Page 33 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

I caught sight of Rebecca and Jake, sitting with the three boys crowded on their laps, and waved, feeling giddy.

“Welcome, welcome,” Mayor Jones said, stepping up to the podium. The mayor rarely ever used a microphone, and tonight was no exception. He had a loud, booming voice that could easily carry to the back of any room on the island. It suited him. William Jones was a tall, broad, beast of a man, still very handsome at sixty-something. He was also a man who knew how to dress well. He had his suits tailor-made on the mainland and accessorized them with colorful shirt and tie combinations. He had a head full of thick brown hair and a mustache Tom Selleck would have been proud of, both of which he kept carefully styled. In addition to his mayoral duties, which I wouldn’t call highly taxing, William Jones led kayak tours to the uninhabited coves and rocky outcrops at the far end of the island, played for the Elks rec team, and taught ballroom dance classes at Tina’s studio. Maybe not the most expected combination of hobbies for a mayor, but he somehow made in work.

He was, in fact, exceedingly popular on the island. A former All-American at the University of Michigan, he’d won a national title before coming home to the island as a conquering hero. He ran his parents marina for a few years before funneling his popularity into a political run, first on the city council before running for mayor—an office he was elected to a record eight times, which meant he’d been running this place for more than thirty years now. And that was why, of course, he was so reluctant to take any of my suggestions for revitalization. Everything had been working out just fine for him for longer than I had been alive.

None of that matters now, I reminded myself. My tourism campaign paled in comparison to what Andrew and I had done with this contest.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mayor Jones said, straightening his tie and nodding his head in acknowledgment of the smattering of applause that met his appearance at the podium. “I asked you all to come here tonight in order to share some exciting news.”

“They’re building a bridge to the mainland?” Jerry Brooks called from the back.

“No, there are no plans to—”

“You’re going to let us drive cars?” Iris Holder asked hopefully.

Andrew groaned beside me. “Now she’s started it,” he whispered. The long-standing no automobile law was a contentious topic on this island. The vast majority of islanders were in support of the rule, considering it the number one factor that put us on the map. But the ones who opposed it could get awfully loud. Just as I feared, the room immediately devolved into grumbling and arguments.

“We don’t want cars!” David cried, staring at his girlfriend in horror. “Are you crazy?”

“What’s crazy about wanting cars?” Sherry said, turning in her seat to glare at David. “I have arthritis, boy, you try walking up all these hills when you get to be my age.”

“You’re fifty,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Hardly a senior citizen.”

“What’s the supposed to mean?” Rose asked, leaning over Iris. “I’m a senior citizen and I get up the hills just fine, Mr. Jenkins.”

“The no car rule is one of our greatest assets,” Posey was saying, shaking her head at her cousin. “I’ve been telling you this your entire life, Iris. People come here to get away from the busyness and the stress of their lives and—”

“We’re not getting cars,” Mayor Jones shouted over the din. “The automobile ban is not on the agenda tonight.”

Most of the room fell immediately quiet, many looking relieved, while a select few continued to grumble.

“What we have tonight is even more exciting.” He leaned over the podium towards his constituents, a grin on his face. “Ladies and gentlemen, Lilac Bay has been chosen as a finalist to represent small-town America on a new reality television show.”

He paused for reaction, and when he got none, frowned.

“Don’t you understand? Our town could very well be on TV.”

“For what now?” Jerry asked, his brows creased.

“What’s a reality show?” Fran asked.

“Oh, you know, Fran,” Rose said. “Like thatDancing With The Starsthat we like.” She looked up at the mayor hopefully. “Are you going to be onDancing With The Stars?”

“Oh, mayor, that’s wonderful!” Crystal said, clapping her hands. “Good for you!”

“No!” Mayor Jones bellowed, his face turning red with frustration. “The whole town!”

“How can we all be on that dancing show?” Sherry asked. “I don’t know nothing about dancing.”

The mayor looked over at me, shaking his head. “Riley, why don’t you explain it.”

I stepped up to the podium, holding up my hands to try and quiet the chattering about who on the island would be the best dancer.

“This has nothing to do with dancing!” I called out. “Everyone just listen.”

Eventually they did quiet down. Across the room, I caught site of Rebecca’s eyes. She and Jake alone looked excited, already having some clue what this was about. “Who here has watched Heather Dale on television?”

“Ooh, I love her!” Posey said, raising her hand.