Maud snapped, “You’ve somehow managed to crawl your way back into my good graces. Don’t go wrecking your chances to stay there.”
When he hesitated, Bailey added, “We’re listening.” “Okay, so here’s the thing. The governor’s team is expecting us to show how Miramar is hurting.”
“Which it is,” Maud said.
“But they already know that. It’s why they’re coming. What if we tried to show them also how Miramar ishealing?” He looked around the table, went on. “Olivia’s been working on before-and-after photos. What if we use that as a starting point? Talk about our resilience, our determination to make things right? ”
The mayor’s daughter laughed, the sound bell-like. Bailey nodded, though she shared none of her daughter’s mirth. “This has promise.”
Arnaud surprised them all by speaking through the kitchen window, “You’re saying we should show them Miramar’s heart.”
“Why we love this place so much,” Claire agreed. “Despite everything.”
“I’m liking this,” Porter said. He leaned back and inspected the ceiling. “I’m liking it a lot.”
Bailey pushed her chair a fraction away from the table and studied the others.
“Maybe we should start by showing them the ocean walk,” Dillon went on.
“Nothing’s going to make a better photo-op,” Porter agreed, addressing the ceiling.
“Bring him back to the fire station,” Gleason said. “Walk him through our line of before-and-after photos.”
Emilia demanded, “Can you get that ready in time?”
“Oh absolutely,” Gleason replied. “We’re already halfway there. Right, Olivia?”
“We don’t need to show him everything,” Berto said. “This isn’t an inspection for the auditors.”
And then suddenly everyone was talking. A great heave of excited planning. Olivia went heads down with Gleason, making notes of places she needed to start shooting at dawn. Then she looked up to find Bailey still watching Dillon.
