Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
T om adjusted his laptop at the front of the elementary school cafeteria, scanning the room as it filled up for the town council meeting. The usual crowd had pushed aside the kid-sized tables and arranged metal folding chairs in neat rows. He’d given hundreds of security presentations before - his company in Seattle handled major corporate contracts worth millions - but something about this one had his stomach in knots. It probably had nothing to do with Ella slipping into a seat near the middle, he told himself unconvincingly.
He glanced at his watch, thinking about the video conference he had scheduled with a major client in Seattle later that night. Running his own security firm meant he was always on call, even when helping out the town. He didn’t mind though - Harmony Falls had become home in a way Seattle never had.
Mayor Henderson called the meeting to order, working through routine business before turning to Tom’s proposal. “Mr. Dalton will now present his recommendations for updating the town’s security infrastructure.”
Tom stood, clicking to his first slide. “Thank you. As most of you know, I’ve spent the past month evaluating Harmony Falls’ current security systems. While our crime rate remains exceptionally low thanks to Sheriff Matthews and Deputy Wilson’s excellent work, there are several areas where we could improve emergency preparedness and response times.”
He outlined his findings professionally, noting outdated equipment at key intersections and proposing modern solutions. The audience seemed receptive, particularly when he explained how the upgrades could help during weather emergencies.
Then he caught Ella leaning forward slightly, clearly engaged by his presentation. The sight derailed his thoughts momentarily.
He clicked to the next slide. “If you’ll look at the cost analysis...” he cleared his throat. “The cost analysis shows?—”
“Seems a bit steep for a town our size,” Gareth’s voice cut through the room. The eldest MacGregor brother stood, commanding attention as easily as breathing. “We’ve managed well enough without all this technology. Sheriff Matthews hasn’t reported a serious crime in what, three years now?”
Tom had expected this. “The initial investment is significant,” he acknowledged, “but I’m offering the installation at cost, no markup. The long-term benefits?—”
“Aye, but what benefits?” Gareth challenged. “We’re not some big city needing cameras on every corner. We look out for each other here.”
“And these systems would help us do that more effectively.” Tom kept his voice level, though he noticed Ella watching the exchange with interest. “For example, when we had that flash flood last spring?—”
“We handled it fine,” Gareth insisted. “The old ways work.”
“The old ways got three people trapped,” Tom countered, his patience fraying. “If we’d had proper monitoring systems?—”
“If we’d had proper monitoring systems,” Gareth mimicked, “we’d be spending money we could use elsewhere. On things that matter.” Coming from a man who’d just finished building a custom house deeper in the woods than his brothers’, the protest rang a bit hollow.
Liam leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Like you need to worry about money, brother. That lucky lottery ticket we shared last month could more than help out.”
Ha. He was glad Liam called him out. As for Liam, Tom had heard his investments had paid off so well lately that he’d been talking about buying another vacation property, besides the one the brothers already owned in Scotland. They also had something going on courtesy of Liam’s rich father-in-law’s connections.
Aiden shot his younger brother a quelling look. “The safety systems do merit consideration. Our insurance company’s been after us to upgrade security on all our properties anyway.”
Let me write a paragraph that shows Gareth deliberately riling up Tom, capturing the dynamic in your writing style.
“Mmmphm,” Gareth made a low noise deep in his throat. “We’ve managed just fine without all this fancy technology for years. What’s next? Drones flying over our houses? Cameras watching us walk down the street? This isn’t Seattle, Mr. Dalton. We’re not interested in becoming some surveillance state.”
“We’re not talking about a surveillance state,” Tom snapped. “We’re talking about protecting your investments - all those rental properties you own, that fancy new development in Seattle. Or maybe you’d prefer to keep relying on luck when the next flood hits? Because let me tell you something - luck runs out. I’ve seen it happen. One system failure, one missed warning, and suddenly you’re looking at millions in damage that could have been prevented.” His voice had risen steadily until it filled the cafeteria. A few people in the front row leaned back.
Gareth held up his hands, clearly pleased with himself. “Easy there, lad. No need to get worked up. I’m just asking the questions everyone’s thinking.” He settled back in his chair with a satisfied smirk, exchanging a look with Liam that clearly said ‘mission accomplished.’
“Safety matters,” Ella’s voice rose clearly from the middle of the room. All heads turned toward her. “Speaking as a teacher, knowing our students are protected is worth every penny.”
Tom’s heart did something complicated in his chest. He forced himself to focus on Gareth. “The school upgrades are already approved. This proposal covers the rest of the town.”
“Which doesn’t need?—”
“Gareth,” Lissa cut in from beside her husband. “Let him finish.”
Tom continued his presentation, addressing concerns about cost and implementation. He was aware of Ella nodding at several of his points, her obvious support somehow both comforting and distracting.
When he opened the floor for questions, she raised her hand. “How would these systems help during power outages? I’ve heard there are a lot of those in winter.”
“Good question.” He explained the backup power supplies and emergency protocols, noting how she took everything in with sharp intelligence. It was refreshing - in Seattle, he spent most of his time explaining these systems to corporate bureaucrats who barely understood the basics.
More questions followed, some supportive, some skeptical. Through it all, Gareth watched with an expression Tom couldn’t quite read – like he was pleased despite his protests.
Finally, the council called for a vote. The proposal passed, though Gareth and several others abstained.
As the meeting dispersed, Tom packed up his laptop, very aware of Ella approaching his table.
“That was impressive,” she said. “Though I’m surprised by Mr. MacGregor’s resistance.”
“Gareth likes things done his way.” Tom shrugged. “The traditional way.”
“Well, I for one am glad you’re bringing us into the modern age.” She smiled. “The new system at school has already helped us locate three lost lunch boxes and one very adventurous class hamster.”
Tom found himself smiling back. “Glad to be of service.”
“Indeed you are.” Gareth’s voice made them both start. He stood nearby with his brothers, watching with poorly concealed interest. “Very... helpful, our Tom.”
“I should go,” Ella said quickly. “Papers to grade.”
Tom watched her leave, trying not to be obvious about it.
“Interesting meeting,” Liam commented innocently. Too innocently.
“Don’t start,” Tom warned.
“Start what?” Aiden’s usually stoic face held a hint of amusement. “We’re just impressed by your... presentation skills.”
“And Ms. Kingsley seemed quite impressed too,” Gareth added, his earlier opposition apparently forgotten.
Tom gathered his things, checking his phone for messages from his Seattle office. “Don’t you have a pub to run?”
“Aye, we do.” Gareth clapped him on the shoulder. “And you’re welcome to join us. Celebrate your victory.”
“Thanks, but I have a client meeting in Seattle first thing tomorrow.”
“Always work with you,” Liam sighed. “Never any time for... other pursuits.”
Tom headed for the exit, Gareth’s voice following him: “Good man, our Tom. Bit slow sometimes, but he’ll figure it out eventually.”
Outside, the evening air was cool and crisp. Tom spotted Ella getting into her car and found himself stepping forward before he could think better of it.
“Hey,” he called softly.
She turned, keys in hand. “Yes?”
“Thanks. For the support in there.”
“I meant what I said.” Her smile was warm in the gathering dusk. “Safety matters.”
They stood for a moment, the air between them charged with possibility. Then the pub door opened, spilling light and MacGregor brothers onto the sidewalk.
“Good night, Tom,” Ella said quickly, ducking into her car.
He watched her drive away, aware of the brothers’ gazes on his back. His phone buzzed - another message from his Seattle office, but for once, he let it wait.
“Not a word,” he said without turning.
Their laughter followed him to his truck, a reminder that in Harmony Falls, nothing went unnoticed.
Especially not the way he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Ella Kingsley.
Ella had been living above Pages and Perennials for nearly five weeks, and somehow hadn’t managed to venture down into the bookstore itself. She supposed moving to a new town, setting up her classroom, and generally trying to find her feet had kept her too busy to indulge in what should have been an immediate exploration of her downstairs neighbor.
Today though, she’d deliberately set aside the stack of lesson plans that needed reviewing. The morning sun was streaming through the shop’s front windows, catching the dust motes floating in the air and making them dance like fairy lights. Through the glass, she could see various sized terracotta pots flanking the entrance, spilling over with purple and white petunias.
The bell above the door chimed softly as she entered, and she was immediately enveloped by the comforting scent of books – that particular mixture of paper, binding glue, and leather that always made her feel at home. Potted plants were strategically placed throughout the store, ferns cascading from macramé holders suspended from the ceiling, and small arrangements of fresh flowers brightening the ends of each bookshelf.
Wooden shelves, worn smooth by years of browsing hands, lined the walls and created cozy alcoves throughout the space. Rolling library ladders were attached to rails that ran along the higher shelves, and comfortable reading nooks had been carved out near the windows, complete with overstuffed chairs that looked perfect for losing oneself in a story.
“Hello?” a voice called from somewhere near the back of the store. “I’ll be right with you!”
Ella wandered deeper into the shop, trailing her fingers along the spines of books as she passed. She’d just reached the classics section when a woman emerged from behind a tall shelf, carrying a stack of books. She was probably in her early fifties, with silver-streaked auburn hair pulled back in a neat braid and wire-rimmed glasses perched on her nose.
“Welcome to Pages and Perennials,” she said with a warm smile. “I’m Nancy Draycott.”
“I’m Ella Kingsley,” she replied, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish. “I actually live upstairs? I’m the new teacher at Harmony Falls Elementary.”
Nancy’s face lit up with recognition. “Oh! I was wondering when you might make your way down here. I figured any teacher worth their salt would eventually be drawn to all these books.” She set her stack down on a nearby table. “Though I suppose getting settled in a new place keeps one rather busy.”
“It really does,” Ella agreed, relieved at the understanding in Nancy’s voice. “I’ve been meaning to come down since I moved in, but somehow the weeks have just slipped by.”
“Well, you’re here now,” Nancy said, adjusting her glasses. “And you’ve picked a good time – I just got in several new titles.” She paused, then added, “You know, I never planned to own a bookstore in Harmony Falls. I was just passing through about ten years ago, stopped for a cold drink on a hot day. But there was something about this place...” She gestured around her. “The way everyone knew each other, how peaceful it felt. I came back a month later with a business plan, and I’ve never once regretted it.”
Ella could understand that. Even in her short time here, she’d felt the same pull – that sense of community that seemed to wrap around you like a warm blanket.
“Please, browse as much as you’d like,” Nancy said. “The romance section is particularly well-stocked, if that’s your preference. And don’t hesitate to ask if you need help finding anything specific.”
Ella was running her fingers along the spines of books in the mystery section when the bell above the door chimed. She looked up to see Amber MacGregor entering, skillfully managing both a squirming toddler on her hip and a large designer bag that seemed to be overflowing with the usual chaos that accompanied small children.
“Nancy!” Amber called out cheerfully. “Do you have that new mystery I asked about last week? The one set in the Scottish Highlands?”
“Just came in yesterday,” Nancy replied, already heading toward a display near the front counter. “I set aside a copy for you.”
“Ella!” Amber’s coffee-colored eyes lit up as she spotted her. She shifted the toddler to her other hip as he made a determined lunge for a particularly enticing potted fern. “Taking a break from all those lesson plans?”
“It has been a busy couple of weeks,” Ella admitted, then smiled at the squirming child. “And who’s this little adventurer?”
“This is Duncan,” Amber said, adjusting her grip as he made another grab for the shelves. “Duncan James MacGregor, and he is determined to climb everything in sight today. Can you say hello to Miss Kingsley, Duncan?”
Instead of saying hello, Duncan gave Ella a surprisingly charming grin for a toddler, his bright blue eyes sparkling with mischief. He had his parent’s dark hair, but something about that impish expression made Ella suspect he took after his father in temperament.
“I swear, this child thinks he’s part monkey,” Amber said, deftly catching him before he could pull down any books. “Must get it from his father’s side of the family.”
Nancy returned with a book in hand, and Amber’s eyes lit up. “Perfect! Oh, Ella, I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned this before – we have a book club that meets at my friend Lissa’s house every other Thursday. Nothing too serious, mostly just an excuse to drink wine and chat about books. You should join us!”
Despite having met Amber only briefly before, there was something about her bold, genuine nature that made the invitation particularly appealing.
“I’d love to,” Ella found herself saying. “Though I should warn you, I tend to get rather passionate about character development.”
Amber laughed, the sound rich and warm. “Oh, you’ll fit right in. Last month, Lissa and I nearly came to blows over whether Mr. Rochester deserved his happy ending.” She shifted Duncan again as he made yet another escape attempt. “We’re meeting this Thursday at seven. I’ll stop by tomorrow and give you Lissa’s address – right now I need to get this little mountaineer home before he successfully scales a bookshelf.”
As if to prove his mother’s point, Duncan had somehow managed to get one foot up on the lowest shelf, despite still being in Amber’s arms.
After Amber left, purchases in hand and son still attempting acrobatics, Ella turned back to her own book shopping with a smile. She had a feeling the book club was going to be interesting, to say the least.