Chapter 3June
Black pavement beneath a quartet of freshly scrubbed firetrucks sweltered just outside the open bay door as eleven firefighters onsite hoped the slightest cooling breeze might waft in with the smell of hot asphalt.
“And calendar voting is officially closed.” Jake had come down from his perch to pick up the ballot box from the coffee counter in the corner. “Nominees will get a text in a day or two.”
Tasha balked. “A day or two?”
Jake scowled. “I got other things to do around here, ya know.”
“I voted for you two,” Ken said on his way by the table where August and Tasha sat. “Not that Mama Cirillo’s almost daily casserole and dessert delivery influenced me any.”
August told his mother to stop with the food. His colleagues hoped she wouldn’t.
“Want some mac and cheese?” Ke
