Page 93 of Happily Ever After

“You’re a hard woman to say no to. Also, I must say, this is the most tradecraft-adjacent activity I’ve engaged in since I retired. Rather fun, actually. Bit like a dead-drop.”

She almost snorted. “Don’t call it that.”

He chuckled. “Well, it is.”

She glanced at him. “You miss the embassy?”

“No,” he said promptly. Then, after a beat, “Or rather, not so much anymore.”

They pulled up to Essie’s house. Graham killed the engine and Paige hopped out. The night air was warm without the breeze created by driving. She lifted the mat carefully and found the big envelope immediately. It was satisfyingly thick.

Paige tucked it into her tote and headed back to the car.

“One down,” she said.

Graham checked the list she’d shared with him. “Next is Maude.”

“She lives back by the reserve.”

“Roger that.”

Maude’s envelope was heavier still. As Paige picked it up, she felt a small thrill. That meant people had signed. A lot of people.

At Blaise’s, Beau barked softly from inside as Paige crouched to retrieve the envelope. Blaise cracked the door and gave her a thumbs-up without stepping out. “Text me when you know the number,” she said. “I hope it’s enough.”

“Will do,” Paige replied. “And so do I.”

Cece’s envelope was tucked under the mat with a sticky note that bore a smiley face and the words Go Bees! scribbled underneath. Paige smiled as she picked it up. They had certainly done their best.

By the time they reached Althea’s, Paige was feeling optimistic. After adding Althea’s envelope, she thought her tote felt noticeably heavier.

Maybe that was just wishful thinking.

“That’s all of them,” Paige said as she slid back into her seat. She took a deep breath and said a little prayer they’d done enough. No one really wanted to go out canvassing again, although she knew they would if it was necessary.

Graham started the engine and they headed for her house. After a minute, he said, “You’re quiet.”

“I’m trying not to get my hopes up,” she said.

“Mmm,” he replied. “That’s sensible. Also a touch boring.”

She snorted. “Thank you.”

They drove the rest of the way home in silence, the envelopes rustling softly in Paige’s tote with every turn. When they pulled into her driveway, Paige could barely wait for him to shut the engine off. As soon as they were parked, she grabbed the bag and headed straight inside.

He followed and she placed the envelopes on the dining table in a neat stack on top of the envelope with the signatures she and Graham had collected. Then she fetched a pen, a calculator and a legal pad, while Graham poured them both a glass of ice water and bought them to the table.

“How would you like to proceed?” he asked as he took a seat.

“I guess…count signatures per sheet, then tally totals. We’ll do it by envelope,” Paige said. She sat across from him so they’d both have plenty of room. “And we need to double-check everything.”

“Of course,” he said. “No room for error.”

They opened Essie’s envelope first.

Paige pulled out the stack of papers and blinked. “Oh.”

Graham’s brows lifted. “Good ‘oh’ or bad ‘oh’?”