by Tonya Kappes
Susie brought in some of Hazel’s tea she got from the hoedown and set it on the table with a few lemon cookies.
“Do we have any leg to stand on?” Hazel showed the first signs of giving in. Susie sat next to Hazel and patted her hand. “If I can keep my farm, I want to. Does Grandberry Falls need my land?”
Mitch shook his head. “You need your farm. We’ve studied a lot of eminent domains and most the time they take the land or it’s tied up in court for years. We just don’t have someone who is able fight it. That’s where Maggie comes in.”
Susie jumped when the door to the office flung open and hit the wall.
“How convenient.” Maggie shot through the door like a bull when it’s sees a red cloak. “Did you honestly think that you could keep something like eminent domain from me?”
She stood over Hazel and Susie with her hands on her hips. Mitch was frozen.
“Maggie, please have a seat.” Mitch stood up and pulled his chair out for her, somewhat relieved that she knew. “Maybe she can help us now.”
“Your damn right I’m going to help.” She didn’t budge from over top Hazel. “What about all the families that the farm employees? What about Butch Caudill’s dad?”
“Hazel was just trying to protect you.” Susie glared at Maggie, they were chest to chest.
This isn’t good, Mitch thought when Maggie straightened her back making her taller than Susie.
Like a dragon emitting fire from her mouth, Maggie glared at Susie. “Take your two bit degree advice and stick it straight where the sun doesn’t shine. Don’t you tell me what is best for me and my family.”
“Maggie.” Hazel put her hand on Maggie’s leg to make her step back from Susie. “I wasn’t going to bother you with this.”
“It’s what Hazel wanted.” Susie quipped.
Maggie continued to stare at Hazel when she put her finger in the air signaling Mitch and Susie to leave the room. Without a word, Mitch tugged on Susie’s sleeve. It was a private matter between family members and they needed a moment.
“I can’t imagine what you ever saw in her.” Susie walked back and forth in the reception area of the office.
Mitch could still see it, and that was a problem. It wasn’t his job to defend Maggie or Hazel. It was his job to do what was best for Grandberry Falls.
“Mitch?” Susie questioned why he didn’t answer her. “Seriously, what did you see in her.”
Mitch looked at her and turned away when he heard Maggie yelling at Hazel. He could only recall one other time when they had yelled at each other and it wasn’t when she accepted Grady’s proposal. It was when Maggie decided not to come back to Grandberry Falls after college. Hazel had a hard time understanding why Maggie didn’t want to come back and serve the community.
“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 fo
r 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?
“They didn’t fire me for being incompetent. They fired me for not showing up to an eminent domain meeting. This eminent domain meeting.”
Thank God she didn’t go. If she’d gone to that meeting and found out it was in Grandberry Falls, they would’ve fired her anyway.
Maggie sat back down to finish her spa treatment. There
wasn’t anything to tell. She had no clue what they were going to do. The Pelt Company had played their cards perfectly and there were no holes anywhere. They wanted the Greenlee property, and would stop at nothing to get it.
Liz and Wendy got up, leaving Maggie wondering if they’d had enough of her already. Wendy came back with a couple flutes of champagne. She handed one to Maggie. Maggie gave a weak smile, not sure what to think of the gesture.
Wendy’s hand was missing the antique ring Maggie loved. Wendy probably didn’t want to get any chemicals on it; after all, it was precious—not fancy---precious.
Wendy swiveled the chair toward Maggie and leaned over.
“I don’t think you know, but I gave Mitch the engagement ring back.” Her eyes darted back and forth between Maggie’s.
Maggie suddenly felt a bottomless peace and satisfaction.
“He’s not in love with me and I’m not in love with him.” Biting her lip, she looked away. “I’ve been doing so much traveling for Figure 8, that I think maybe it’s time for me to leave Grandberry Falls.”
Maggie swallowed hard trying to manage a feeble reply.
“Mitch didn’t say anything.”
Why hadn’t he told her? She was his best friend. Maybe he really did love Wendy.
“He doesn’t want you to take pity on him. Maggie, he’s spent his entire adult life trying to get over you.” Stains of scarlet appeared on Wendy’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. I saw you back in town and become so jealous of you. You have the best of both worlds. You left Grandberry Falls and pursued your dream. I was too afraid to leave.”
“I…” Maggie wanted to stop her.
“Wait. Please let me finish.” Tears filled Wendy’s eyes. “I didn’t have that courage until I went out of town. I admire you for that. I thought about you when I was in the hotel rooms. You gave me the strength in what I want to do with my life. I want to go to New York, be a buyer, and make a go of it.”
Maggie couldn’t believe what Wendy was saying. This whole time, she believed that Wendy thought she was nuts for moving away.
“Mitch and I were expected to get married. We were pleasing everyone. It was like kissing my cousin.” Resting her chin in her hand, a bemusing smile crossed her face. “He loves you. Just like you love him.”
