Chapter Twenty-three
Mia swore she’d heard wrong. Watching Jack’s expression, expecting to see a laughing rebuttal, shock rode her from what she did see. His disgruntled glare as the doctor walked away couldn’t be mistaken.
She had to ask, “Jack, you’re running for mayor of Maricopa?
” In no way possible could she see him as a typical politician.
Of course, he could be a non-typical one, an anomaly.
But that would mean pitting himself against a wave of pre-set rules and conditions, the comfortable old-boys school and most likely a lot of corruption if the rumors and the complaints from Angie were anything to go by.
Often, their recent phone calls ended by Angie ranting that their city was screwed. “Seriously?”
Nodding, his hand gently patting Maisie’s back as she lay with her head nestled in his shoulder, he shrugged. “The conniving old diva caught me at a weak moment.”
“Bull! She blackmailed you into doing something she wanted, and you let her. What was the deal?”
“To let the doc operate today.”
“Oh, my God, the cheeky brat! How could you refuse?”
“I know. What could I do? Doc said she lived on borrowed time without that pacemaker.”
Mia’s heart swelled with affection for the big man who looked like a little kid that just got played. “What about the renos for the house?”
“Oh, I’ll still be taking on that job personally, it’s the multitude of other work I’ll have to farm out to the boys.
” He grinned when Maisie hugged him harder as if she’d picked up on his frustration.
“My biggest worry is that I have no idea what’s ahead of me as a representative or the first step to getting started.
There must be legal documents to fill out, heck I don’t know.
Guess it’s a trip to city hall sometime today. ”
Mark piped up and shocked them both. “I’ve run a campaign before in my old city of Seattle. You need help, I’m your man.” They both saw Mia start to object until Mark added, “in my off hours, of course.”
The nurse approached with instructions on the shortest route to the recovery area, and the four of them headed in that direction. A few minutes with Angie was all Mia and Jack had before they were pushed out the door and told to return later.
The busy nurse stated in no uncertain terms, “You can visit after she comes out of the ICU and has time to rest. Call first.”
Jack excused himself to head to the office with a promise he’d be at the house later in the morning. Before he could walk away, Maisie piped up, “Will you swim with me, Jack? Mia said I need a babysitter with me at the pool.”
“She did, did she? Good thing. It’s never good to swim alone. Okay, it’s a date. Probably just for a short time, princess. I’m—”
“Sweetie, Jack will be very busy today. Mark and I will take you for a swim after lunch if you promise to play nice while we unpack the garage and set up the workroom this morning.” Mia thought to save him, and he almost took the out. His day was chockablock full.
Something made Jack stop. He looked at the little one’s face and saw his own disappointment mirrored there.
How many times had his father and mother used that same ploy when he was a kid?
He’d grown up hating how little importance he held in their schedules – so much, he’d stopped asking.
No way he’d put the same shame onto his newest crush.
“Precious, I’m never too busy to spend time with my favorite girl. I’ll be there in an hour, and you can show off your talent while your mom and Mark get organized. Is it a date?”
Maisie ran to him and lifted her arms. He had to crouch for her to reach, but the sweetest kiss he’d ever gotten from a female landed on his cheek as she hung onto him and whispered, “It’s for suwe a date.”
***
Jack couldn’t believe the red tape involved in applying for the position of mayor. Stella, an old client who worked at the counter at the Maricopa City Hall, laughed at the shock he couldn’t hide. “Some think it’s a privilege to serve your city.”
“I never thought of it in those exact terms.” Jack felt his left eyelid flicker and knew his childish reaction to stress had returned.
“I mean, look at Mayor Lotborn. He’s the vice-chair, chairman, councilman or on the board of directors of more councils and associations than I can name.
Hell, I work with the homeless and donate my spare time to renovating houses for the poor. ”
“And what do you think has more impact with the citizens? Sitting in on meetings, never being with your constituents or helping them personally? My sister and her husband still sing your praises for the new roof you and your boys erected after they had that tree drop smack dab on their place and leave them in a mess. I happen to know you never did collect on that bill.”
“Hell, they have four kids and another on the way. Who’d be so heartless to go after a family like that? And all I did was set them up temporarily.”
“Baloney, Jack. They’re good for years with that roof and you know it. I’ve never heard of you doing any kind of stopgaps.”
“Hey, they’re paying me.”
“Right! Twenty dollars a month is hardly payment for a bill in the thousands. And I’d like to know how many others you’ve helped out in the same way?”
Changing the subject to one that didn’t make him uncomfortable, he asked, “You said I can do this online, right?”
“You sure can, sweetie. And if you need any help, I’m your girl.”
“Okay, then. Thanks, sugar. I’ll get to it, and for the questions that have me stumped, I’ll come back.”
“You do that. And remember, it has to be received in this office no later than four p.m. day after tomorrow.”
“Got it!”
Stella arched over the counter, inviting him to lean closer.
She whispered words he already knew but didn’t want to hear.
“Lotborn is a mean man, and he’ll play dirty, Jack.
I thought we’d be stuck with the lowlife for another term.
But if you run, I can guarantee a lot of people will be thrilled…
myself included. So… don’t be late with your application. ”
Picking up the scads of paper, he left with a wink and a pat on the hand gripping his. “Got it! Thanks, Stella.” Seems more than Angie thought of the man in a disparaging way.
Heading to his office, he found the men already scattered on various jobs he’d aligned for them before he’d left to pick up Mia. Only Brian sat at one of the computers in the front room. “Hey boss, what’s up?”
“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“Angie hoodwinked me into running for mayor.”
Brian, an older hand he’d never regretted hiring, turned his wheelchair to face him. “You? Mayor of Maricopa?”
“Duh! Is it that shocking?”
“Just messin’ with you.” Brian laughed. “Hell, Jack, you’d be the answer to our prayers.
The idiot there now has plans to ruin the city.
Him and his big-monied cronies.” Brian made a sour face.
“Who in their right mind wants to build a huge resort, golf courses and who the hell knows what else in a place that has water issues and a lack of affordable housing? I’m thinking he’s dangerous too.
Don’t turn your back on the guy; I’ve heard rumors. He’s a complete jerkoff!”
Jack had to grin at Brian’s description.
Seems everyone he knew considered this man a jerk one way or the other.
“Fine, I’m happy if you’re happy, but it’s me who has to fill out all the paperwork, run a campaign and be willing to give up all those hours in an agenda that’s already too full for most normal guys. ”
“Don’t give me that bull. I never knew anyone who’s so willing to delegate and then put your trust in those you choose to do a good job.”
“That’s because the people I hire have great skills, good work ethics and love their jobs.”
“Sure, the jobs you set them up in. We have so many applications from guys around here who would give their left ahhh… you know what to get hired on with Jack’s Construction. In fact, I have a friend who’s been applying for months, an old vet buddy, and he’s good.”
Interest flared and Jack leaned a hip on the edge of the opposite desk and gave Brian his full attention. “Why haven’t we hired him already?”
“’Cause there’s been no openings. Guys come to work for you, they don’t leave. Remember the mess I was in when you hired me? He’s getting close to that line.”
“Tell me.”
“I haven’t bugged you about him, because I know we have a waiting list, but Harvey’s a good man, has a softness in his core that made life overseas hell for him. We served together. He’s had some problems settling back into real life and having him work physically hard would be the answer.”
“Poor bastard. So many of the boys come back hurting inside. I remember from my own experiences. If I wouldn’t have been forced home with a medical discharge, who knows where I’d be now.
Okay, set up an interview. If I’m going to be running for freakin’ mayor, we’re going to need more hands around here.
Short list another one too. And if the work is too much for you in here, get yourself some help while you’re at it. Can’t have you overworked.”
“You mean run off my feet.” Laughing, Brian swung his wheelchair around in a circle.
“Funny, man. You’re a load of laughs.” Except Jack did let loose as Brian had no doubt known he would. “Thanks, I needed that.”
“Don’t get too stressed out, boss. Me and the guys will help you all we can. Let us take over whatever you can’t handle. There ain’t one of us on your payroll, living the lifestyle we have, without you as the man. We’re all here for you.”
Touched, knowing the words came with a sincerity that Brian seldom voiced, but Jack had always felt, he gripped Brian’s shoulder. “Don’t know what I’d do without you, bro. Thanks.”
Over the next hour, they planned the jobs already started, those in the pipeline, and the one’s they should bid on in the future.
He gave Brian his full attention and they sorted out the worst of the mess in no time.
“I’ll be looking after the job at Angie’s personally, but I’ll need at least three assigned to work with me.
If your Harvey’s ready to start in the next day or so, he’s one I’ll work with.
Check out his skills and make sure he’s secure in the job. ”
“Great! Okay, we’re done for today. I’ve ordered all the equipment and lumber you’ll need. The job’s good to start. I imagine you’ll have more requisitions, so let me know by text and I’ll get right on it.”
“Thanks, man. Right now, I have to check on Angie, and then I have a swim date with a princess that I can’t miss. I’ll be back later, and we’ll do the interview, so try to line up Harvey for say… after three. Just let me know what time.”
“Cool. About the princess…?”
“Hell, I knew I wouldn’t get away without you questioning my personal life. Maisie is beautiful, has me wrapped around all her fingers, and I’m madly in love.”
Brian lit up. “About time, my man. About time that old heart of yours escaped from the chain you’ve strangled it with.”
“Did I mention? She’s also four-years-old…?” Jack laughed at Brian’s let-down expression.
“Not funny, man.”