“Molly!” Russ said. “Mr. Mayor!”
The mayor was in his fifties and prematurely silver. “Russell,” he said warmly, “is this the girl you’ve been keeping from us?”
“This is Cherry. Cherry—Mark and Molly Brooks.”
Cherry held out her hand. The mayor’s wife grabbed it with both of hers. “Oh my gosh—look at you. Mark, look. It’s Baby!”
“It’s Cherry,” Cherry said.
“No, I know—but it’s like you walked right off the page!” She squeezed Cherry’s hand and shook it with each syllable: “We aresuchfans ofThursday.”
“We are,” the mayor agreed. “You know, we’ve tried to get your husband on the phone. The Chamber has an idea for him.”
Molly let go of Cherry’s hand, so she could clap. “It’s ‘The Guy in Omaha’! That’s the idea!”
Cherry was confused. “I think The Guy already lives in Omaha...”
“Right,” the mayor said, “but what if your husband did a special comic book highlighting thatThursdaytakes place in Omaha—for the Chamber?”
“The chamber... orchestra?”
“The Chamber of Commerce,” Russ said flatly.
“Baby could be in it, too!” Molly said.
“We think it would be impactful,” the mayor said. “People need to see that Omaha is a vibrant, affordable city for the creative class.”
“Everyone wants the creative class,” his wife said in a pretend whisper. “You should see the metrics.”
Cherry smiled and nodded. “Mmm.”
“You have to link us up with your husband,” the mayor said.
“Have him call me,” Molly said. “People can’t say no to me.”
“I’m afraid,” Cherry said lightly, glancing at Russ, “that I don’t have as much sway with him these days.”
“Oh, that’s right.” The mayor’s wife laughed. “Well, lucky Russ, right? I’m going to have Russ give you my personal number to pass along to your husband. I’m telling you—people can’t say no to me.”
“I’ll pass it along,” Cherry said.
“It can’t hurt, right?”
Cherry shook her head. “It cannot hurt.”
Molly put her hand on Russ’s arm. “Russ, get this woman a drink. Oh my goodness, I’m just seeing you.” She slapped his arm. “You’re such a dish.” She looked at Cherry and loud-whispered again—“Isn’t he a dish?”
Her husband rolled his eyes. “Don’t me-too my staff, Molly.”
“I’m not me-tooing anyone! I’m being honest!”
Russ was smiling warmly. Everyone was smiling warmly. The mayor smiled warmly at Cherry. “It’s a real honor to meet you, Cherry. We feel like we know you already.”
“We really do,” his wife agreed.
Russ was leading Cherry away. “Come on, I’ve been ordered to get my lovely date a drink.”
“The bar’s that way.” The mayor pointed.
