Chapter 22
Frank Ellis patted his stomach, still taut at his age. “That was the best lasagna I’ve ever had.”
Jenna blushed and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Paradise made that Italian bread
for the cheese toast from scratch.”
Blake’s respect for the builder had grown over the past few weeks his mom had been seeing him. Frank knew a lot about business—maybe
he’d have some ideas on how to save the park.
The boys had cleaned their plates and run off to play with their kittens, leaving the adults at the kitchen table. The sound
of Minecraft joined the distant animal noises. They’d had their biggest visitor count ever this week, thanks to the governor. The revenue
would allow them to cut paychecks for the next month, but Blake was pragmatic enough to know the surge might not last.
It had been a squeeze to get six of them seated in the small space, but Frank hadn’t seemed to mind the homey little room.
Blake liked seeing his mom blush like a high schooler and send little glances Frank’s way.
They both seemed smitten. Maybe losing the park wouldn’t matter so much if Blake knew Mom was settled with someone who would love her and the boys.
Frank’s kids were grown, but he knew how to talk to Levi and Isaac, and the boys already liked him.
Blake gave a slight shake of his head. It was way too soon to be thinking like that. Anyone could put on a front for a while,
but it took time to get to know a man’s heart and character. Frank hadn’t been in his mom’s life for a long time, and he might
not be the same as the kid she knew in high school. Only time would tell. The present problem was Blake’s to figure out.
Frank leaned back in his chair, and his blond hair fell away from his forehead. “There’s been a somber mood around here tonight.
Is something wrong? I thought there would be jubilation all around after that great interview with Governor George.”
“It helped for sure,” Blake said. “But it’s not enough to offset the ongoing attacks on us that are having an adverse impact.
We’re hopeful things might start to turn around now though.”
“Then what’s with the doom and gloom?”
Blake exchanged a glance with his mother. Frank would probably know about rare earth elements. Maybe he could advise them.
His mom inclined her head like it was up to Blake to make that decision. What did they have to lose?
“There are people out there who seem determined to force us into bankruptcy so they can buy the land, Frank. We found out
some interesting news about what’s under our ground.” He rose and grabbed the report from his jacket hanging on a hook by
the back door. It was creased from constant folding and unfolding.
Frank took it and read it over. His brows lifted. “Whoa, I wasn’t expecting this. You’re sitting on a gold mine—no, better
than a gold mine. If you make this known, you’ll have plenty of companies willing to pay you top dollar. You don’t have to
settle for being forced off the property.”
Mom wrung her hands. “But we don’t want to sell. What we’re doing here is important, Frank. The animals are happy, and we love our spot here.”
Frank nodded. “I get it, Jenna. When I was younger, success was the main goal, and while I always tried to be ethical and
fair in my business practices, I kept an eye on the bottom line. I’m older and wiser now. Some things are priceless and no
amount of money is worth their loss. Only you can decide that.”
Paradise glanced at Blake, then back to Frank. “We have 120 acres. There’s a 22-acre area we haven’t developed at all. Would
it make sense to sell off that portion?”
Frank shrugged. “Maybe, but it takes a huge area to mine. Whoever bought it would want all of your acreage plus more all around.
And something you might not know is that mining creates a huge environmental impact. Toxic water must be disposed of somehow,
and there are other major problems. There have been numerous spills over the years that have had major negative consequences
on communities. And even if this site becomes only a mine where the ore is dug out and sent elsewhere to extract the rare
earth elements, a mining operation so close to the ocean could spread contamination. I doubt that’s something you want to
do. New methods are in development though, and maybe an investor would be content to buy it and wait for the safer extraction
methods.”
“I wouldn’t want to see the beautiful spot here become a gaping hole in the earth.”
“I wouldn’t either.” Frank nodded. “This is a great park. Maybe a donor campaign would be worth doing. I can pull together
a list if it would help.”
“That would be wonderful, Frank, thank you.” Mom’s voice wobbled, and she stood to begin to clear the table.
“Let’s put our glum thoughts away. God will provide, and if he doesn’t intervene and we lose the park, he has something else planned for us.
He’s walked me through some dark times, and I know he will do the same with this problem. ”
Blake’s faith was strong, too, but the problem was, he didn’t want to let go of the park. Would God even ask it of them when they’d poured so much of their lives into this place? How could
they walk away from their life’s work? He had no doubt he could place the animals in zoos or other refuges, but The Sanctuary
was unique, and the animals had so much room to roam. He hated to think of them in cages or tight quarters.
Glancing at Paradise’s face, he knew she felt the same.
It was Paradise’s birthday, and it felt worse than usual for it to be unacknowledged this year. In previous years it didn’t
matter because she wasn’t with people she loved. Why did it feel wrong that she’d worked at the park all afternoon without
anyone wishing her a good day? She’d felt on the verge of tears all day.
She forced a smile and headed to Jenna’s cottage. She hadn’t seen the boys for several days, and they would cheer her up.
Their smiles would make her day better. Jenna didn’t like her to knock but to go on in like Blake did, so she opened the screen
door and stepped into the living room. The place felt quiet and empty. Where was everyone? Blake would have gotten off half
an hour ago.
“Blake? Boys?” She walked on through the cottage but found it empty. Maybe they were out on the back deck. When she pushed
open the back door, she caught the scent of grilling steaks and spotted Blake flipping meat.
Her gaze skipped over him to the crowd milling around the backyard.
Mason and Clark waved to her and she waved back.
Honey and Evan were here with their kids, who were playing in the sandbox with Isaac and Levi.
Her cousins were here too—Lily, Molly, and Rod as well as their kids.
The yard was full of people in party hats.
Jenna turned and saw her. “You’re early.”
“I—I finished a little early.” Over Jenna’s shoulder Paradise spotted a long table with a banner that read Happy Birthday. A cake and all kinds of sweets weighed down the white tablecloth. Was this for her?
Blake put down the tongs and left the grill to embrace her. “Happy birthday, babe. We couldn’t let the big 3–0 pass without
a celebration.”
He kissed her, and suddenly feeling woozy, she clung to him. “You remembered?”
“All these years I wished you were here for your birthday, and now you are. I knew the boys would blab it, so I kept them
away from you for the last few days.”
She’d thought no one ever gave her birthday a thought, and yet Blake had remembered for the past fifteen years. If only they
hadn’t lost all that time.
“Paradise, it’s your birthday!” Isaac ran toward her with a noisemaker. He blew it, and his eyes grew larger when the streamers
flew out. “Did you see that?” He climbed her like a monkey.
“I sure did. Good job.”
Chocolate around his mouth, Levi rushed her. “We got you peanut M&M’s.”
“I think you ate them all.”
“I left you some.” He clung to her leg. “I made you a card. So did Isaac.”
“I can’t wait to see them.” She put Isaac down and the boys ran to fetch their presents. She turned to find Blake watching with a smile. “I can’t believe you planned this and I didn’t know.”
“Mom helped.” He nodded toward the group. “You’d better greet your guests.”
She hardly knew what to say as she wandered from person to person exchanging hugs and receiving well-wishes. One minute spooled
into the next until they’d all eaten and she’d blown out the candle and admired the boys’ handiwork. Sunset came before she
was ready for the party to be over, but she walked to the parking lot with her guests. The night air couldn’t cool the warmth
in her heart from the amazing few hours.
No wonder people liked birthday parties. She hadn’t had one since her parents died, but maybe this was the beginning of an
every-year occurrence.
Blake stood with his arm around her waist, and they waved goodbye to Abby, who was the last one to pull out of the lot. He
pressed a kiss to her temple. “I hope it was a fun night.”
“The absolute best,” Paradise said.
“I haven’t given you my present yet.” He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a satin pouch.
She opened the drawstring and drew out a silver locket, clearly vintage, with filigree on the outside. “Oh, I love it. Are
there pictures inside?” She opened it and discovered a picture of Blake and her together on one side. On the other was one
of Levi and Isaac with her. Tears stung her eyes. “I have a family now, Blake. I’m not alone. This is the first birthday celebration
since my parents died.”
His smile disappeared. “You didn’t have a party at all during this whole time?”
“No one even knew. It’s been a wonderful night.” Her gaze went back to the locket. “Where’d you get this? It’s so unique.”
“It belonged to my great-grandma. Grandpa gave it to her when she turned thirty. I could have gotten something new, but I
wanted to show you what an integral part of our family you are.”
She threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. All her loneliness and heartache of the past fifteen
years vanished as she put all she felt into that kiss. His arms tightened around her, and she spiraled into a vortex of passion
and love.
Something whipped past her ear, and Blake tore his mouth away to push her to the ground and cover her with himself. “Keep
your head down!”
She could feel his heart pounding against her, and she didn’t move. She hadn’t heard a gunshot. What had so narrowly missed
her head?
Squealing tires followed the roar of an engine tearing off, and Blake cautiously got up. He lifted her to her feet. “Go inside
until I’m sure they’re gone.”
She turned and saw an arrow on the ground. A paper fluttered at the end of it. “Blake.”
He turned and saw it, then stooped to peer at the paper without touching it. She knelt beside him to read the words Your last birthday if you don’t leave.
A jolt of fear shivered down her back until she got it under control. Adams was an archer. Was he out there amping up his
fear tactics? “No one will scare me away.”
“I wish you’d stay with us until this is resolved.”
“I’m not going to run. They want me gone for a reason—and I’m going to find out what that is.”