I’ll listen to what you both have to say, then make my decision. That’s what I do for every election.”

That’s his response? He didn’t say he’d vote against her, nor would he commit to supporting her. Doreen had no idea his nonanswer would hurt so much.

Dinner was over.

She stood from the table. “I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to earn your vote, although I’d think you knew me well enough to know I deserve it.”

She choked on the words. They’d been friends for decades. They’d been lovers for a year. He wanted them to be something more. But she shouldn’t have to choose between being his lover and being mayor.

Leonard stood. “Would you be running for mayor if Paul were still alive?”