Drained, Darius sank back onto his chair. He wheeled it around to brood with his computer monitor. He wasn’t fooling himself. He may have won this skirmish, but the war wasn’t over. What would boredom drive Ethel to do next?
Hours later, Jackson wandered into Darius’s office. “Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.” Darius saved his document, then swung his chair to face his boss. He gestured toward the fruit on his desk. “Do you want an apple?”
“Thanks.” Jackson took the apple, examining it. “I’m making some management changes. Nothing will be announced until after the new year.”
So why was he here now? “What kind of changes?”
“I’ve officially promoted Faye Liu to executive editor.” Jackson settled onto Darius’s guest chair. He’d left his navy suit jacket in his office. Newsprint marred the sleeves of his white dress shirt. “She kept the newspaper going while I was away.”
Darius nodded. “Faye’s promotion is very well deserved.”
“She suggested you take over as managing editor.”
Darius stared. “What?”
Jackson set his right ankle on his left knee. “Faye said you helped shoulder a lot of the responsibility without being asked and without asking for recognition. She appreciated that.”
“I wasn’t after a promotion. I was just trying to help.” Darius was still surprised.
“I know and I appreciate what you did for me. But I need to make these changes.” Jackson shrugged. “I can’t perform all the tasks I had now that I’m renovating and managing Harmony Cabins.”
“I understand, but I’ve always seen myself as a reporter.”
“You can make your managing editor position whatever you want, as long as Faye’s comfortable with it.” Jackson stood. “Think it over. As I said, I’m not going to make an official announcement until after the new year.”
“Thanks for thinking of me, Jack.” Darius stood with his boss.
“There’s no one better for the job.” Jackson squeezed Darius’ shoulder. “I hope you’ll take it.” He then left the cubicle.
Darius returned to his computer. Managing editor. He’d never considered the position before. But with Ean opening his solo law practice and Quincy accepting a position with the University of Pennsylvania, perhaps it was time Darius made a change as well.
“Good morning, Mayor.” Ean claimed a bar stool at the Books & Bakery café counter Wednesday morning.
Doreen felt a thrill—excitement, trepidation, both?—at her son’s greeting. It was the morning after the election, and she was still walking on air.
“You’re a little premature.” She collected the coffee carafe before crossing to the counter. “I don’t get sworn in until New Year’s Day.”
As she filled her son’s coffee mug, Megan, her boss, joined her behind the counter. It was a few minutes after eight o’clock. Ean was her first guest of the morning. Darius, Ramona, Jackson, and Audra would be joining them soon. She missed Quincy. How was the professor settling in at the University of Pennsylvania?
Still, life was good in Trinity Falls. Her son had come home and was dating Megan. She’d won the mayoral election and was falling in love with the sheriff.
“I wanted to be the first to call you mayor.” Ean’s grin disappeared behind his coffee mug.
“Alonzo beat you to it.” Doreen returned the carafe to the coffee station behind the counter. “We watched the election returns last night. It was silly, I know, since I didn’t have a challenger. But I wanted to wait until all the precincts had given their counts before celebrating.”
“That isn’t silly.” Megan filled two mugs with coffee. “It shows you verify facts before making a final decision. That’s one of the reasons I know you’ll be a great mayor.”
“You’ve always been so good for my self-esteem.” Doreen accepted the coffee Megan offered her.
“On the other hand, I’m not as convinced you’ll be an adequate mayor.” Nessa’s voice brought a chill to the camaraderie in the café.
Doreen swallowed her coffee before turning to their new arrival. “Good morning, Nessa. Can I get you anything?”
“I’m not staying.” The other woman rested her hands on the empty bar stool beside Ean. “I understand CeCe told you I’ve replaced her as town council president.”
“She told me she’d stepped down and that your bid for the position was unopposed.” Doreen crossed back to the counter to stand opposite Nessa. “Similar to what occurred with my mayoral candidacy.”