“Did he now?”
“Yup. And as far as my family, well, you heard our history. This stuff has been going on long before you ever came.”
“How did your last meeting go today?”
He really didn’t want to recall the failure of his last attempt to bring them on board, but he couldn’t lie either. “Not great.” He pointed to the final backdrop to be finished. “We should probably get this done. You know what a taskmaster Vivie is. And being one of the few family members who’s still talking to me, I don’t want to make her mad too—even if she is only a third cousin.” He tried to hide the truth behind a wink.
But Ronnie hid nothing in her narrowed eyes and tight lips. “They’re still mad?”
Peter moved away, picking up a cloth to wipe his face. “Of course. I thought I could try to discuss this rationally, show them what a good thing this youth center could be, but no one will listen. The two weeks Seb gave me are up tomorrow, and I haven’t won any of them over. All I’m trying to do is bring people together, but I feel like I’ve pushed them further away.”
“You haven’t pushed anyone away. They’re being childish and unreasonable.”
“True, but I’m still out of time. I have nothing to show Seb.”
“Oh yes, you do. I’ve got a surprise too.” She wiped her hands on a rag and reached into her bag.
“What do you have?”
Ronnie handed him a clipboard.
Peter ran his finger down a long list of names. He flipped to the next page. More names. She had pages and pages of names. “Ronnie, what is this?”
“I thought it was obvious. But if you need me to spell it out for you, it’s a petition. You know? A list of signatures? These are all people who are in full support of the youth center.”
He looked at the last signature on the numbered line. “There are almost a thousand signatures here.”
“Only nine hundred twenty-one actually.”
He looked at her. Her huge grin and that twinkle in her eyes were a beacon of hope once again. “You’ve been busy.”
“There are a lot of people that believe in you. Believe in this idea.”
“You did this for me?”
“Well, yeah, we’re in this together.”
“Huh.” He reached out his hand. “I really love the sound of that.”
“Me too.” She laced her fingers through his.
“You really think this will go through?” Because somehow, having her believe in him made Pastor Dan’s words resonate.
You have a servant’s heart. But, Peter, there’s a warrior inside you too.
“It’d better go through. It’s the best option. And look at how many people support it.”
“Nine hundred twenty-two.”
“No, twenty-one.”
He shook his head and took the pen wedged in the clipboard. He signed the next line on the last sheet. “Twenty-two.”
It was time to roar.
Chapter 15
Ronnie came early to the courthouse town room to find her seat for the meeting. She, Peter, and Vivien had gone over all the information that morning. The slideshow was done. The plans printed off. They were ready. And with all the signatures she’d collected over the last two weeks, she had every confidence the proposal would pass.
It was obvious. This town needed a youth center.
And everyone but the Dahlquists and Zimmermans could see that.
Vivien and Megan took seats next to her. Charlie Zimmerman glared her way as he took a front-row folding chair at the other end of the room. Elton sat next to him and didn’t look too happy to see her either.
The feeling is mutual, bud.
Thankfully, there were plenty of friendly faces in the crowd too. John and Ingrid sat a few rows back. Some of the other first responders and firefighters sat in the middle, waved at her when she turned to count supporters.
Peter’s parents stood along the back wall. No friendly smiles from them.
Ronnie faced forward again.
Okay, so maybe this wouldn’t be the shoo-in she’d thought.
The temperature rose as bodies filled the seats. Jensen Atwood dragged a fan to the front of the room and plugged it in. Mayor Seb Brewster and the councilmen took their seats. Two microphones sat on their table, one on a stand in front of the crowd.
Seb glanced at the clock and opened the meeting. All chatter died down. Ronnie missed all the preliminary business stuff, instead going over the points she’d drilled with Peter in her head.
“And now we come to the Westerman property. We tabled the vote and discussion at the last meeting. At this time, we will hear from Councilman Peter Dahlquist, who has researched the youth center option and has a report for us.”
Pride swelled within Ronnie’s chest as Peter stood and presented the plan for the youth center. His voice grew in confidence as he pointed out the different features on the slideshow they’d put together. The passion shone in his eyes as he spoke. “We can open this area and fit a full-size gym, complete with locker-room facilities and a weight room. In this part of the building, we’d like to have a tutoring center, a small arcade—”
“Arcade?” Elton sputtered. “Are you serious? Like our kids need any more time with screens and video games. They have too much of that already.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair.
It took all of Ronnie’s strength not to go over and pop one on Elton’s smug face.
Peter, on the other hand, stayed cool, kept his voice even. “What about winter? We deal with six months of it here. A small arcade—think pool tables and interactive games—can offer the teens a place to socialize in a healthy environment, offer alternatives to just sitting at home in front of a screen. Plus, an indoor playground for younger children will give kids of all ages more opportunities for active play. All year long.”
A few people nodded their heads.
Ha! Take that, Elton.
“What about the jobs you’re taking away?”
Of course one of the Dahlquists, probably Peter’s Uncle Gordy, had to have his say.
But Peter was prepared. “A youth center will need staff. We’re still creating jobs here. And our plan is to build in office spaces to rent, which are hard to come by downtown.”
“I still want to know who’s paying!” Uncle Charlie chimed in. “How are we, the taxpayers, going to afford this? You’re talking millions of dollars.” His loud voice carried over the room. “As a hotel, we wouldn’t be asking the town for anything. In fact, we’d be paying a hefty city tax, bringing people in to patronize our town’s businesses. This is going to cost us. A lot!”
A few echoed his question and chatter overtook the crowd.
“Hey.” A simple command from Peter and everyone quieted. It wasn’t angry, but his voice was firm. Confident. He redirected attention to the plans. “Yes, this youth center will cost us. But don’t you think it’s a worthy investment? The healthier our kids are, the healthier society we have. And we can keep costs down as people donate labor or materials. This facility also qualifies for grants and other programs for funding. We can still bring in revenue for other businesses by hosting sports tournaments and educational programs for our region and across the state. That’s bringing people in—people who will stay in Deep Haven hotels, eat in Deep Haven restaurants, and purchase goods here. It’s a win for everyone. Yes, it will take an initial investment like every good business does, but we’ll all reap the benefits.”
Ronnie wanted to jump out of her seat and clap. Vivien grabbed her hand and squeezed. Ronnie could feel the tide turning, the crowd following their fearless leader as Peter calmly addressed each and every question and concern. She looked over the heads behind her, anxious to see how his parents were taking it. Barb had a new admiration shining in her eyes as she watched her son. Gary tilted his head to his brother, a whispered debate about something. Maybe one of them was coming around.
She hoped so.
Oh, how she hoped.<
br />
Wow.
It hit her. Just how invested she was. In Deep Haven, in this youth center.
In Peter.
She sat back and watched the man she loved. Yes, shoot—she loved Peter Dahlquist.
As he admitted the risks, he focused on the outcome, the benefits of this project. Like relationships.
The risk it took to believe in something, to have faith in a better future.
She got that, because she’d taken that risk. But she was definitely reaping benefits too. Megan, Ella, Vivien. Their friendships brightened her world in a way she’d never felt before. They added depth. It was like when she painted the shadows and light on the city backdrop. Suddenly the scene was more than a flat two-dimensional drawing. The buildings and streets took the shape of a real city.
And Peter had taught her how a gentle word often took more strength and had better results than all her bluster and muscle. He didn’t force people to do what he wanted. He listened. He took the time to understand them. He was with them in the trenches, in the celebrations, in all those moments.
Just like Pastor Dan had said about God in his sermon. He wants us to experience life with Him inside us. He wants to carry us through the hardships. Join in our celebrations. Hold us when we’re hurting. But He won’t force Himself on you. He’ll wait.
That was so like Peter. Yes, it was safe to say she loved him. Even needed him.
And it didn’t in the least scare her.
And whether this youth center happened or not—but how could it not?—she’d found the place she wanted to call home. A haven. And she prayed—yeah, she’d started doing that somewhere along the line—that Tiago would choose to make a home here in Deep Haven too. That they wouldn’t have to leave.
She sobered. But the risk to her heart was still high.
If she had to, she would leave. Because as much as she loved Peter, she loved Tiago too. Her brother came first. Maybe if they had to leave, she and Peter could find a way, a long-distance relationship.
But she was all Tiago had.
She refused to be the same person her mother was. She wouldn’t abandon him.
Peter understood. So hopefully, God could change Tiago’s mind before summer’s end.
Yelling from the hallway broke her concentration and disturbed the crowd. Someone tried to push in the doorway.
“Let him in,” someone else said.
Josh leaned on the door, chest heaving as he sucked in air, panic in his eyes. “Fire! The Westerman! And Tiago is caught in it!”
For a second, no one moved as the words hung in the air, as they fell and landed.
As Ronnie sorted out the words.
Fire. Tiago.
Ronnie bolted out of her chair, shoved her way to the door, and sprinted downtown.
Peter shot out the side door to the hall. Ronnie was in front of him, already past the security gate. He raced past the guards and out of the courthouse to the street. An ominous cloud of dark smoke billowed in the sky to the east.
“Ronnie!” He barreled downhill, Ronnie still several feet in front of him. She reached Highway 61 but didn’t even look at the traffic or break her stride as she plunged into the busy road. The driver of a black pickup laid on the horn and swerved out of the way, just missing her.
Peter yelled, but she didn’t pause. He held out a hand to stop the gray sedan coming from one direction and crossed the street after another SUV flew past.
He had almost caught up to her. “Ronnie!”
Her arms only pumped harder. But she looked back—
And her foot caught on something. Suddenly, she went airborne.
“Ronnie!”
She landed with a skid and a scream.
He caught up to her, reached out to help her up, but she was already back on her feet, running hard, blood on her hands, her chin.
He still barely stayed paced with her as they rushed into the parking lot and skidded to a stop, the entrance to the Westerman Hotel engulfed in flames.
“Tiago!” she screamed as she finally paused at the front doors and scanned the building.
Fire shot out of every window, writhing tongues framing the doorway.
He grabbed her back. “This way!”
They ran to the side, a boarded-up door clear of flames.
For the moment.
Ronnie lunged for it, but Peter caught her by the waist and held her fast. The smoke pouring out under the door was black. Toxic. Even if he could break through the board, they’d be walking into a poisonous fog.
“Let me go! I have to save my brother. Tiago!” She pounded at his arms wrapped around her middle. Kicked at his shins. Her elbow caught him in the eye.
He gritted his teeth against the pain and held her tight. “Ronnie, you can’t go in there.”
She screamed, something feral and dark. “He needs me! Let me go!”
She had the will of a mother, and he almost lost his grip. “No, Ronnie—wait for the firemen!”
She whipped her head back and forth, crying out her brother’s name.
But one glance told him she’d die if she went in. The fire was consuming the building, now almost an inferno. And they didn’t have the slightest idea where Tiago might be.
Please, God. Please. Please.
The boards nailed across the door started glowing as they caught flame too.
Peter backed them away. Ronnie twisted in his hold to face him, dark streaks of mascara-stained tears streaming down her cheeks, blood dripping from a scrape on her chin, her eyes wild and frantic, but her body finally still, not fighting him.
“Peter. Please. I have to save him. If you care about me at all, let me go.”
Oh, Ronnie. “Babe.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I can’t.”
Shoot—if he could trust her not to follow him, he would go look for Tiago himself. But he knew the moment he relaxed his hold on her, she’d bolt.
She would plunge into that fire and never come out.
As if he needed any more proof, something inside the building exploded, shaking the earth, and flames launched into the sky from the window right above them. Heat seared, a hot wind swallowing them.
And behind it all, a siren whined.
Help, too late.
He met her gaze. “I’m sorry, Ronnie.” His voice was a whisper, but his resolve as unmovable as iron. “I won’t let you go.”
And she apparently knew it. She took a shaky breath. Shook her head, the fight drained from her. “You! You took him from me.” Her breath caught, and suddenly she screamed. “You took him from me!”
Then she reached out, as if to slap him. He caught her arm, holding her tighter to his chest. “Stop, Ronnie.”
She sagged in his arms, weeping. “Please. Let me save my brother.”
He wanted to cry too. “Ronnie, the fire department is on their way. They’ll look for him. But you can’t go in there. It’s too dangerous. You’ll die.”
A crowd formed in the parking lot, and the sirens grew closer. Peter took a few more steps back, dragging Ronnie away from the fire. She was nearly limp in his arms.
As if in disbelief.
Him too. The fire had chewed through the roof, the sky black and…no, there wasn’t a hope that Tiago could be alive.
Cole jogged up to them. “What do we do?”
Ronnie looked up at him, her mouth open. Nothing came out.
“Tiago is in there. You gotta find a way in.”
Cole’s eyes widened, and he glanced at Ronnie. “Right.”
“Have Seth run the crew. Tell the guys to get water on the surrounding buildings—”
But Cole was already waving his hand, running away.
The truck pulled up, and Seth Turnquist and Darek Christiansen soon called out orders to the volunteers.
And all Peter could do was watch. Pray. And not let go of Ronnie.
The roar of the fire grew. The wind shifted, blowing smoke and sparks over them. Peter moved Ronnie farther to the side of the buil
ding, away from the watching crowd, closer to the back of the hotel.
She collapsed onto the rocky berm and he went down with her, his legs and arms around her.
She just stared at the building, unmoving.
“Ronnie.”
She shook her head.
“Ronnie—”
Sheltered from some of the noise, a faint barking called to him.
He stilled.
She looked up, then at Peter. “Do you hear that?”
They heard the bark again. “Blue?” She pushed away from him, and he barely caught her hand, scrambling to his feet.
They ran around to the back side of the hotel facing the East Bay.
By the edge of the water, Blue barked over a lump lying on the ground.
Tiago.
“Oh!” Ronnie said, and Peter let go of her hand. She ran for him and he turned, waving to his crew.
Dean Wilson spotted him.
“We’ve got a child back here! He’s hurt!” Then Peter took off after Ronnie.
She was checking Tiago’s airway. He lay unmoving on the large pebbles. Eyes closed, ash smeared across his face, a burn covering most of one arm and a leg.
Peter kneeled next to her, rocks digging into his knees. “What can I do?”
Her hands shook, but her voice was steady, her eyes never leaving Tiago. “We’ll need the helicopter. He has smoke inhalation and his pulse is too faint.”
“We’re here.” Seb and Kirby nudged Peter out of the way. They carried an oxygen kit, medical bag, and a backboard from the ambulance.
Peter stood back as they masked Tiago and put him on the backboard. Ronnie was all over him, and he saw the woman he’d met six weeks earlier.
All business.
Saving lives on the battlefield.
Tiago was in the best care. But he never opened his eyes. Didn’t respond to any of the stimulus tests. God, please save him. Blue trotted over to Peter, whining. He held the dog close as he watched Ronnie work.
The whir of the helicopter carried over the noise of the sirens and the fire.
“The helo can’t land here,” Jensen ran up and told Ronnie. “They cleared the parking lot at the co-op. We’ll meet them there.”
Crazy for You Page 22
