No Parking by Valentine Wheeler

Author:Valentine Wheeler [Wheeler, Valentine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, bisexual, asexual, bakery, restaurant, chef, small-town politics, older MCs, interracial, family drama
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2020-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Luke Leventi’s ads were everywhere, and they grated on Marianne even more after her encounter with him Monday night.

She glared at the bus-stop bench a few days later as she sat at the red light at the corner of Tremont and Oak, wondering why a guy who controlled so much in town already felt the need to run for office and get even more wrapped up in the community for what seemed like little payoff. Maybe he was considering a run for president someday? Why else would he be wasting so much time and money on this campaign with all its ads and interviews? And where was he getting that money? He was wealthy, yes, but not wealthy enough to be buying market-wide airtime and this much physical advertising. Marianne had looked into advertising a few times for the bakery and each time had concluded word of mouth was much cheaper and much more effective. Besides, all the ads were by various PACs. What kind of candidate for a house primary had this many PACs? It didn’t make sense.

The light changed and she took the left onto Tremont and then the right onto Chestnut, pulling into the Wilshire Market Basket parking lot and into a spot just past the entrance. She needed something besides falafel and croissants in her apartment; there was only so much restaurant food she could eat before she needed to make herself a couple days’ worth of salads.

Someone called her name as she stepped up on the curb, and she turned to see Michael Blake. He looked friendlier out of his police uniform and pushing a stroller. She waved as he wheeled over, dodging a festive broccoli display.

“This is Brady Nicole Blake,” said Michael. “Brady, this is Marianne. Her coffee is the thing your mom missed most while she was pregnant.”

“How old is she?” asked Marianne, smiling down at the tiny face gazing up at her. “She’s beautiful.”

“Five weeks,” said Michael proudly. “This is her first trip to the grocery store. We need some diapers, and Mom needs some alone time. Doesn’t she, sweetie?”

“I remember those days.” Marianne reached out and stroked a finger along a tiny closed fist poking out from the blankets. “I hope you’re giving Sally all the help she asks for.”

Michael gave a very tired laugh. “Doing my best, Ms. Windmere. But you know how it is at the station.”

“They don’t give you any leave? She’s your baby, too, you know.”

“Oh, I know.” He grinned. “Everybody says she’s got my eyes already. But I only get two weeks, which I guess is better than most towns, so the Chief said I shouldn’t complain. I’ve been stretching them out best I can, couple days a week, but I finally ran out.”

He pushed the carriage around the lettuce and Marianne followed, nodding sympathetically.

“And you know how busy we get when the winter starts hitting,” he continued. “This is my one day off this week. The rest of it’s been spent dealing with people ready to murder their neighbors over parking space savers.

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