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“I told you.”

“No, you didn’t. I’m pretty sure that I would have remembered that.”

“Huh.” Elsie shrugs. “Maybe I just forgot. Oh well.” She focuses on me. “How’s your morning going?”

“All right.” I look up at Virginia, who is one of the waitresses, when she places a cup of coffee on the table in front of me. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiles, then looks around the table. “Does everyone know what they’d like to eat, or do you want me to come back?”

“I think we’re ready.” Elsie decides for us.

Since I had a shake this morning, I just stick with my coffee, while Elsie orders a granola bowl and Genevieve gets a full breakfast that includes pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

When Virginia leaves after taking our order, Elsie reaches for her purse, pulls out a file folder that is at least an inch thick, and places it on the table.

“So I did some research last night and came up with a plan for how to get some donations coming in, and the best ways to get your name out there to people who might not know you.” She passes me a piece of paper. “That’s a list of Mike’s biggest donors. I think it would be good to talk to them and see if they’d be willing to either sponsor a direct advertisement or make a donation so that we can do some advertising.”

“I’m not real comfortable asking people for money.”

“That’s why you have me.” She smiles brightly, taking the paper and adding it to the bottom of the stack in her folder. “Now, I also did some research about what qualities people normally look for when they are deciding who they will vote for in an election. The good news is you’ve got most of them. You are honest, you have a great record, including your military history, and the current sheriff has already given you his endorsement. And since you’ve been the deputy here in Gooseberry, crime has dropped, and so have traffic accidents and fatalities.”

“Uh-oh,” Genevieve mumbles, and her mom looks over at her.

“Uh-oh what?” Elsie frowns at her.

“I just know that after that stellar review there is a but coming.”

“There isn’t a but coming. There is an observation and suggestion coming.” She looks at me. “One theme I found when looking into what makes a strong political candidate is their family situation. People want to know that the person they are voting for has their same family values, that they can relate to them.”

Fuck me.

“And since you’re single and don’t have any children, I think that is something that we will probably need to address at some point.”

“Oh, I have a great idea,” Genevieve says, lifting her coffee while looking up at me. “We can scour the town records for a woman who comes from good, hearty stock, with great birthing hips, and get you married off before you have your first public appearance. And . . .” She looks over at her mom. “If you play your cards right, he might even be able to get her knocked up before it’s time for people to start voting, and that will really guarantee things.”

Jesus, it’s hard not to laugh.

“You know, if you’re not going to be helpful, you can leave,” Elsie snaps.

“Oh, no, I’m for sure staying now. This is the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.” She looks at me once more. “Aren’t you having fun?”

“I can say for certain that I’ve had more fun getting shot at while overseas,” I tell her, and her eyes fill with something sweet and soft that makes my chest feel strange.

“Food should be out in just a few minutes.” Virginia breaks into the moment, and I turn to find her standing at the edge of the table with a pot of coffee.

“Thank you,” Elsie says when she refills her cup, and Genevieve murmurs the same when Virginia does the same for her.

“Do you need anything else while you wait?” she asks.

“Do you have some tequila?” Genevieve asks her, and Virginia’s chin goes back in surprise.

“I . . .”

“She’s joking, sweetheart,” Elsie tells her before glaring at her daughter.

“Am I?” Genevieve mutters, dumping a creamer pack into her coffee while ignoring the look her mom shoots her, and I try not to laugh.

“So anyways.” Elsie locks her eyes on mine after Virginia walks away. “I’m having some signs printed that are similar to the ones that Joe character has all over town. They should be ready in a couple days, and as soon as I pick them up, we’ll get them planted.” She grins, then adds, “I used one of your pictures I found on the Gooseberry Facebook page.”