It Had to Be Them (An It Had to Be Novel Book 4)
Page 12
She turned and smiled at the mayor.
Take that, you big bully!
Ben’s father shook his head. “That’s all conjecture on Kline’s part. My point stands. She doesn’t know how to handle millions.”
Nate called out from the rear. “It’s not conjecture, it’s true. I’d help her find the money. And I’m sure the council has plenty of experience spending money. Ultimately, they are the ones who control the funds anyway. Not the mayor.”
Thank goodness for Nate, whose father was in politics, so he knew of what he spoke.
The mayor said, “Moving on, Brew. It looks like we have time for one last question.”
Ben’s father sneered at Kline as Brewster read from the paper in his hand. “Kline, the distillery opening up would help the town financially. Do you really think saving one owl is more important than securing the future of our town?”
Of course, that would be the last question asked. The mayor had primed that pump. “It isn’t one owl at stake, it’s at least one breeding pair of endangered birds.” She glanced around the room. The blank expressions on most of their faces proved she wasn’t getting her point across. “Zeke’s land just outside of town was used for strip mining before people woke up and realized it needed to stop. It’s clear to see that parcel of land has been left permanently damaged, and because of that, it’s the perfect location for the distillery.”
A wave of low murmurs swept across the crowd. Most were Andersons, as many of the hard-core Anderson-hating Grants hung out at another bar just outside of town. Kline quickly added, “Uncle Zeke is open to selling that land. I know it’s technically Grant land, but Zeke’s grandfather won it in a poker game from an Anderson.” She turned to Ben’s father. “I’m sure the mayor will confirm that particular portion of Zeke’s land lies within Anderson Butte’s town limits.” Kline was grateful her uncle had shared that with her after the council meeting the other night.
The whispers grew louder among the people so the mayor held up his hand. “Hold on. While technically that’s true, there’s no need to change the location. I made some phone calls today and the clearing crew is on its way. We’re moving up the groundbreaking to tomorrow afternoon. The crew plans to work through the weekend clearing the land so we can get started. I hope you’ll all take a few minutes to stop by at five tomorrow for a sample of the best whiskey you’ve ever tasted and to celebrate our new distillery!”
Loud clapping made it hard to hear, so Nate moved to just in front of the stage and said to the mayor, “You’ve been made aware of my findings. If you disturb that forest land surrounding the meadow, be prepared for heavy fines and even jail time under Section Eleven of the Endangered Species Act, Mayor.”
The mayor cupped a hand around his ear and yelled, “Sorry, can’t hear you. This debate is over. See you all tomorrow.” Then he walked off the stage.
Dammit!
He’d probably won round one, but two could play that game. Kline needed to talk to Tara’s father, the man responsible for building the distillery, and put a stop to the mayor’s plan. Those birds needed protecting and Anderson Butte needed a new mayor who cared about people and the environment, not money. She was even more determined to figure out how to win the election now.
On the chilly walk home with Casey and Sam, Ben warred with being incredibly proud of Kline for holding her own at the debate against the worry of his father’s threat to the new clinic if Kline didn’t drop out of the race.
Casey gave him a shoulder bump. “Why so quiet?”
“Ben!” His father’s voice boomed behind them. “I need a word.”
Ben whispered, “You’re about to see why.” They stopped walking and waited for his father to catch up.
Dad started right in. “Are you an idiot? I saw you talking to Kline before the debate. No doubt helping her. Do you want your clinic or not?”
“Yes. But Kline’s idea of moving the distillery to Zeke’s land is a good one. Then we might be able to save the owls and have my clinic too. Assuming the footprint will work with the new restrictions.”
“New restrictions Kline made happen! If she gets her way, that land will stand empty forever. You need to figure out how to make her drop out of this race!”
Ben dug deep for patience. “Would it really be so bad if she won, Dad? With your heart problems, you need to slow down. And none of us are interested in taking your place. Ever. Brewster is in about the same shape physically as you, so that doesn’t leave too many other willing and capable Andersons.”
“That’s why I have no choice but to keep at this. I won’t consider stepping down unless an Anderson replaces me. Make. Kline. Go. Away!” Dad spun on his heels and left.
Sam whispered, “What are you going to do?”
They started walking again. “I’m trying to find a way to have both, but those odds aren’t looking so hot.”
Casey said, “Whatever you do, figure out what will make you happiest, not Dad or the town. Because at the end of the day, that’s all that counts.”
“I’ve never had the luxury of putting myself first until now. Meg only just recently got her head on straight. I always worried for Haley the way Meg lost jobs because of Haley’s asthma. I bailed them out more than I should have, but Dad would’ve never done it.”
Casey rolled her eyes. “And you worried when I was dating a rock star, and you were afraid Ryan wasn’t happy and would leave town for the wrong reasons until he met Tara. One of these days you’ll figure out we’re all grown up, Ben, and don’t need you like we did when we were younger. Here’s my stop. Good night, guys.” Casey started down the long driveway to the hotel.
Casey claimed they didn’t need him anymore, and yet they all still ran to him to solve their problems. It’d be a miracle if at least one of his siblings didn’t call or text him at least once a day. But he’d concede that now the problems were more about town issues or their father. Maybe he shouldn’t be so quick to give them advice anymore. Maybe then they’d learn to solve their problems on their own.
Once his sister was inside he and Sam continued on to his house.
Sam broke through his thoughts when she said, “Casey is right, you know. There’s no one else to rescue but yourself, Ben.”
“There will always be someone to save. That’s why we need a new clinic with better equipment. My father and grandmother currently top that list with their health issues.” They walked up his front steps and he pushed the door open for her to enter first.
“You know that’s not what I meant.” Sam slipped out of her coat. “So are you trying to save Kline from something too?”
“I don’t want to discuss that.” He hung up their coats, and then rearranged the others in the closet by color.
“It’s way too late to pull that card with me, Ben. You dragged me into all this drama tonight, now stop all that organizing and go talk to Kline. Get to the bottom of what you’re saving her from and sort things out.”
That wasn’t a bad idea. He still wasn’t sure Kline had come to terms with living in town if she won. “Okay. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Ben zipped up his jacket and jogged to Kline’s house. He wanted to catch her before she went to sleep. He tapped on her window, while shifting his weight from foot to foot to stay warm. After the curtains drew apart, she slid the window open for him to crawl through. “What? No food delivery this time?”
“Nope. Wanted to talk to you about something.” He slid the window shut behind him.
“Okay. Talk.” Kline sat on her bed. She wore an oversize T-shirt that left her sexy legs bare and made it hard to concentrate.
He wanted to tell her about the clinic and his father, but he feared she’d drop out of the race if he told her what was riding on the election for him. And then leave town before he had a chance to win her back.
He sat beside her. “Now that you’re back and can see things have changed, would you consider staying in Anderson Butte even if you lost the election?”
He picked up her hand and weaved his fingers through hers. “Don’t you think part of that happiness was because we lived there together?”
“I suppose that was part of it at the time.” Kline pulled her hand away and stood. “Denver has so much more to offer. It’s hard to be bored there.” Her tone sounded as if she was still trying to convince herself of that.
“And yet, when we lived there, I’d offer to take you out on a Friday night, but you preferred my cooking, or Thai takeout, and a movie on the couch rather than a real date.”
Kline opened her mouth to argue, and then snapped it shut. “We were poor back then. It made more sense to stay in.”
She wasn’t being honest with herself. “Okay, then explain something to me. In all your travels, you could have settled anywhere, so why did you always end up in small towns or makeshift villages?”
Kline’s forehead scrunched. “How do you know where I’ve lived all these years?”
“Your mom. And I know the answer, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
“You may think you know the answer, but my goal was to help impoverished people. I was sent by my job to small villages and poor communities in developing countries. It’s not that I purposely chose small towns over larger ones.”
He kicked off his shoes and settled against Kline’s headboard while she paced nervously around her bedroom. He was rattling her, so he poked a little harder. “What about Tahiti? You were teaching in a regular school in a resort town there, weren’t you?”
“Yes.” She threw her hands up in frustration. “But there’s a whole long story behind why I ended up there. It’s getting late. Maybe you should get back to your houseguest?”
“Sam makes herself at home.” He wasn’t going anywhere until they got to the heart of the matter. “I’d rather talk about what you figured out by living so many other places. Was the grass really so different and so much greener out there, Kline?”
“No.” Kline closed her eyes and huffed out a breath. “Maybe I just needed the option to live elsewhere. I’d felt so trapped here.”
He folded his hands behind his head. “Because of the inequity and the bullying. I know. I was here too, remember? Rachel and Lisa had you convinced you were unattractive and unlikable, when that was the furthest thing from the truth. Admit it. That’s what you were running from. And me.”
Kline studied her feet, avoiding his gaze. “Yeah. I suppose that’s true.”
“I’m sorry I bailed on our plans. I wish I’d handled that differently. And that we’d found a way to be together. Can we leave the past in the past and live in the present?”
“Easy for the town’s golden boy to say. You’re still everyone’s hero.”
He sat up and put his shoes back on. “Your opinion of me is the only one that matters. I don’t know what else I can do to prove that to you so we can get past the hurt, embrace the new people we both are, and try again.”
She finally met his gaze again. Her eyes pleaded with his and she whispered, “I’m afraid of being hurt again, Ben. Can’t we just stay friends?”
When her eyes misted with tears, he wanted to hug her, but the way she’d wrapped her arms tightly around her middle, as if protecting herself, showed she clearly didn’t want to be touched. Yet her uncertainty gave him hope she was considering a fresh start. “You don’t kiss me like you just want to be my friend. I hope you’ll stay and do what you really love to do. Teach. And save people. In this case from my dad. Please think about it.” He opened the window and climbed out. “Good night.”
Kline closed the drapes and then crawled under the covers. She hated that Ben knew her so well. She had chosen smaller towns when given a choice, because she’d been more comfortable in them. She’d been all alone, for goodness’ sake. It’d made it easy to settle in because it was what she knew. And after being in that damned jail cell that she thought she’d die in before she’d been released, she chose Tahiti because it was a safer place for her to be the last months of her contract.
Had Ben asked her mother, or had Mom volunteered all that personal information on where she’d been? And if Ben knew where she was, and wanted her back that badly, why hadn’t he tracked her down and told her?
She punched up her pillow that now annoyingly smelled like Ben’s sexy aftershave. She tried to push all the thoughts out of her mind that Ben had put there, but it was futile. He was right; she didn’t hate Anderson Butte, per se. It was a great little town. Since she’d been back, people had been kind and welcoming to her. She hadn’t run into Lisa Anderson, but Rachel had treated her nicely that first day in the diner. It was the few mean people and the politics that she didn’t like.
If she won the election, she’d try to get rid of the things that had made it so challenging to live there. By having a Grant in charge, maybe things would even out and the power that Andersons held would lessen. But then what would she do about Ben? He’d been right. She’d stayed away partly because of her childhood circumstances. She had been trying to bury those memories by staying busy in challenging places so she wouldn’t have time to think about them—and Ben.
She closed her eyes and huffed out a breath. It was going to be another long, sleepless night. If the man was going to sneak into her bedroom and stir her up like that, he should’ve at least had the decency to bring her food. Now all she could think about was Thai food and how she couldn’t have it in Anderson Butte unless Ben made it for her.
Looked like she’d just have to learn to cook it herself. Or try a relationship with the new and improved Ben.
When Ben walked through his front door, Sam was on the couch in the living room, sipping wine and reading a book. She looked up and said, “How’d it go?”
He shucked off his coat and hung it up. “Kline is so damn stubborn. I don’t know if she’ll consider a thing I said tonight.” He sat beside Sam and put his feet up on the coffee table. “Getting Kline to trust me again, and actually consider a relationship with me, is going to be the toughest hurdle.”
Sam stood and poured him a glass of wine. When she returned she asked, “So what is it about Kline that you love, Ben?”
He accepted the glass Sam held out and took a long drink, pondering her question. “I don’t think it’s one thing. Kline and I have known each other our whole lives. In school, Kline made an easy target for the other girls because she was good at sports, tall and skinny with glasses and braces, although I never saw her like that. She was always just . . . Kline. I think that’s when I first knew she meant something to me, because it hurt to see her treated that way.”
Sam nodded. “And then hormones kicked in and you saw her as a woman? How did that go?”
“Badly.” He laughed. “Kline was convinced the mean girls and I were pulling a prank on her. That I couldn’t possibly like her more than the ‘much prettier girls’ in town. It took perseverance to make her understand that I would love her no matter how she looked, and that she was beautiful on the outside too was just a bonus.”
“Did you tell her all of that tonight?”
“No. And she wouldn’t want to hear it. She’s still unsure about having another relationship with me.”
“You’re definitely between a rock and a hard place here. I don’t envy your decision about the clinic and Kline.” Sam leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “For the record, I’d still love you too, even if you were ugly. Good night.”
“Smartass.” As she walked away chuckling, he threw a pillow at her back. “You were supposed to help me figure out what to do!”
Sam’s voice called out from the hallway. “You know what to do. So just do it.”
He knew what he wanted. But he truly didn’t know how to get them both, so he stood and went to the kitchen to rearrange all the things Sam had moved while she’d helped him cook dinner. He’d been dying to do it since they’d
been home.
As he put his kitchen back in order, a plan began to form. First he’d come clean with Kline about why he’d had to stay in Anderson Butte. Then if he could get Kline to stop overthinking and listen to her heart, maybe she’d realize how much they were still meant to be together.
The way she’d kissed him back earlier proved she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
The next morning, Kline tapped lightly on her mother’s bedroom door. After some rustling around, a quiet “Come in,” sounded, so Kline stepped inside. Her mom sat propped up in bed reading on the tablet Kline had given her. “Good morning, Mom. How are you feeling today?”
Her mom smiled and laid down her story. “Morning, sweetheart. I’m about the same. How are you?”
“Great.” Kline sat on the side of the bed. “I found a doctor in Denver for you to see. We have an appointment next Monday afternoon.”
Her mother picked up her mug of coffee from the nightstand and frowned into it. “No, Monday afternoon doesn’t work. I have a . . . thing with Ruth.” She quickly looked away.
“A thing?” Her mom was making excuses again.
“Uh-huh. Ruth and I are planning a surprise.”
“No worries. I’ll talk to Ruth and clear you. I’m sure she’ll understand that your health is more important than your ‘thing.’” Kline stood to go. “But first I have an appointment with Tara. I need to get ahold of her father to put a stop to the mayor’s latest antics. Can I get you anything before I go?”
Her mom laid down her mug and grabbed Kline’s hand. “How about I promise to go to the doctor after the election on Thursday? I didn’t want to say, but Ruth’s and my plans are to work to get you elected. We’re going to make banners and talk to everyone we can, personally, to make this happen. We only have a few days, so I don’t want to waste a whole day and a half going to Denver right now.”