True to You in Good Hope: A Good Hope Novel Book 15

by Cindy Kirk

  It was past time, Anders knew, to confess his sins and ask for forgiveness. If Beck couldn’t forgive him, then Anders wouldn’t stay in Good Hope.

  If Beck did, then maybe Anders could settle here. Maybe he and Piper could get better acquainted.

  Lots of ifs and no real answers.

  Not until he came clean with his brother.

  That afternoon, Anders stood in the kitchen with Beck. It was time to let Beck see him for the man he really was, rather than who his brother thought him to be.

  This would probably be easier if he’d been born into a family where it was every man for himself. It had never been that way in the Cross family. His father, the judge, set a high moral standard, and his sons had embraced that strong sense of morality.

  Except Anders. When it had really mattered, he’d let down himself and his brother.

  “Before I move further on this business proposition, there’s something I need to discuss with you.” Anders supposed they could have sat at the table, but he was too restless to sit. “After you hear me out, I’ll understand if you’d prefer I not remain in Good Hope.”

  Beck leaned against the counter, the calm, older brother who’d been Anders’s friend and his champion for as far back as he could remember. “I can’t imagine anything you could tell me that would do that.”

  “Hear me out.” Anders palms turned sweaty, and he set down the cup.

  Beck took a sip of the rich Colombian flavor Anders preferred and patiently waited. Their father had used the same tactic, Anders recalled. Whenever he or his brothers needed to speak with him, he’d listened.

  “I know you, as well as the rest of the family, wondered why I really quit my job in New York.”

  Beck gestured with his cup. “You said that the work environment had become toxic.”

  “That’s what I said.” Anders licked his suddenly dry lips.

  “Are you saying that wasn’t the reason?”

  “It was some, but not all.” Anders began to pace. “When I was offered the position, I was in heaven. Carousel was one of the top advertising firms in New York. They hired me straight out of college.”

  “You had stellar references from the internships you’d done. They were smart to snatch you up.”

  That’s what Anders had thought at the time. He was a high-energy guy with talent, a strong work ethic and the drive to be the best.

  “I worked hard. I didn’t mind the hours. Everyone I knew worked sixteen-hour days.” Anders continued to pace. “I discovered I had a strong competitive streak.”

  Beck laughed. “I could have told you that. It was always about the win with you.”

  Anders winced, the comment hitting too close to home.

  “I meant that as a positive.”

  “Where I worked, it was a competitive culture, rather than a collaborative one. It was all about making the deal. You didn’t want to lose. I didn’t want to lose.” Anders blew out a breath. “It was every man—or woman—for themselves.”

  “That’s the way it is at many places.” Beck shrugged. “Competition isn’t necessarily all bad. With your finely honed competitive streak, you should have been in your element.”

  “I lost my way, Beck.” Anders’s voice shook ever so slightly before he steadied it. “I let the quest for that next account, that next win, consume my life. Nothing else, and no one else, mattered.”

  Beck’s brown eyes, so calm and steady, so full of wisdom, met his. His brother had survived events that would have leveled a lesser man, but he’d come through them stronger. “What are you trying to tell me, Anders? Anything you tell me will be kept in strict confidence. I also hope you know I’m always here for you.”

  “That’s the problem.” Anders gave a harsh laugh. “I can count on you, but you can’t count on me.”

  Puzzlement furrowed Beck’s brow. “I don’t understand.”

  “You know how much I loved and admired Lisette. She was like my sister.”

  “What does Lisette have to do with any of this?”

  “I didn’t come to her memorial service.” Anders paused to clear his throat. “There were so many wonderful memories of her that I could have shared. Not just that, I could have been there for you and the rest of the family. You were going through the worst time of your life, and the least I could have done was be there for you.”

  “You were ill. You couldn’t help it. Stuff happens.” A softness filled Beck’s eyes. “I know you’d have been there if you could.”

  Anders gave a humorless laugh. “What I’m trying to tell you is I could have been there. I wasn’t sick. I was hot on the trail of a major account. The woman who was the decision maker found me attractive. I’d been told to charm her, or do whatever else it took, to get her to switch her business to our firm.”

  Clasping his hands behind his back, Anders moved to the back window to glance out into the darkness. Looking his brother in the face was the last thing he wanted to do right now. But he could not, would not, take the coward’s way out. He would face the man he’d wronged.

  Anders turned to face Beck, who now studied him with an inscrutable look.

  “I could have come to the funeral. I chose to lie to my family—to lie to you—so I could win an account worth millions.”

  “Well.” This time, it was Beck’s turn to be at a loss for words. He raked a hand through his dark hair. “I never suspected you weren’t ill. But back then, I was having difficulty knowing what day of the week it was.”

  “I’m sorry. The words aren’t enough, not nearly enough, but I am sorry.”

  “Did you get the account?”

  “Yes. My boss told me he was proud of me. He applauded that I’d lied to my family, that I’d pretended interest in a woman who didn’t interest me, that I’d done whatever it took to get that account.” Anders felt sick inside remembering the slap on the back and the smiles all around. “I couldn’t celebrate. I couldn’t even look in the mirror. I knew if I did, I wouldn’t like the man staring back at me.”

  “That’s why you quit.”

  It was a statement, not a question, but Anders answered anyway. “I always saw myself as a good friend, a caring brother, someone the people in my life could count on. But I realized I’d started down a dark road where winning was all that mattered. I had to get away before I lost what was left of my soul.”

  Anders jumped when he felt the solid strength of Beck’s hand on his shoulder.

  He met his brother’s gaze. The look in Beck’s eyes was as steady as the clasp of his hand.

  “I’m glad you told me, Anders. I’m only sorry you didn’t tell me a long time ago. Keeping hatred bottled up, whether it’s directed toward ourselves or toward others, isn’t good.”

  For a moment, Anders was confused. Then he realized Beck must be talking about the woman who’d been driving the car that hit Lisette’s. The one whom, for many years, Beck had found it impossible to forgive.

  “You had a good reason to hate the woman who ran that light and broadsided Lisette.”

  “I firmly believe there isn’t a person alive who hasn’t done or said something they wish they could take back.” A look of compassion blanketed Beck’s face. “Lisette adored you. You were the brother she never had, and I know you felt she was the sister you didn’t have. At the memorial service, there were plenty of friends and family who got up and spoke. I don’t even recall what most of them said. Those days are a blur.”

  “Getting up and speaking of her kindness, her generosity and her sense of humor would have been a sign of respect and of love.”

  “She knew you loved her, Anders. I know that, too.” Beck spoke in a low tone. “While it definitely would have been nice to have you there, you were there for her when she was alive. That’s really what matters.”

  Anders said nothing. Could think of nothing to say. The fact that his brother could so easily offer him grace humbled and unnerved him.

  After several seconds of silence, Anders gave a jerky nod. �
��I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but it sounds like you’re going to give it to me anyway.”

  Beck’s arm went around him in a one-armed hug. “Darn right I am. And one of these days, when someone comes to you and asks for your forgiveness, you’ll give it to them.”

  “I will,” Anders promised Beck. “Count on it.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Anders glanced around the table at the three men who were still very much strangers. When he’d told his brother that he was considering starting a business in Good Hope, Beck had wanted all the details.

  One of the things holding him up was location. That was when Beck had suggested inviting over the three men who were developing Wrigley Road.

  Before diving straight into business, they’d spent several minutes drinking coffee in Beck’s kitchen and getting better acquainted. The plate of peanut butter balls that Ami had set out dwindled quickly.

  The three members of the Triad Group were Kyle Kendrick, Ethan Shaw and David Chapin. All of them, already successful in their own right, were firmly on board with the mayor’s plan for business development in Good Hope.

  “The kind of businesses we want to encourage in Good Hope,” Kyle explained, “are ones that enhance the quality of life in our community.”

  Kyle was one of the owners of Kendrick Inc., a multinational construction firm based out of Kentucky. Though Kyle would eventually take over the company, right now his father ran the operations.

  After deciding to make his home in Good Hope, Kyle had continued to bid on large jobs for Kendrick, something he particularly enjoyed. But the entrepreneurial spirit ran strong in him, and bidding hadn’t been enough to satisfy that spirit.

  Ethan, the son of one of the founding citizens of Good Hope and in charge of his family’s vast business interests, clarified. “What Kyle is saying is we’re not interested in seeking to bring in, say, industrial plants or superstores.”

  “We’re not opposed to such businesses. Sturgeon Bay has several superstores and over thirty large manufacturers.” David, an award-winning architect, offered an easy smile. “Many of our residents work at those businesses, and some shop at those stores. That’s okay. Good Hope has a different vibe. The business owners in the community are like family here. Our goal is to look at development that provides what our citizens need and what tourists want.”

  “Which is why,” Ethan leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, “your idea appeals on many levels.”

  Kyle lifted a hand. “I apologize again for getting here late and asking you to repeat what you’ve already said, but I’d appreciate a quick recap of your business plan.”

  “My background is in advertising, but the last five years I’ve been living the outdoor life. I discovered it suits me.” Anders smiled. “Looking back, it now seems like all my experiences brought me to this point. I’m proficient with most everything you can do outdoors, from kayaking, sailing and water skiing, to all the winter sports. I’ve grown restless with just getting by. I want more.”

  “Anders wants to open an outfitter operation here in Good Hope,” Beck said.

  Anders shot his brother a look. He knew Beck was excited about the possibility of him staying in Good Hope, but he could handle this.

  “Sorry.” Beck held up his hands. “It’s just this whole plan is so perfect for you. And for Good Hope.”

  “I am excited about this as well.” Anders glanced around the table. “For now, I’d like you to all agree to keep my plans confidential.”

  “That goes without saying,” Ethan responded. “You can be assured of our discretion.”

  “Good. What I’m envisioning is an operation that would include a retail store, water- and land-based guide activities and rentals. In the summer, this would include activities such as hiking, rafting, canoeing and kayaking. In the winter, we’d be looking at cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Eventually, I’d like to begin offering fishing expeditions.”

  Kyle rubbed his chin. “Fishing expeditions would be a huge undertaking.”

  “But extremely profitable.” Ethan nodded his approval.

  “I’ve got six months to get that in place for the season.” Anders knew it was a tall order, but he felt familiar adrenaline surge at the thought of doing something he loved. “Charter fishing for king salmon and trout on Lake Michigan and bass or walleye on Green Bay would bring in the tourists. Boats and fishing gear aren’t my forte, but I’m sure I’ll be able to hire people who possess that knowledge and would like a job.”

  Anders thought of Jeremy and his enthusiasm for the project. He smiled.

  “We see a fair number of tourists in the winter,” Ethan commented. “What you’re proposing would draw even more to Good Hope.”

  “I’m in my element in the winter.” Anders recalled the fun he’d had leading the group on the cross-country trails in Peninsula State Park. “If business is slow, I can teach lessons or lead groups. Heck, I’ll do whatever necessary to bring in revenue.”

  “You’ll have some significant start-up costs,” David began.

  “Not a problem.” Anders had thought everything out. “I have a good sum of money in the bank. Thanks to my brother Elliott, who is a wiz with investments. Plus, Jeremy Rakes is interested in partnering with me, or at the very least being an investor.”

  Beck shot a startled look in his direction, and Anders realized he’d forgotten to mention that to him. Kyle appeared equally surprised.

  “Jeremy is extremely knowledgeable about Good Hope, what works here and what doesn’t.” Approval filled Kyle’s eyes. “You couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

  The other men around the table nodded their agreement.

  “Sounds as if you’ve thought of everything.” Kyle lifted a copy of the business plan that Anders had handed out. “This is impressive.”

  “Thanks.” Anders knew they were all busy men, and it was time to get down to why they were here. “I’m going to need retail space, and because that’s what you do, I’d like your thoughts on the best location for a retail store.”

  “We’ll have some storefront space on Main Street next summer.” David spoke slowly, his brow furrowing in thought. Then he shook his head. “But I don’t see that as being a good location for you. Other than it gets great foot traffic and lots of visibility.”

  “And isn’t far from the water,” Ethan added.

  Kyle shook his head. “Despite those obvious advantages, there isn’t enough available space for what you’re talking about. I assume you’d want space outdoors for equipment that customers could rent.”

  “That’s what I’m envisioning,” Anders confirmed.

  “Which is why something along Wrigley would be ideal.” Beck set down the sheet he’d been studying. “It’s a bit out of the way, but this kind of business is more of a destination.”

  “I don’t have a problem with the Wrigley location.” Anders shifted his focus to David, who he had discovered handled most of the rental agreements. “What kind of building do you have in the works?”

  “We plan to break ground in the spring on a new section of buildings on Wrigley, but while you could make it work, it’s not ideal.” David steepled his fingers beneath his chin, his expression thoughtful. “Swoon’s location would actually be perfect for you. Being on the end with that extra open area to the west.”

  “Piper has that space,” Anders reminded him.

  “I’m not sure for how much longer.” David spoke carefully, as if not wanting to share any information that might be considered confidential. “It’s been a tough move for all the businesses along that road. Other than the Ding-A-Ling, of course.”

  A chuckle rippled around the table.

  “Swoon may not be able to survive the winter, though I know Piper will give it her best shot.” David met Anders’s gaze. “If that space comes open, would you be interested?”

  “No way, not if it means Piper has to move—”

  “We would never ask h
er to leave.” David spoke firmly, as if wanting to make sure there could be no misunderstanding. “I’m talking only if she decides for herself to move the store or close it.”

  “Okay, sure, but—”

  David lifted a hand. “That’s all I need to know. I’ll pull together some figures, perhaps draw up some papers just in case subleasing becomes an option.”

  Anders nodded and wondered why the gesture felt as if he’d betrayed Piper in some way. He certainly wasn’t encouraging David to push Piper out. He sensed the man wasn’t the kind to do something like that, anyway.

  “Wyatt McConnell has some land he’s thinking of developing. I know Adam and Stan were speaking with him about it.” David rubbed his chin. “You might want to give Wyatt a call. It’s another option.”

  Before Anders could ask, Beck spoke. “I can give you Wyatt’s contact information.”

  “Thanks.” Anders let his gaze sweep around the table. “Thanks for taking the time to discuss all these options.”

  “These peanut butter balls were worth the trip over.” Ethan scooped up the last one. “Tell Ami to let me know when they start carrying them in the bakery. I’ll be her first customer.”

  The other two added their praise as they strolled to the front door.

  Once they were alone again, Beck turned to Anders. “I hope this works out for you.”

  “Swoon’s location would be perfect, but I don’t want it at Piper’s expense.”

  “That’s not what anyone at the table wants.” Beck searched his brother’s face.

  Anders expelled a breath. “I’m glad there are other options.”

  “Who knows? One of the others may end up being equally perfect.”

  “I hope so.” The last thing Anders wanted was to give the impression, in any way, that he would swoop in and grab Piper’s space out from under her. But if she did have to break her lease, it would be to her advantage to have another business ready to sublease.