“Are you really moving back to Vegas?” Cherry asks as she looks out over the park from the center gazebo with me. “You aren’t going to even try to convince everyone what a great mayor you could be?”
“They don’t want me to be their mayor. And Garrick might have gone about things the wrong way, but he’s right. If the council won’t work with me, I’m just hurting everyone in this town by insisting on continuing to be a mayor who can’t get anything accomplished.”
Plus, I don’t want Garrick to know I’m pregnant until I’m settled in Las Vegas and have a good job. I’ll tell him once it’s clear I don’t need his help.
I’ve lain awake many nights wondering if I should have this baby at all, and the conclusion I keep coming back to is how much I already want and love this baby.
Being around Garrick’s family reminded me of just how much I’ve always wanted a big family of my own someday. I have the resources, the desire, and the love for this baby, so there’s nothing to hold me back.
I’d love to live close to Peach and Cherry, because they’ll be amazing aunties, but I’m going to need a good-paying job and there aren’t a lot of them in Yuletide.
According to gossip around town, Garrick’s brother is working for him at Evergreen Expeditions and the two of them have been spotted out at bars together, having a great time. He’s clearly moved on.
I did him a favor by lying to him about the pregnancy. And I’m sure he’ll be grateful when I tell him in ten months to two years. Sometime in there, I’m definitely going to tell him.
“The people in this town are too insular,” Cherry says. “Especially the people on the council. They’re the ones losing out.”
“And they’re all going to know it after they see this kick-ass festival.”
Cherry throws an arm around my waist and squeezes. “Hell yeah, they are.”
Peach walks over with a broad smile. “The bakery booths are ready to go, and Francis says the dancers are warming up now.”
A thrill of excitement rushes through me. I’ve done a lot of things I’m proud of over the years, but this festival is going to be the absolute pinnacle.
“Perfect. I just heard from Kally that the band is set up on stage two for the first two hours, and we have the drag queens in from Vegas ready to go on at one. The fire eater and the acrobats are ready to go in the co-op building, and we’ve got the snow ballet set to start on stage three at eleven.”
Cherry squeals. “This is going to be so much fun. Santa should be here in an hour, and the elves are already out and mingling for photo ops.”
This is all coming together. The perfect send off for the best mayor this town ever could have had if they’d just pulled their heads out of their asses.
Cherry gasps and lets go of me. “She doesn’t want to see you, Garrick.”
I turn in the direction she’s facing to see my ex-fake-boyfriend standing just feet from the gazebo, his gaze and all his energy focused on me. My first thought is that he found out about the baby somehow, but that’s impossible. I haven’t told anyone. Not even Peach and Cherry know I’m pregnant.
There’s no way he knows.
“Blue.” My name falls off his lips like a plea. “Can we talk? Just for a few minutes?”
I can’t talk to him. If I do, I’m either going to throw myself at him, tell him about the baby, or burst into tears. None of which are reasonable or viable options. “I’m busy, and we have nothing to talk about.”
“I tried to call you. I was supposed to help you set up the festival.”
I shrug. He’s lying. He never called me. “Turns out, I didn’t need your help. You can focus on what’s most important to you. Your business.”
“And what if that’s not what’s most important to me anymore? What if you’re most important to me? Blue, I—”
I feel myself softening toward him and I can’t let that happen. I will not allow myself to be vulnerable with this man again. “You should have thought about that before you betrayed me.” I turn away from him, doing everything in my power to give him no sign of just how hard it is for me to do. “Peach, why don’t you show me the bakery booths? I could really use one of your apple turnovers this morning.”
Peach smiles brightly, playing along that everything is groovy, but I see the worry in her eyes. “Of course, Mayor Porter. Right this way.”
I appreciate her using my title in front of Garrick to remind him not everyone wants to see me without it.
I glance back over my shoulder once to see Garrick walking off in the opposite direction, away from me.
Good. It’s better if he gets the message now so we can both move on. I’m not the kind of woman men fight for, and I’m okay with that. I’m better alone.
Peach gets me set up with the most delicious of apple turnovers and I get back to work making sure the festival runs smoothly and everyone is happy.
