Chapter 7 #2
“Easy-peasy. I can add gingerbread syrup to your chai. Do you want a shot of espresso as well? Make it dirty?”
“Yes.” A dirty gingerbread chai latte is exactly what I need this morning.
“Your dad doing okay?” She pours milk into the frothing cup.
“Fine.” I draw out the word. Something about her tone makes my stomach bunch.
Francesca lifts her eyebrow. “Really? You looked like you were fighting the other day.”
Oh, shit, who saw us? “When?”
“Ryan and I were visiting his grandmother when we saw you two walking. Looked like it was taking a lot out of him.”
Right. Because Ryan’s grandma lives two doors down from my dad. With neighbors like her, how have we kept Dad’s secret as long as we have? “He has good days and bad days.” I shrug and add a smile to half my face.
She leans her elbows on the counter and whispers next to my ear. “If you want to talk, I’m always available. Come by the house.”
Francesca has only lived in Rainwater Bay for about six months, but she feels like a staple, like she’s always been here, with her friendly smile and problem-solving ways.
Maybe she can help me figure out why Dad’s so mad.
When not making chai, she runs a multi-million-dollar fashion house, for goodness sakes, so maybe she knows how I can change his mind and spur growth in Rainwater Bay.
If nothing else, she doesn’t have preconceived notions or biases about our traditions.
“I’d love—”
The bell over the door rings, and Lucky shakes the water from her umbrella, dropping it by the door.
“What’s the problem, Baby Girl?” Lucky puckers her bottom lip. “That’s a big frown.”
“I’m fine.” Just hoping to avoid you.
“Are you? Are you really?” Saccharine sweet condescension drips from her fake smile.
Francesca presses the warm chai into my hand. “We’ll talk later.”
“Thanks. I look forward to it.” I attempt to step around Lucky, but she blocks my path.
“What did Mayor Winslow say about the town council’s decision?”
I swallow the truth. “He’s interested in the idea, but like everyone, has concerns.”
“It’s probably killing him that he can’t stop us, isn’t it? Veto is his favorite word.”
“That’s not—”
“Ha! He hates new ideas. When was the last time he approved anything besides harassing my parents about something at the marina?”
“You’re generalizing.”
“Am I? I don’t think so. My parents wanted to add five more berths to the marina, and he denied the permits.
Then when Jack and Charlotte wanted to buy the vacant lot next to them and expand, he bought the property himself for half what Jack offered.
That developer wanted to build new townhouses south of town, and he claimed there was an endangered woodpecker.
” She braces her long fingers across her hip.
“Your dad is the worst mayor we’ve ever had.
No vision. He only keeps winning elections because of your last name and the fact that he bribes all his friends to get their people to vote for him.
If I were mayor, this town would be one hundred times better. ”
I sigh. “Feel better after your little rant?”
She bristles. “You know I’m right.”
“Dad does what’s best for our town. He’s cautious, doesn’t jump into things without looking at all the factors.”
“Whatever. He can’t be mayor forever.”
I nod. “You’re right, but when he’s done, then it will be my turn.”
“Don’t make me laugh. You? Mayor? Baby Girl, I’ll beat you just like I beat you for student body president.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Francesca interrupts.
“Vanilla breve latte with macadamia nut milk, half-caff. Extra hot. And a blueberry scone.” She plops her purse on the counter and digs inside, finding a shimmery pink lip gloss she applies liberally to her lips using the reflection from the espresso machine.
“Zoe, your family’s tyranny is over. You think you’re better than all of us—always have—but you’re wrong. The council listens to me now.”
I bite my tongue. Bickering with Lucky won’t solve any of my problems. It will just give her what she wants: attention, the thrill of a fight, a way to twist my words into something I didn’t say that she can report to the council to improve her reputation.
I’m not giving her anything.
Francesca hands Lucky her drink.
She sips it and purses her lips. “Not hot enough, but I guess you’re still learning this whole working-class-girl thing.
” She wiggles her nose. “It will have to do. Greyson and I have a meeting with Pine Ridge’s town council.
Don’t want to keep them waiting.” She wiggles her fingers as she swishes through the door.
Francesca dries her hands on a rag and chucks it against the counter with more effort than is necessary.
“That woman is so annoying. I wish my parents were part of the Italian mob and could make her disappear without a trace.” She grabs a cake pop and shoves it in her mouth.
After she swallows, she clasps my hand. “Zoe, I’m amazed you haven’t punched her in the face yet.
Your restraint is…yeah. I’m going to say it.
I hate her with every fiber of my being. ”
“Me too.” I shake my arms to dispel the desire to strangle Lucky. She’s the only person besides Landon I’ve ever wanted to physically harm. “She’s always been bitter. Ever since middle school when I beat her at the science fair.”
Ryan pushes through the swinging door to the kitchen carrying a rack of clean coffee mugs.
“And for secretary freshman year. Then she won treasurer junior year and president senior year, but you were valedictorian, which always rubbed her the wrong way.” Ryan plants a soft kiss on Francesca’s cheek. “Hey, Ares.”
“I didn’t know you were back.” She snuggles into his side.
“Didn’t want to interrupt the drama.” His nose wrinkles like something smells bad.
“Lucky is only happy when she is leaving angry scowls in her wake. It’s better to ignore her.”
“Good luck with that because I don’t think she’s going to let you ignore her. Not about the Reeves estate project, at least. She’s telling everyone around town how she has big plans to revitalize our economy and how she single-handedly convinced Landon to build forty cabins.”
“He and I agreed on fifteen. No way will he build forty. That would destroy his aesthetic.”
Lucky’s delusional if she thinks she can boss Landon around.
Ryan pulls his phone from his back pocket and wiggles it. “Collin texted me the blueprints. They only show ten, and won’t be built until next year.”
“That is not what we agreed to. What is Prince doing?” I hug Francesca again and bolt out the door.
I toss my bag on the passenger seat of my Mini Cooper and slam the door harder than is necessary. I should have given Landon a shorter leash.
Ten cabins?
We agreed to fifteen. Minimum. Twenty would be better.
Twenty cabins by the end of the summer would be best.
Not by the end of next year.
Why did Collin and Archer agree to that? They know what the council wants.
I jam the car into reverse. Landon is going to get a piece of my mind, and we are going to redraw the blueprints.
My phone buzzes and connects to my car. Dad.
I press the button and answer. “Everything okay?”
“No. I need you to take Earl a copy of the Reeves renovation blueprints.”
“Why?” The mayor of Pine Ridge doesn’t have any reason to care. Unless this is Lucky’s doing.
“You know Earl.” Dad’s tone is more grizzly bear than happy politician.
I know Earl’s rivalry with Dad and Lucky’s desire to make my life impossible. The two are always related since Earl is Lucky’s uncle.
“I don’t have the blueprints.”
“Get them, Baby Girl, and bring me a copy too while you’re at it. I need to keep these out-of-towners in line.” He hangs up before I can tell him I have everything under control.
But this is the job, right? To be Dad’s right hand. The person who gets things done when he can’t do them himself.
I’m not the mayor.
Someday that won’t be the case, but for now, I do what Dad wants. That’s my place.