Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
Rusty insisted on giving them a refund for the second night, and with the knowledge that someone had just called asking if the tower room was available, and knowing the inn wasn’t losing any money on the deal, and having left a very generous tip on the dresser in their room, they somewhat reluctantly accepted his offer.
As soon as they were on their way Lizzie called her dad alerting him to their plans. Lizzie puts him on speaker.
“Crikey, I feel so bad you two are cutting your time away short, but I admit I’m a little relieved, things are kind of heating up here,” he says. Lizzie knows her dad and can tell when he’s holding back. He’s overwhelmed and that’s not like him.
“Dad, what aren't you telling us?” Lizzie asks.
“Well, oh gosh, there’s TV news crews, there’s newspaper reporters from all over, it’s a little crazy,” he says. “I can’t say I’m not very relieved you’re coming back,” Peter says.
“We’ll be there in 40 minutes, Dad. I’ll have Jack drop me at the office, and he’s going to–” she looks at him because they hadn’t really formulated a plan.
“I’ll drop you and then I’ll go out to the property and see if I can talk some sense into Billy, who I am betting is loving all this attention,” Jack says. Just then his phone rings, he quickly glances at it, sees an unknown number, but answers it.
“Hello?” he says, wondering if it’s a reporter or someone from the town.
“Hey, Jack, this is Ian, Ian MacFayden? My mom met you yesterday?”
Jack looks over at Lizzie, and widens his eyes and mouths ‘It’s Ian MacFayden!
“Dad, I have to go, I’ll see you soon,” Lizzie hangs up with her dad and is staring at Jack.
“Hey, nice to sort-of meet you. What’s up?” Jack shakes his head at himself, thinking he doesn’t exactly sound articulate, but he’s got a lot going on. He switches the phone to speaker so Lizzie can hear too. She takes Jack’s phone and holds it while he drives. “Just so you know, I’ve got you on speaker, my fiance, Lizzie Martin and I are presently driving back to Cranberry Harbor.”
“Nice to speak with you too, Lizzie. Well, to get to it, I’ve been following your whole journey in the Gazette, and now I’m reading updates on the New York Times website–”
“What? The Times is posting about it?” Jack says, looking nervously over at Lizzie.
“So, yeah, with this guy now chained to a tree it’s become a bit of a scene. I am actually there,” he says, having buried the lede. “I’ve got my camera and I wanted to ask your permission to do some filming? Your business associate, Alexis, said I should ask you first, she didn’t want to give the go-ahead without your okay.”
Lizzie and Jack look at each other. Lizzie whispers, “Alexis is there?!” to which Jack shrugs his shoulders.
“Look, we’re about a half hour out from Cranberry Harbor, I’m going to drop Lizzie at her office, and then I’ll be right there. Can you hang tight for that half hour?”
“For sure,” he says. “Alexis is giving me some background on the project, and I’m just getting a feel for the property. She’s going to show me around a bit. I’m good.”
“Alright, thanks for reaching out, I’ll see you soon,” Jack says. Lizzie puts his phone on the dashboard, and Jack shakes his head. “This day keeps getting more and more surreal, can you believe this?”
“No, who would have thought us getting engaged wouldn't be the biggest Cranberry Harbor news of the day?” Lizzie jokes. “Wow. You think he’s going to want to make a movie about all this? That would be pretty crazy.”
“Yeah, a part of me gets nervous thinking about too much attention being thrown at the town, I don’t want it to become another tourist attraction and end up making things worse for everyone,” he says.
“Well, let’s jump off that bridge when we get to it. Until then, let’s just take it one step at a time. Okay?”
Jack takes a deep breath and nods. “Bird by bird.”
“Yup, bird by bird,” Lizzie concurs. She’s quiet for a moment, and picks up her phone from the console. “I’m thinking I’m going to call my dad and tell him I should go to the property with you, scope out what’s happening, and plan our social media posts and the next issue accordingly.”
“Whatever you think is best,” Jack says. “I would actually really like that. The closer we get to Cranberry Harbor the more nervous I get.” He doesn’t say anything more, and neither does Lizzie. She wants to give him space to gather his thoughts. “What if by trying to help the town I instead ruined it?”
He’s said it. He’s said the big thing he’s been thinking, but has been too worried to verbalize. Lizzie knows this about him. She puts her hand on his leg, “You’re getting way ahead of yourself, honey, nothing has happened that is going to ruin Cranberry Harbor. Two guys who can’t stand to lose are having a tantrum. As soon as fishing season opens they’ll get distracted and forget all about this. And as soon as they see that they’re completely in the minority in how they feel and start to experience the freeze out of the community, I’m sure they’ll give up. Remember when they protested the traffic light on Bog Hill Road? That was over as soon as they weren’t invited to enter their ribs into the July 4th barbeque contest.”
Jack smiles for the first time in a while. “Okay, so we pray for the power of the freeze out, huh?” he asks.
“Oh, there’s nothing like being frozen out by our small, year-round community,” Lizzie says. “Remember when Carl was weighing selling his store to that chain from Rhode Island, and Cranberry Harbor Hardware was going to become a dollar store? He couldn’t go anywhere without getting the cold shoulder. The pain is real, my friend, the power of freezing someone out is huge.”
“I’d forgotten all about that, and he ended up passing the store on to his daughter, Maggie.”
“Yup, so once Billy and Bud find no one will listen to their fantasies about how the vote was stolen, or how it’s going to raise taxes, cause more pollution, and ruin the aesthetic of the town–”
“Wait, there’s no way either one of those guys said anything about the ‘aesthetic’ of the town,” Jack laughs. They’re just crossing the town line into Cranberry Harbor.
“Fine, I was embellishing for effect,” Lizzie says, “But you know what I mean, once people dismiss them at the post office, at Sea Coast, or heck, on Main Street, they’ll get the hint.”
“I sure hope you’re right,” Jack says. They’re on Main Street now, headed out to the land.
“Oh! I forgot to call my dad!” Lizzie says. She picks up her phone, “Call Dad,” she says and waits a moment. “Hey, Dad, I decided to head out to the land with Jack before I come into the office. I think I should check it out, maybe take some pictures, and then we can talk about what we want to put on our social media and how to respond to all the inquiries coming from other places.”
“Sounds good, honey, he says. “You watch out for yourself, I don’t trust those two as far as I can throw them.”
Lizzie grows a little concerned. “Have they said they’re going to do anything?”
“No, but they’re loose cannons individually, put those knuckleheads together, and well, you don’t know what they might do.”
“Got it. We’ll be careful, Dad, promise,” she says.
“When we finally all get home I want to celebrate - we haven’t even had a chance to talk about your news,” he says, she can hear his smile through the phone.
“Yes, we will have lots to discuss. Let me just say, your input and help is much appreciated, and I can’t wait to hug you and Mom.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit,” Peter says. “Remember to be careful.”
“Will do, bye.”
As she hangs up they enter the property. There aren’t as many cars there as they’d feared, and there, in the distance, they see Billy and his chain.
Jack parks and they both get out. Alexis makes a beeline for them with a guy Lizzie assumes is Ian MacFayden.
“Hey, guys,” Alexis says. “This is Ian, Ian this is Jack and Lizzie.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you both,” Ian says, shaking their hands. “This is an amazing parcel of land you have here. I had no idea it had the views it does, it’s just incredible.”
“Thanks, we’re pretty excited about it,” Jack says, looking over at Lizzie and feeling unsure about what to say next. “So you want to shoot a little video here? Do you mind me asking, to what end?”
“Of course! I’d expect you to ask,” Ian says. He’s a tall, handsome guy, Lizzie notes. With the Brad Pitt scruff and blonde hair he’s got happening, it’s hard to not notice. “I’ve been working on a film about climate change for a couple of years. I’ve been all over the world seeing how different countries are handling it, some much better than others, and I have been finding small projects that have the potential to make big differences, and could help influence policy. Because that’s where the real change will come in.”
Lizzie is nervous about butting in since it’s really Jack’s project, but as a journalist she has questions. “Our concern,” she says, looking over at Jack, “is that this would bring lots more people to Cranberry Harbor who want to see where that movie was filmed, or something?”
“I understand the concern completely. I’m not making this for commercial release,” Ian says. “I was actually hired by a philanthropist who wants to have a record of all these ideas and projects and present the film to the U.N. So not to worry, this isn’t going to be streaming into everyone’s living room, or at the multiplex down the street. It’s in my contract that it will not be widely released because all too often the message gets muddied with companies looking to make a profit. This isn't something for profit, it’s just for education and to hopefully inspire change within global leadership. The family funding it are long-time environmentalists. They’re good people.”
Lizzie and Jack nod. Alexis looks at them, she looks comfortable with the situation as well.
“If you decide to let me do some filming over the next few months, I will put all of that in writing for you,” Ian says.
“Okay, well, first off, why don’t I show you around, and check in on our protesters,” Jack says.
The two of them start walking ahead, and Alexis pulls Lizzie's sleeve. “So, I didn’t want to say anything in front of Ian, but I couldn't help but notice a new piece of jewelry on your hand! Is that what I think it is?” Alexis says, beaming.
Lizzie lifts her hand and shows her the ring. “Yes, ma’am, I am indeed betrothed!”
“Oh my god!” Alexis yells, loud enough that Ian and Jack turn around. “Oops, sorry!” she says to them. “I know we can’t talk now, but soon, and I mean very soon, I want all the details, where, what he said, what you were wearing...I want it all!”
Lizzie laughs, “I will gladly fill you in very soon, but this is not the moment.”
“Oh, not at all, we will have to make a Sea Coast date soon,” Alexis says, hooking her arm with Lizzie’s. “I am so happy for the both of you, you totally give me hope that there is a chance to find great love out there. Even in tiny Cranberry Harbor, where the median age is–”
“Nope, don’t say it,” Lizzie laughs. “It only takes one guy, and all these older folks? They have sons, grandsons, nephews…” Lizzie gets closer to Alexis and whispers. “Ian MacFayden sure is handsome!”
Alexis shakes her head and acts embarrassed, enough so that Lizzie knows she agrees. She brushes off the thought.
“What? An Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, not good enough for you?” she teases. “One who looks an awful lot like a movie star?”
“Stop it! I do not need some rich guy who grew up in Hollywood, I’m looking for a regular guy. He seems nice and all, but–” Alexis isn’t finished but Ian speaks up and interrupts her.
He turns around, but keeps walking. “I’m pretty regular,” he says. “Grew up in a small town in the Berkshires, my mom didn’t want us growing up in Hollywood,” he looks at Alexis and smiles.
“Oh my god, how did he hear us?!” Alexis is mortified. “I feel like I’m in ninth grade!” She starts to pull away from Lizzie like she’s going to leave.
“No, you are here with me, you’re not going anywhere,” Lizzie says, pulling her back. “And how did he hear that? He’s got superhuman hearing!”
“I just want to crawl under a rock, or maybe chain myself to a tree,” Alexis says.
“Please don’t do that,” Ian says, turning around again. “Then you couldn’t have coffee with me later. You know, if you’d like to?”
“She’d like to,” Lizzie says, laughing.
Through her embarrassment it's clear Alexis is not unhappy at the prospect of having coffee with Ian. Lizzie looks at her and smiles, and she knows her friend well enough to know when she’s a little smitten, but decides to drop the subject and move on to the issues at hand.
“So any idea what Billy wants?” Lizzie asks her as they get close to the spot where he’s encamped himself.
“Attention? Relevance?” Alexis says. “Honestly, I don’t think he really thought this through. He doesn’t have any supplies, he’s already freezing, and Bud left quite a while ago saying he couldn’t allow himself to get arrested - something about a job at the post office that he’s applied for? So he’s kind of on his own.”
“Interesting,” Lizzie says. I wonder if there’s a way to bring Billy on board? Hold on,” she runs ahead to catch up to Jack and Ian. “Hey, I was thinking that Billy may be able to be convinced to give up this protest.”
“How?” Jack asks, clearly not convinced.
“Alexis was just telling me that even Bud has left him in the dust, and well, I’m not seeing anyone else here supporting him. And, it’s going to be getting dark and cold before long-’
“So he might be open to a change of heart?” Jack says.
“I’m just thinking, maybe approaching him in a more friendly way might help him let his guard down and we could all come out as winners, you know, let him have a little dignity, even though I’d like to throttle him for causing all this drama,” Lizzie says.
“Okay, I’ll be nice,” Jack says, smiling at her. “I promise,” he says, anticipating her next comment.
“Hey, it’s worth a shot, right? More flies with honey and all?” she says. “I’m going to hang back and let you talk to him, he doesn’t tend to like the press and I might agitate him a little more.”
“Good idea,” Jack takes a deep breath. “Wish me luck,” he walks over to the small tree Billy is chained to. On closer inspection Lizzie sees the scene is nothing like she’s envisioned. The chain actually looks like something for a small dog. Billy is sitting on a beach chair, and he looks less angry and more tired.
“Hey, Billy, can we talk for a minute?” Jack says as he walks over to him and sits down on a log Bud must have left there. Billy nods his head.
“I’d love to be a fly on the tree,” Alexis says, the two men are talking quietly, and Billy doesn’t look the least bit upset. Lizzie, Alexis and Ian are all trying to not stare, but doing a terrible job of it.
Within just a couple of minutes Jack is standing up and the two are shaking hands. Billy unlocks his chain and folds up his chair, He stretches, stiff from sitting on his dilapidated beach chair for hours.
“What the heck did you say to him?” Lizzie asks Jack when he walks back over, amazed at how easily and quickly the situation resolved itself.
“I just asked him if there was any more information I could give him. That I wanted to be completely transparent and if I could explain anything better I was here to listen. He was quiet for a minute and then said that sitting here for all that time he started to think about his family, people who’d been here generations ago, and how they would probably not be able to live here anymore either. And shocker, that he actually liked our ideas. But a lot of it was thinking about all the people he grew up with, and their kids not being able to stay here, and he realized how lucky he is to have a house and property largely because of the luck of the draw.”
“Yeah, he lives in a house his family’s had forever, he could never afford to buy it today,” Alexis says.
“Wow, that was a lot of drama for such a quiet ending,” Ian says.
Jack laughs, “Yeah, crisis averted. At least this one, I’m sure there will be many more to come.”
“Hey, I’d love to discuss the possibility of doing some filming as this moves forward, would you all be available to go have a coffee to talk about it and maybe warm up? I spent too much of the last few years in California I’m afraid, I’m a weather wimp,” Ian says.
Jack and Lizzie look at each other.
“Um, in all honesty, this day has not at all gone as planned,” Lizzie says. “We’re supposed to still be on our mini-vacation celebrating getting engaged last night,” she looks at Jack and takes his arm. “So since we can’t do that I’d at least like to go celebrate with family. I have a ring I have to show them,” she blushes a bit, still getting acclimated to being engaged.
“Oh my gosh, congratulations!” Ian says. “I had no idea, please, go, we can do it another time. I feel terrible to have imposed on you!”
“No, Ian, it’s fine, you didn’t know!” Jack says. “I would love to sit and talk with you another time. Any other time, you just let me know what works for you.”
Ian reaches out to shake Jack’s hand. “I will definitely be in touch.”
“Um, I can go and fill you in on some things?” Alexis says. “I don’t know as much as Jack certainly, but I’m pretty much up to speed and could give you some idea of where the project is headed and the initial steps we’ll be taking.”
“That would be great,” Ian says. “Where to?”
“Well, there’s only one coffee place in town, Sea Coast, you can follow me,” Alexis says. “I will see you two later,” she says, giving Lizzie a hug. “We have lots of planning to do.”
“Oh, you know it,” Lizzie says. “Have fun!”
Jack turns to her. “Well, that turned out to be a whole lot of stress for nothing. I am so sorry it ruined everything.”
Lizzie shakes her head, “Are you kidding?” She takes his hands. “I am so happy, I have everything I could ever want. Our escape may have only been 24 hours, but it was perfect.” She leans in and kisses him.
“I can’t believe how lucky I am to be marrying you, Lizzie Martin.”
“You stole my line, sir,” she says, kissing him again. “Well, except for the ‘Lizzie Martin’ part.”
“What do you say, want to get out of here?”
“Yes! I have a ring to show my mom!” Lizzie says as they head to their car. She looks at it for the thousandth time. “She’s going to love it!”