Gulf Coast Wedding by Maggie Miller
Chapter Seventeen
Georgia strode inside, thankful she’d gotten herself registered so she could vote. She showed her license, waved at Mrs. Saunders and a few of the other volunteers she recognized from church, then collected her paper ballot in its folder and pen and took them to the first available privacy booth.
She opened up the folder and had a look. There were two other council seats up for election, but neither of them were contested.
She smiled at Travis’s name. It was something to see it on the ballot right there under Lavinia’s.
On impulse, Georgia got out her phone and snapped a picture. Then she marked the box next to Travis’s name as neatly and concisely as possible with the pen she’d been given. She marked the other two boxes for the uncontested seats as well.
She took another photo, just so she could show Travis. Then she tucked her phone away, closed the ballot inside the folder, and went off to the machine that did the official counting.
The older man volunteering there took the folder and ballot from her, then ran them through the machine in such a way that kept everything confidential.
She gave him a nod. “Thank you. How’s the turnout been?”
“More than the last time we had a council election, that’s for sure,” he said. “Thanks for voting.”
“Happy to do it.” On her way out, she got a sticker that announced she’d voted. She stuck it proudly to her blouse as she headed back to her car.
She got behind the wheel and started the engine but sent the last photo she’d taken to Travis before pulling out.
As she reached the lot’s exit, he was smiling at his phone. He looked up and saw her, laughing a little.
She powered down the window. “I thought you might like that. Be right back with lunch.”
“Okay.”
Ludlow’s was busy, but then it usually was around this time of day. She went straight to the deli were all the ready-made foods were laid out. The wraps looked really good and there was a worker putting new ones in the case, so she selected two of those.
A ham and cheese along with a chicken salad. She’d let Travis pick whichever one he wanted. She grabbed two snack-size bags of kettle chips, two bottles of iced tea, a couple of napkins from the counter, then headed for the check out.
While in line, she threw a little bag of peanut M&M’s on the conveyor, too. Just in case Travis needed a pick me up for later. Or they wanted dessert.
She paid, took her plastic bag, and went back out to the car. She’d seen Lucas at a distance in the store but hadn’t gone over to chat. He’d been busy and she had Travis – and the photoshoot – to get back to.
As it was, she’d left everything in the very capable hands of her sister and Mia, but that didn’t mean Georgia wasn’t still slightly stressing over what might be happening while she was away.
But it wasn’t enough to make her rush through lunch with Travis. She pulled into the church parking lot, amazed to see how many cars were there now. People voting on their lunch break, she imagined. She parked, grabbed the bag of food along with her purse, and went to join him at his table.
She could afford a break, especially when it meant spending some time with him. Despite his cool demeanor, which was pretty much how he was all the time, she knew he had to be a little anxious about today.
Things would be so much better if Lavinia lost her iron grip on this town. So. Much. Better.
He was waving to people as she walked up. She held up the Ludlow’s bag. “Ham and cheese or chicken salad. Your choice.”
“Ham and cheese,” he answered as he continued to wave.
She got that wrap out and set up his lunch for him on the card table. His wrap, his bag of chips, and his iced tea. Along with a napkin. Wouldn’t do for him to get anything on himself with hours yet left to go. “Anything new?”
He shook his head as he sat down and started taking the cellophane off the wrap. “No, but it’s gotten busier. Lunch rush, I guess.”
“That’s what I was thinking too. The man who took my ballot said it was a bigger turnout so far than the last council election.” She sat down beside him, grateful he’d gone to the trouble of bringing two chairs. It was kind of nice, actually. A little strange to be having a picnic in the church parking lot, but nice all the same.
“Yeah?” Travis took a bite of his wrap, then chewed for a moment. “You think that’s good?”
She nodded and took her food out of the bag. “I think it’s really good. Seems like people are excited to have someone new to vote for. That’s how I interpret it, anyway. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, could be.” He took the top off his iced tea, then reached over and took the top of hers as well.
“Thanks,” she said.
“You’re welcome. Thanks for lunch.”
“Sure. This is kind of fun, right? Sort of picnic.” She took a bite of her wrap. Ludlow’s really did have the best chicken salad.
“It is,” he nodded. “An election day picnic.”
“I can’t wait until the day comes when we can go out to dinner after your first council meeting.” Suddenly she remembered what else was in the Ludlow’s bag. “I almost forgot.” She reached into the sack and pulled the candy out. “I also got a small bag of M&M’s, in case you have a sweet tooth.”
He smiled. “You’re all the sugar I need.”
She laughed. “You’re pretty sweet yourself. What’s the protocol for tonight? Is someone going to call you? Or what?”
He nodded. “Once they get the votes tallied, but the local news will have it too. Which I’m sure we’ll be glued to. Bill Turner from the elections office will call, but he said the official word might not be in until ten tonight. He also mentioned the news will start calling it by seven if the lead is strong enough.”
Georgia swallowed the bite she’d taken, then opened her bag of chips and had one of those. “I’m glad we’ll be watching together.”
He nodded. “Me, too, but are you sure you want a house full of people after having a house full of magazine people?”
“Apples and oranges. One is family, one is work. I absolutely want us all together for this. I’m ordering pizzas and I already have champagne on ice.”
The side of his mouth reluctantly hitched up. Like he was afraid to be too optimistic. “I really hope we get to crack that bottle.”
“We will.”
“I love your confidence. And while I also love that you’re here with me, shouldn’t you be back at the inn? Who’s in charge? Lilly and Mia?”
“Pretty much. Coffee’s there too, of course, and Griffin is shooting pictures of the whole thing for the paper. Kelly’s there as well. Or she was. I don’t know if she’s staying for the entire day. But trust me, Lilly’s got this. The woman in charge, that Susanna I mentioned? She spent most of the morning fangirling over Lilly.”
“Fangirling?”
“You know, all wide-eyed and smiley that she’s working with the one and only Lilly De La Garza.”
He slanted his eyes at her. “I know what fangirling means. I live with Sam, remember?”
She laughed. “I suppose you would.”
“How about that, though? Lilly as a celebrity.” He reached into his bag of chips, crunching a couple before going on. “I forget sometimes what a big deal she is.”
“In some circles, she really is. And obviously design and decorating are some of those circles.”
“Well, I hope this article pays off in a major way. I’d love to see you booked for a year at a time.”
She shook her head at that idea. “I can’t imagine that. Oh! For some reason that made me think about the house. Any word on the offer the kids put in?”
“Nothing yet. And I’d think Sam would text me as soon as they hear something. That’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?”
Georgia smiled. “It really is. Almost as exciting as what they’re about to do Wednesday night.”
His turn to smile as he took a sip of his tea. “That’s for sure. I can’t thank you and Mia enough for everything you’re doing to help make that happen. And Lilly. I know she’s helping too. And Griffin for doing the pictures. All of you. I’m just beyond grateful. Makes me feel like I’m getting way more than my money’s worth for whatever this wedding is costing me.”
“You know we’re happy to do it. Sam and Clayton are like family now. And with this marriage, we’ll just be adding Levi and Denise. I love it. Not to mention, it’s a great learning experience for Mia on the wedding side of things. But the truth is, I’ve always loved big extended families so this is all just perfect.”
He winked at her. “Thank you. I must admit, I’m really growing to like Denise. Not that I didn’t like her before, but I didn’t know her. Despite her outer shyness, she’s a strong woman. Getting stronger all the time, too. And having us around her will help that.”
“I think so too. She could easily be bitter after what she’s been through, and yet, she’s not. She’s sweet and generous and just…nice. She really deserves a break after that mess she’s endured.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
They ate in silence for a while, finishing off the chips and wraps in no time, even with Travis taking breaks to wave and chat. Georgia pushed the bag of M&M’s closer to his side of the table. “Don’t forget these.”
He slipped them into his jacket pocket. “I won’t. Thanks. I might need the energy later. You going to head back now?”
She nodded, reluctant to leave him but knowing she had to. “Yep.” She glanced at her phone. “No texts, though, so I guess they didn’t set anything on fire while I was gone.”
He laughed and stood up as she got to her feet as well. “Thanks for lunch. That was a nice break.”
“It was a nice break for me, too. See you tonight, I guess? But you’ll text me if anything happens, right?”
“Absolutely.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Same with you. Keep me posted about how things are going.”
She nodded. “I will.” She squeezed his hand and gave him a big smile. “See you later, councilman.”