Ida stuffed her boobs back down into her jacket while Edna sighed and read the last question.
“What will be your greatest weakness as mayor and your greatest strength?”
“Let me tell you,” Ida said, stabbing a finger at the crowd. “I’m a small business owner in Harrogate. I’ve been here for decades! Born and raised. The fact that I know this town and I know how people here operate makes me perfect for mayor. I’m also an out-of-the-box thinker.” She tapped her head. “You need to be able to think on your feet and come up with new and exciting ideas as mayor. My greatest weakness is that I care too much! I could have been out starting another sex toy business, but no, instead I am bringing my business expertise to the office of the mayor.”
Edna pursed her lips. “That’s hardly a weakness.”
“It is!” Ida insisted. “I’m like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way, unlike these two. Hunter is a corrupt billionaire, and Meg needs to get laid.”
I choked on my water; the liquid spilling on my shirt.
“If Ida has to resort to slander, then I’m sorry to say, but we have all already lost,” Hunter said sagely while I dabbed at my blazer. “My money is my greatest strength. A small town rises or falls on the strength of its investors. My family and I have poured money and sweat equity into Harrogate. Formally another failed, dying, rust belt town, we have turned Harrogate into a central hub for medical technology business. Not only have we invested in our own money, but we have also assisted former Mayor Barry in winning grants, starting job training programs, and winning major infrastructure investments for the town.”
Hunter smiled charmingly and leaned forward. “As far as my greatest weakness, it will probably be keeping my little brothers in line.” One of the younger Svenssons hopped up almost as if on cue, and Hunter scooped him up. “They are a handful.”
That earned himawws from the crowd. His little brother waved and smiled.
“If you want someone fiscally responsible who will increase the tax base of the town and fill the city coffers, vote for me,” Hunter said, setting his brother back down on the ground. “Don’t vote for a woman who had to declare bankruptcy on her sex toy company or for Meg, who just had her car repossessed.”
That fucking asshole.
There were some boos from the crowd. Kate looked at me in concern.
“Yes, my car was repossessed,” I said after the crowd had quieted down. “And why was that? Not because I was bad with money but because the previous mayor, Barry, was terrible with money. Along with burying himself into debt, he also stole my sisters’ and my identities and used them to rack up even more unpaid loans. He didn’t seem to have touched the city’s finances, for which I am grateful, but I have no doubt that had he been here a few months longer, he would have started to embezzle money from the town.”
I looked out over the rapt crowd. “This is why we cannot have people like Hunter in charge. People like him believe that they are above the law. They think that being mayor is just about going to fancy restaurants and stamping their buddies’ development projects. However, there are real people who are impacted by our decisions.”
I stood up straighter. “Now, I’m sure Hunter didn’t mean to make an underhanded comment. I’m a hundred percent sure that someone on his team fed him that information and convinced him that nothing says ‘I’m qualified to represent the great city of Harrogate’ like a dirty, underhanded personal blow.”
Hunter started to protest, but I cut him off.
“After all,” I drawled, “someone as good-looking as he is isn’t going to be smart enough to know better.”
That earned me a laugh from the crowd.
Hunter worked his jaw. “Can I rebut?”
“No,” Edna said. “I need a drink. The debate is over. Reminder, everyone, if you have not registered to vote yet or would like to volunteer to help people to the polls, please sign up at one of the tables in the back.”
“Meg,” Hunter said quietly as I switched off the microphone.
I ignored him in favor of Kate, who skipped up to me in excitement.
“You did so well!” she said while Karen and the Svensson brothers swarmed Hunter.
A tall, blue-eyed man strolled over. He was handsome in a salt-and-pepper way and carried himself with the gravitas of someone secure in the fact that he was one of the richest and most powerful men in the country. “I’m impressed the way you handled yourself, Meghan.”
“Walter wanted to come,” Kate told me excitedly.
“I don’t know if you remember me,” he said. “I believe you were on my divorce case.”
“How have you been holding up?” I asked him, reaching out to rest a hand on his arm. “I know it’s a lot to recover from.”
“Ever since my other three children came back in my life, much better, actually,” he said. “Thank you for asking.”
I smiled up at him.
“You know,” he said, staring at me a little too intensely. “I am involved in the Holbrook Foundation. I know my sister-in-law Nancy has been looking at investing more in small towns. I would love to discuss with you further opportunities for collaborations with the city of Harrogate, maybe over dinner?”
