The Christmas Campaign

He turned, looking for the speaker. She stepped out from behind the freshly cut cedar in the corner, and he caught his breath. Oh, wow. He’d never seen a Greek goddess before, but this had to be what one would look like. Surely this wasn’t the girl in the yearbook. Her black hair was caught up in a French braid and green eyes the color of Ireland looked him over. “I, ah, I’m looking for Nicole Montgomery.”

She hung the ornament on the tree before walking toward him. “I’m Nicole.”

Jake held out his hand and was surprised at the firm grip. For the first time he could ever remember, he couldn’t think of anything to say.

She tilted her head, puzzlement in her eyes. “Do you want to hire our company to do a job for you?”

“Did we really go to high school together?” He did not remember anyone looking as good as Nicole Montgomery.

“What?”

Heat burned his face. He surely did not just say that. “Forgive me, but I think your beauty has caused me to take leave of my senses.”

She leaned back, and crossed her arms. “Jacob O’Neil, you were full of yourself in high school, and you still are.”

A memory niggled in the back of his mind. Yeah...they’d been in chemistry class together, except the younger Nicole had been rail thin and wore glasses. That hadn’t stopped him from trying to charm her, and he’d gotten the same response as today.

“Strike two, huh?”

A smile played at the corner of her mouth. “One more, and you’re out.”

“Then I better be on my best behavior.”

“Try it. You might like it.” She unfolded her arms and walked to her desk.

He checked her out while he had the chance. The silky braid draped over her shoulder. A plaid shirt, skinny jeans that fit nicely and midcalf boots—the girl he remembered would never wear anything so fashionable. Her style had changed, for sure. She turned, almost catching him.

“Now, did you have a purpose for coming in here, or is it just my lucky day?”

But not her sassy lip. Just thinking of it made him stare at her full lips. Which she promptly licked. He glanced up to focus on her eyes instead. “I came to see you about a city council proposal.”

Understanding seemed to click into place. “And you need my help.”

“No! I mean, yes.” If he’d known what a pretty woman she’d blossomed into, he’d have been there a long time ago.

She checked her watch, and he quickly did the same and groaned. Nine thirty. He had an appointment with the mayor in thirty minutes. He’d wasted what little time he’d allotted for talking to her. “Would you have lunch with me today?”

“No.”

Jake regrouped. He hadn’t made a very good impression. He held up his hand. “Hang on for a minute.”

He hurried out the door, turned around and came back in. “Hi, Nicole. I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other since high school. But I’d truly like to rectify that. Is there a snowball’s chance in South Mississippi that you’ll have lunch with me at Norma Jean’s?” He held out his hand.

A strange look crossed her face, and then she swallowed and slipped her palm in his. “I, ah, well, since you put it that way, I guess so. Noon?”

“How about eleven thirty? Would you like me to pick you up?”

“No! I’ll meet you there.”

“Great.” He started to leave and turned around. “You look really—”

“Don’t mess it up O’Neil.”

He grinned. “Well, you do.”

Jake whistled as he drove across town to city hall. Getting Nicole Montgomery’s vote was going to be much more interesting than he’d thought. But something about her name didn’t seem right.

He remembered now...it was G. Nicole Montgomery in the yearbook. He couldn’t remember what the G stood for, but given time, he’d find out.

Jake pulled into a parking space in front of city hall, and grabbed the packet that contained copies of the senior center proposal for each city council member. He would leave them with Betty Atkins, the city clerk, when he added his name to the agenda for tonight’s meeting.

Betty looked up as he entered her office and closed the door.

“What can I do for you, Jake?”

He handed her the envelope. “I’d like to appear before the city council tonight to request a permit for renovating a building on Washington Street and to submit a proposal for a senior center. I’ll also be asking for funding.”

“I see. How much?” she asked.

“Twenty-five thousand.”

“You can’t run a center on twenty-five thousand dollars.”

“That will just be the city’s part. I’ll come up with the rest. I’m going up to see Hugh now, and get his support.”

“I’ll put you down.”

“Thanks.” He turned to leave and she followed him.

“I’m going after coffee. Care to join me?”

“No, I told him I’d be there at ten, and it’s almost that time now.”

* * *

A CONFERENCE CALL about the children’s shelter kept Peter from getting to city hall when he wanted to, but at least he had a better understanding of what the inspector would be looking for next week. It was now nine forty-five as he took the stairs to the city clerk’s office two at a time.

He’d managed to get by the city inspector’s office before they closed yesterday, so his application for a renovation permit for the building was in process. Now he needed to get the youth center proposal and the New Year’s Eve teen dance he wanted to hold on tonight’s agenda.

“Is Betty in?” he asked her secretary.

Treva Fisher looked up from her typing. “She has someone with her right now. Do you want to wait?”

“Do you think they’ll be long?” He wanted to catch the mayor before he got too busy.

“It’s your cousin Jake. What do you think?”

His heart sank. Surely Jake didn’t have his proposal ready for the council. Peter was almost finished with his own except for a volunteer director. The door to Betty’s office opened, and his cousin stepped out behind the city clerk. When he saw Peter, a smug grin spread across Jake’s face.