Page 27 of Hottie on Her Shelf
She wanted to sit on the edge of the Piazza San Marco sipping an espresso garnished with a sliver of lemon rind and dangling a kitten-heeled mule off one foot.
Was it ridiculously specific for a fantasy? Yes, but she’d spent years laboriously conceiving it. There was no room in its execution for galoshes.
Her mom clasped her hands and leaned forward. “You’re entirely right. We’ve always been so proud of you. Sweetheart, you’ve exceeded all our dreams for you. We love you so much.”
“Okay, now I’m worried you’re either sick or divorcing.”
“Nothing like that. But even though you’re all grown up, we still want to protect you. That’s our number one job as parents. Aside from, in your case, twice weekly trips to the library.” Pam’s attempt at lightening the mood in the room fell flat.
It was obvious they were working up to something big. Something Hallie wouldn’t like.
“I appreciate the library trips. And the protection—especially since I was a bit of a klutz growing up. But I am an adult now, andI can take care of myself. Completely. Without any parental aid.”
“For the most part, yes. We’ve still racked up lots more years of life experience, though. You see the world through the optimism of youth. We see it through the lens of reality, which is how we can help protect you.”
Geez. She wasn’t a cynic, but she also didn’t think good intentions and an open smile were all it took to snag a job or get a better deal on a new car. “What does that even mean?”
“I’m sorry, Hallie. You can’t run for mayor. You’ll lose,” her dad said flatly.
Well. She hadn’t seen that one coming.
A quick glance at Pam revealed no hope of her rushing to refute his statement. What the heck?
“First of all, I don’t fail. I never fail.” Hallie was no Don Quixote, tilting at windmills and impossible dreams. She identified a goal, then she worked her butt off to achieve it. The formula was unassailable in its simplicity.
Or at least…it always had been.
Until just a few days ago when she’d thrown caution to the wind and gone along with the plan to run for mayor. Been uncharacteristically spontaneous. Committed to doing a thing that Hallie was in no way certain she could actually achieve.
Aside from that, Hallie had a solid track record of delivering. There was no reason for her parents to be the least bit negative. Or worried.
No reason they should seem to be convinced that she’d lose.
“Here I thought we’d be celebrating tonight, that you’d be excited for me.” There was a bitter tinge to her words, like the black crust on the edges of overdone toast. Because it hurt that they weren’t behind her 110 percent.
She’d never felt that lack of support from them.
Hallie’s only chance at winning relied on her confidence supercharging the campaign. And if her parents didn’t believe she could do it…well, her own tank of confidence would run dry in a matter of days.
Hands running nervously back and forth over the bottom seam of her apron, Pam said, “Hallie, listen to your father.”
Like hell.
Instead, Hallie jumped up to pace across the braided rag rugs made by her grandmother. “Listen to him announce that I can’t do something I’m already legally obligated to continue?”
Her mom tried to grab her wrist but failed. “You’re upset.”
“Gee, do you think?”
“She was really looking forward to your cake,” Megan butted in.
It wasn’t a true statement. Nor was it useful to the conversation at all, but since Megan was the only person taking her side, Hallie was grateful for the attempt at an assist.
“Don’t you see, Ladybug? We’re trying to save you from yourself.” Her dad using an ancient pet name didn’t soften his message at all.
The message Hallie got, loud and clear, from Felicia was that she had no chance of winning—and no chance of losing with at least a non-embarrassing margin without her help.
The message from Fitz was that there was no chance of a humiliation-free campaign without his help.
