31. Mae
THIRTY-ONE
Mae
My dad thinks this is a normal business meeting to discuss the hideaway week and how that will affect Whisper Springs. I have no idea how this will play out. Seth practiced this presentation no less than three times with me last night, and he’s going to nail it, but I know he’s still nervous. My dad is the one wild card, and we’ll see how it all goes.
Either we’ll have an amazing future and business, or we’ll have nothing.
Seth’s whole family is here as well as my dad. Seth stands at one end of the table in the conference room and begins.
“From the beginning of the plan, I knew our place was too small to make it viable for all of you to have a career here. I could’ve made it work for just Dad and maybe a few others, but for us to have a resort as big as Greenbrier, we need more land and more facilities. It would’ve been possible to make it work on a smaller scale. Our exclusive hideaway for social media and other tech superstars could’ve worked on its own. They’re okay giving up their cell phones for a week, but they want more comfort. They want more pampering. They want five-star food and a luxury spa within walking distance.”
Seth pulls out a board with the historical town of Whisper Springs. It’s hardly recognizable anymore because it was drawn by an architectural firm and shows all the upgrades.
“We expand into Whisper Springs and offer them a more permanent place to stay, but they’ll still use most of our facilities.”
Noah stands, anger written all over his face. “No way. You aren’t destroying Beverly’s flower farm.”
Seth raises an eyebrow. “Who said anything about Beverly’s farm?”
Noah sinks back into his chair. “But there’s nowhere else to expand to. You have the river on one side and Beverly on the other.”
“I never agreed to this,” my dad says, his voice low and angry. He recognizes the location of the drawing. Seth is about to push my dad into a corner, and he might not react well.
“Keith, you’ve been telling both Mae and me since I got home that you are ready to retire from the county. In fact, you mentioned on several occasions that you might sign the land over to the government for the new satellite they want to put up on that hill.” Seth points out the window. “And so they can use the company houses for their scientists.”
The entire room goes silent, and Todd glares at my dad. “They told me about it this morning. How could you even think about betraying me after everything we’ve been through?”
Keith blinks. “I didn’t really want to, but I’m getting older. If I could sell it to someone else, I would, but the government won’t let me. It’s them or no one else. And I don’t want to take care of the property or houses any longer.”
“Actually, there is another option,” Seth says.
My dad turns to him. “No thank you. You’ve done enough.”
Seth ignores him and continues on anyway. “The contract has one exception. You’re allowed to sell to your legal heirs. The people who would inherit your land should you pass away without a will.”
“Mae doesn’t have that kind of money.”
“You’re right. There are also stipulations about being gifted money to purchase the land for someone else. Mae Kirkham didn’t have that kind of money. But Mae Blackwood does. And she’s prepared to pay you double what the government offered and will allow you to live in your home for as long as you wish.”
My dad’s face goes red. “I’m going to kill you, you bastard.” He shoots up from his seat and rushes for Seth. I jump between them, pushing my dad backward. “You’re not killing anyone, Dad.” I loop my arm through his and grab the contract with my other hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”
Seth steps forward to join us, but I shake my head. This is between Dad and me.
I drag him outside and don’t say anything as we walk. I just let the information sink in.
“When did you get married?” He studies my hand, and his eyes widen at the ring.
“While we were in Vegas.”
“I should’ve known better than to let you go.” He presses his lips together and glares at me.
“I’m twenty-two years old. You couldn’t have stopped me. Vegas made it easier, but even if I’d stayed here, we would’ve just gone to the courthouse.”
He sighs and looks up toward his house, rubbing his temples. “I never wanted you to have that albatross.”
“Whisper Springs?”
He nods.
“It might be your albatross, but it was always my dream. Daddy, I love it here. I didn’t even want to go away for college. And the whole time I was there, I wanted to be back home. I know Mom ran away, and you worry I’ll feel stuck here with you. But it’s the opposite. I never want to leave. And thanks to Seth, I don’t have to.”
Dad stops and points at the hill. “You still want a house up there? I remember you telling me when you were little that’s where you were going to live.”
“Seth’s already having the plans drawn up. It’ll be built the same time everything else is being renovated. I know you wanted me to leave and experience the world, but aren’t you at least a little bit excited that you get to have me close? That you’ll be able to watch your grandkids grow up. Every day in person.”
He swallows and pauses for a moment. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“No. Not yet. We need to get this resort up and running, but I’d like to have my kids while I’m young.”
“When did you become an adult?” He says it like he’s a little surprised but also proud.
I chuckle. “When you weren’t looking.”
He turns and stares back at the office building. “That was a dirty trick you played on me in there.”
“Seth and I went round and round about the best way to present all this to you. If Todd hadn’t been there, you wouldn’t have even considered things. This was the only way, you stubborn old fool.”
“Who are you calling old?”
“Dad. Are you going to sell me my dream or not?”
He glances at the hill and then back at me again. I see pain in his eyes, and for a second, I’m afraid he’ll say no.
“Yes, Mae. I’ll sell you your dream.”
I hand him the contract and a pen, and he reluctantly signs it. He hands it back to me. “I’m going home. I can’t face them right now. I’ll be okay. You enjoy your victory, but tonight, I’d like to see your plans for the new house.”
I nod and make my way back to the office, where everyone remains. I walk in, and they all stare at me expectedly.
I point to the signature. “He signed.”
Pandemonium erupts. Seth finds me and gives me a kiss. Terry is sobbing, and the rest of the brothers are high-fiving one another. Mark grabs Seth, and I find Abi. She grimaces, her face pale.
“Are you okay?” I ask. She turns a little green and runs from the room. I follow after her. She makes it to the bathroom, and I find her retching into the toilet. I grab her hair and wait for her to finish. Then I get the glass on the counter, fill it with water, and hand it to her.
“You’re still sick,” I say.
Silent tears run down her face. “I’m not sick. I’m pregnant.”
It feels like someone has punched me in the gut. I sink down next to her and pull her close. “Who’s the dad?” I ask because I don’t know who could possibly have gotten her pregnant. “Not Bryan.”
She snort laughs. “No. Not Bryan. The guy I told you I was trying to get over.”
“He has a name.”
“Yeah, but I’m not sharing. It was a wild one-night thing that I’ll never forget. But to think that we’ll have a future together is absurd. Besides he told me that he never wants kids or a family.” She squeezes her eyes shut but doesn’t say anything else.
“Who else knows that you’re pregnant?”
“Mom and Dad. They’re being really cool about it.”
“Of course they are. They love you and want to support you. Plus, I know Terry is ready for more grandkids.”
“I’ll tell the rest of my family soon. This just wasn’t in the plans, you know.”
“I know, but if anyone can make the single-mom thing work, it’s you. You’re amazing.”
Abi’s eyes fly open. “You’re married now.”
“Yeah, so?”
“So. You should get pregnant right away, and our kids can grow up together.”
“I wholeheartedly agree.” Seth is standing in the doorway, and I jerk my head up.
“How about not yet? Let’s get the resort up and running first. Our kids can be a couple of years apart.”
Seth holds out a hand, and I take it. “No,” he says. “I think we need to get started right now.”
Abi slaps me on the butt. “Yeah, go make pretty babies.”
I shake my head but let Seth lead me out of the house anyway, and we spend the rest of the day hiding in his cabin. Alone. Making pretty babies.