The old woman leveled a shockingly astute expression on him then. “They do say the wedding is a test for the relationship, though. How do you know yours will stand up to life if it hasn’t been stress-tested?”

Good question.

Trev knocked on the front door of the well-kept ranch house without responding, saving him from the need to reply. Soon, a middle-aged woman with light-brown hair answered. “How can I help you?”

He recited the script about Leanne’s bid for city council, a short and tasty sound bite, and then asked, “Can we put this sign in your front yard to show your support? The council has had far more men than women on it for years now.”

The homeowner studied the election sign before breaking into a broad smile. “That’s true. Go ahead. She looks so capable! I can’t wait to see Dan Rutherford’s face. He hasn’t had a real challenger in ages.”

For four hours, he drove around with Mrs. Carmenian, and they managed to put up all their signs and gave away a fair number of bumper stickers as well. Eventually, the old woman said, “My dogs sure are barking. You’re a good worker, Trev. Leanne’s lucky to have you.”

“Thanks,” was all he managed to say.

The old woman added, “Drop me off in front of Sugar Daddy’s. I deserve a treat after all that free labor.”

“No problem.” He found a parking spot on the square, not directly in front of Titus’s bakery—just as well because he wasn’t ready to face his best friend after finding out he’d hurt the guy.

Instead of going home, Trev returned to the office above the hardware store and found the place bustling. A table of volunteers was calling while others seemed to be assembling some sort of mass list for texting. There would probably be email campaigns as well. Leanne stood with a stern-faced old man with a big nose, Leon…no, Leonard Something. The whole coffee klatch basically followed Gladys’s orders, and she’d told them all to help Leanne, it seemed. If you wanted to win, you got the seniors on board first. His wife glanced over—

Oh God. My wife. For the first time, it truly sunk in. This incredible woman was his wife.

“What else can I do?” he asked Leanne.

Chapter 15

Leanne went to Danica and Clem’s house once the volunteers left for the day.

It was difficult to believe how many people were willing to set their noses to the grindstone to put her in office. Trev had made a few reels for the campaign; he was surprisingly adept at it, and the timing was spot-on since they had the coven meeting today. When they asked if anyone had spell work, she’d ask for assistance in getting her promotional reels to go viral.