The Single Mom's Second Chance

by Jessica Keller

  Claire wanted him to address the board, to get her out of doing something she had decided was uncomfortable. The same scenario had played out a hundred times in high school, with Evan always going to bat for her. But not this time. Claire was a grown woman who didn’t need him as a mouthpiece. She was smart and well-spoken and strong enough to fight her own battles. Her father might still attempt to hold her under his thumb, but Evan knew better. Even after all these years, he believed in Claire—in the fire and determination he knew she possessed. She lacked courage, not ability.

  Evan pressed his shoulders into the chair’s padding. “Now, I didn’t say I’d do that.”

  Claire’s mouth opened, closed and then opened again. She let out a huff. “But you said you agreed it’s ridiculous.”

  “I do.” He finished his drink and then leaned forward and set the mug a few inches under his chair, where it wouldn’t get knocked over. Out of habit, he rubbed his hands together. Usually the motion was to clear his skin of sawdust. “I can acknowledge the whole thing is silly and still go along with it.”

  “Evan, it’s...we’re not in a beauty pageant here!” Her eyebrows shot up. She clanked her mug onto the coffee table. “All I want is to run a few ads and shake some hands and call it a day. Why can’t this just be a normal election?”

  “Easy answer.” He absently traced a pattern into the suede fabric on the armrest of his chair. “This is Goose Harbor. People here live for traditions and events that bring the community together. Everyone’s been stuck in their homes all winter. Some people are worried about making ends meet after a slow tourist season.”

  Claire nodded. “All true points, but none of that has anything to do with our election.”

  Evan straightened in the seat. “It has everything to do with the election. A fun event to attend gives them hope. If you can’t see that, then you really need to rethink your desire to be the mayor here.” He leaned forward once more, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Why are you running, Claire? Did your father—”

  She shot to her feet. “This has nothing to do with my father. Understand?” She ground out the words. “Why would you even think—? I’m my own person.” Claire pressed her palm to her heart. “Out of everyone, I thought you knew that.”

  “I’m sorry.” He hooked his hand around his neck, then ruffled his hair. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Well, it was said and can’t be taken back.” She rounded the chair and headed for the door. “Nothing can be taken back.”

  Evan sighed. “I know that better than anyone.” He slowly stood, stepped forward and dropped his hand on the edge of the chair. “Why’d you come home, Claire? The truth.”

  Her back was toward him. He watched her shoulders rise with a deep breath. She had every right to barge out his door without supplying an answer. He wasn’t owed one.

  Claire fisted her hand and spun around. “Why did you stay?”

  Not what he was expecting.

  Evan rocked on his feet. “I have nowhere else to go.”

  “Same.” One word, but her voice caught on it. “That’s the reason I’m here.”

  Evan started toward her, his feet moving before he could determine if he wanted to comfort her or not. He couldn’t leave her standing there, looking like she was about to cry. He had to do something. Given that they were running against each other, and given their past, he probably shouldn’t. But logical reasoning had never been his strong suit.

  However, it had always been Claire’s, which was probably why, before he could make it to her side, she gathered her coat and purse and fumbled with the doorknob. She yanked it open. “I’ll see you at the town hall meeting tomorrow.” She wrapped her scarf around her neck and flung the end of it over her shoulder, then shoved her arms into her coat. “I’ll be the one winning, in case there was still any confusion.”

  The door slammed before he could take another step. The sound reverberated through his chest and a clump of sadness thudded into the bottom of his gut, the weight reminding him that there was no reason to chase after her. Claire didn’t want him to follow; she’d made that clear twelve years ago when he wrote her letter after letter for a year and she never responded.

  “Night, Claire,” he mumbled.

  “Whoa! That lady is a tornado in high heels.” Laura pounded down the stairs behind him. When she wasn’t lying on the floor of her bedroom listening to music, his sister seemed to always be in a hurry.

  Evan gathered the empty mugs from the family room and carried them to the sink. “How much of that did you overhear?”

  His sister followed in his wake, then boosted herself onto the island’s counter. “You mean, how much of that did I intentionally eavesdrop on from my prime hiding location at the top of the stairs?”

  Evan raised an eyebrow at her as he rinsed out the cups. Despite the thirteen-year age gap, he was close to his sister, and he loved her fiercely. The two of them enjoyed ribbing each other as much as he made a habit out of kidding with Brice.

  Laura snagged an apple from the fruit bowl and bit into it with a loud crunch. “Oh, only all of it.”

  “You should wash that before eating it.”

  “Okay, Mom.” She rubbed the apple on her jeans and then took another bite.

  “Laura.” His voice held a warning. “An ounce of respect would be nice.”

  It was difficult, this balance between them. He wanted to be her fun-loving brother. Someone she could always tease and be lighthearted with. There was so much heaviness attached to the rest of their family relationships, even with Brice. Evan yearned to make sure she knew she could be herself with him—even if that meant sassing him occasionally. Yet he was left to play parent as well, which often carried the weight of setting her straight, and occasionally that meant disciplining her, which bothered him.

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t they say a little dirt don’t hurt?”

  “The farmers shoot all sorts of pesticides on them while they’re growing.” He tapped the fruit bowl. “Now you’re eating those chemicals.”

  “Well, the good news is,” she said around another bite of apple, “I’m apparently not a bug and will live.” When she was finished, she acted as if she was making a three-point shot and tossed the core into the trash can. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and all that nonsense.”

  Evan flipped a dish towel over his shoulder as he loaded the dishwasher. “Did you come down here only to speak in platitudes or was there another reason you listened in on my conversation?”

  “Ev, man, you’re on point tonight.” Laura hopped down from the counter. “Does she do this to you? That Claire?”

  He almost asked what it meant to be “on point” but thought better of it. He’d never be able to keep up with his sister’s ever-changing teenspeak.

  “Claire—” Evan shut the dishwasher and jammed the Pots and Pans button to On “—does nothing to me. We’re running against each other for mayor.”

  “I’m not stupid or a kid anymore. I know who Claire Atwood is.”

  “Of course you know who Claire Atwood is. Her dad is the biggest thing to happen to Goose Harbor since Goose Harbor became Goose Harbor.”

  Laura put her hands over her ears and squinted as if she was in pain. “Please don’t say our town’s name again for at least a week.”

  “Everyone knows who Claire is. She’s royalty here.”

  “Royalty? Yeah, no. What I meant was, I know about you two.” She offered him an exaggerated wink, as if they were in cahoots.

  Evan tugged the dish towel off his shoulder and dropped it on the counter. “Joke’s on you, because there’s nothing to know.”

  “Huh.” Laura grabbed the towel and hung it on the oven handle. “Except for the fact that you two were engaged.”

  “Secretly engaged—something I�
�m pretty sure I told you, so don’t act like you have insider info.” He tweaked her nose as he headed toward his office. Laura trailed after him, so he kept talking. “We were teens. We were stupid. It was a long time ago.” He opened the French doors that led to his office and flipped on the overhead light. “It didn’t go beyond that.”

  Laura beat him to the leather swivel chair behind his desk. She lifted her feet off the ground and tipped her head back, letting the chair whirl in a lazy circle. “Brice says she’s the reason you don’t date.”

  Evan focused on the framed art hung behind his desk. To the unsuspecting eye it was a simple painting of Lake Michigan and the dunes that hedged in Goose Harbor. But to him? The painting tugged at the part of his heart that still ached, still wished, still wanted more. Claire had given him the piece as a graduation present. Despite the beauty she’d captured with every stroke of her brush, she had always doubted her talent. Did she still paint?

  It didn’t matter.

  Maybe he’d sell the painting.

  He focused on Laura. “I’ll have to have a talk with Brice then. He should keep his thoughts to himself instead of saying something like that to our kid sister.”

  Laura planted her feet to stop spinning. “He didn’t say it to me. He said it to Kendall and I overheard.”

  Even worse. Kendall and Claire were friends. Hopefully, his almost-sister-in-law would keep something like that to herself. Then again, Kendall sometimes lacked a filter. He didn’t want Claire to think he’d spent his life pining after her for all these years. A year or two, maybe, but he’d moved on. He simply didn’t have the need or want for a woman in his life. He had enough on his plate between his business, his commitments at church and taking care of his sister.

  Evan crossed his arms. “Overhearing seems to be a habit of yours.”

  “Not a habit, a talent.” Laura waggled her eyebrows.

  “A dangerous one at that.” He came to her side of the desk and tapped on the back of the chair, signaling for her to get out of it. “‘Oh be careful little ears what you hear.’” He hummed the rest of the little-kid song. They sometimes sung it with the younger children at Sunday school.

  “Don’t worry. It’s not like I have anyone to tell,” she grumbled as she got out of the chair then turned and tapped his chest. “And no offense, bro, but you’re really not that exciting.” Laura rose on her tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. “But I love you, anyway.”

  Evan snagged her around her middle before she could get away, pulling her into a hug. “I love you, too. To Pluto and back.”

  She laughed against his chest. “Poor Pluto. He just wants to be a planet.”

  “Is he not anymore?” Evan set her back a bit but kept a hand on her shoulder. “I thought that had been reinstated?”

  “Crazy galactic politics. Who can keep up?” She shrugged and stepped away.

  He opened his laptop and finally took a seat at his desk. Laura made it to the doorway, but stopped and braced her hands on either side with her back to him.

  “Did you need something?” Evan asked.

  His sister twisted her head to look back at him. “She’s really pretty.”

  “Claire’s gorgeous.” Evan glanced away. “She always was.” And the label went far beyond the physical.

  “Will you two ever be friends again?”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Not likely.” Evan clicked open a browser window. Might as well research what organizing a campaign entailed. “We’re running against each other for the same position. That doesn’t translate well into let’s be friends.”

  “I guess.” Laura started to leave, but then hooked her hand on the door frame and peeked her head in again. “Hey, do you think I can borrow twenty dollars? If you let me, I’ll totally vote for you.”

  He laughed. So that’s what she wanted all along. Evan fished his wallet from his back pocket and plucked out a twenty. “I won’t even make you repay me.”

  Chapter Four

  As a group of people brushed past her, Claire sent a text to her mother, reminding her that Alex should be in bed by eight because it was a school night. Tucking away her phone, she swept into the cavernous room inside town hall where the board meetings were held.

  Large tubes along the ceiling attempted to pump heat into the area, but the system was so outdated it hardly worked anymore. Most of the residents seated in the rows of folding chairs that lined the room still had their coats and gloves on as if they were some grand penguin research committee preparing to meet at the South Pole. They angled their heads, catching up with neighbors that they hadn’t seen in a week or two. During the other seasons, many of the Goose Harbor lifers spent time outside and walked or biked to run errands in the downtown square. They bumped into each other in the school pickup line and at the weekly farmers’ market. But winter kept most people indoors, and with the lackluster tourist season, residents had gone longer than normal without a reason to come outside.

  Perhaps Evan was right about the need to make good on the silly mayoral competition tradition. A morale boost could help everyone, and if Claire was the one smiling most brightly at the events, they’d look to her.

  She spotted her cousin Jason, who was also the head reporter and editor for the town paper. He tipped the newsboy-style hat he was wearing toward her briefly and then turned away. Right, in public it was important to treat him as Jason Moss, the reporter...not Jay, her cousin. While people in town knew in theory that they were related, it was knowledge that was forgotten or not thought about when the papers came out, and that was best for Jason and his career. Once people put two and two together—that Claire’s dad owned the paper that always printed nice pieces about him—Jason was the one who caught heat for it.

  Claire lifted her chin, unhooked the first two buttons on her coat and strolled down the center aisle toward the front row, where she was supposed to sit for the specially called meeting. She stopped and spoke to a handful of people who sat on the outside of their rows.

  A woman with spiked hair gave her hand a quick pump. “I heard you’re running. I hope you do well.”

  “Thank you.” Claire thought the woman was one of the teachers at the high school. She’d seen her before at functions held by Paige and Caleb Beck, who were both teachers, as well. The name Bree came to mind, but Claire wasn’t confident enough about it being correct, so she offered an encouraging smile instead.

  Claire grabbed a seat in the front row next to Shelby Beck, Caleb’s sister. Shelby was curled up next to Joel Palermo, her fireman boyfriend—no, the sparkling diamond on Shelby’s ring finger said Joel was now her fiancé.

  Claire had to get better at talking to people, especially if she wanted to become the mayor. No time like the present.

  “Congratulations.” She leaned so her shoulder bumped Shelby’s, and gestured toward the stunning princess-cut diamond. “I hadn’t heard the news yet.”

  Shelby beamed. “Thank you! It only happened last weekend. And it was so perfect and romantic, I’ve been spending my time basking in it all.”

  “I’m happy for you,” Claire offered. She didn’t know Shelby or Joel well, but they’d already been a steady couple in town when Claire had returned, over a year ago. Both of them seemed like kind people. Joel had pulled over and changed Claire’s tire during a rainstorm last fall when she’d gotten a flat. She’d told him she’d already placed a call to a car service, but he’d waved her off, told her to cancel the call and had gotten down on the wet pavement to work on her car. Joel had done that for her without being her friend, and he’d refused any form of payment.

  “I’ve never been so happy in my life.” Shelby squeezed Joel’s arm to get his attention. He was in the middle of an exchange with one of his firefighter buddies, but he pivoted a little to catch Shelby’s eye in case she needed him. Claire waved her h
and, letting Shelby know not to bug him on her account.

  The gavel came down on the podium, causing everyone to jump. Claire swiveled to face the front and her chest tightened when she discovered Evan Daniels sitting on her other side. “When did you—”

  He put his finger to his lips. “Meeting’s been called to order,” he whispered. “Banks takes these things way too seriously and—”

  “Mr. Daniels.” Mr. Banks laid down the gavel and peered over the podium. “The meeting has begun, and unless you can recite the entire agenda already, I will ask you to remain quiet so everyone can enjoy the proceedings.”

  Evan raised a hand and turned toward the crowd. “My apologies.” He flashed an “I’m going to Disneyland!” smile, which was met with a smattering of light chuckles by residents who clearly adored him.

  Mr. Banks tugged his pants up past his belly button as he scowled at Evan. “If you’re done with your little show, I’d like to continue.”

  Evan bowed his head and stretched his hand out like a waiter. “By all means.” Ever so slightly he leaned toward Claire and murmured. “Just me, or was that a flashback to second period Spanish?”

  Claire stifled a laugh, which made Mr. Banks glower in her direction. She sank lower in her chair. “Not just you.”

  Evan had been terrible at picking up languages and Claire hadn’t been much better. Their struggle with the class might have had more to do with the fact that they spent the bulk of the time passing notes back and forth instead of listening. Señora Ojeda used to stop the class to tsk at them regularly.

  Mr. Banks cleared his throat. “Many of you know that I will be stepping down from the position of interim mayor next month.”

  “Not soon enough!” someone in the back shouted.

  Banks worked his jaw back and forth.

  Claire glanced at Evan. “Is it always like this?”

  He grinned, nodded. “We should have brought popcorn.”

  Banks pushed away from the podium. “The board and I have been discussing the merits required for the position. I’m sure many of you are asking yourselves, what makes an excellent mayor?”