“But I thought they just made the decision to let you go yesterday,” Lydia said.
“Yeah, but I think I made the decision to let them go a while ago. I just hadn’t realized it.”
Tamryn gave Lydia a little goodbye wave and walked out of the History Department, feeling freer than she had in her entire life.
Matt stood against the wall of the back room of Morning Star Baptist Church’s fellowship hall in Maplesville, his eyes closed, his heart beating like a drum against the walls of his chest. He was resolved in what he had to do, but it still made him ill. He would give anything not to give up his run for state senate, but he was done with the deceit. Not just his own, but of the entire Gauthier family.
It was time for people to learn the truth.
He only wished that Tamryn was here to witness his coming clean. He hadn’t spoken to her since she’d left him standing in the library at the Gauthier mansion two nights ago. His calls had gone unanswered; so had his dozen text messages.
“Hey, man, you ready for this?”
Matt opened his eyes and found friend, and fellow attorney from Maplesville, Mason Coleman walking toward him.
“I’m ready,” he answered.
He followed Mason, stopping at the edge of the door that led from the back room. The front area of the hall was set up with two stools on either side of a desk. This debate was the final event between him and Patrick Carter before the special election in two weeks.
It ate at Matt’s gut that he’d come so close. This area deserved better than Patrick Carter as their state senator. But it deserved better than him, too.
The pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church, who was sponsoring this final debate, called for a moment of prayer before the start of the event. After that was done, Matt and Carter were called to the floor, entering from different sides. Both took their seats, but after one final mental check that he was ready to do this, Matt stood and walked over to Pastor Ryland.
“If I could, I would like to have a couple of minutes to address the audience,” he said. Carter started to bluster, but Matt stopped him with a hand. “You’ll want to hear this.”
He turned to the crowd, which was at least eighty percent Gauthier residents, despite the debate being held in Maplesville. Matt let out a deep breath and began.
“The people of Gauthier have always been extremely good to my family, but it pains me to admit that it hasn’t always been reciprocated. Since the fire of 1882 that nearly burned down the town, the Gauthiers have been wreaking havoc on this area.” Matt took in the confused faces in the crowd. “For years stories have been told about Micah Gauthier helping to rescue the Callis family from the fire, and saving other lives, but the part that never gets told is that it was Micah’s son who started the fire.”
Low murmurs started to spread through the room.
“This is just one instance in a long line of transgressions of the Gauthier family. The water treatment plant that was built didn’t go to the best company for the job, it went to the company that was willing to line my grandfather’s pockets while he was mayor of Gauthier. And the outlet mall here in Maplesville…” Matt paused. He had to swallow twice before he could speak again. “I’m the reason it’s here.”
A collective gasp echoed over the crowd.
“Matthew Gauthier, what are you talking about?” It was Eloise Dubois, who’d stood up from her seat.
“I’m the one who brought the Lakeline Group to this area,” Matt admitted. “At the time, I thought the outlet mall would be a boost to Gauthier’s economy. I had no idea the company would choose to build in Maplesville instead. I had no ideaanyof this would happen, but it did.”
He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. “I am ending my candidacy for state senate.” This time, the gasp that tore through the crowd was so loud that he felt it on his skin. “I’m not the man you all thought I was,” he continued. “I’m not the right man to represent District Twelve.”
“Are you the same man who gave five thousand dollars in scholarship money to the local high school?”
Matt’s head popped up. He looked toward the back of the room and saw Tamryn walking up the center aisle.
“That outlet mall has cost me a lot of business,” Nathan Robottom chimed in.
Tamryn turned to him. “Didn’t you tell me just last week that Matt helped your hardware store get on the list of approved suppliers for the new concrete plant that’s about to start construction on Highway 190?” she asked.
“I guess you’re right,” Nathan muttered.
Tamryn continued her journey up the aisle. “Are you the same man who organized the all-night read-in event to kick off a mentorship program?” she asked Matt.
“And the 5K,” Mya Dubois-Anderson added from the second row.
Mariska Thomas, of all people, stood up and said, “And the Thanksgiving food drive.”
When Tamryn arrived at the front of the hall, she turned to face the crowd and pointed to Matt. “In the few weeks that I’ve spent here, I haven’t seen anyone do more for the people of District Twelve than this man.”
