Kate was making “go on” gestures at me. Right. I needed Ida’s voters.
“You can have three minutes to discuss it, no more,” I warned.
She saluted me. “Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
The city hallbuilding was already chaotic when I walked in that evening. I was late because I’d had yet another long call with one of the regional planning commissioners, who wanted to discuss their proposed transportation plan. As if I was going to let them run a major state route right through the middle of downtown Harrogate.
“Look who finally bothered to show up,” Karen said loudly.
For fuck’s sake.
“I apologize for my tardiness, everyone,” I said into the microphone.
“Just another example of how you can’t handle being the mayor,” Karen said triumphantly.
“Actually,” I said slowly, “as we all know, I am currently doing two jobs—both that of deputy mayor and that of mayor. It is quite a lot. So please bear with us during this transition period.”
“That’s right!” Ida said, jumping up to defend me. “It’s because Meg is a gal who is on top of her shit. She isn’t just the future mayor! She’s a superwoman!”
“Thank you, Ida. I call this meeting to order. First order of business, open items. This includes a temporary new deputy mayor appointment. As I mentioned, it is becoming a struggle for me to do both jobs. Are there any volunteers to step in as deputy mayor for the next few weeks until the election?”
No one in the crowd moved.
“Or we could take nominations. Hazel?”
My sister looked up at the ceiling.
Or not…
“I have an idea,” Karen said.
“The deputy mayor has to be an official resident of Harrogate,” I added hastily. There was no way in small-town hell that I was going to be working with Karen again. I would quit and let Hunter deal with herding all the cats.
“I wasn’t suggesting I do it.” Karen scoffed. “But since we now have two mayoral candidates, you both could do the job of mayor, and then everyone could see how well each person performs.”
“We need a deputy mayor,” I corrected. “As the deputy mayor, when Barry left, I moved up to interim mayor. There is a process…”
“You’re just scared Hunter’s going to do the job better than you,” Karen shot back.
No, I’m afraid that Hunter’s going to do absolutely nothing and take credit for all my work. Maybe I should just leave.
“Motion to make the mayoral duties shared!” one of Hunter’s brothers yelled out.
“Seconded!” Archer called.
“Fine.”At least he can sit in on conference calls.
* * *
After the meeting,I found Hunter surrounded by a number of his groupies, who mainly consisted of very elderly women who were admiring his muscles.
“Look at that wrist action!” one of the women said as Hunter showed them his watch that cost ten times more than all my worldly possessions.
“I’m forwarding you meeting invites,” I told him.
“Uh-huh,” he said as one of the women pulled a one-eyed cat out of her purse and started waving it around.
