Chapter Thirty Rallying Together at a Rally
The weather is of course perfect on Sunday.
I would expect nothing less from the Cherrybridge skies than to be bright and sunny for the LeClairs.
Mom, Nani, and I ride together a few hours after Jason goes to set things up, and when we get to Gordon Park, I’m surprised at how many people are here.
I figured it would be similar to that first party at the country club, but this is about twice as many people.
“Did you know this would be so big?” I ask Mom.
She shrugs.
After that awful op-ed, I figured Jason didn’t have a lot of supporters left, that people south of the river would think he’s too out of touch with their needs, and people north of the river would think he’s too “fake” or liberal to lead the city.
The park looks… amazing. I can’t believe this is the same weedy, dilapidated place I first saw last month.
The grass is green and lush. The grass seeds Jeff planted took root quickly.
I can’t see the bandstand in detail from so far away, but I can see the cream with green accents almost glowing in the bright sun.
As we’re walking toward the bandstand, an older man wearing a tweed jacket stops Mom. He’s got round glasses and a white beard. He looks a bit like a university professor. Or a mall Santa in the offseason.
“Neelam, you look lovely as usual.” He kisses Mom on both cheeks.
“Oh! I didn’t expect to see you here!” Mom says, smiling. It’s clear she actually likes this man and isn’t putting on her fake, politician’s wife smile. After they chat about how beautiful the day is, Mom introduces Nani and me.
“This is my family. My mother, and my daughter, Meera. Mom and Meera, this is Peter McCrae, the mayor of Cherrybridge.”
My eyes widen. This… this is the current mayor? What the heck is he doing here, at a rally for his competitor’s campaign?
“Ah, Meera!” He extends his hand for a shake, smiling warmly at me as I return the greeting.
“I’ve heard so much about you. Lainey Park and Jeff Wiesner have been singing your praises all summer, along with the rest of the kids who cleaned up this park.
You’ve done a phenomenal job. You made such an impact on this town in the short time you were here.
But your mother has impressed me every time I’ve talked to her.
I can’t say I’m surprised that her daughter is just as impressive. ”
He asks me some questions about how I enjoyed working in the park and about my plans for next year and beyond. I really like this man. Yeah, I kind of get why people in this town would want someone new, but he has a very genuine way of talking.
When we finally say goodbye and start walking again, I ask Mom why Peter McCrae is even here.
Mom shrugs. “I don’t know, but Peter is a gentleman, through and through.”
When we get to the bandstand, Mom heads straight to the back of the stage to find Jason. I see Sadie and Liv, so Nani and I head to them.
“I want to hear all about your trip to the spa,” Sadie says after she says hello to my grandmother.
“I’m so jealous. I’ve been begging my mom to go to that place for years.
We should all go. A big LeClair ladies’ trip!
Here, tell me more about these pictures you posted…
” She pulls out her phone and opens her Instagram.
“Um, yeah, okay.” Does Sadie know that Mom’s not going to be a LeClair much longer? She seems a little too enthusiastic. And why does she want to look at my Instagram account now?
As Sadie is tapping on her phone, I glance at the stage. There’s a bunch of stuff on it covered with drop cloths. Weird. Why wouldn’t they clear the construction material and painting supplies before this event? But I guess it is only Sunday. CROP literally finished two days ago.
I’m about to ask what’s going on when someone in the crowd catches my eyes. Right there, near the front of the stage and looking so good that I could cry, is Noah Jacobs.
He looks amazing, because he has always looked amazing.
He’s wearing his black jeans with a studded black belt, along with a black button-up shirt that has the first three buttons undone, and the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.
I recognize the shirt. It’s the one he wore to the country club on our first date. Sort-of date. Our first fake date.
His father is with him, wearing jeans and a plaid flannel, and next to Mike is a guy I’ve never seen before.
I immediately know who it is, though, because he looks so much like Noah’s dad.
The same strawberry-blond hair, ruddy complexion, and stocky build.
This is Aaron, Noah’s brother. I actually chuckle.
Everyone in this town thinks that Noah is just like his brother, even though the two look nothing alike.
Noah is tall and lanky while the rest of his family are sturdy and stocky.
Noah’s got dark hair and eyes while the other two have light hair and eyes.
Also, Noah seems… delicate. Almost fragile, compared to his brother and father—even though I know that he’s actually very strong, inside and out.
I think Noah senses me watching him, because he suddenly turns to me, and our eyes lock.
He doesn’t look surprised to see me. Because of course I’d be here.
It’s my stepfather’s rally. I don’t really expect that he would look mad, not after what he said on his Instagram post, but I don’t expect the expression on his face.
He looks open and friendly. He even smiles slightly and nods, as if to say, Yes, I’m here.
My heart beats heavily in my chest. What does that expression mean? I want to run away, but I also desperately want to be closer to him. Why is his family here? His father hates Jason.
His dad turns and notices me then. And, shockingly, he also smiles and waves me over. I take a breath and walk toward them, because I do still have manners.
“Meera!” Noah’s dad says. “I was hoping we’d bump into you!”
“Hi, Mr. Jacobs… Mike. Great to see you again,” I say. Mike seems so different today. So much less stressed than the day I met him. Why is he happy to see me even after Kaitlyn’s terrible article?
“You haven’t met my older son,” Mike says. “This is Aaron. Aaron, this is Meera. Jason’s stepdaughter.”
Aaron smiles, and it looks just like Noah’s smile. “Nice to meet you,” he says. “You all did such a great job on that stage. I would have hated to be stuck here every day, but it was worth it.”
Aaron looks good. Nothing like the rumors or assumptions I had about him. His eyes are bright, and his smile is wide. I can’t help smiling back. I don’t know Aaron at all, but I’m so glad he’s doing well.
I glance again at Noah, and he still has that barely perceptible smile on his face. Before I get the chance to ask him why he and his family are at the rally, or why he’s smiling at me after breaking up with me a week ago, there’s a noise on the stage.
It’s Jason. He’s holding a microphone. “Hello, all! Thank you for coming to the beautifully restored Gordon Park!” Everyone cheers. Jason then thanks all the people who set this party up on short notice, but I don’t hear anything because suddenly Noah is right next to me.
I close my eyes a moment and breathe in. I want to touch him. Or say something. Acknowledge how weird it is to be so close again, here of all places. I have to do something… I can’t let this moment go by without saying something.
Finally I turn to him and speak quietly. “Your brother looks great. How’s he doing?”
“Really good,” Noah says. “The outpatient program seems to be working. He’s been clean for a week, and it feels like this time he’s determined to make it stick.”
I tilt my head, smiling. “That’s really great.”
His head tilts too, mirroring me. He leans close to talk into my ear, causing me to shiver. “It’s really good to see you,” he says. “Love your outfit.”
I shiver again. My heart starts pounding loudly in my ears as I look down at my black cargos and deep burgundy T-shirt. “It’s good to see you too.”
“Maybe after the show we can talk?” Noah asks.
I swallow. What does he mean? What show? Talk about what? “Yeah. You mean after Jason’s speech, right?”
“Sure, Noorani,” he says with that mischievous smile he had on the day we met. What exactly is going on between us right now? I bite my lip, trying not to get my hopes up.
“Meera,” Mom says in a scolding tone. When did she get here? Nani’s with her too. “Listen to Jason’s speech.”
I’d rather listen to Noah, but I turn back to the stage to pay attention to Jason.
He’s saying, “Recently many have said that I’ve lost touch with the everyday Cherrybridge resident. I usually don’t listen to my detractors, because there’s nothing I can do to appeal to every person. But when someone I respect said it, I realized I had some serious self-reflection to do.”
Is he really referencing the article right now? I frown at the thought of Jason respecting Stuart Chambers.
“And you know what?” Jason continues. “I have lost touch with many residents in this town, which is a surprise because I’ve always considered myself an everyday Cherrybridge guy.
Now, I know you’re all groaning at a LeClair saying that.
I recognize the immense privilege I’ve had because of my family.
But when I was a teenager in Cherrybridge, I was just another punk kid getting into trouble and hanging out where all the teens hung out—in this park.
It’s so fitting that it was hardworking teens in our community who restored Gordon Park to what it was then.
So first let’s have a round of applause for Lainey Park, Jeff Wiesner, and all the amazing kids from the CROP program for bringing back our Gordon Park!
” He starts clapping, and everyone joins in.