Gulf Coast Wedding by Maggie Miller

Chapter Thirteen

Travis felt an odd sense of peace, which surprised him. After all, today would decide whether or not Lavinia remained in power. Nothing would change if she did. But if he defeated her…well, he and a lot of other people were hoping that would be the beginning of her fading away.

At least from her role as town bully.

He stood a proper distance from the polling place, which put him just inside the entrance to the church parking lot. He had a small canopy set up with a card table, two chairs, and some of his campaign materials. He’d also stuck one of his campaign signs into the grass next to the sidewalk and was now waving at people as they drove in. So far all of them had waved back. He took that as a good thing.

If someone wasn’t going to vote for him, would they still wave? He wasn’t sure.

A black Mercedes drove down the road toward him, and he almost laughed. Well, here was someone who wasn’t going to wave back.

Lavinia Major herself.

He waved anyway and included a big smile, because that’s just who he was. He was also trying to gauge if the frown he received in return would equal the same amount of effort he was putting into being cheerful.

Things like that amused him.

She scowled as she pulled into the parking lot, glancing at him like he was beneath her notice. Except she had noticed him.

He just chuckled and went back to waving. Every now and then, someone would honk as they went by. All in all, it was a pretty pleasant experience.

“How’s it going?”

He turned to see Denise Parker approaching. “Hey, Den. It’s going great.”

She was carrying two cups of coffee. She held out to him. “I thought maybe you could use this.”

“Absolutely. The sun might be shining, but there’s a nip in the air.” He took the cup. “Thank you so much.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome.” She hesitated, like she wanted to say more. She cleared her throat softly before speaking again. “Thank you. For letting me be a part of things. With Clayton I mean.”

He sipped the hot coffee and smiled. “You don’t have to thank me for that. You’re his grandmother. And really, it was Sam’s doing.”

She nodded. “I know, but I also know you could have stopped her if you’d wanted to. She values your opinion greatly, that much is clear. I’m really glad she has a father like you. Someone who genuinely puts her best interests ahead of his own.”

“She’s got Levi to do that now, too.”

Den smiled. “He loves her so much. Always has, you know. He never got over her. Or what his father made him do. Maybe now…”

Travis nodded. “Yes. I think all of that will heal now. And we’re glad to have you as part of the family. We really are.”

She stared into her coffee. “Thank you. It’s really nice to be part of a family again. A good family.”

He wondered if she wouldn’t be doing some healing herself, too. “That house is really going to be something when we get it all fixed up.”

“I think so too. I hope they get it.”

“I’m sure they will. It’s been on the market for a while and a house like that takes a buyer with vision. Someone who can see past the brown shag carpet and missing drywall and outdated kitchen.”

She sipped her coffee, then smiled. “I’m not completely sure Levi can. But he trusts you. And Sam.”

“We won’t let him down, I promise. When we’re through with that house, you won’t believe it’s the same place.”

Her smile got a little bigger. “I can’t wait. What will you do first?”

“Tear out everything that’s not staying. Carpet, cabinets, that wall, some of those light fixtures…” He shook his head. “It’s a long list. They’ll need to get a dumpster on site, and we’ll probably fill it at least once if not twice.”

“Can I help?”

He hadn’t expected that. “With the demolition? Sure.”

“I want to do whatever I can to help the kids.”

“Always happy to have free labor.”

She laughed. “That’s me. I might not be skilled, but I’m definitely free. I can paint too. And make curtains. Pull weeds. Trim bushes. All sorts of things.”

“You’re hired. Although from what I understand, you also make some mean fried chicken.”

She nodded, eyes alight with happiness. “Levi says I do.” She looked around. “Has Georgia been by already?”

“Not yet. Busy day at the inn. Tourist magazine is doing their big photoshoot today.”

“Oh, that’s right. In all the election excitement, it slipped my mind.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back. My break is almost over.”

“Thanks again for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome. I’d say I’m telling people to vote for you, but that’s not allowed.”

He laughed. “Don’t get yourself fired.”

“Can they fire a volunteer? Who knows?” She shrugged good-naturedly, then headed back in.

His mind turned to Georgia. He wondered how things were going at the inn. He set his coffee on the table and pulled his phone out to see if he’d missed any messages. He hadn’t. Georgia was probably swamped. The magazine people would have only just gotten there.

He’d probably see her in a few hours when she could get away. She’d told him she was going to try to come vote around nine or ten, depending on how things were going.

He hoped they went well. The inn’s business could rise or fall on this magazine article and the accompanying pictures.

Norma had never cared enough to go after that kind of publicity, but then she’d never really needed to either. The inn had its steady stream of regulars and they’d been enough to keep the business thriving.

He understood Georgia’s desire to inject some new life, however. Especially because the place had been closed for so many years.

On a whim, he sent her a quick text. Hope all is well.

He was just about to tuck his phone back into his pocket, when her reply came in.

It will be. They showed up early so we’re a little crazy right now.

He smiled. And yet, she’d taken time to answer him.

A second text came through. How’s it going there?

All good, he texted in response. Now go back to work.

Her answer was a laughing emoji and a heart.

He hearted her too. He tucked the phone away, picked up his cup, and waved at the next incoming car.

“Mr. Taylor.”

The voice came from behind him. He turned to see a woman he didn’t recognize. “Yes, ma’am?”

“I’m Elaine Altman, the commissioner of elections. A complaint has been raised that one of our poll workers is working for you.”

He frowned. “If they are, it’s news to me.”

“Then you don’t know Mrs. Denise Parker?”

“Sure, I know her, but she’s not working for me.”

The woman looked over the rim of her glasses at him. Her gaze went to the cup in his hands. “Where did you get that coffee?”

He could see where this was going. And who was behind it. “Denise brought it to me. We’re friends, that’s all.”

The commissioner looked underwhelmed with that answer. “It’s highly irregular.”

“For a friend to bring another friend coffee? We have different definitions of irregular. But let me guess, the person who made the complaint was Lavinia Major, my opponent on the ticket.”

Elaine pursed her lips. “I’m not at liberty to say who—”

“Don’t you think it’s a little suspicious for Ms. Major to be making a complaint about me, her adversary? Everyone in town knows Denise and I are friends. We share a grandson. Her son is about to marry my daughter. It would be stranger if we weren’t speaking.” Although that was the case with Lavinia.

Elaine seemed to be considering that. “All the same, Mr. Taylor, we take such things very seriously. I’m sure you can understand. If you made such a complaint, you’d want it treated with the same consideration.”

“Of course. But I’m also not a known troublemaker.” He smiled the same smile he used when he delivered a higher-than-expected estimate on work to be done.

“That’s not for me to judge.” With that, she went back to the church.

He went back to waving, shaking his head at how petty and vindictive Lavinia was. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it still was. The woman couldn’t leave anything alone.

Which made him worry a bit about the house. Lavinia was a realtor. There was every possibility she’d find out about the offer Levi was submitting. He prayed she didn’t find out until the offer was accepted and it was too late for her to do anything.

But wouldn’t the house’s listing change to pending once the offer was in? He wasn’t sure how that worked, but he set his coffee down, pulled out his phone and typed out a quick text to Theresa with his concerns, glad he’d programed her number into his contacts list.

He hit send, then put his phone back in his pocket, picked up his cup again, and drained what was left of his now lukewarm coffee. He should have brought a thermos, but he’d never done this before so he hadn’t had a clue.

Interesting that Lavinia wasn’t out here waving and doing some last-minute campaigning too. Did that mean she thought she had it in the bag? Or did she suspect most of the votes were going to him and think there was no point?

Hard to say with a woman like that.

“Hey.” Denise was next to him again.

“Hey.” He frowned. She looked upset. “What’s wrong?”

She grimaced. “Apparently a volunteer can be fired.”

“What?”

She nodded. “Lavinia made such a fuss, the commissioner asked me to leave.”

An overwhelming sense of irritation welled up in Travis. “I’m really sorry.”

Denise shrugged like it was no big deal, but he could see the disappointment in her eyes. “Not much to do about it. I don’t like to make a scene. Just who I am.”

“Maybe you should make a scene,” he said. Then he smiled. “Right here next to me.”

“You mean…wave at cars with you?”

“Why not? You’ve already been accused of working for me. And Lavinia’s goal was to get you out of the polling place, which she did. It could really frost her to see that all she accomplished was giving me more help.”

She laughed. “Yeah. Might as well show Lavinia that I really don’t care what she thinks. Which I don’t.”

“Good for you.” Travis grinned. Could it be possible that Denise was growing a spine?