Best Laid Plans

by Martha Rogers

  “Do you mind if I take Caroline away for a while?”

  Libby waved her hand. “No, go ahead. Her time’s up, and our next volunteers should be here any minute. Sherry and I will hold down the fort until then.”

  “Thanks, friends.” Caroline snagged her purse from under the cash table and joined Hal on the other side of the booth. As they walked away, one glance back confirmed her friends still stared after her. She’d have plenty of questions to answer later that afternoon.

  Hal tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and guided her through the gathering crowds. They strolled through the maze of booths and attractions set up on the town square and park grounds.

  Hal swept his free hand through the air. “This is what a small town is all about. I love it.”

  Perspiration gathered on the palm of her hand on his arm. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. This was crazy. She’d known this man for more years than she’d like to count, and he’d been back in Bloomfield for more than a month. What a strange time for her heart to start acting up.

  Something grabbed her legs. “Grammy, you promised to watch me on the rides.”

  She disentangled Davy’s arms and glanced at Jenny, his mother, who stood nearby. “I did. Are you going there now?”

  “Yes, Mommy gave me the tickets.” He held up a long string of tickets tailing from his hand.

  “I see. That’s a lot of tickets.” She nodded toward Jenny, who waved before blending in with the crowds now gathering.

  Caroline loved her grandson, and she did intend on watching him go down slides and bounce around in that thing they blow up for the kids, but not right this minute. She had begun to enjoy being with Hal, but she shrugged and glanced up at him. “A promise is a promise.”

  “That it is, and I’d love to watch you too.” He grinned at Davy who bounced on the balls of his feet.

  Caroline stuck out her hand for Davy to grab and smiled at Hal. “You don’t have to come.”

  “Don’t mind a bit. This should be fun.”

  She knelt beside Davy. “This is Mr. McKenzie, my friend, and he’s going to join us at the rides.”

  “Hello.” Davy peered up at him and bit his lip.

  Hal bent over and shook Davy’s hand. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”

  A grin spread across his mouth. “Me, too. Come on, Grammy.” Davy tugged on her hand, so she followed after him with Hal right beside her. Davy led them to the area where games and such had been set up for the children. He handed a ticket to the man in charge and climbed the stairs to a huge, inflated slide designed to look like a giant fire truck.

  In a few minutes, he came barreling down the chute, squealing and holding his arms in the air. It looked like fun, but no adults were allowed. Caroline guessed they figured old folks didn’t like to have fun or something. Davy plopped down at the bottom then ran toward Caroline.

  She scooped him up in her arms. “Now that looked like a lot of fun. Where to now?”

  “The Moonwalk! It’s the mostest fun.”

  Davy left his shoes on the mat outside the attraction and jumped inside. He’d be there awhile, so she and Hal chose a bench close by to rest and watch.

  “I’m sorry to get you roped into this.”

  “That’s okay. I’m just surprised my grandson hasn’t found me to do the same thing.” He leaned back on the bench and smiled. “Besides, I enjoy watching them have so much fun. Too bad we’re too old or too big to jump around in that contraption.”

  She laughed at the echo of her own thoughts, but she could see the two of them trying to keep their balance and falling all over the place. “Sometimes I wish I could sneak in or shrink down to kid size so I could do some of the things set up for them.”

  “Mom, here you are. Where’s Davy?” Don stood with a hand over his eyes to shield the sun.

  “He’s in the Moonwalk.” She noted his stare directed at Hal. “Son, you remember Hal McKenzie.”

  Don held out his hand. “I recognize the name. Nice to see you again, sir, and I heard that you’ve moved back.”

  Hal stood and shook Don’s hand. “That’s right. It’s been a long time, but it’s good to back in Bloomfield.”

  Don grinned. “I came to take Davy off your hands. You all go on and enjoy the rest of the festival.”

  After they left, Hal grasped her arm once again and they strolled off to take in the other attractions scattered around the square.

  “Do you really think Woody will accept your ideas?” As much as she’d tried to deny it, a smidgeon of doubt kept her from complete confidence in the mayor’s decision.

  “I not only think so, but believe it. This is too good an opportunity for him to garnish the support of everyone in Bloomfield.”

  “That’s what’s bothered me about this whole business. What is Woody’s real agenda? Everything about these past few weeks struck me as so out of character for him.”

  “I’ve thought the same thing, but does it really matter as long as he likes and accepts my plan?” He nodded toward a concession stand. “Now let’s forget Woody and enjoy some of the finer things of this festival.”

  The aroma of fried foods, popcorn, and candied apples drifted from the concession stands, and she had a sudden hankering for a corn dog and funnel cake, and not in that particular order.

  To her delight, Hal headed for the funnel cake stand. He ordered a big one all covered with powdered sugar then led her to a park bench to share the crispy-sweet confection.

  Caroline snapped off a piece and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm, how I love these things. They take me back a few years.” Of course that’s the reason her hips were a little more padded than necessary, but at that moment she didn’t care.

  Hal wiped crumbs from his mouth with a napkin. “These are so good. Grease, sugar, and all.”

  The powdery white sugar covered his fingers and a spot decorated his nose. Caroline giggled, and reached up to wipe it away only to transfer more from her fingers. He laughed then used a napkin to get rid of it.

  When they finished the treat, Hal stood. “Would you like to go with me to meet my son and his family? I’m supposed to meet them for lunch.”

  “How about bringing them to the tearoom to eat? Then we can all get reacquainted.”

  “Kevin has his heart set on Bert’s.” He paused a moment. “So why don’t we meet up right after lunch so we’re together when Woody makes his announcement. Shall we meet at the park near the bandstand?”

  “That sounds good. We’ll be there around one, so that will give us a few minutes to find a spot to listen.”

  He nodded and waved before disappearing into the crowd now filling the streets of Bloomfield. Caroline let out a deep sigh. So much depended on what Woody had to say that afternoon. If he didn’t go along with Hal’s suggestions, some heads just might roll, and the first one would be the mayor’s.

  Chapter 15

  Hal walked to Bert’s Barbecue where he planned to meet his family. A few blocks away, he ran into Woody. The mayor wore a silly grin on his face, probably because Winnie graced his arm.

  “Wonderful day for a festival, Mayor. Did you order the weather special?”

  Woody thrust back his head and let out a roar of laughter. “Of course I didn’t. God decided to show favor on us today for our big announcement.”

  “Does this mean you’re going to tell them about the new plans?” Hal had figured that to be the case, but with the way Woody had acted these past weeks, he hadn’t been certain.

  Again Woody laughed, and Winnie joined him. Something must be really funny to have the two of them laughing like that. He wanted in on the joke. “Mind telling me what’s so funny?”

  The mayor’s eyes crinkled around the edges with amusement. “Winifred, do you think we should tell him now or wait until later?
”

  Winnie pursed her lips and tapped them with a chubby finger. “I don’t know. Maybe we ought to wait for Caroline and tell them at the same time.”

  Now Hal’s degree of curiosity shot off the charts. “Tell me what?”

  Woody glanced at Winnie then grinned. “I’m going to announce your ideas for the improvements, but then you should know I would.” He patted Winnie’s hand. “Come along, let’s go try some of those concession stands. It’s all for a good cause.”

  Winnie glanced back once, grinned like the Cheshire cat, and waved. Something else was afoot here, but he had no clue as to what it could be. Maybe it had to do with their relationship and they didn’t want to say anything until they could tell him and Caroline at the same time. That didn’t really make sense either, but it’d have to do for now. At least it looked like Caroline would get her wish and save Founder’s Cottage.

  When he entered Bert’s, his son Kevin and his family were already seated. Jolene led Hal to their table and handed him a menu. “Sure is good to see some more McKenzies back in town. Good looking family, Hal.”

  When she returned with his ice water, Jolene pointed a bony finger at his chest. “You’d better be praying Woody will give us a better plan than what he told us about weeks ago. If he don’t, I just might pluck that chicken-legged man myself.”

  “No need to fret, Jolene. He’s going to do right for the town. After all, he does want more people moving back here.”

  “I’ll believe it when I hear it.” She turned on her heel and marched off to the kitchen.

  Kevin cleared his throat. “Dad, Breanne and I have been talking about Bloomfield. I remember how much I loved it before we moved away.” He reached for his wife’s hand. “What would you think if we moved back here?”

  Hal’s heart skipped a beat. Kevin and his family back in Bloomfield? His mind couldn’t seem to wrap itself around the idea. He stared at the faces of his three grandchildren. Nothing would please him more than to have them close by. “That would be wonderful, but are you sure it’s the best thing for you?”

  Breanne reached over and smoothed back the hair of her youngest, two-year-old Sarah. “We think it will do them a world of good to be here away from the city. I love Bloomfield just as much as Kev does.”

  “Then I’m all for it. Now tell me your plans.”

  “I’ve already contacted a firm here and they’ve offered me a job at about the same salary I’m making now, but it’ll be like a raise because our living expenses will be less here. We’ll put the house on the market and look for one here this week. I have the whole week off, so it’d be a good time to do it. We’ve already contacted a real estate agent, Clare Tunney.”

  “My, you are working fast, and Clare’s good. She handled the rentals for your grandparents’ house where I’m living now. Having you here will keep me from being lonesome for you and the kids.”

  “Oh, you’ll be seeing lots of our bunch.” Then his smile disappeared. “Now what was that about a plan and the mayor? Wasn’t he a good friend of yours back in high school?”

  “Yes he was, but he came up with some crazy notion that in order to expand the city hall and make improvements to the courthouse, he’d have to move Founder’s Cottage somewhere else.”

  “Oh boy, I imagine that got things stirred up, especially Mrs. Short. Wasn’t it her family that donated that cottage and land?”

  “Yes, they did way back when we still lived here.” Hal went on to explain his reason for being in Bloomfield in the first place and how the people he’d known years before drew him back to his hometown.

  “I think it’s the best thing to ever happen to you, Dad. I haven’t seen you this happy and rested since before Mom died.”

  “Bloomfield will do that to you.” As well as one Caroline Short. They may not have much more time together on the courthouse project, but if things went as he hoped, they’d be spending more time together in other ways.

  True to her word, Caroline made her way to the bandstand before one o’clock to meet Hal. He wore such a happy face that she figured he must know some good news. “Hal McKenzie, if your grin got any wider or your eyes sparkled any more, I’d say you’d just won a lottery.”

  “No, no monetary fortune, but my younger son and his family have decided to come home to Bloomfield and plan to look for a house this week.”

  She threw her arms around his neck in a hug. “That’s wonderful. No wonder you’re beaming. I’d be doing the same if Don had told me he’s moving back home.”

  He turned to the young man and his family behind them. “Caroline, you remember my son Kevin, and this is his wife, Breanne.”

  Kevin shook her hand. “I’ve grown a little since those days. I hope this plan Dad has works out since we’re planning to live here.” He pointed at the three children. “This is Cody, he’s ten; Leigh is seven; and Sarah is two.”

  “Welcome back to Bloomfield. Don and his family will be here with Selena in a few minutes. Don will be glad to see you after so many years.” She glanced at Hal, who wore an agitated expression. “What’s the matter?”

  Hal guided Caroline to a bench well within sight and sound of the speaker’s stand. “Something’s going on with Woody and Winnie. I saw them earlier and they looked like cats that had just eaten the canary.”

  “I noticed them together, and had similar thoughts. Something is going on, but I guess we’ll find out in a few minutes.”

  Don and Jenny joined them with their three children. Don and Kevin greeted each other and talked about childhood days in Bloomfield. Contented warmth spread through Caroline. With another family moving back to Bloomfield, their population just might go over that 10,000 mark yet. Now if Woody’s announcement turned out to be what she prayed for, this would be a most wonderful day.

  After preliminary welcomes and kudos for a job well done, Woody cleared his throat and called for the attention of the crowd. “A few weeks back I stated that the courthouse needed repairs and the city hall needed expansion. My plans drew a lot of criticism.”

  A murmur began running through the crowd, and Woody raised his hands. “Yes, I know most of you were opposed to my ideas. That is why I called on one of our native sons to design a plan that would satisfy everyone.” He turned to a large easel behind him. “Here is what we propose to place before the city council at our next meeting.”

  He yanked on the cloth covering the object on the easel and revealed a large rendition of the layout Hal had shown the garden club. Murmurs turned to gasps and applause erupted throughout the crowd.

  Hal leaned toward Caroline. “We did it. Founder’s Cottage will stay intact.”

  Caroline nodded, tears streaming down her face. Although she’d prayed for this result, doubts about Woody prevented her from completely accepting the idea that he would accept Hal’s layout.

  After the cheers died down, Woody continued on with his speech about getting more families to come to Bloomfield, and he urged everyone to continue striving toward the goal of ten thousand residents in the coming year.

  Winnie caught Caroline’s eye, and her friend waved at her. She noted a sly look Winnie exhibited only when she’d cooked up some crazy plan. No doubt it would be something to do with the Bloomfield Garden Club. Winnie loved getting their hackles up.

  As soon as the speeches were over, many hurried over to congratulate Hal and tell Caroline how pleased they were that the cottage wouldn’t be moved. Don and Kevin and their families headed off together to enjoy more attractions of the festival.

  Winnie and Woody made a beeline for her after he finished shaking hands.

  “Well, what did you two think? Did I do the plan justice?”

  Hal grasped Woody’s shoulder. “You did, but one thing’s been really nagging at me the past week. Why in the world did you call me here to support your crazy idea when
you had to know I’d support Caroline in her fight against you to save the Founder’s Cottage location?”

  The gleam in Woody’s eyes became a twinkle and he slapped Hal’s shoulder. “Gotcha! You believed all that stuff going on. My ruse worked.”

  Hal’s breath escaped with a swoosh, and Caroline gasped. “What do mean? Ruse? What ruse?”

  Now Woody leaned his head back and guffawed, and Winnie joined him. Caroline could see nothing funny in the idea and grabbed Winnie’s arm. “How long have you known about this?”

  “Not long, just a week or so. I didn’t tell you because I thought it funny how he was putting one over on your fancy garden club.”

  Caroline shook her head. She met Hal’s gaze and he shrugged his shoulders. She turned back to Woody. “Why in the world would you do such a thing and get me so riled up?”

  The mayor caught his breath and gulped in fresh air before answering. “Look, nothing exciting happens very often in this town. That chase after Gnorman and the garden club trophy last year is about as exciting as it gets, but it worked in getting Stan and Amber together, so I decided to come up with an idea that would get the town riled up and talking again as well as get you back in town. Looks like I succeeded big time if I kept the two of you fooled.”

  “Woody, that’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. Why call me and get me over here on some cooked-up scheme like this?”

  “Come on, Hal, it’s not really a cooked-up scheme. We need the remodeling and repairs, and I knew you’d do a great job, but I couldn’t just ask you to come and do business without putting out bids.”

  “Okay, I get that, but why such an elaborate plan?”

  Caroline’s mouth gaped open as she listened to the two men. She loosened her grip on Winnie’s arm and stared at Woody. Just then she wanted to wring his neck for getting her so worked up. All this worry the past month for nothing.

  “If I get everyone talking and believing I was going to follow through with this, and then come up with an alternative, I’d have even more people supporting me.” Then his eyes twinkled even more. “It was also the only way I knew to get you and Caroline back together.”