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he said. “And look, they’re still all standing around talking and the meeting hasn’t even started.”
    “You could have driven a little slower down those gravel roads, or at least put the top up,” she said. “My dress is all dusty and I think I have something in my contact.” She slapped down the mirror on the visor and opened her eye wide to peer into it.
    Levi got out of the car, walking around and o pening the door for her. She pushed up the visor and got out but continued to rub her eye.
    “Here, let me,” he said, reaching forward and wipi ng a grain of sand from the corner of her eye. “Is that better?” He put his fingers under her chin and tilted her head upward, cocking his head to peer into her eye.
    “I’m fine,” she said, pushing his hand aw ay and looking around the crowd, not wanting her children to see him touching her. “There’s Angel,” she said, raising her arm and waving to her across the square. Then she looked back at him, half undressed and his hair still wet. Not at all what she’d expect from a mayor. “A mayor shouldn’t be walking around half dressed. And why is your hair wet?” she asked. “No time to dry it this morning?”
    “No shower at the gas station,” he said. “I had to use the sink to wash up and it was too hard holding my head under the hand dryer so I just gave up.”
    Angel came over to join them. “Hurry up, Levi,” she told him. “Mrs. Durnsby wants to give you a few instructions before she swears you in as new mayor.”
    Levi hurried away from them through the crowd.
    “And button your shirt,” she called after hi m. Then she looked over to Candace. “These grown men are no better than the kids.”
    “ Where are the kids?” asked Candace, looking around the crowded square.
    “Sam is watching them at the park. It’s just past the fountain. I thought the little ones would get bored during the ceremony, so it may be better this way.”
    “I know you’re right,” she said, still a little nervous to be leaving her children with strangers, but Angel and her family seemed like someone she could trust.
    “So, your kids are how old?” asked Angel.
    “Six,” she answered.
    “I see. And they mentioned they didn’t have a father. Not that it’s any of my business, but where is he?”
    She didn’t know how to answer that, and felt uncomfortable that Angel even asked.
    “I’m sorry,” apologized Angel. “I di dn’t mean to pry. Questioning people is just a habit of mine, since I worked for years for Child Protective Services.”
    “Oh my, I hope you don’t think I’m abusing my children,” she said.
    “Of course not.” Angel gave Candace a half hug. “I guess I just wondered about their father because your boy looks so much like Levi that I had to know if there was another crazy man out there like my brother-in-law.”
    “Do you really think he looks like Levi?” she asked, wanting to tell someone her secret, but at the same time feeling like she needed to remain guarded.
    “Oh look, they’re starting the ceremony,” said Angel. “Let’s go.”
    Candace was glad for the distraction, because another minute talking with Angel about the kids’ father and she probably would have spilled her guts just to have another woman to confide in.

    Chapter 5
     
     
    The ceremony was short and sweet, and Levi now stood in front of the crowd as Sweet Water’s new mayor. He held on to the large metal key given to him by Mrs. Durnsby that she said was the key to the town.
    He found the whole thing amusing since the damned key was too big to actually open anything, and neither did he have a door anywhere in the entire town that he could actually use it on anyway. He was a mayor without an office, a man without a home, and also a man without a wife or family.
    He hadn’t thought that would ever bother him, but since he’d been living with Thomas, he saw what kind of closeness and bonds came from being married and having children. He’d been