Chapter Nine #2
Nate smiled back and followed her into the room but ignored her question.
He’d never been into power play, though if Lottie was into it, he would be willing to give it a go.
Planting that idea in the back of his mind for later consideration, Nate redirected his focus to the task at hand.
After greeting the three members of the association and introducing them to Lottie despite them already knowing each other, Nate got down to business.
The sooner this meeting was over and the project was approved, the sooner he could spend time with Lottie that had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with showing her how much he loved her.
“Good morning everyone. I was hoping to talk to you a little more about the downtown revitalization project.”
The groans from the three people who were paid to represent the businesses in the area were nearly audible.
Anthony Gutierrez, the one person in town Nate actively disliked spoke first. “Nate, we’ve talked this issue to death for nearly eighteen months both here and in city council chambers.
Does it really require more discussion?”
Nate smiled as politely as possible to the man who had wanted his job and failed to get it. “It’s what I ran on, and as I intend to fulfill every single one of my campaign promises, yes, it needs discussion.”
Marshall Thorpe and Jenny Ballinger, marketing consultants and the other two members of the downtown business association seemed less dismissive, but weren’t exactly enthusiastic either as they shared a look.
“I just don’t see it happening, Nate,” Marshall said.
“The businesses don’t want it and the town doesn’t want it either. ”
Nate swallowed any acerbic comment that was on his tongue and did his best to smile again.
“Frankly, if the town didn’t want it, then why did they fund the project in record numbers?
” Anthony snorted derisively but said nothing.
“We all know that a new town square will be better for local business, and what is good for business is good for Applewood as a whole.”
“That may be true,” Jenny added. “But construction will cause a huge disruption as well and the town square in its current form has been a staple of this town long before any of us were even born. Why do away with all that history?”
Something Lottie had said to Nate the other day tickled the back of his brain. “Stepping into the future doesn’t mean letting go of the past.”
The three people across from him seemed intrigued, and Nate smiled at having them on the hook. “How would you accomplish it?” Marshall asked.
To that, Nate had no response and had to watch dejectedly as the fish he’d thought he was reeling in snapped off the line.
While he tried and failed to come up with an immediate plan, the sound of cardboard sliding across wood drew everyone’s attention to the middle of the table where there was now a pink bakery box.
Nate looked over to Lottie who was picking off pieces from a blueberry muffin and popping them into her mouth.
“Oh, sorry. I just wanted to make sure I shared some of these delectable pastries from Warm Delights.” Lottie nodded to the box in a silent urging for the rest of the table to join her.
Nate couldn’t put anything in his stomach until this meeting was over, but the rest of the group didn’t feel the same way.
Each person sitting across from them grabbed one breakfast bread or another with gusto and started to eat, thanking Lottie for her thoughtfulness.
Lottie smiled at the group and passed over some napkins.
“You know, I was talking with Mr. Martin, the owner of the bakery, just this morning about the town square and he mentioned that he would love to have someplace to hold some kind of Valentine’s Day Sweetheart Dance like they did when his parents were still alive.
A new town square would be the perfect place for that. ”
Nate gaped at Lottie, in awe of how seamlessly she’d interjected a positive aspect of his project into the conversation while also currying favor with the group by plying them with pastries.
If Lottie ever decided to use her powers for evil, she would be diabolical. Yet now she was his personal superhero.
“That’s just one person’s opinion, Lottie,” Anthony said. Nate hated the way her name sounded coming out of the man’s mouth and he hated even more the way he looked at Lottie with thinly veiled interest. “The whole town doesn’t feel that way.”
“How do we know that?” Lottie asked. When she was met with blank stares from across the table and a quizzical expression from Nate, she leaned forward and smiled.
“Have we asked the whole town? I talk to a lot of people and I would say when it comes to the town square project, the results are at the bare minimum, a mix of both for and against. What if Nate were to hold a public forum, present his plan, and then listen to the concerns from the community? Then he can adjust accordingly.”
Nate beamed at the brilliant woman next to him.
He’d assumed everyone was on his side and was so excited about his project that he’d tried to push through the approval process when instead he should have been out persuading everyone to make their voice heard on the matter.
Raising up other people’s voices was the number one rule of politics and clearly something he’d forgotten in his pursuit to secure his legacy.
As he looked at Lottie, Nate realized he’d forgotten a lot of things and had a lot to make up for.
Hopefully, she’d be just as understanding and forgiving as she always had been and let him.
The three people across the table conferred for a moment.
“That sounds agreeable, but after the public forum you have one last chance to present this to us before we consider the matter closed Nate.” The finality in Anthony’s voice didn’t bother Nate, he was still too preoccupied with the woman next to him.
“Sounds like a plan.” Nate rose and shook hands with everyone across the table, maybe gripping Anthony’s with a little extra strength after he’d watched the man peek at Lottie’s cleavage.
“Thank you for the opportunity.” Lottie smiled but lingered a while longer after Nate had left the room.
When she rejoined him out in the hallway, Nate couldn’t help his curiosity at her absence. “What were you doing back there?”
Lottie smiled up at him as she buttoned her pea coat. “I was wishing them all a happy holiday season and getting a little information about which businesses are most on the fence.” Nate shook his head in disbelief of her abilities to get people to open up to her. “What?”
Nate smiled and held out his hand to her.
When she slipped her palm into his, he laced their fingers together and led her toward the stairs.
“Nothing. You’re just really amazing with people.
” Lottie shrugged off the comment, but he didn’t want to let her brush the compliment aside so casually. “I mean it, Charlotte.”
Lottie’s eyes searched his for a moment. “I believe you.”
“Good.” As Nate walked them back outside, he pulled her a little closer to him. It was cold and he wanted her to be warm, but he also just needed her near him. Hopefully as they spent more time together, Lottie would believe him in every way possible.