Always the Best Man (14 page)

It wasn't only his schedule. They'd agreed their relationship wasn't casual, but he could feel Emily holding back. He assumed it was because of his increasing commitments to work and the campaign. While he wanted to tell her it would pass, how could he make that promise if he won the election?

“Since you're not on the clock, how about a drink?” Jase asked, moving toward his office. “I've got scotch or...scotch.”

Cole chuckled low. “I'll have a scotch. Thanks.”

Jase motioned him into the office, then went to the kitchenette area and poured two squat glasses with the amber-colored liquid. Back in the office, he handed one to Cole, then sat behind his desk.

Cole took a slow sip before placing the glass on Jase's desk. “How bad do you want to win the election?”

The question of the hour. “Not bad enough to do something illegal for it.” It was the most honest answer Jase could give without exposing the doubts plaguing him.

“What about exposing something your opponent had done?” the sheriff asked. “Not exactly illegal but it's definitely borderline. Turns out Thompson had been going easy on his friends and neighbors for years. Anytime there was a problem with someone he knew personally, the issue disappeared.”

Jase actually laughed. “Everyone except my father.”

Cole shrugged. “There's a lot of politics involved in small-town law enforcement. I'm overhauling the department, but I do have records that certain procedures weren't exactly...aboveboard when he was in charge.”

“What are you going to do with the information?”

“That's why I'm here. Charles Thompson was supposed to retire and go fishing or whatever the hell else he wanted. I didn't take his bid for mayor too seriously at first.” He picked up his glass of scotch and tipped it toward Jake. “You had the blessing of the council, so there was no question you'd be elected.”

Jase didn't shy away from Cole's scrutiny. “Now there is?”

The sheriff finished off his scotch before answering. “Thompson is pushing you hard and you're letting him. I don't know if it's because the garbage he's throwing is getting to you or because you've decided you don't care about winning.”

“Maybe I'm tired of my whole life revolving around Crimson.”

“Fair enough, but I'm asking you to get your head back in the game. We need you, Jase. We need somebody decent in charge of this town.” Cole placed his glass back on the desk and stood. “I can leak what I know about Thompson, make him go away, but it won't change how he's trash-talking you or what it means if you don't answer the accusations. You have a chance to tomorrow night. I hope you take it, but if you need something more let me know.”

“Thank you,” Jase said and watched the sheriff walk out the door. He threw back the rest of his scotch, welcoming the burn in his gut. Maybe he had been ignoring the campaign in the hope the decision would be taken from him. But that wasn't who he was, and Cole's visit proved it.

Why couldn't he have Emily and the mayor's position? Yes, she had doubts but he'd worked too hard to give up now. He needed to prove that she and Davey fit into his life, every part of it. The town hall meeting would be the perfect place to do just that.

* * *

Emily stopped in front of the entrance to the Crimson Community Center where the town hall meeting was about to start. She smoothed a hand over the fitted dress she hadn't worn since she'd stood next to her ex-husband when he'd made partner at his law firm.

“I should have picked something else. This is way too formal.”

Her mother squeezed her hand. “You look lovely and the sweater softens the look.” Meg glanced down at Davey, who stood a few steps behind Emily, his hands tightly fisted at his sides. “You are very heroic tonight.”

Emily shared a look with her mom, then smiled at Davey. He'd insisted on changing into his superhero costume after school today and refused to put on a different outfit for the meeting. She understood that sitting still in a crowd of strangers was going to be a challenge, so hoped Jase understood Davey's wardrobe choice. Her purse was stocked with Davey's favorite snacks, a small bag of Lego pieces and the fail-safe iPad loaded with a few new apps. She prayed it would be enough to keep him content during the meeting.

As her mother held open the door, Emily put a hand on Davey's shoulder to guide him, then drew back as he flinched away from her touch.

Breathe, she told herself. Smile.

She'd come back to Crimson for a quiet life, and now she was putting herself on display for the entire town. Her mother led them up the side aisle to the front row of chairs marked Reserved. Emily glanced over her shoulder as she took her seat and saw several of her new friends sitting together a few rows back. April waved and Natalie Donovan gave her a thumbs-up sign. A little bit of the tension knotted in her chest eased.

A tap on her shoulder had her swinging back around.

“It's not Halloween,” Miriam Thompson, Charles's wife, said in a disapproving hiss as she made her way into the seat next to Emily, with Aaron's brother, Todd, on her other side. Aaron wasn't with them, a fact for which Emily was grateful. “You should show some respect to the seriousness of this election.”

Red-hot anger rushed through Emily. Anger at Miriam for making the comment, at Jase for asking her to do this but mostly at herself for still caring what people thought of her and her son. Before she could respond, her mother whipped around in her seat.

“You should shut your mouth, Miriam,” Meg said. “Before I come over there and do it for you. My grandson can be a superhero every day if it makes him happy.” She wagged a finger at each of the Thompsons. “We could use more heroes in this town, not people who feel like it's their right to taunt and bully others.”

Miriam gasped but turned away, her cheeks coloring bright pink as she made her son shift seats so she wasn't sitting right beside Emily.

Emily tried to hide her shocked smile as she leaned over Davey toward her mother and spoke low. “‘Come over there and do it for you'?”

Meg sniffed. “I never liked that woman.”

A hush fell over the room as Liam Donovan walked onto the stage, along with Jase and Charles. Liam was moderating the meeting. A few general announcements were made first and then Liam formally introduced Jase and Charles, although Emily couldn't imagine there was anyone in the room who didn't know either man. Crimson had grown in the years since she'd been gone, but it seemed as though everyone in attendance tonight had some history with the town.

The thought made her encouraged for Jase, as so much of Crimson's recent boom could be attributed to work he'd done as part of the city council. No wonder he was torn between making decisions for his own happiness and his duty to the town.

Charles took the mic first, detailing his background as former sheriff. Emily gritted her teeth as he made special mention of his long marriage, and his family's history of service and philanthropy in Crimson.

Jase didn't seem bothered, though, and stepped to the podium after shaking Charles's hand. He smiled as he looked out over the audience.

“It's great to see so many friendly and familiar faces in this crowd,” he began. “This town means a lot to me and no matter what our differences, we can all agree that we want the best and brightest future for Crimson.” After a ripple of applause, he spoke again. “I'd like to personally thank Charles for his contributions to our town over the years. Families like the Thompsons gave us a strong foundation. As many of you know, my family's history runs in a different direction.” He chuckled softly. “Which is why I'm especially grateful for this town and the people in it.”

Emily didn't turn around but she could feel the energy building in the crowd as Jase spoke. He was sincere and articulate, not shying away from where he came from but taking the power of his family's troubled history away from Charles by owning it himself. She'd never been prouder. Then she felt Davey shift next to her. It was hard to tell whether he was reacting to the excitement of the crowd or Jase's voice booming through the room or one of any number of things that might disturb his equilibrium.

The reason didn't matter. Something was also building inside Davey. He fidgeted, tugging on the tights of his superhero costume and humming softly under his breath. She reached in her purse and grabbed the bag of Lego pieces.

“Here, sweetie,” she said, placing them gently in his lap. Keeping her voice calm and trying to regulate her own energy was key for keeping him from moving any closer to a meltdown.

Her mom shot her a look but Emily shook her head. It didn't matter what anyone thought at the moment. She had to keep Davey calm or everything she'd worked so hard to create would blow up in her face.

Davey opened the bag and methodically pulled out building pieces.

Emily breathed a tentative sigh of relief and focused on Jase. He was looking directly at her.

“With me tonight,” he said, “is a family who have made me a part of their own over the years.” His gaze left hers, but she could still feel the warmth of it across her skin. “What makes this town special is that we take care of each other. Meg and Jacob Crawford took care of me when I needed it most. As mayor, I want to make sure we continue to move Crimson forward and, more importantly, that we continue to look out for one another.”

“I guess your own father isn't part of your grand plan?” The loud, slurring voice rang out in the quiet of the meeting room. Emily heard the crowd's collective gasp but kept her eyes on Jase. His expression registered shock, confusion and finally a resigned disappointment as he looked out past the audience toward the back of the room. His gaze flicked to hers for a moment. The silent plea in his chocolate-brown eyes registered deep in her heart even as he schooled his features into a carefully controlled mask once again.

“You count, Dad,” he said calmly into the microphone. “But we should talk later.”

Emily turned to the back of the room to see Declan making his way up the center aisle. The door to the hallway was swinging closed and she caught a glimpse of a figure moving to the side as it shut. Aaron Thompson.

She got up immediately and moved toward Jase's dad.

“Why the hell aren't I up there with your fake family?” Declan yelled. “I'm part of this town, too. Or have you forgotten why you wanted to become such a do-gooder in the first place, Jase?”

“Declan, don't do this,” she said as she got closer. The smell of liquor coming off him hit her so hard she took a step back. She had to get him out of this meeting. “This isn't you talking.” She tried to make her voice gentle. “It's the alcohol. Jase needs you to get it under control. Now.”

His bloodshot eyes tracked to her. “Oh, yeah, sweetheart. My son loves control. He can't tolerate anything less than total perfection.” He motioned a shaky finger between himself and Emily. “The two of us are bound to disappoint him.”

The words struck a nerve but she smiled and reached for his hand. “Then let's get out of here.”

She could see Sheriff Bennett moving around the edge of the room toward them. A glance over her shoulder showed Jase stepping out from behind the podium toward the edge of the stage. She shook her head, hoping to diffuse Declan's alcohol-filled rant before it had a chance to gather steam.

She took his arm just as she heard Davey cry out, “Mommy, my spaceship. It broke.” Her son's voice was a keening cry. “It broke!”

“I won't be handled,” Declan yelled and tore his hand away from her grasp.

But Emily's attention was on Davey so instead of letting go she stumbled forward, plowing into Declan's chest and sending them both into the edge of the chair at the end of the row.

Edna Sharpe occupied the chair, and as it tipped, the three of them tumbled to the floor. Emily saw stars as her head slammed into the chair.

All hell broke loose.

People from the nearby rows surrounded them. Edna screamed and flailed at the bottom of the pile. “My ankle. You broke my ankle.”

Declan moaned. “I think I'm going to be sick.”

Emily scrambled to get out from under him but his thigh was pinning her down.

“Mommy!” Davey screeched, his voice carrying over the din of noise to her. “I lost a piece to my spaceship.”

She pushed at Declan, recognizing the mounting hysteria in Davey's tone. Cole Bennett was there a second later, but it was too late. Jase's father coughed, then threw up, the vile liquid hitting Emily's shoulder as she tried to turn away.

He was hauled off her then and she stood, the crowd surrounding them parting as she pushed her way through. One bonus to being puked on—it cleared a path quicker than anything else.

Jase was trying to shoulder his way down the aisle, yelling at people as he moved.

Davey had started shrieking now, and she knew a full-blown meltdown could last for several minutes to close to an hour. Meg met her gaze and whispered, “I'm sorry.” Meg picked a screaming Davey up and carried him out the side door of the meeting room.

Emily shook her head as she followed. There was nothing her sweet mother could have done to prevent this moment. The responsibility was Emily's. And she failed. Miserably.

Jase was in front of her a second later. She expected understanding. Instead, he glared at her. “What the hell, Em? You tackled my dad. Is Edna really hurt? This is a mess.”

She blinked, unable to process the accusation in his tone, let alone to respond. “I've got to get to Davey,” she whispered.

His muffled screams echoed from the hall.

Jase ran a hand through his hair. “Can you get control of him? The screaming is only making this disaster worse.”

She reeled back as if he'd slapped her. A disaster. That's how Jase saw her attempt at helping him. Her head was ringing from where she'd hit the corner of the chair. Her son was having a public meltdown. And she was covered in vomit.