Hometown Series Box Set

by Kirsten Fullmer

  While he shook hands and lifted and carried, his mind spun with thoughts of Tara and Winnie. Tara had seemed truly distressed by this one resort and had given him every indication that she had no desire to see more in the area.

  He remembered sitting in Winnie’s kitchen, her patting his arm, and offering him breakfast. Did the old woman harbor the ability to be so duplicitous? His first few days in town came to mind. She certainly had the ability to do whatever she needed to do in order to take care of Tara. However, he felt she would never act on a scale this large without Tara’s agreement.

  The real question came down to Tara’s desire to control development in the county. How many times had she stomped away, angry, over his plans for the surrounding area? Was it because she wanted to be in control, or because she wanted things done her way? Or both? Would she be cutthroat enough to go behind his back?

  Could Tara openly share her childhood secrets with him, knowing she was going to cheat him out of his dreams?

  His heart couldn’t accept that Tara and Winnie would deal with Muffy behind his back; it must be a lie, but his brain kept circling back to the facts.

  Tara didn’t want development in her county because she felt a deep-seated need to control her future and a profound craving to protect the people of her town. Their new and tender relationship seemed fragile in comparison to the monsters that drove Tara. He could only hope that she had found enough healing, loved him enough…

  * * *

  In the kitchen, Tara arranged bundles of freshly cut flowers wrapped in paper that were spread across the dining table. Becky hurried in, carrying armloads of vases, and stacked them carefully on the counter. “You have enough flowers to fill this place, don’t you,” she laughed.

  Tara concentrated on pulling the paper from the blooms and sorting by color and size. She didn’t see Muffy enter the kitchen and lean against the counter.

  Tugging apart stems, gathering complementary colors together, and chatting with Becky about vases, Tara smiled happily. The resort was beautiful, her town was coming to celebrate, and Justin was happy.

  They had planned to get away from town later, maybe drive up into the mountains, after all the craziness of the opening calmed and everything had been cleaned up. She’d thought of a million things she wanted to tell him. Her heart was opening, like the blossoms in her hands, and she felt bright and colorful, ready to share and be enjoyed.

  A hand on her arm interrupted her thoughts and she glanced up to see Muffy next to her. “Oh, hi Muffy, how are you this morning?”

  The older woman pressed her lips into an emotionless smile. “I’m well. Could you take a moment to speak with me, on the deck where it’s quieter maybe?”

  Tara glanced across the table, the flowers needing water were her first concern. “Can it wait? I need to get these in some water…”

  Muffy wrung her hands. “It really can’t.”

  Troubled by Muffy’s apparent distress, Tara looked to Becky. Her friend shooed her along. “You go ahead Tara, Winnie will be here soon, and I’ll just get these vases ready.”

  Muffy took Tara’s hand in her dry, cool grip and drew her out to the deck. “Sit down, dear.”

  Tara balanced on the edge of a patio chair, her expression alert and concerned. She had never seen Muffy so upset.

  Settling into the chair across from Tara, Muffy smoothed her skirt, then looked up. “I’m afraid I have some distressing news, darling.” Her head tilted to one side, her pale eyes piercing deep into Tara’s.

  “What’s happened? Is Denny okay? He didn’t have trouble getting here, did he?”

  “No, no dear, nothing like that. This is business I’m afraid.”

  Fear dropped in Tara’s stomach like a stone. “Are you unhappy with something here? Do I need to fix or rearrange something? I’m sure I could—”

  “Not that, everything here is simply perfect.”

  Confusion dimmed her dread. “What is it then?”

  Muffy shifted as if she were uncomfortable. “Well, I just thought I should let you know, because we are such dear friends…” Her gaze darted from Tara’s eyes to the forest and back. “I’m sorry to tell you that Justin called Denny last night, and even though I’m so very pleased with your work here, the men have decided to partner and build three modern resorts right here, in this end of the county for Denny’s friends.”

  Tara’s eyes got big, the blood draining from her face. “I don’t—what do you mean?”

  Muffy took Tara’s fingers in hers. “Don’t be upset with me. darling, I was afraid this would crush you after how hard you have worked.”

  With her senses reeling, Tara jerked her hand away and stood. “I—I’m fine. I’m sure— I’m sure Justin must be very pleased. I’m sorry, I need to get back to my flowers.” Turning, she fled back into the house, racing past Becky, who was deep in conversation with Marge.

  Rushing down the hall toward the workout room, blindly pressing past the crowd of people now filling the house, Tara worked to keep her tears at bay. She staggered into the shower room and slammed and locked the door. Falling against the wall, she slid to the floor, sobs wracking her chest. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she tried to think.

  Misery beat down every ounce of happiness that she had found. Finally, once and for all, she had managed to set aside her fear of, and for, her neighbors, and had come to accept them as family. She’d come to believe that all was well, that her home and community were safe – but they were not. They would be surrounded by people who cared more for money and glamor than the local people they stepped on to get what they wanted. And Justin had been one of them all along.

  If he’d been able to, he would have torn down every building here and built the resort he’d designed. He hadn’t changed his plans because of anything to do with her, he’d been forced to bend to Muffy’s will.

  Tears filled her eyes and she dropped her forehead onto her arms. She had finally opened up to someone, a man for that matter, and he had turned on her the first chance he got.

  She imagined Justin kissing her goodbye the night before and then, as she drove away grinning like a fool, he’d pulled out his cell phone, his arm around Muffy’s shoulders, and called Denny.

  Her forehead furrowed. That didn’t seem possible. Justin had been clear about his design preferences, his lack of understanding, and even his complete exasperation with her, but he’d never been intentionally cruel. And he’d never been interested in Muffy’s advances.

  Leaning her head back against the wall, she remembered the day he’d thought she was a lesbian, and the day he’d picked up that poor stupid bat. She could still see his expression when he learned her deepest secret, his shock and despair, then his kisses, his hands, his tenderness.

  Was he even capable of being two faced enough to confess love for her one moment and break her heart the next? Tears dried on her cheeks as she considered the man she had come to love. He had been angry with her, sure enough, but she didn’t believe he would purposely do something as underhanded as destroy her hopes and dreams for her community.

  They had done such a good job on this resort, even the town thought so. She felt certain that they could work together in the future -- she’d even toyed with the thought that maybe they could find some property for him to build the resort he’d originally planned.

  The only question in her mind was simply – how determined was Justin to be successful with his business plans? He’d moved here and bought a house with a specific goal in mind. He’d worked hard and catered to people like Denny and Muffy in order to earn enough money to build his dream.

  Her place in his heart must be small and insignificant compared to his years of planning and building a career. Would he allow her into his plans? She would have to hope he loved her enough...

  * * *

  The band clambered onto the makeshift stage, dragging folding chairs and music stands. Children ran across the lawn, chasing each other and screeching in delight. Lines o
f town people gathered at the food tables on the open side of the barn, then moved away, their hands filled with homebaked cookies, muffins, and donuts. The retaining walls around the willow tree were lined with teens laughing and sipping lemonade in the shade.

  Justin searched the crowd for Tara, stretching to see over the heads of the growing crowd. He saw Winnie at one of the food tables, unwrapping a loaf of banana bread. He saw Muffy greeting Denny as he climbed from his limo, brushing away her fluttering hands.

  Working his way toward the house, he could see Marge waving in his direction, trying to catch his eye. Guilty that he’d never returned to see what she needed, he shouldered his way through the crowd toward her.

  “Have you seen Tara?” he asked when she was close enough to hear him. He gasped in surprise when the woman grabbed his arm and dragged him around the corner of the house.

  “I’ve been looking all over for you!” she sputtered, clearly upset.

  “What’s wrong, what happened?” he asked, trying to pull his arm away.

  Marge glanced over her shoulder then faced Justin, tugging him closer. “I heard what that horrible woman said to you on the porch.”

  “What woman? Muffy?”

  “Yeah, that’s her, the little bi— Never mind, she is a horrible little thing!”

  He shook his head. “What upset you so much? Winnie making a business deal with her?”

  Marge shook her head, her fingers digging into his arm. “You don’t understand, what she told you can’t be true.”

  He shook off her hand. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s not true, it can’t be true.” Her eyes bulged with the force of her vehemence.

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because Winnie doesn’t have any money. Never did.”

  Justin reeled back. “Of course, she does. She takes care of Tara, and she owns that big beautiful house.”

  Marge stopped to consider his remark. “Well, yeah she does, but it’s not like you think.”

  “What’s not like I think?” He craned his neck toward the yard. “Look, I really need to find Tara, they’re going to be cutting the ribbon soon.”

  Marge clutched at his arm. “Justin, listen to me. Before Winnie got Tara, she was flat broke.”

  His head swiveled back to Marge.

  She nodded, her bouffant hair bobbing. “It’s true. She lived in that house, but it was a broken-down mess. We all called it the Halloween house.”

  Justin shook his head, bewildered.

  “She’d lost her husband and a daughter when I was a kid, to a flu epidemic, and she lived in that old place alone and never came out. We all thought she was crazy.”

  Confused and dazed, he grew impatient. “That doesn’t make any sense, anyhow I need to find Tara before the ceremony starts—”

  “Look, this is important!” Marge dragged him further behind the house. “It’s time you understood that Tara saved Winnie.”

  His head whipped back to Marge. “What?”

  She nodded vehemently, her hair bobbing wildly. “It’s true. The day after Winnie took Tara, she threw open the windows and was seen walking down the street holding Tara’s hand. We couldn’t believe it. Not only had she dared to do what the rest of the town should have done, put everyone to shame, but she was determined to help that little girl no matter what.”

  Justin cocked his hip and scratched his head. “Keep going…”

  “But Winnie didn’t have anything. Not a dime. That house was falling down around her ears, and we didn’t know how she’d ever take care of the girl.”

  He waited for her to continue, his face a blank mask.

  “At first, Tara wore old fashioned, little girl clothes, we figured from the daughter that died. Those two cleaned that house from top to bottom and both seemed determined to get on with life. We all held our breath. Some folks left boxes on the back step. Dried goods, household supplies, fabric, thread, and such.”

  “Did Winnie know where it came from?”

  “Well obviously it was from us folks, but she didn’t know who. The sheriff said to wait and see a bit, give Winnie a chance, so we did. And she done real well. I think the sheriff threatened that no good dad of hers, to keep his yap shut or he’d press charges. Then as Tara got older, she cut lawns and sold lemonade and we all bought it. Her dad died when she was thirteen and she got his measly Social Security check, and she used it to redo old furniture. Of course, we all snapped it up. Next thing you know, she’s working on that house of theirs. She must have been about fifteen that day we saw her on the roof. Mac and Steve and a bunch of the guys went to help her repair it.”

  She continued, “Old Fred, the grocer, let her have that shop for her boutique when she was in high school – he built that new store on the edge of town. Anyway, the first house she remodeled had been left to fall down, but I happen to know that the court records said it belonged to the sheriff.”

  She cupped her hand around her mouth, as if someone would overhear them. “He told old Beth at the courthouse not to tell nobody.” Her hand dropped and she continued. Tara fixed that place up all by herself, and the sheriff fixed the papers before he died. Tara never knew, even when she sold it.” She hesitated then, her eyes large, searching his for understanding. “Don’t you see? Winnie would never take a dime of Tara’s money. Not all these years.”

  Justin laced his fingers across the top of his head. The pieces finally fit. Tara and Winnie, a pair of lost souls, had saved each other. He shook his head in amazement.

  Tara had brought the grieving old lady out of her shell. No wonder she worried about Winnie! His hands dropped to his sides. Winnie hadn’t been able to offer Tara the security she craved, because the poor old thing had probably been every bit as scared as Tara that they’d take the girl away. The town had felt as if they owed Winnie, and Tara felt as if she owed them all. What a town.

  Well, if Winnie couldn’t have made the offer for the resorts, he supposed that only left Tara behind the offer. And if she had—what the hell?! They’d figured this resort out, they could figure out the rest! He grinned crookedly.

  The band began to warm up with a jumble of off-key notes, and Justin was jarred back to the moment. A smile spreading across his face. He turned to Marge, gripped her upper arms, and kissed her full on the mouth. When he pushed her back, she reeled, her eyes wide.

  “Marge, you’re a queen. Thanks for the info. I gotta go find Tara now.” He took off at a lope, shouldering his way through the edge of the crowd toward the porch of the house.

  * * *

  Tara and Justin met on the house steps, their eyes wide, each searching the other’s face for a clue as to what they were thinking. The microphone squealed and they turned toward the stage.

  Denny stood smiling at the crowd, with Muffy clutching his arm and frowning. “Where are Tara and Justin?” he demanded.

  The crowd swung their heads toward the porch, pointing and cheering at the couple.

  Justin pulled Tara’s arm. “Come on, I need to talk to you.”

  “Get those love birds up here,” Denny bellowed happily into the mike.

  They shook their heads, waving off the crowd. “I need to talk to you too,” Tara shouted over the noise of the band and the applause.

  Winnie waved for them to come to the stage. Children ran forward, grabbing Tara and Justin’s hands and clothes, pulling them toward the stage. Hesitantly, they complied, glancing back and forth at each other, desperate to know for sure what the other was thinking.

  They climbed the steps to the stage, with Justin’s hand on Tara’s back and Muffy’s eyes glued to them. Pushed to the center of the stage, they stood between Winnie and Denny and Muffy. Mac, the plumber, stalked to the microphone, shushing the crowd with his hands.

  He cleared his throat and the microphone screamed then quieted; “Welcome to the Worthington Retreat!” The crowd cheered and two children came forward, stretching a wide yellow ribbon across the front of the stage.
/>   “Cut it, cut it!” the crowd cheered.

  Mac handed Muffy a giant pair of scissors and she snipped the ribbon, tossing her head as cameras snapped. She raised her hand for the crowd to still and took the microphone from Mac.

  She cleared her throat and tapped on the head, then flinched at the squeal. Satisfied that she had everyone’s attention, she glanced at Tara and Justin. Neither could gauge her expression. “I have an announcement to make,” she began.

  Tara turned to Justin, pulling him down to whisper in his ear. “It’s okay, I understand. We’ll figure it out.”

  He looked a little surprised but grinned. “I know babe. It doesn’t matter – we got this.”

  Winnie smiled at the couple, love and excitement glowing in her face.

  Glimpsing their conversation and the contented and excited smiles on their faces, Muffy scowled and turned back to the mike. “I want to tell you all that Denny and I are ever so pleased with the resort. It’s beautiful and you have all been so hospitable.” The crowd cheered and she raised her hand to shush them. “And…we have decided…”

  Justin squeezed Tara’s hand and she leaned into him, both braced for Muffy’s announcement.

  “We have decided this is just too far for us to travel, so we are selling the resort.”

  The crowd fell silent, their faces hanging in shock. Children stopped running, even the birds stopped singing. Tara and Justin turned to each other in shock. Winnie’s hand came to her chest.

  A murmur passed through the crowd. “Did you know about this?” Tara and Justin both asked the other, and then shook their heads.

  Denny took the microphone and thanked the community for their help and the welcome, then handed the microphone back to Mac.

  The plumber shook his head and laughed. “Well if that don’t beat all! Might as well eat up folks – at least there’s plenty of food!”

  The noise level rose off the chart as the crowd shifted from the stage toward the house and the barn. Denny moved up to stand beside Justin. “I hope you don’t consider our decision a mark against your design or construction, young man. As a matter of fact, we’d like you to build us something closer to home, if you’re willing that is.”