“She’s done a lot for the town.” Darius turned to leave, but Opal’s next question stopped him.
“Why don’t you want your father to run for office?”
“I never said that.” He met her eyes over his shoulder.
Opal gave him a shrewd look. “It’s written all over your face.”
“Are you claiming to have reporter’s intuition now? Pity you didn’t use it Friday.”
“Are you saying I’m on the right track?”
“No, I’m not.” Darius’s tone was as icy as the anger he held in check.
“It would make a good story.” Opal lifted her arms as though framing a photo. “‘Hometown Hero Votes Against Father in Mayoral Election.’”
Darius’s blood ran cold. “Try sticking to the facts. It would be a refreshing change for you.”
Opal’s black gaze frosted over. “What does your family have to hide, Darius?”
He returned Opal’s heated glare with a cool regard, then left her cubicle. The trouble he’d predicted had started even before Simon’s petition passed. What would happen to his family once his father’s campaign began in earnest?
Doreen checked the next agenda item for her Monday meeting with one of the town council’s subcommittees. It was the Founders Day Celebration invitation to State Representative Isaac Green. She hated the idea of Representative Green attending the event, but it would be a mistake not to invite the elected official.
She looked at the three council members seated across the table in the Trinity Falls Town Hall small conference room. They seemed bored.
Doreen tapped the agenda with her clear plastic pen. “We need to let Jack know we’ve invited Representative Green to the Founders Day Celebration.”
“No, we don’t.” Council member Christopher Ling’s tone was flat, as though he didn’t want to debate the issue.
“Why not?” The air conditioner blasted the small, blue-carpeted room. Doreen pulled her rose linen blazer more tightly to her.
“Doreen, I believe you’re being hasty.” Nessa leaned back on her seat. Her round brown eyes were clouded with concern. The dark brown skin around her mouth was tight. “Representative Green may not even attend the event.”
Doreen faced Nessa. “But he might. I don’t want to leave this to chance.”
CeCe Roben snorted, drawing her fingers through her pencil-straight auburn hair. “I would be more concerned about pissing off Jack unnecessarily. It took you long enough to convince him to participate. Why risk having him change his mind when we don’t even know whether there’ll be a problem?”
“It’s common courtesy.” Doreen swept her hand to encompass the council members. “Wouldn’t you want to know?”
Christopher shrugged. “What’s the worst that could happen? They’d see each other on the stage. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is Isaac Green was sleeping with Jack’s wife while they were still married and their daughter was dying.” She shouldn’t need to remind him of that painful scandal.
CeCe folded her hands on the table. “The situation would be very awkward. I understand your concern. But I still say we can afford to wait, at least until we hear back from Green’s office.”
These meetings with members of the Trinity Falls Town Council’s Events Subcommittee were intended as updates. She wasn’t seeking approval.
Doreen sat straighter on the blue-cushioned swivel chair. “I’ve followed up with Representative Green’s office twice. I haven’t heard from anyone.” Yet another reason she disliked the state representative. “I don’t want to wait too long to tell Jack. He’ll need time to prepare.”
Nessa glanced around the table. “Do we really believe Jack will honor his commitment to the event if he thinks his ex-wife and her new husband will be in attendance?”
Doreen’s resentment stirred at the insult to Jack. “I think Jack deserves the opportunity to make that decision.”
Nessa’s eyebrows arched. “I don’t. Besides, Kerry may not accompany Representative Green to Trinity Falls. The situation would be uncomfortable for her as well.”
Doreen could only hope Jack’s ex-wife would show that level of sensitivity. “We can’t take that chance.”
CeCe shook her head. “I’m sorry, Doreen. I, for one, vote against our telling Jack the sesquicentennial committee invited Representative Green to the Founders Day Celebration.”