Page 86 of Happily Ever After

Cece looked out at the houses again. “You really think people will care?”

“They already do,” Joe said. “Even the ones who don’t realize it yet. You’re giving them the information they need to make an informed decision. Trust me, most of them would be steamed if this was happening to them. And it will, if Darcy gets her way.”

She took that in with a nod.

They got back to work.

At one house, a woman listened intently, then said, “I don’t even go to a book club.”

“That’s fine,” Cece replied. “This isn’t about a book club. It’s about any group, gathering, or club that takes place anywhere throughout this community.”

The woman nodded slowly as the realization sank in. “My husband plays cards every Thursday. I’d be furious if someone told them they couldn’t meet anymore. I like having him out of the house for a couple of hours.”

She signed.

At another, a couple hesitated, worried about retaliation from the board.

Joe answered carefully. “A petition is protected speech. You’re not doing anything wrong and there won’t be any repercussions. Of course, if you don’t sign, you may regret it.”

They signed, too.

As the sun climbed higher, Cece felt a strange mix of fatigue and resolve settle into her bones. This wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t a march or a protest or anything that dramatic. It was grunt work. Knocking on doors and explaining the same thing over and over again, trusting that reason and fairness would win out over fear.

But it seemed to be paying off.

They stopped again, Joe pulling into a small parking area near the community center.

“Lunch?” he asked.

Cece laughed softly. “You read my mind.”

He drove them to The Bee’s Knees, where they grabbed a table. She took a few big gulps of her water as soon as the server brought it, then just stared at her menu without seeing it. She couldn’t stop herself from trying to figure out what they’d do if Darcy won.

“You okay?” Joe asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Just thinking.”

They ordered and the food came quickly. She was hungrier than she’d realized but after a few bites, she spoke again. “Do you really think Darcy will escalate once she realizes what we’re doing? Or do you think there’s any chance she’ll realize what she’s up against and back down?”

Joe wiped his hands on a napkin. “Escalate would be my guess.”

Cece sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

“But…escalation could hurt the image she’s trying to convey,” he added. “At a certain point, it doesn’t make her look good to be ranting against what the majority wants. The more public this becomes, the less room she has to maneuver.”

Cece considered that. “So the key is keeping it public.”

“Yes,” Joe said. “And what we’re doing is one of the best ways to do that.”

They finished lunch and returned to the cart.

The afternoon brought more doors, more conversations. Some people were enthusiastic. Others skeptical. A few refused outright.

Cece learned not to take it personally. And as the signature sheets filled, she felt something come alive inside her. Maybe it was too early to think such a thing, but it felt like they were gaining momentum.

They paused one last time at the edge of the neighborhood, tallying their count.

Joe whistled softly. “This was a good day.”