“No more bus?” I perked up.
“You weren’t down here to sign up for anything,” Garret informed me. “So you’re on bus duty.”
* * *
I spentan entire day’s worth of trucking senior citizens around Harrogate while answering various questions like if I was officially back with Meg, and was that actually a real alligator, or was it computer-generated graphics?
“That should be the last load,” Remy said that afternoon after we pulled away from a retirement home.
“I need a nap.”
“Sounds like you slept all day yesterday,” he said, punching me in the arm.
“I’m shocked I haven’t heard from Greg yet.”
“He was coming apart when I left him,” Remy said, grinning. “I think it’s probably going to be a delayed reaction. Kind of like you and Meg!”
“I don’t know,” I said. “What if it goes south again? I mean, it’s complicated with her sisters, and I’m still responsible for all our little brothers. What if she decides again that she doesn’t want to put up with it?”
“Life is complicated. But love doesn’t have to be,” my brother said.
“I don’t know what to do.”
Remy snorted. “You’re the big-shot lawyer.”
I shrugged helplessly. “So?”
“So…” Remy said. “Seal the deal!”
85
Meghan
This time I had the big party in the town square. We were all waiting outside for the results to be tabulated in after the polls closed that evening. There was a stage set up with a local band playing nineties cover songs. Numerous stalls served food and drink, and people were still placing bets on who was going to win the election and by how much. Even the Svenssons were out—the kids were running around, and Isaac was fetching Minnie various snacks and drinks.
“That better not be alcoholic,” I warned Minnie as she took a sip from a large cup.
“Ugh, Meg!” She rolled her eyes. “Of course not! I want to be able to remember the night when you trounced Hunter.”
My stomach churned. Ida had insisted on this party. If it had been up to me, I would have just stayed huddled in my campaign headquarters. What if I lost? It would be humiliating.
Would I still want to be with Hunter if that happened?
I thought about it. Yes, actually, I would. If the town really wanted him as mayor, then that was what they wanted. Maybe it would be fine. It wasn’t as if I was going to leave my sisters. Besides, Hunter had offered to drop out, but I had told him not to. So if he won and became mayor, that was on me. It wouldn’t be too bad. After licking my wounds, I could start a nonprofit, or I could take up gardening in the new home he was giving me.
But a big part of me desperately wanted to win.
I needed a distraction to keep my mind from spiraling out. I grabbed a corn dog from one of the stands then headed over to talk to Susie and Remy.
“You look so different without your beard,” I remarked.
“Yeah,” he said, rubbing his jaw. “Feels different. I might keep it, or I might grow the beard out. What do you all think?”
“Definitely grow the beard out!” Susie said immediately.
I raised an eyebrow at her.
“What? It looks distinguished.”
