Broken Down: A Novel, page 10
“I don’t know, but she didn’t seem at all hesitant last night, so clearly she’s confident she can handle it.”
“She probably hasn’t really thought it through,” said Ursula. “There’s a lot involved in being mayor. I’ve done some research and—”
“You have?” said Beth.
“Don’t even start with me,” she warned. “Not like a lot of research. I just looked up a few things. All I’m saying is that being mayor is a big responsibility. It requires a lot of time and energy, not to mention money. It’s not just something that you jump into on a whim, and it’s definitely not something you do all on your own.”
“Who said she’s on her own?” I asked. “You should’ve seen how many people were at the bar last night, enthusiastic about wanting to make change. I think she’d have tons of help if she asked for it.”
“Or,” Beth said, “you could have tons of help. If you asked for it. Walkers’ Bar has already offered itself as a hub for our campaign, and Danica offered free drinks for anyone who volunteers. Obviously, we probably won’t let people drink on the job, but when we go out canvassing and all that, we can meet there and have a beer.”
“Woah, woah, you two are getting way too ahead of yourselves. Canvassing? What does that even mean?”
I smirked. “And you said you did your research.”
She shot me dagger eyes. “I did do my research. And you know what, I do know what canvassing means. I just wanted to make sure you guys weren’t just using political buzzwords to make it seem like you know what you’re talking about. Like any of us know anything about politics!” She folded her arms and glared at me. “And what is your stake in all this? You’re here for what, three weeks max? The election isn’t for another two months! Are you just looking for some way to fill your time while you’re stuck in this town?”
I pointed to the notepad. “Take a look at my entry. Read my description of the last run-in I had with Mayor Louis, and that should tell you exactly why I’m doing this.”
Ursula glanced back down at the notebook and then read over what I had written. After a few seconds, she looked back up at me. “I’m sorry,” she said. “He’s… he’s the worst.”
“Agreed.”
“And his days as mayor are numbered,” Beth said. “Urs, if you honestly have no interest in doing this, that’s fine. Say so now, and we’ll drop it forever. I’ll call Danica and tell her to get ready to see her name on the ballot. But if there’s even one tiny party of you that wants to do this, then I think you should listen to that part. You’d be a great mayor. I know it, the town knows it—hell, even Raina knows it and she met you two days ago.”
Ursula shifted from one foot to the other, and then looked up at the ceiling for a while. I got the sense that she didn’t want to make eye contact with either of us.
“Fine,” she eventually said. “Fine. I will… try. I will try to run for mayor. Okay? Chances are I won’t win anyway so who cares!” She threw her hands up in the air, defeated, and brought them down heavily at her sides.
“Yes!” Beth cheered. “I knew you would say yes.”
“But you two are going to do most of the work, right?”
I smiled. “Yes, we will. Oh, by the way, I’m your campaign manager.”
“For the next three weeks,” she said.
“Yeah, right. For the next three weeks. And then we’ll see.”
She and Beth both looked at me with odd expressions, but I just smiled and excused myself to go make a call outside.
The phone rang and rang, then Gina picked up.
“Hey,” I said. “It’s me.”
“So, have you made a decision yet?”
“Yes,” I said. “I have.”
She waited patiently for me to say something. I paused.
“You should probably find a replacement for me. I don’t know when I’ll be back—but it probably won’t be for a long time, and more likely, it might be never. I mean, I’ll be back to visit, to see you, of course. But not for good.”
She sighed. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed. But I get it. I never thought you’d be here working for me forever. You were always destined for bigger and better things.”
It genuinely surprised and delighted me to hear her say that.
“Wow. Thanks. That’s really kind of you to say.”
“You deserve to chase your bliss, Raina. Just be sure to give me a call when you catch it.”
I laughed. “I will.”
We hung up, and I looked out at where the streets of Aria dead-ended abruptly at the base of a beautiful, looming mountain. It truly was a gorgeous little town.
11
Monday morning came around, and it was, in a word, sobering. I slept in late and woke up to find the house completely empty. Obviously, I’d known Theo wasn’t going to be there, but there was no sign of Bethany either, and I found myself feeling more on edge than relaxed in the quiet little bungalow. Bethany had left me a note on the kitchen counter, informing me she had a teacher’s meeting, and after that she’d be at the school all afternoon. I could expect her home sometime after four.
“Hmm,” I said out loud to myself, realizing for the first time since I’d decided to stay in Aria for a few weeks, that I really had nothing to do there. Without Bethany to take me on errands with her, to get coffee with, I was going to have to find a way to fill my day. But where to start?
I texted Ursula first, to see if she wanted to get together to go over campaign plans for the next week.
“Maybe tonight,” she wrote back. “I have a lot of cars that need fixing. Including yours.”
Okay, so she was out. That left me with… no one. Except Danica. I didn’t have her phone number, but I didn’t think it would hurt to drop by the bar to see if she was in yet. Perhaps she’d be busy, and I could offer to help. Give me something to do, in addition to being a way to give back to the people that had so kindly welcomed me into their small-town lives.
So I had a game plan. At least for that day. That was a start.
I made some coffee, got dressed, and was soon out the door, walking toward downtown Aria. I was only a block away from Walkers’ Bar when a jet-black car drove up next to me and came to a stop by the curb. The driver’s seat window rolled down, and I saw that it was the mayor.
“Raina Bush,” he said. “Or should I call you Raina Ritter now?”
How does he know my full name?
“Don’t look so alarmed.” He flashed me a wicked smile. I stood a few feet from the car with my arms crossed. “I googled you. Everyone’s doing it these days. I found your wedding announcement from years ago. You two looked very happy. So what happened? Did he cheat?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want, Jason?”
“Oh, so we’re on a first-name basis now?”
I didn’t respond.
“I’m fine with that,” he said. “Call me Mayor, or don’t. It won’t change the fact that I am the mayor. Speaking of, news around town is that you and Bethany Jennings have been stirring up a little trouble. You’ve been asking about me, trying to dig up dirt. And hey, honestly, I respect it. You’re wanting to get into the game, and I think that’s”—he sneered—“very attractive. I just wanted to let you know that I’m perfectly capable of digging up dirt on you as well. So if you want to start this, get ready.”
I bent down and made direct eye contact. “Go digging, see if I care. I have nothing to hide. Can you say the same?”
He didn’t break the stare. “I’m an open book, Raina. An innocent do-gooder, who gives back to the community and cares about the people in this town.” He shook his head, laughing a little. “And if you think anyone in Aria, besides a handful of drunken complainers, is going to tell you otherwise, you are sorely mistaken. I’ve got this town wrapped around my finger.”
“So you think.”
“So I know.”
He waved at me. “I’d better be off. It was great chatting with you. Hope to see you around! Buh-bye now.” He rolled up his window and drove away.
I furrowed my brow as I watched him leave but was proud of myself for not getting too heated. Jason still didn’t know Ursula was going to run for mayor, and the longer he was ignorant of that fact, the more time we had to prepare before he inevitably launched his counterattack on our campaign.
In Walkers’ I found a man behind the bar, not Danica.
“You must be Kenny,” I said. Besides me and Kenny, there was only one other man in the bar. I recognized him as the guy who’d told us Mayor Louis had been raising his rent. He was also behind the counter, working on installing a new keg.
“And you are?” Kenny was on the shorter side, but handsome. He looked to be the same age as Danica, with the early signs of aging manifesting in streaks of gray in his hair and beard.
“I’m Raina.”
“Oh so you’re the one who’s gotten my wife suddenly very interested in local politics?”
I shrugged. “I guess.”
“If you’re here to tell her that Ursula said no and that she has to run in her place, then I have some bad news for you. We did the math last night, researched how much money a mayor in this kind of town makes, and it’s not going to work for us. I’m sorry, but it’s just not possible—”
“I don’t need Danica to run,” I said. “Ursula agreed to do it.”
He smiled. “Well, that’s great! I think she’s a great choice. And truth be told, I don’t think Danica actually wanted to run. She just wants Jason gone so badly, she’d do just about anything.”
“Apparently so would a lot of people.” I nodded at the man installing the keg, but he kept his head down.
“If you’re not here for Danica, I take it that means you’re here for a drink?”
I gawked. “Not this early.”
“We have mimosas.”
I shook my head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I haven’t even had breakfast. I actually came around to see if Danica needed any help. The only other people I know besides her are both at work, and since I don’t know how to fix cars or teach children to draw, I thought maybe your wife could use a helping hand.”
“You looking for a job?”
I frowned. “No,” I said. “Er, not a job job. You wouldn’t have to pay me. You guys are already doing so much to help out with the campaign with all the free drinks and—”
“Free drinks?” said Kenny. “I didn’t hear anything about that.”
“Oh.” Uh oh. “Danica said—”
“Danica said?” It was hard to read his expression. “Well, she’s the boss. What Danica says goes.”
He smiled at the guy under the counter. “Right, George? Gotta keep Danica happy.”
George popped his head up. “I’d say that’s our best bet, yeah.” He kicked the keg he’d just installed. “Everything should be working. Let me know if you have any other problems with the pump.”
“Will do.”
George tipped his hat and went to leave when I called his name. He turned around, looking a little
uncomfortable.
“I don’t know if you remember me from the other night,” I said. “But you told us about Mayor Louis raising your rent. My name is Raina, in case you missed that. And you’re George, I take it?” I stuck my hand out. “It’s nice to officially meet you.”
He shook my hand. “Yeah. Nice to meet you too.” He wouldn’t make eye contact.
“Anyway, since you’re here, I was wondering if you had any proof of your rent being raised? We want to get our hands on all the concrete evidence we can—”
He smirked. “I’m sure you do.”
I drew back. “I—uh, I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”
“Never mind,” he grumbled.
“Did I do something to offend you?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I know you’re working for him.”
“Working for who?”
“Mayor Louis. I know you’re one of his little spies.”
I would’ve laughed if George hadn’t been wearing such a deadly serious expression. “What are you talking about? I’m working against Mayor Louis. I’m Ursula’s campaign manager.”
“That’s what she thinks,” he said. “That’s what you’ve convinced the whole town to think. But I know the truth. Jason came by the apartment this morning and told me and the rest of the tenants everything. He said he had eyes and ears everywhere and warned us that any complaints made against him would result in immediate termination of our leases.”
“Okay, first of all, he can’t do that,” I said. I saw Kenny eyeing me suspiciously, and I felt outnumbered. I wished Bethany was there. “And second of all, I am not one of his spies. I would never work for a man like him. I swear, I am just someone whose car broke down outside of Aria and who wanted to help her new friends. That’s it. I’m no double agent.”
George shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I can’t lose my apartment” was all he said.
“I understand. But I’m not going to tell Jason about what you told us. We are just going to use all the stories we collected the other night to help Ursula in her campaign, I promise. We can leave your name off it, make it anonymous so only we know it was you.”
He shook his head, his eyes wide with worry. “No. No, I take it all back. I don’t want you using my story, or statement. Whatever. You can’t use it, you don’t have permission.”
“But George—”
“I have kids!” he said. “I can’t afford to be playing with fire like this. I—I have to go.” He was out the door, and I was too stunned to come up with anything to say to make him stay. I slowly walked back over to the bar and sat down on one of the stools.
“That… was unexpected.”
Kenny sighed. “That’s Mayor Louis for you. And I’m willing to bet George, and tenants in his building, aren’t the only ones he went after. He probably warned everyone about his little ‘spy.’”
“So what you’re saying is nobody is going to talk to me anymore?”
“Most likely not.”
“Great.” I put my elbows on the counter and rested my head in my hands. “Good thing I quit my job back home and have no plans for my life at all except being Ursula’s campaign manager.”
Kenny started cleaning the glasses. “I’ll ask again, you looking for a job?”
I perked up. “Are you offering? Like, a real job?”
“We could use another bartender around here,” he said. “Especially on the busy nights. Do you have any experience?”
“None. But I’m a fast learner.”
“All right then,” he said. “You’re hired. You start tonight. Oh, and heads up, the pay isn’t great.”
“Right now I’m making zero money, is the pay more than zero?”
He laughed. “A little, yeah.”
“Then I’ll take it.”
After that, I went to the coffee shop, got myself a drink, and humored Nicky, the kid at the register, when he tried to flirt with me. I laughed but ultimately told him he was too young and that it wouldn’t matter anyway because I was done with men.
“Done with men?” he repeated. “How could that be?”
“I need a break. I just got out of a marriage. I can’t jump back into the dating pool in a matter of weeks. Who moves on that quickly?”
“You can’t control when you move on,” he said. “You just move on. Or you don’t. There’s no rhyme or reason to it.”
I laughed. “You clearly don’t know me at all. I’m all about rhyme and reason.”
“Even when it comes to love?”
“Especially when it comes to love.” I put my change into the tip jar, smiled at the kid, and left with my drink. I had a few more hours before I was due to report back to Walkers’ bar for my first ever shift as a bartender, so I decided to go back to Bethany’s house and hopefully catch her when she got home. I wanted to tell her about my day and about what Jason had been up to all weekend, foiling our plans before we’d even been able to lay them.
Back at the house, I went around to the side door, like Bethany showed me. She left this door unlocked all the time, a fact she told me never to let Theo in on. When I walked inside, I heard music playing loudly upstairs.
“Beth?” I called out.
No response.
I went up the stairs and tried again. “Beth? Is that you?”
Again, nothing.
I followed the sound of classic rock down the hallway and into the small room right next to the master bedroom. Bethany had her hair tied up in a messy bun on top of her head, and she was wearing denim, paint-stained overalls.
“Beth?” I said again. She jumped.
“Holy cats!” she yelled, then ran to turn the music down. “You scared me.”
“Sorry,” I said.
“That’s fine, dear.” She smiled. “I was just so in the zone.” She still had a dripping paintbrush in one hand, and I looked at the canvas she had set up on the easel. There was a lot of blue on the top half, and I wondered if she was doing a landscape that had a large blue sky overhead.
“You’re painting?”
“Yes I am!”
“That’s exciting! I thought you said you hadn’t felt the urge to paint in a long time. Ever since the…” I trailed off.
“Ever since the cancer came back. It’s okay, you can say it.”
I just nodded.
“Something was different about today,” she said. “I had a great day with the kids, and when I got back, I don’t know, I just felt so inspired. I think it might have something to do with the mayoral race, if I’m being honest. It’s filled me with so much hope for the future of my hometown.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Really, that’s wonderful. Which is why what I have to tell you is going to be so much harder to say.”
Her face fell. “What is it? Are you leaving?”
“What? No! I’m not going anywhere. How would I even get somewhere else?”
She sighed with relief. “Thank goodness. I thought you were going to—oh, well, it doesn't matter. What is it you were going to say?”
