CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
April nodded. That made sense. She tried to channel her old tennis captain energy—she was confident and in charge.
She could do this. “OK, Luke said something about protected land. I’m not sure what exactly he was talking about, but I did some research this afternoon and I found loads of information about why land can be protected.
” She was getting into a flow now—this was just like presenting a research project.
Easy. “Sometimes things like environmental considerations can lead to land gaining protected status, but I don’t think that’s what this is, given the store is right in the center of town.
” At the silence that met these words, April rushed on.
“However, there is another option: heritage sites. These gain protected status if the land or buildings have some kind of historical or cultural significance. And given the store is in the old town, I wouldn’t be totally surprised if there’s something along those lines that could save it. ”
Emma gave a low whistle. “Damn, April, sometimes I forget how smart you are.”
April smiled shyly as Luke’s words rushed into her mind. You’re the smartest person I know. She shook her head slightly. She needed to focus.
When she looked up, Noah was frowning slightly. “And you’re sure this wasn’t just Luke trying to waste our time? I mean, I love the guy—don’t get me wrong—but he’s wicked sharp, Bug.”
It was a fair point, but something told April that wasn’t the case.
“I trust him,” she said and paused, surprised at herself.
“Either way, it’s a place to start.” She ignored the looks being shared between her friends.
Let them think what they wanted. Right then, they had bigger problems. “Noah and Izzy, why don’t you head to the library and see if you can talk to the librarian about town history? It’s open late on Tuesdays, right?”
Izzy nodded. “Oh yeah, I reckon Tasha will be helpful—she’s really into this sort of thing, I think.
Plus, there’s a historical society that sometimes meets there too—they might have some insights.
I’ll see if we can get in touch.” She glanced at Noah and a light blush touched her cheeks when she found him watching her.
Izzy inclined her head and the two of them left, the front door closing gently behind them.
Emma and Kathy watched April, waiting for instructions, and she took a second to just breathe.
“If anyone knows something about the buildings in Main Street, it would be their owners.” Most of the shops in upper Main Street had been closed for a long time, but there was someone who would know.
“We need to get all the papers Dad had in the workroom and sort through them.” She grimaced.
There were a lot. “I think the deed would have more information.”
The others nodded and April blew out a breath, glad they thought this plan had merit.
“Your dad was something of a local history buff; I think he even joined that group Izzy mentioned. It’s possible he researched the building at some point.”
And her dad had infamously never thrown things away—like an information packrat, hoarding every little thing in case it came in handy.
Of course, if they found what they were looking for, then he would have been proved right after all this time.
Though, equally, he’d made it difficult for them given the sheer number of papers they’d have to look through.
“Let’s get to work.”
There was a crick in her neck that April couldn’t seem to relieve.
They had brought stacks of boxes, files, and papers down from her dad’s workroom so they could sort through them in the living room, where there was more space.
The sky outside of the window was now an inky black, and after hours of sorting through papers, April’s eyes were beginning to blur.
Words no longer held much meaning and she sighed, standing up and stretching while Em did the same, her back making a popping noise that sounded satisfying.
“Let’s take a break.”
“I’m good,” Kathy said without looking up. “You girls go, though.”
April hesitated before deciding to let her mom continue, if that’s what she wanted.
“I have, like, four paper cuts,” Emma whined as they made their way into the kitchen where April poured them both a large glass of iced tea. “Do you have any snacks? I could destroy a box of donuts right about now.”
April snorted. “The sugar crash wouldn’t be worth it.” They sipped their drinks and April tried to ignore the throbbing that had started up in her temples after reading pages of her dad’s cramped handwriting.
“April,” Kathy called from the living room. “Come here.”
Figuring she’d changed her mind and wanted a drink, April poured a fresh glass and carried it in to where her mom sat on the sofa with a pile of papers in her lap.
“Look at this.” She passed a small wad to April and then blinked as April handed over the drink. “Thanks, sweetie.”
The first page was a sketch of the bar, its interior annotated with notes on where to put things and what decorating to do.
This had to be the original plan her dad had had for the bar when it was first opened.
It reminded her so strongly of her own scribbled sketches of the flower store that for a moment she could only stare.
On the second page, she found the deed to the building that her dad had signed, and when she turned over the page she found several more documents in the same typeface outlining the limitations and obligations of land ownership.
“This is it,” she whispered, following the paragraphs down with her finger until one caught her eye. The Duty of Care. Unfortunately, the paragraph was filled with legalese that didn’t make much sense to her. “What do you think it means?”
Emma reached for the document and read it over with an intense look on her face, nodding to herself.
“I could be wrong, but I think it’s referring to an artist. Something about the duty of heritage to preserve works of artistic merit.
” Emma looked up at her, frowning. “It looks like it could be a standard clause, though, so it’s possible this is a boilerplate contract and it has no relevance to the building itself. ”
April flopped back onto the sofa next to her mom with a heavy sigh. Luke’s expertise would have come in handy right about now.
“Don’t lose hope, April,” her mom said, and April leaned over, resting her head on her mom’s shoulder. “This is progress. We still have a few days left; we can pick back up again tomorrow. Maybe we should all head to bed for now. I don’t know about you girls, but I’m exhausted.”
April hummed in agreement, and Emma stood up, grabbing her bag from the corner.
“Let me walk you out, Em.”
The two friends walked to the front door and April unlocked it, holding it open for Emma. As Emma stepped out into the chilly night air, she smiled at April.
“This is already such a good start, April. And don’t forget that Noah and Izzy might have found something at the library that we can use, too. We can figure this out, I know it.”
April smiled vaguely, and then a thought struck her. “Wait, did you hear anything from them after they left this evening? The library doesn’t stay open this late, does it?” She remembered that moment in the store that morning—Izzy’s sultry smile at Noah—and her eyes widened. “Em, you don’t think …”
“I … uh, I’ve gotta run, April, it’s getting cold out here.” Emma spoke quickly, turning and rushing to her car as she called over her shoulder, “I’ll see you for coffee tomorrow? We can keep researching then!”
If April hadn’t been so tired, she wouldn’t have let Em make such an easy escape.
There was no doubt about it: something was going on between Noah and Izzy.
Gross. But equally, maybe she could now understand where Noah was coming from with his feelings about April and Luke and whatever the hell was going on between them.
As if summoned by her thoughts, her phone vibrated in her back pocket and as she pulled it out, she saw Luke was calling her. Quietly closing the front door behind her, she stood out on the porch as she answered, bringing the phone to her ear.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d pick up, Jones,” said Luke, his voice an amused murmur down the line.
“Why are you calling, Pointer? Late-night booty call?” April couldn’t help herself from baiting him a little bit.
“I’d have thought you’d have bigger things on your mind at the moment than trying to get in my pants, April.” His voice was husky, causing goosebumps to erupt along her skin. “No, I was actually calling to see if you’d found anything yet?”
“Is this corporate espionage? Trying to work out if I’ve made any progress so you can sabotage me again, Luke?” The flinty edge to April’s words betrayed that she still hadn’t quite forgotten that they were, technically, in competition with each other.
“I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I didn’t at least try to work out if you’re going to wreck my deal.”
“I think your spying skills might need some work. Not sure if you’re meant to tell your opposition exactly what you’re up to.” April couldn’t keep the smile from her voice.
“Maybe,” Luke said, a laugh also evident behind the word. “But seriously, April, how’s it going?”
The sincerity in his voice took her aback for a second, and she cleared her throat, deciding how much she wanted to tell him. She’d told the others she trusted him, so maybe she needed to listen to herself, too.
“Yeah, it’s been OK. Slow progress, but I think we found something on the original deed to the store.
But I’m not getting my hopes up—the legal language is basically impenetrable, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to build a case around it by Friday given I can’t understand it.
” As she said the words, she felt her chest tighten again and fought back the tears that were now prickling in the corners of her eyes.
She was so close, and she hated the fact that she might lose it all now.
“Did I ever tell you about my friend Adam?” Luke’s tone was nonchalant as he said this, and April couldn’t help but feel a little hurt at the abrupt change in subject after she’d been so open with him.
“Um, no? But I don’t really see—”
“Yeah, he works in the planning office for the council, handles lots of the contracts for new business proposals in town. He’s a really great guy—I actually think you’d get on well.
” Luke’s voice was still light and casual as he spoke, but April couldn’t fight the relief swelling in her chest at his words as she realized what Luke was doing.
“I could, uh, send you his email, if you were interested?”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” April replied softly, and she felt her phone buzz in her hand. As she pulled it away from her ear, she saw Luke had already texted her the info. “Thanks, Pointer.”
“Not sure what you’re thanking me for. I’ve not done anything,” he said dismissively, and April let out a quiet laugh.
Luke Pointer, helping her out for the second time?
Literally unheard of. The ghost of a smirk passed across her lips as she thought what Emma and Izzy would say if they knew about this turn of events.
“Anyways, I’m heading to bed. Goodnight, Jones,” Luke said briskly.
“Night, Luke,” she replied, before hanging up.