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“Why not? Remember, what’s good for the festival is good for the city. The mayor and the city manager should be partners. Don’t you think?”
Mimi thought about what Doug was saying. It’s true that they both wanted what was good for Whispering Bay. And Doug was no fool. He’d been wildly successful in his previous job. If she should be listening to advice from anyone, it should be him.
“You know, I have an old friend who works at the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee,” Mimi said. “Billy will be playing there the night before the festival. Maybe I can reach him through her.”
“That’s the spirit.” Doug raised his beer glass. “To getting Billy Brenton and making this year’s festival the best ever!”
Although Mimi’s glass was empty, she still clinked mugs with him.
Mimi sat on her living room couch. Tears streamed down her face and dripped into her bowl of popcorn. If only Ilsa would suck it up and tell Rick the truth, then he couldn’t still hate her. She was married to Victor Laszlo, for goodness’s sake, and it was up to him and his freedom fighters to keep Hitler out of Europe (although we all know how that ended). No matter how many times she watched Casablanca she always hated that look in Rick’s eyes, that mixture of hurt and anger that came from thinking the one person you loved most in the world had betrayed you.
The familiar sound of Zeke’s police car pulling up in the driveway caught her attention. Toby, sensing her momentary distraction took advantage and snuck his head into the bowl of popcorn and slurped up a mouthful. Yuck. Did he leave doggie drool in her bowl? No matter, she was stuffed. No more popcorn for her. She was still full from the burger and fries she’d scarfed down earlier.
The door opened and Zeke and the kids walked in. Cameron immediately ran to Toby’s side and dug his face up against his fur. “Hey, boy, did you miss me?”
Mimi grabbed a napkin just in time to catch a long stream of drool. Most dogs wagged their tails when they were happy. Not Toby. He had other skills to show his affection. Mimi’s damp floors were proof of that.
Claire plopped herself down on the other end of the couch. “Casablanca? Again? How can you stand to see something that’s not in color?”
“Don’t get your mom started,” Zeke said. He stood with his hands in his pants pockets like he wasn’t sure whether or not he was welcome to stay. How awkward was that when this was his own house?
“Did you get to ride in the patrol car?” Mimi asked Cameron.
“Yeah, it was pretty cool.”
“I’ve got homework to catch up on so I’m going to my room,” Claire announced.
“On a Friday night?” Mimi glanced at Zeke who shrugged in response. It shouldn’t bother her that Claire was doing homework. As a matter of fact, she should embrace it. It just seemed strange.
“Yes, on a Friday night. Tomorrow’s the big basketball game and I have to be at the gym early and I want to get it finished.”
“Can Toby sleep with me?” Cameron asked, already pulling the dog off the couch. Toby eyed the rest of the popcorn with regret, but he took off eagerly behind Cameron.
“Only if you wash your sheets tomorrow,” Mimi called out.
With Claire and Cameron tucked away in their rooms it left her alone in the living room with Zeke. “How was your night?” she asked.
“It was good.”
“Did you and Tom get a chance to talk wedding plans?”
“Not yet.”
“You should take him out for a beer. After all, in a few months he’s going to be your brother-in-law, and hopefully one day soon, he’ll be the father to Allie’s kids.”
Zeke made a resigned face.
“There’s beer in the fridge,” Mimi offered. “If you want to stay a little bit.”
“No beer for me, thanks. But I’ll stay. Maybe watch the end of the movie with you?” He sat down next to her and automatically reached his hand into the popcorn bowl.
“Um, I wouldn’t if I were you,” Mimi said, trying not to laugh.
Zeke stared down at the popcorn. “Let me guess, Toby baptized the bowl?”
“Your detective skills amaze me.”
“Next time we go to the pound for a dog, we specify no drooling.” He sounded confident that there would be a next time. He dumped the popcorn from his hand back into the bowl and took it into the kitchen.
