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She smiled at him. He was such a great support system. Memories of the sweet relationship they had once shared filled her head. “You’re right about that. I just have to keep in mind what I’m fighting for by coming here and advocating for the cannery.”
“And don’t forget to mention that huge check you gave to Jasper. That’s sure to win over hearts and minds,” Cameron said with an easy smile that made its way up to his eyes.
It felt wonderful to have his encouragement, but she didn’t want to rely on him too much for emotional support. It would be so easy to give in to the familiar rhythms of their past relationship. Those days were gone forever! For Emma’s sake they had agreed to work together and stay positive, but being around Cameron was dangerous to Paige’s equilibrium. She had promised herself she’d view him as the father of her child and nothing more. But that was becoming more and more of a problem. The other day at the Moose Café she had yearned for a kiss from him. When he had moved close to her and touched her lips, she had sensed it was coming. In that moment she had wanted it more than anything else in the world.
And she still did. Even now, in the midst of this important meeting, she still couldn’t stop thinking about reliving that moment with Cameron. And it was distracting her from the matter at hand.
As six o’clock approached, she watched as Jasper, Boone and Hazel took their seats along with the other members of the town council. Townsfolk began spilling into the room until it was standing room only.
Cameron leaned toward her and whispered, “Standing room only. You don’t see that very often here.”
Something told her that word had got out about her appearance here tonight. It seemed highly unlikely that a town meeting would be overflowing with so many people.
Jasper called them all to order and promptly began to go over the minutes from the last meeting. She sat through dry discussions about town ordinances, zoning issues, business permits and a complicated issue about a runaway moose. It was all so terribly uninteresting, she realized. Paige perked up when Jasper began to give the stats for the Operation Love program.
Jasper reached for his glasses and perched them on the bridge of his nose. “Let’s see. According to my records, forty-four women have arrived after the story broke about Gracie and Boone’s romance. That media blitz gave this town a lot of mileage.” Jasper chuckled and darted a glance in Boone’s direction. “It seems that everyone is inspired by an old-fashioned love story.” A smattering of applause rang out in the room.
“So far we have a grand total of sixty-six women who decided to relocate here in the pursuit of love,” Jasper announced. “I think that deserves a hearty round of applause.” A heavy thunder of applause ensued.
“How many decided not to stay?” someone called out from the audience.
“I was getting to that! Haven’t you ever heard that patience is a virtue?” Jasper barked. He looked down at his folder. “A total of seventeen of these ladies decided they couldn’t hack it in Alaska.”
“Is there any indication as to why these women chose not to stay in Love?” Boone asked. “Perhaps if we find those answers, we can head off any issues that might arise.”
Jasper frowned at Boone, who was sitting on his right side. “If someone comes to this haven and makes the foolish decision to leave, I’m not going to pepper them with questions about the whys and wherefores. It takes strength of character to live in an Alaskan fishing village. We should just look at it as weeding out the weak ones.”
Cameron let out a groan at Jasper’s comment. He put his head in his hands.
“That leaves a total of forty-nine plucky and admirable ladies for you fortunate single men who are seeking the woman of your dreams. And thanks to Hazel, most of them are living at Black Bear Cabins.” He peered out into the audience. “I don’t know what some of you men are waiting for. Do you need an engraved invitation to go courting? I’m talking to you, Ricky Stanton. And you, Hank Jeffries. Don’t think I don’t see you in the back row, Declan O’Rourke. You’re known as the most handsome man in town, according to what the females say. Don’t you think it’s high time you settled down with a good woman? You’ve got almost fifty to choose from.”
“Sure thing, Jasper,” Declan drawled. “I’ll get right on that.”
“Jasper. Stop poking at Declan,” Hazel said in a loud stage whisper from his left side. “Get on with it.”
He shuffled his papers. “And now I have some news that involves town finances.”
Dwight Lewis, town treasurer, piped up. “Finances? Isn’t that under my purview?”
“Don’t get yourself in a snit,” Jasper said. “This financial matter falls under the heading of special circumstances. I reserve my rights and privileges as town mayor to address it in any manner I see fit.”
Dwight nodded his head but he didn’t appear mollified by Jasper’s explanation. Having gone to high school with Dwight, Paige knew he had a bent for order and following the rules without exception. She could sense by the way he was fiddling with his bow tie that he w
as unsettled by Jasper encroaching on his job description.
“As part of this exciting news, I need to shine a spotlight on one of our own, a native daughter of this village.” He swung his gaze to Paige. “Some of you might have heard that Paige Reynolds is back in town.” A low rumble went up in the room. A few hisses rent the air. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Hush!” Jasper said. He raised his gavel and banged it on the table. “Keep things civil or I’ll toss you out of here on your—”
“Jasper!” Boone warned, cutting his grandfather off before he could get himself in trouble.
Paige bowed her head. She should have been used to being snubbed, but it still hurt to know she wasn’t welcome in Love. If only they could understand she was acting only in the best interests of the town she loved so dearly. She was trying her best to be unselfish.
Cameron turned toward the townsfolk and glared at them. “Have some manners!” he growled. “Stop acting like a bunch of small-town bullies.”
“Well said, grandson,” Jasper said with an approving nod of his head. “Let’s show some decorum. I’m now going to give Paige the floor. She has something of vital importance to discuss.” Jasper wiggled his eyebrows. “And it has to do with this sizable check she brought made out to the town of Love.” Jasper waved the check in the air.
Dwight turned up his nose as if he had smelled something foul. “This is highly irregular. You have no standing here, Paige Reynolds.”
