Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Well, lease. We probably don’t have enough for an outright purchase. But we’re hoping they might consider a mortgage or a lease.” I did a pretty good job of sounding all professional. I hoped I could keep it up when it counted, not give in to the inner voices that kept mocking my efforts. Who did I think I was?
However, in front of me, the crowd was nodding, including the mayor.
“That’s an excellent idea.” The mayor beamed, gesturing widely with perfectly manicured hands. “I think that’s one plan we could all get behind.”
Plan. Ha. For the first time ever, I did have one, and it felt itchy and a little tight, not unlike my suit and new shoes. And now I had to worry about letting down more folks than just Tammy. I hadn’t expected support, and all those smiling and nodding faces added pressure to my shoulders and chest, a heavy, unsettled feeling.
An unfamiliar dark-haired woman came to the double glass doors of the conference center. “They’re about to start.”
She led us to a medium-sized meeting room, and between the Honey family members and the town contingent, every seat was quickly filled. Tammy and I found seats off to the side but near enough to the front. Not surprisingly, Sean stuck close beside me and ended up sitting next to me.
At the front of the room, the oldest members of the Honey family sat at a table. An older woman with hair the color of peaches was first to speak, surveying the crowd. “Well, this is…unexpected.”
“We should have reserved a bigger room,” the man beside her added in a perplexed tone. He had a Hawaiian print tie that contrasted with his crisp dress shirt and balding head.
“There are a lot of people in Mount Hope who care about Honey’s future.” The mayor had sat right down in front, opposite the table.
Next to me, Sean added in a low whisper, “And a lot of people who care about yours, Denver.”
“Is that why you came?” I whispered back. “To convince me to stay?”
“Not exactly.” Sean’s tone was cagey. “I wanted you to have the option, but I mainly wanted you to see how many people care, and not only about the diner.”
“I see.” Around us, introductions were being made, but my attention was far more on Sean than the proceedings.
“Like I said, I want you to have the option of staying. A choice. Not staying for me, but a reason to stay for you.”
“Oh.” I swallowed hard, unsure whether to be irritated with him for undervaluing himself or touched that he understood a little of where I was coming from. “Thank you.”
We were both quiet as the meeting got underway. The family lawyer addressed the terms of the original owners’ wills and the legalities around selling. Then, a Realtor, who was clearly friends with the peach-haired woman, judging by her chummy demeanor, spoke about buyer interest in the land and its value to developers. A low hiss swept through the room as she finished. Various Honey relatives laid out their opinions until finally, one of the younger relatives, a stout thirtysomething man who’d been one of the rotating crew of managers, suggested hearing from the representatives for the town as well as the concerned employees.
Show time. Concerned employees. That would be Tammy and me. I drew myself up straighter as the mayor launched into a lengthy monologue on the value of Honey’s Hotcake Hut to the community.
“If this goes south, I’ll go with you,” Sean whispered.
“You’ll what?” I turned to give him a sharp eye.
“I’ll go where you go. I’m not giving up on you. If you need to move on, I’m moving on with you.”
“Your job? Your family? Eric and his kids?” I shook my head. It was a nice and not entirely unexpected offer, and although I’d been the one to propose it the other night, I was also well aware of how unrealistic it would be for Sean to go anywhere other than Mount Hope.
Up front, the mayor droned on, followed by an executive from the hospital, speaking on behalf of the nurses and other shift workers. Next to me, Sean leaned closer.
“I’m not going to say it would be easy. But I’d work it out because it would be worth it to be with you, to try to find a compromise. I don’t have all the answers, but I know I want to be together.”
I inhaled sharply, my brain sizzling like an egg on the griddle.
“Mr. Rucker? I understand you wanted to speak?” the peach-haired woman called out before I could reply to Sean.
“Go.” He pushed my shoulder. “I’ve got your back.”
Someone had my back. That was a first. Like Sean, I didn’t have all the answers, but the warmth of someone caring enough to want to compromise filled my chest, giving me hope and courage. I could do this.