“Oh my God.” Mitch jerked away from Susie’s grasp.
Her mouth widened in a dramatic O and her face drained of all color. “You are
still in love with Maggie Greenlee.”
Mitch stepped backwards. He wasn’t about to confess
to anything. His mind was confused from what happened moments ago, and Maggie
being in town.
“Have you told Wendy?” Susie stomped around. “How
could you do this to her. She’s given you her life and you dump her once
‘little miss goody-two shoes’ waltzes back into town.”
“Shut up, Susie.” His words were sharp. Folding his
muscular arms across his chest, he remained calm. “Nothing is going on with me
and Maggie. You need to focus on this eminent domain case as my assistant, not
Maggie Greenlee. It’s the community we need to protect first and foremost.”
If he could dodge a bullet about Maggie, he was
going to. Wearing his emotions on his sleeve was one of his downfalls.
He curled his shoulders in as Susie dug her nail
into his chest. “You hurt Wendy and I’ll hurt you.”
“You need to talk to Wendy.” Mitch held his voice
calm and steady. He wasn’t going to be the one to tell Wendy’s friends that
their engagement was called off.
“What did you just say?” Maggie held the office door
open with Hazel standing behind her. Maggie had the envelope from Hazel’s purse
in her hands.
“Nothing.” Susie planted a shit-eating grin on her
face. Mitch wasn’t going to cross her or Wendy. He was sure once this eminent
domain case was over, Maggie would be going back to New York and this whole
ordeal would finally be over.
Maggie pointed to Mitch the way she used to order
him around when they were kids. “You and I have some business to discuss.”
Hazel slung her purse over her shoulder and scooted
past Mitch and Susie. Before she left, she turned. “Maggie knows everything. I
give you permission to use her as my lawyer from here on out.”
There was a twinkle in Hazel’s eyes and a small grin
on her paper thin lips. Mitch rolled his eyes. There was more to Hazel’s plan
than Maggie helping on the eminent domain case—he’s seen that sparkle a few
times in his life from her. He had to be sure to keep it strictly business,
nothing more. After all, everyone in town knew that Hazel had already married
off Maggie to Mitch.
Maggie had already gone back into his office and was
on the phone. When he entered, she motioned for him to shut the door. As
always, he did what she told him to do. Unfortunately, he felt himself falling
back into the pattern of doing what she said and his heart was following.
Chapter 24
Superstition: Don’t watch a friend walk
away or they will walk out of your life. . .forever.
“Every time I see you, you’re standing by this old
waterfall.” Wendy laughed as if sincerely amused..
A gentle nudge of envy tugged at Maggie’s soul. For
a split second she pictured Wendy going over the handrail they were standing in
front of—only for a second.
How could she not be happy for Wendy and Mitch? They
were two great people, who were way more caring about Grandberry Falls than
her. And they would make a perfect ‘First Couple’ for the town.
Maggie slipped the quarter back into her jeans
pocket. Her dreams never came true before, why waste another cent?
This time, she was going to wish for the eminent
domain case to go their way. She’s spent all day going over the paper work from
Patricia Van Meter, looking for anything; but had come up short—way short.
“I couldn’t tell you how much money I’ve invested in
this waterfall.” Maggie placed both hands on the handrails, making sure they
would stay put. After all, she couldn’t be responsible for them.
Wendy brushed her blonde hair behind her shoulders,
showing a faint tan line. “You are coming to the Hair Pin for spa night,
right?”
Maggie had her doubts she was wanted there. No
matter how hard she tried to fit in, it just wasn’t working out. Wendy of all
people was being nice to Maggie, when Maggie was acting the worst to her.
“We all want you there, Maggie.” Wendy gently
touched Maggie’s forearm. She winked. “Plus you never know what might be said
when you’re not there.”
She’s right. If Wendy only knew that she heard Beth
describe her dream about Maggie being left at the altar, and how she was hiding
behind the fake bush in the lobby of the Fatted Pig that morning.
Maggie couldn’t hide anymore. This town has turned
her back into someone she really liked, not the aggressive lawyer she was in
New York. She was going to gain the respect of these women once more. She was
going to win the eminent domain case or figure out something for this
community.
“Yes.” Maggie nodded. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Promise?” Wendy’s eyes showed a gleam of hope.
“Promise.”
Maggie’s spirit soared. She hoped Wendy would give
her another chance at friendship. She pulled the quarter out of her pocket and
turned away from Wendy. She couldn’t watch Wendy walk off. Hazel always said
that if you watch a friend walk away, superstition has it that they walk out of
your life forever. And that was one superstition she didn’t want to come true.
She needed her friends more now than ever, and with
a flick of the wrist, she changed her wish for the first time in years.
Maggie lifted her head up to the sun and let the
warmth flow down her face. She was going to give her all to this town. Then
she’d make her decision on her future and what it held for her.
If nothing else, she had a wonderful community with
friends who love her to fall back on.
###
The chattering women were lined up like little ducks
with their legs straight out and hot pink Styrofoam sticking out from their
perfectly manicured toes. Beth held a glass of champagne talking to Susie,
whose hand was in Belle’s as Belle filed down the acrylic nails.
Maggie looked around for Wendy or any other faces
she might recognize. Liz and Jenna were picking out polish over by the hors
d’ouevres.
“Hi!” Jenna waved Maggie over. She held up a bottle
of OPI. “I think I’m going to pick out this cool black like you see on
celebrities.”
“Everyone is wearing that color in New York.” Maggie
had seen a lot of colors actually on the eclectic group of New Yorkers she had
hung around with.
She picked up a few different colors and set them
back down. Maggie couldn’t remember the last time she had color on her nails.
She had to be in court and no judge took a lawyer with lime green nails
seriously. The pale pink was always the color of choice.
“How about this?” Maggie held the blue glitter nail
polish up in the light.
If she was going to go out of her box, why not blue
and glitter?
Liz took the bottle and smiled. “Why not? Me too.”
Maggie greeted everyone with a simple hello. She was
glad to see ‘girl’s spa in’, included a few more people that weren’t in the
group
.
It made it a lot easier for her to think up strategies she was normally so good
at doing on the spur of the moment. But when it came to these girls, she seemed
to have a hard time expressing how she felt. She wondered if it was her ego
getting in the way all these years.
She always felt like she had to prove herself in
Grandberry Falls. Everyone made sure she was taken care of when her parents
died. She appreciated their concern, but it just made her want to prove to them
that she was stronger than they gave her credit for.
No matter what, she was going to make something of
herself.
She had, but realized that she had gone about it the
wrong way.
“Sit here next to me.” Wendy patted the empty salon
chair.
Liz sat on one side and Maggie sat on the other.
Maggie wanted to sit next to Liz and be two outsiders together; only Liz seemed
to fit in better than she did.
“Belle said that you’ve been working really hard on
the eminent domain case today.” Liz leaned over her knees to look at Maggie.
This was definitely one of those times Maggie was
going to have to choose her words carefully. Everyone in the room was in favor
of the mall. A room full of girls and clothes? Nothing was going to stand between
them and shopping.
“I am.” Maggie leaned back resting her head on the
neck rest.
Belle had three women working for her. Belle was
going down the line doing the toes, while the others did nails and neck
massages.
“What do you think about it?” Wendy looked curiously
over at Liz.
Maggie held on. This was exactly what she didn’t
like about Grandberry Falls. The gossip. When they found out which side
Maggie’s on, she’s sure she wouldn’t be welcome.
“As an outsider, I don’t have the same deep-rooted
feelings someone like…” She leaned forward again, “Maggie does. Her great
grandparents are from here and so on, so I’d love to see growth for a
community. But as a small business owner, I worry about my bottom line.”
Liz groaned as the woman massaged her neck and
shoulders. She closed her eyes and held up a finger.
“Well, I think it’ll be great having a new place to
shop.”
Beth popped up out of the chair, water flying
everywhere from the foot soak. “What? What about Figure 8? I already have a
hard time convincing people that they should have some bling on the pocket of
their jeans.” She sat back down.
The stones rumbled around the basin as she submerged
her feet back in.
“I’m not saying I won’t frequent The Figure 8. I’m
saying how nice it’ll be for new jobs, lower taxes.” Liz bit her lip.
“Yadda, yadda, yadda.” Belle twirled her hand in the
air. “I’m torn. I’ve lived on that farm all my life. I worry about what it will
do to Granny or worse, where will I live?”
“It’s not about you.” Jenna walked over with a handfull
of polish. “Mom will be fine. She can move in with me and Samantha. She’s going
to college in a year so I’d love the company.”
Maggie couldn’t believe that her little Samantha was
seventeen. It seemed like yesterday that the scrawny, freckled face five year
old was following Maggie around the house.
“What about me?” Liz chimed back in. “I have to
worry about Hayes. We moved here because it was a great opportunity for me to
get out of the city and not compete with a million other designers.”
“Mitch and Maggie are doing everything they can.
Right, Maggie?” Susie turned easing into a smile.
Maggie grinned back, and Susie’s eyes softened. It
was the first time Susie showed any interest in letting Maggie back in. Maybe
coming today was exactly what she needed.
“And Wendy?” Susie’s loyalty didn’t last for long.
“I don’t know. You’d have to ask Maggie about
that.” Wendy continued to keep her eyes closed while the masseuse massaged her
head.
Everyone either leaned or turned toward Maggie.
There was something they wanted her to say, but she didn’t have all the
answers—not yet anyway.
“We are looking at all angles and possibilities.”
Maggie looked down at Belle who was painting the blue glitter on Maggie’s toes.
Belle looked at Maggie like Maggie was going to be
the hero this divided town needed.
“Like what?” Jenna wanted some answers. “How are you
going to keep Grandberry Falls working? If we don’t get the extra income, how
will our town survive? And if we do get the mall, where am I going to work?”
Jenna had worked on the farm as long as Maggie could
remember. Now she’s the manager, in charge of the daily operations. Hazel
really didn’t do anything but sit on the profits.
“You’re the big time lawyer who went away. Now use
that education of yours to figure this out.” Belle’s words were harsh.
As a matter of fact, Belle had never ever showed any
animosity towards Maggie for going away to college or her decision to stay
away. Maggie couldn’t ever recall having an opinion—until now.
“Listen.” Maggie stood up, and walked on her heels
over to the drinks. She needed to move her blood around and get some creative
juices flowing. “I’m working on it. I obviously don’t want to see them take
Granny’s farm, but I also think it’s important for our community to grow. With
growth there is opportunity. And you know me. Maggie Greenlee never let an
opportunity pass her by.”
Maggie squeezed a lemon in her ice water and dunked
it with her finger.
“How do you plan on doing that?” Jenna asked.
“We have a meeting lined up with Van Meter and
Associates. We have a couple different proposals and if they don’t take them,
we go to court next. That simple.”
Belle stood up with her hands on her hips. “You mean
your Van Meter and Associates?”
Maggie didn’t mean to let that slip.
“The Van Meter and Associates who fired you?” Belle
stood motionless while everyone remained silent.
Everyone in town was well aware of her being fired.
It certainly didn’t look good or sound good. If they fired her, how was she
going to go up against them and win?