by R A Wallace
“Yeah, that sounds great,” Jax said distractedly. “And you don’t know why Ross is here?”
Parker shrugged. “He said something about a building he’s bidding on. I guess he’s hot for the lady that rents it.”
***
Susan was working in the back room of the florist shop when she heard the bells ring. She poked her head into the front room and smiled when she saw Ross McMann standing there. “You made it.”
Ross took a good look at the woman that had been a recurring feature in his thoughts lately. Since he had left Teaberry, he had wondered if maybe he’d imagined how attractive she was. He smiled when he realized that he hadn’t. Her striking blue eyes fascinated him. “I did. I see you’re on duty?”
Susan walked into the front room and leaned against the counter. “I am. Caitlyn is making deliveries. She’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Then you’ll be free for lunch?” Ross asked hopefully, stepping further into the room to be closer to Susan.
Susan smiled. “That sounds lovely. Will you have enough time for lunch before you need to be back here to place your bid?”
“I definitely have enough time to take you to lunch before we’re due back for the bidding,” Ross said as the bells on the door rang.
Jax heard Ross’s comment as he entered the florist shop. He looked from Ross to his mother and back again. “Ross? What are you doing here?”
Ross turned around and greeted Jax with a smile, taking a step forward to shake Jax’s hand. He stopped when he saw the look on Jax’s face. “Jackson. I came to see the town you’ve been talking about for so long. I wanted to know what could pull you away from Seattle.”
Jax crossed his arms as he stood looking at Ross. “I understand you’re planning to buy this building.”
Ross nodded slowly, watching Jax carefully. “I plan to bid on it, yes. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Not as long as you understand it doesn’t entitle you to date the women who work here,” Jax said stonily.
Caitlyn entered the front door of the florist shop in time to hear her brother say something monumentally stupid and then her mother using that voice. The one that had brooked no argument when Caitlyn had been growing up.
“Jackson Conrad Anderson, that is enough!” Susan looked at Caitlyn. “I am going to lunch now but will be back to help you this afternoon.” Turning back to Jax, she said, “I will expect an apology from you later.”
Jax swiped his hand across his face as he watched his mother leave the shop with Ross. Ross turned back for a moment as if to say something, then changed his mind and followed Susan out. Jax sighed and looked over at his sister.
“Wow. Could you have handled that any worse?” Caitlyn asked as she walked into the workroom in the back.
Jax followed her. He ran the conversation back in his own head and then shook his head miserably. “I can’t imagine how.”
Caitlyn took two bottles of water from her fridge and handed one to her brother. She uncapped hers and drank before responding. Pointing her water bottle at her brother, she said, “She’s right, you know. You owe them both an apology.”
Jax swiped at his face again, scratching the stubble he hadn’t taken the time to shave in the morning. “Did you know about this?”
Caitlyn nodded. “I didn’t know the name, but I knew she was seeing someone.”
“You mean, he’s been here in Teaberry before?” Jax asked.
“Must have been. They’ve been out for dinner and even hooked up with Lauren’s mother-in-law and her friend.” Caitlyn shook her head at her brother. “She is an adult you know.”
“Yeah, I get it. I handled it all wrong. I just didn’t expect to find Ross McMann here.” Jax uncapped his water.
“You know him?” Caitlyn asked, surprised.
Jax nodded. Suddenly, he was very tired. He took a swig of his water and leaned back against a counter. “He was my mentor in Seattle. He helped me to learn the ropes, guided me along the way to get me started on the right path in the business, and I mean not just when I was first starting out. He really spent a lot of time with me, you know? He was great.” Jax shook his head. Ross had not only treated him like a son, he’d been the one person to stand up for Jax when he’d needed him the most. He’d really messed up, big time.
“How mad do you think she was?” Jax wondered out loud, pressing his fingers into his eyes.
Caitlyn snorted. “She used your middle name.”
Jax winced. She was really mad.
Chapter Five
Caitlyn was working in the back room when her mother returned. Other than asking her mother if she had a nice lunch, she left the topic alone. She assumed her mother would talk about it if she wanted to.
After putting her purse into one of the drawers, Susan got to work. It was a routine that helped to soothe them both. They were standing at opposite sides of the island in the middle of the workroom that they used to create their arrangements.
They had worked together like this for as long as Caitlyn could remember. There were refrigerator units on two of the walls holding the cut flowers, live plants, and other perishable materials for the arrangements. Wall and base cabinets with counters lined the other wall space and held vases, ribbons, and a myriad of other supplies. She wasn’t completely surprised when her mother brought up the sale of the building.
“They’re supposed to meet here to take the sealed bids for the building.” Susan walked over to one of the wall cabinets and began pulling out materials to make another arrangement. After finding everything she needed, she returned to the island.
“That seems kind of odd. Why don’t they just submit them to Stan at his office?” Caitlyn looked up at her mother.
Susan shrugged as the bells on the door sounded. She glanced up at Caitlyn, who set the flowers down that she’d held in her hand. Caitlyn poked her head out and then turned back to her mother. “Speaking of Stan.”
Susan brushed her hands off and followed Caitlyn into the front room. “Stan, hello. Are you here for the bidding?”
“I am. We’ll be handling that next door. I just wanted to stop and say hello while I’m here.” Stan Jiblonski was a couple of years older than Susan. The black hair that he had left formed a crown around his head. He was around five foot nine and was carrying some extra weight around his middle. The smile he had for the two women was warm and friendly.
“We were just talking about the bidding,” Caitlyn said. “Why didn’t you just handle it at your office?”
“I was hoping this would add some excitement and maybe get a little competition going,” Stan said as he rubbed his hands together. “It can’t hurt, right?”
“When will you have the results?” Caitlyn asked.
“We have some out-of-towners and it’s a pretty cut and dried procedure. I’m going to take the sealed bids back to my office to compile all of the information. The bank wants this transaction completed quickly. They’ve agreed to make a decision this afternoon based on the information I give to them. I’ll be making the announcement later this afternoon.” Stan glanced at the time on his phone.
Caitlyn and Susan exchanged surprised glances. “That is quick,” Susan murmured.
“I should get next door,” Stan said as he turned toward the front door. “I’ll see you ladies later today when I come back with the announcement.”
Caitlyn followed her mother into the back room. “I guess I wasn’t expecting it all to be completed so quickly. That means we’ll have a new owner soon. What if Mr. McMann doesn’t submit the winning bid?”
Susan returned to her work automatically. She was wondering the same thing. Specifically, she wondered how long Ross might stay in town if his bid didn’t win. She realized with sudden clarity that it mattered a great deal to her what his decision would be.
“What do you mean?” Susan asked.
“What if someone buys the building and jacks up the rent so high we can’t afford it?” Caitlyn asked.
Susan nodded. “We’ve known that was a possibility. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” She looked up at her daughter. “At least now we know we won’t have to wait long to find out.”
***
Elena Tilson parked on the street a few blocks down from the building she was bidding on this afternoon. The drive to Teaberry had taken under two hours which was certainly workable if she was successful with her bid. As she walked along the sidewalk, she took note of the other storefronts along the way.
The traffic on the street seemed consistent for a Saturday afternoon given the farmers market in the town square. She’d seen the vendors and shoppers that filled the square and was impressed with the number of people involved.
Both the street and sidewalk were well maintained. She particularly liked the decorative use of brick in areas within the sidewalk. They were set in designs and the colors and patterns complemented the brick in the buildings.
It was an old town, Elena thought, but old in a way that drew you to it and enticed you to get out and walk along the sidewalks, to poke your head inside the shops and try out the restaurants. Looking up, she saw the ornate lamps at the top of the light poles that lined the streets. There were colorful banners attached to the poles that promoted the farmers market and other upcoming events.
She paused for a moment in front of the building that contained the address she was seeking. She’d checked it all out online, of course, and had spoken to Stan Jiblonski, the realtor that was handling the sale. She took note of the florist shop in one corner of the building and wondered what level of sales they had. She knew that all of the other shops in the building were also rented except for the one they were meeting in today. Whoever bought the building would inherit all of the tenants with it.
The former photographer’s studio was permanently closed but the sign on the door referenced the sale of the building. Elena opened the door and stepped into the front room of the shop grateful for the air conditioning. Although she’d used the lightest materials she had, she’d dressed for business in a skirt suit and jacket and the heat was a bit much. She found several people already in the front room talking in groups. She could hear additional voices in the rooms beyond. She glanced at her watch and saw that she was a few minutes early. She decided to go exploring to check out the rest of the building and also to see if she could find Stan. She’d like to touch base with him before submitting a bid.
***
Paul Minford found the address easily enough thanks to the help of his GPS. He didn’t find a parking spot directly in front of the building, but that didn’t surprise him. Turning a corner, he was able to find an available one not too far away. He exited the car slowly. The drive had taken a couple of hours and he’d stiffened up. He took a moment to stretch his back before following the sidewalk around the corner.
He checked out the building he planned to bid on as he walked toward it. He saw the florist shop first and decided to stop in. The bells on the door attracted the attention of someone in the back room. An attractive woman that looked to be a few years younger than Paul popped her head out before coming into the room.
“Well, hello,” Paul said with a smile.
“Are you here for the bidding?” Susan guessed.
“Guilty,” Paul confirmed as he studied the woman before him. In addition to being attractive, she looked intelligent.
“They’re meeting next door.” Susan smiled politely. If this man won the bid, he could be their new landlord.
Paul nodded. “I assumed as much but thought I would take a look around. It’s my first time in Teaberry.”
“Well, I hope you enjoy your visit. We have several wonderful restaurants to choose from if you need a bite to eat after the bidding.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Paul said. “I don’t suppose you’d care to join me? I would like to hear more about the town.”
“Sorry. I have other plans.” Susan said noncommittally.
Paul smiled again. “Perhaps another time. I should get next door.”
***
Joseph Dayton finally cornered Stan Jiblonski in the rear studio area of the former photographer’s shop. He’d been trying to have a private conversation with Stan for some time now to make one final appeal. He hoped to get Stan to convince the bank to approve his bid even if it’s the lowest one. Given that he didn’t have the money to compete with some of the other bidders, he assumed that his bid would be the lowest.
But he was from Teaberry and strongly believed that the building should be owned by someone who lived in the community. He’d spoken with Stan before, but hadn’t gotten the answer he’d wanted.
Joseph reached out and placed his hand on Stan’s arm. “Stan, I’d like to talk with you again about my bid.”
Stan shook his arm free but kept his voice cordial. “Joseph, I’ve explained to you before that I don’t have any say in the purchase of the building. The bank will take care of that part. I’m just accepting the bids and then I pass them off to the bank to make the final decision.”
“But Stan. I’m sure a word from you would go a long way,” Joseph said. “It’s important for the community.”
Stan looked past Joseph at the group assembling. “I’m not arguing with you about this,” he said. “You can place your bid along with everyone else. I’ll take it to the bank along with the rest of them. I have to make the announcement now.”
Joseph watched Stan walk to the middle of the room. He wasn’t sure what else he could do to convince Stan. But he knew he had to try something. There was no way he wanted the town to be sold, piece by piece, to outsiders.
***
Megan watched from the edge of the room as the individuals waiting to place bids stood alone or in small groups talking among themselves. She’d taken a few pictures to make sure the lighting was good enough but wasn’t planning to publish them, so she didn’t bother to get permission from the people who happened to be in them. The important photo would be taken later when Stan announced the winning bid. Megan planned to come back for that, but she wanted to run to the farmers market and check on Lauren first.
She wondered if all of the people here were really planning to place bids. The mayor was here, of course. Looking around, she recognized some of the tenants. They were grouped together, no doubt concerned about their future. And then there were some other people that were also members of the community. They were standing in a group in one corner of the room. She couldn’t really imagine them having the money to bid on the building. Then she realized that Teresa Wilton was in the middle of the group. Her husband, Chris, Jackie Forster, Phil Porter, and Ken DeVille were also in the group.
Megan knew that Teresa was hoping to gather support for the mayoral position in some future run. She’d heard rumors that a group of people from the community wanted the town to place stipulations on what the building could be used for. Maybe that was why they were here. It would make sense if Teresa were involved.
She watched, along with the others in the room, as several people handed sealed envelopes to Stan after his opening speech to kick it off. Ross McMann was the last one to submit his. Megan was gathering her things to leave when Stan and Ross paused near her.
“That sounds great, Stan. I’ll meet you at that address shortly,” Ross said.
“I just need to drop these off at the bank first. The people there can go over them while you and I check out the house. We should have enough time to see everything and still make it back here for the announcement of the winner.” Stan held up the envelopes and gave a quick wave to Ross with them before turning around. “Oh, hey Megan.”
“Hello Stan,” Megan responded to his retreating back. She turned to Ross with raised eyebrows.
“You heard that?” Ross asked. “Stan has a rental place that he said I might be interested in. We’re going to go take a look at it.”
“Oh. That sounds nice. So you’re thinking of staying in Teaberry?” Megan moved aside as others began
filing past her on their way out of the building. She wondered if Susan Anderson had anything to do with his decision.
Ross smiled. “I like it here.”
Chapter Six
Lauren stood behind the table that held samples of the goods they had for sale on Saturday. There were boxes and coolers behind the table with additional produce and baked goods to resupply that table as the day wore on. The morning had been pleasant, but the afternoon was promising to be another hot one. Lauren had been trying to stay hydrated and to sit in between customers to rest. As much as she hated to admit it, she was grateful for Dan’s help this morning carting all of their goods from the vehicles to the tent. And she was very happy to know that her husband would be by at the end of the day to take the tent and table down and cart everything back to her van.
She reached into a box at her feet and pulled out some more flyers advertising Megan’s bed and breakfast. Whenever she sold her baked goods in public, she always put the flyers out to help Megan with her business. The farmers market pulled in a lot of people from out of town. She had already gone through one stack of flyers today. But there were a lot of people from Teaberry who came also, and Lauren enjoyed talking with them and catching up with their lives. Like the person she saw headed toward her now.
“Jessilyn, how’s it going today?” Lauren said as she smiled down at Evan standing next to his mother. Lauren raised her eyebrows at Jessilyn and waited for a nod before she reached into a container and pulled out a cookie. “Here you go.”
Evan’s face lit up and he gave Lauren a toothless smile as he reached for the cookie. “Thanks.”
“We’ll take a head of cabbage and a loaf of bread,” Jessilyn said as she checked out what Lauren had for sale. Then she looked down at Evan. He was looking up at her with cookie crumbs on his face and a hopeful look. “Oh, and a tub of the cookies please.”
