47. Maddie
47
MADDIE
The Brandywood town hall had been full for two hours before the council meeting was even supposed to start, because almost everyone had turned out. In fact, she hadn’t seen it this packed since the Wagners had tried to kick Pops off Main Street.
But this time, the town wasn’t there because they were divided on an issue.
A few strategic secret meetings with key members of the community was all it had taken.
Her family was in the front row with her—all of them, including Pops—and Maddie had never been more grateful for them. They were the first people she’d gone to after what Gina had revealed, and Dad had taken a sworn statement from Gina that same afternoon. Having a lawyer for a father felt like such a blessing.
TJ, who happened to be a private investigator, found the cameras that had been installed in the lake house. Jason had asked the other weekend renters if they’d let anyone into the property and learned that someone, probably Mike, had shown up in an electrician’s uniform claiming he was there for service the weekend they’d been at the Serendipity.
TJ had also recovered the Ring camera footage of the woman Gina believed might have attacked Pops. He’d found her online, too. She was from Frederick, Maryland, and the cops were waiting outside her work to arrest her after this meeting was over.
As soon as the meeting started, Mike would be arrested. Turned out the FBI had already been investigating Mike.
Thanks to the nonexistent cell phone service in the town hall, Josh—who’d taken a seat with his family a few rows away—had no way of being alerted.
TJ, who’d been working with Dan Kline and the local police, as well as Dan and Jen’s father, who worked as a consultant for the FBI for financial crimes, all believed that Josh and Mike had probably been working alone. They’d gotten lucky—access to Brooks through Maddie’s foolish mistake of leaving her messages account logged in.
For sharing her password with her ex-boyfriend when she lived with him and then forgetting to change it.
The guilt Maddie still felt over that was enormous. She’d felt so stupid, so naive.
She’d been so naive, honestly.
And it had cost Brooks dearly.
Josh had been foolish by breaking up with Gina, but he’d probably also been certain that Gina and Maddie would never put their heads together and talk.
And Josh’s cockiness would be his downfall. Today.
“Ready?” Dad asked from beside her as Bill Mackintosh, the mayor, went to the podium.
Maddie nodded.
“All right, folks. Should be a quick one today, but I’m glad to see we’re all as eager to get this matter resolved. An emergency petition brought to the council this weekend, the town of Brandywood versus Brooks Kent, needs to be voted on. Would you like to take the podium and say a few words, Fred?”
Maddie’s throat went dry as Fred ambled up to the podium. Never in her life would she have put so much on the line with the Stricklands, but Fred was the best man for the job. The only one that might get things rolling before Josh panicked and took off.
Would Fred do what he’d promised?
Fred smiled at the crowd. “I’m the one who brought the petition to the council. Enough is enough. The Yardleys and their ilk have ruined our town. And now Maddie and her boyfriend are up to their disgusting behavior all over again. I won’t be bullied by them anymore. I’m sick of seeing photographers outside my store windows. Reporters milling around our town. I want things to go back to normal.”
Bill picked up another microphone. “Do you have any witnesses to these new sightings of Brooks Kent that you’ve mentioned? Some people aren’t even sure Brooks Kent has returned.”
The bookstore owner, Annie, stood up. “I talked to Maddie three days ago. She told me she and Brooks were heading to the drive-in theater.”
Fred nodded emphatically. “See?”
“Thank you, Annie.”
Mr. Wong from the deli also stood. “Maddie told me she and Brooks were going to Pearson Creek for a picnic on Tuesday.”
Grace Wagner also stood. “Maddie booked a private hour at my art studio for her and Brooks.”
Laura Redding joined the group that was standing. “Maddie also booked my best cabin for a few nights for her and Brooks.”
One by one, people joined them until nearly a dozen people stood, issuing similar statements.
Fred grinned, setting his hands out. “See? And what’s more, the paparazzi showed up at every single one of these places and took pictures of them there together. The two of them, all over each other every time. A picture’s worth a thousand words, Bill. And I witnessed with my two eyes the two of them going at it in my storeroom way back in September. It’s out of control.”
Maddie lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushing. Most of the town already knew that, but it was still embarrassing to have it announced.
And God, do I hope this works.
Bill nodded gravely and thanked the people who continued to stand. He looked at Maddie. “Madison Yardley? Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
She took a deep, calm breath in through her nose, then nodded and went over to the podium. “Excuse me, Fred.”
Fred stepped to the side.
Maddie scanned the town hall, the faces of the people standing, the press in the corner of the room.
She swallowed hard.
Brandywood had turned out for her.
I love this town so much.
Her voice wasn’t as strong as she wanted it to be, but she said, “A few quick questions to the people standing.” She leaned closer to the microphone. “Grace, I texted you about that booking, right?”
Grace nodded.
“Did you tell anyone I was going?”
“No, Maddie, you know I’d never do that.”
“How about you, Laura? Same thing, right? I texted you and asked for your discretion?”
Laura nodded. “And you got it. I wouldn’t ever tell people you were going to be there.”
“But the paparazzi still found out somehow.” Maddie frowned and looked at the other people in the standing group. “What about the rest of you? Did you tell anyone?”
“One person. Josh Hawkins,” Annie said.
Josh shifted in his seat.
“Only Josh,” Mr. Wong said.
The same answer came from the rest of the group.
Josh’s face had reddened by now, his eyes dark.
Maddie looked straight at him. “Funny how they all only told you, Josh, and still the paparazzi were waiting for me every time.” She leaned forward, hands on the podium. “Because you know what, I only told one person where I was heading each time, too. Annie was the only person who knew I was going to the drive-in. Mr. Wong was the only person I told about Pearson’s Creek. But you know the really weird thing? I didn’t tell anyone about Grace’s studio or the Redding Cabins. I only texted them.”
A projector turned on, illuminating the wall behind her. A screenshot from her deleted texts sent to Brooks. “Look familiar, Josh?”
Josh stood so quickly in his seat that his chair fell backward. He was sweating now. “I want my lawyer.”
“I’m sure you do. I do, too. Because you violated my privacy, used the text messaging app I had downloaded onto your computer to log in to my messages, and then used those private messages to threaten Brooks Kent and sell the information you found to the paparazzi. You and Mike Valders hired a woman to stalk and threaten me, and my grandfather had a heart attack as a result. You didn’t just betray me, you betrayed this whole damn town. Every one of us missed out on Brooks’s performance at the fair because he had to fly to Vegas to pay off the extortion you participated in, Josh. At. Gunpoint.”
Gasps came from the people in the room, and photographers took more pictures from the press side.
The back doors opened, and the uniformed police officers strode down the center aisle, heading toward Josh.
“You’re lying!” Josh yelled, his face filled with fear.
“Gina has already signed sworn statements, and she’s happy to cooperate. I guess you didn’t think the Stricklands and the Yardleys might come together to take down a douchebag like you, did you?” She smiled at Fred, who nodded while glaring at Josh.
Dan came up behind Josh and yanked his hands behind his back, handcuffs at the ready.
“Oh . . . one more thing. That ‘Brooks’ you’ve been so worried about in town this week?” She nodded toward the side door, which opened.
Cormac sauntered through with a grin, wearing Brooks’s clothes, including the baseball cap. The effect had been remarkably effective. Maddie might have had to snuggle and pretend to neck with Cormac Doyle more than she’d ever wanted to, but it hadn’t been too hard to fake kisses with well-positioned arms and hands.
She didn’t need to explain that part of it to the town, though. The truth would get out soon enough and spread through the rumor mill. The press could think what they wanted.
Maddie turned back toward Bill Mackintosh as Cormac joined her and slung his arm over her shoulders. “This is the so-called Brooks I’ve been hanging out with this week. We’re not going to ban one of our own from the town, are we? And anyway, since when did public displays of affection become a crime here?”
Bill nodded. “I’m going to dismiss the petition, then. The town hall meeting is adjourned.”
The townspeople clapped as the police led Josh away.
Turning toward Cormac, Maddie hugged him tightly, relief pouring through her. “Thank you. Thank you so much for everything.”
“There’s a mountain of evidence against Josh now. I guarantee you he’ll sell out Mike in one second flat. You did good, Maddie.”
Maddie nodded and pulled away. “I owe you, Cormac. I really do. If you get around to calling Brooks anytime in the next couple of days, maybe explain to him . . . actually, never mind.” She sniffled, determined to stay dry-eyed. “Let him think what he wants.”
Cormac chuckled. “He called me yesterday, but I didn’t pick up. Didn’t want to risk him actually showing up here and messing up all our well-laid plans. I’m probably going to have to tell him, you know. He won’t forgive me otherwise.”
The news was bittersweet. Maybe Brooks had called Cormac because he’d seen the newscasts, and it had bothered him. Perhaps that meant he still cared.
On the other hand, he hadn’t called her.
“Yeah, I guess so.” She stretched, looking around the town hall as it emptied. It was loud, and her father had given the press instructions on where to meet for a briefing. He would be handling it himself, thankfully.
“I’ll see you around, Cormac. Call me when you come back to town next time. If I’m here, we’ll meet up.” She gave his hand a last squeeze, then headed back toward her family.
“You were amazing, Maddie,” Naomi said, giving her a hug.
“I think Josh officially takes the cake as the worst blackmailer this town has ever produced,” Lindsay said, then poked Logan in the ribs. “And that’s saying something.”
Travis snickered behind her.
“Hey, I’m not the only one in our family known for blackmail. This whole thing started when our sister blackmailed Brooks Kent,” Logan said, giving Maddie a wry look.
Maddie covered her face with her hands. “I’m officially retired from blackmail. Forever.”
Jake shoved his hands in his pockets, a satisfied and impish look on his face. “Bet you’re wishing we hadn’t stopped being roommates when you moved in with Josh. I never did you dirty.”
“No, but you are dirty. If I had a nickel for every time you didn’t do the dishes, I wouldn’t ever need to work again.”
“Cheap shot,” Jake muttered with a shake of his head. “You going back to the Depot this afternoon?”
“Actually, I wanted to take Maddie out to celebrate. You know, sister to sister.” Naomi linked arms with her.
Lindsay frowned. “You didn’t invite me.”
“You can come if you want, but I figured you’d need to get back to the pub.”
Lindsay groaned. “Fine, fine. Remind me why I picked working at the pub instead of the Depot? Logan isn’t nearly as much fun as you guys.”
“Keep saying that, and one of these days, I’m going to believe you,” Logan shot back.
Maddie laughed, then set her arms around her two sisters. “Come here, you guys. Yardley sibling group hug.”
They all joined in, and Maddie closed her eyes, her throat thick with emotion.
Damn my stupid need to cry.
She blinked rapidly, and as she did, she met Pops’s light blue eyes from where he sat, watching them several feet away.
He nodded just slightly, his face beaming with pride.
They were Yardleys. His grandkids. His legacy.
And she couldn’t have been luckier to have been born into such an incredible family.
She and Naomi made their way out the back door, then crossed the street to the parking lot beside Bunny’s Café. It had always been Maddie’s favorite place to view Main Street. From here, you could see all the way down to Yardley’s Pub, practically the whole length of the strip.
Her heart gave a throb at the storefronts, the people walking on the sidewalks, and the kids playing on the playground in front of the town hall.
The place she’d loved and lived in her whole life.
In a month, it would glow with twinkle lights for Christmas. The Christmas Carol play would be on the street, the smell of apple cider and cinnamon would permeate the air, and Brian Pearson would bring some of his horses to town for carriage rides in the snow.
For Valentine’s Day, reds and pinks would take over, then flowers would sprout everywhere once spring hit, and the cherry trees planted near the sidewalk would bloom.
Summer would bring hot, sticky days filled with tourists visiting the lake and the Depot. Ice cream dripping down faces, and pit beef and barbecue wafting through the air. Fireworks for the Fourth of July. Days at the lake.
But now, they were in that brief season between the end of fall and the beginning of Christmas, when the trees were bare, but not everything was decorated for the holidays quite yet. When people were starting to think about holidays and family but still felt like they had time on their hands.
The in-between two seasons. Like me.
Maddie tore her gaze away and hurried to Naomi’s car. As she settled in, she smiled, determined to be happy. Today is a good day. “Where are we headed?”
“It’s a surprise.”
They started forward, and Naomi put on a song. Something about it felt familiar, but it wasn’t until the vocal part started that Maddie sat straight with recognition.
Brooks.
She turned to Naomi and gave her a shocked look. “What?”
“I thought you should listen to it. It’s his new song, ‘Ever With Me.’ It’s a beautiful song, Maddie.”
Maddie’s jaw quivered, and she stared down at her hands.
That voice would be the death of her.
“ . . . I’ll be forever with you. You’ll be forever with me. . . ever with me.”
She reached across and slapped the button on the radio.
“I can’t,” she said. Not yet.
She needed to brace herself first. Get herself ready.
They drove straight out of town onto the curving roads of the woods. Maddie frowned at Naomi. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see.”
At last, Naomi pulled off the main road onto a dirt path. Her car bumped along it, but she pushed forward. Even from here, Maddie could see the lake through the trees in the distance.
The car drew to a stop as the trees thinned and the path ended.
What in the heck?
“Um . . . Naomi, I’m not sure what you had in mind when you said celebrate, but this isn’t quite what I was expecting.”
Naomi smiled. “Will you just trust me? Get out of the car and go that way.” She pointed toward the lake. “It’s all set up there. I’ll come join you in a minute. I just have to get some stuff from the trunk.”
With a skeptical look, Maddie opened the car door and climbed out. She hugged her arms to her chest, wishing she’d brought something thicker than a light jacket. She hadn’t expected to be outside.
As she pushed through the trees, the leaves crunched against her boots.
When the lake came into view more clearly, she stopped short.
A picnic was set up on a small field in front of it, complete with candles and flowers. Lots of them.
And standing in the middle of it all . . . was Brooks.