Chapter 40 Gwendolyn #2
“Welcome to the first ever Willow Grove Gala.” Mr. Spencer’s voice rings out into the room as everyone claps.
“It’s so wonderful to gather everyone here for a special night.
I know you must be wondering, ‘Richard, why now? Why not in all the years you’ve been mayor?
’” He chuckles into the microphone and everyone echoes him.
“To that I answer, because tonight we can finally celebrate the future of Willow Grove. We have been working tirelessly over the last few years to build this town into what it is, but I saw the potential. And so did a lot of other people too.”
Murmurs build within the room at what he could be talking about. The only people that seems not to be growing in excitement surround this high-top table with me. We all share a look, but it’s Matt who has my hair standing on end.
“Did you already know?” I whisper.
His sullen expression tells me he did but it also tells me it’s not good.
“Settle down, everyone. I’m not going to leave y’all in suspense for too much longer, simply because I’m too excited to hold it in anymore.
But first, I want to welcome the future of Willow Grove.
Everyone, give a big round of applause for my son, the man that will carry on our family legacy—if he runs unopposed, of course.
” The tone of his voice says his joking, but the look says he’s anything but.
Not that anyone would run against a Spencer.
Notions of that possibility died out after Steven was reelected and everyone realized whose town this was.
Not that it mattered. Until now, I guess.
“Logan Spencer and his fiance, Camila Antonio!”
I think the room erupts into cheers, but I’m not certain as my hearing goes out and my vision tunnels. I slap my hands against the side of the table to hold myself up. But it’s not needed when my best friend and my brother immediately slide their arms around me.
“Fiance? What the fuck is going on?” Jackson growls in my ear.
I can’t respond as my eyes track Logan in his tailored suit with a masked expression walking up the side steps just like his parents.
And just like his parents, he is hand in hand with Camila, who glides behind him effortlessly.
Their masks are the identical pair to his parents’.
Camila’s dress is the perfect daughter-in-law match to Margot, who looks on with a proud expression as they step up to them on the stage.
Everyone shares a hug, but my eyes are still glued to where they touch.
I knew this day would come. I ran through every scenario as I lay in my old bedroom at my grandmother’s last night. None of them included less than twenty-four hours later hearing the words Logan, Camila, and fiance in the same sentence.
“Aren’t they such a beautiful couple, everybody?”
“I think I’m going to throw up,” I mutter to no one. Matt hears me though, and slides his empty glass in my direction. If I weren’t so paralyzed I would give him a smile, but I currently can’t feel my face.
My gaze finally leaves their hands, but my traitorous eyes decide to keep going north until I reach Logan’s face. His eyes look out into the crowd, fixated on something, but I can tell he sees nothing. His jaw is tight while his lips stay plastered in a politician’s smile.
Silently, I will him to look at me. To tell me it’s not true. To drop her hand.
As if he hears me, his eyes refocus and slide across the room until they find mine. I’m too far away to study the swirls, but I know those hazel eyes are churning as they bore into mine. Almost pleading, but not loud enough to stop anything from happening.
I wrestle with myself as to if I want to pull my gaze away or not. But ultimately I decide to stay right there, locked in a battle that no one can win as his father speaks around us.
“Come February, I will pass along my title to my son with pride. But that’s not all. We are here to announce today that Willow Grove is growing. Beginning next month, we are breaking ground just north of the heart of our town on a luxury resort.”
Behind the stage, the gold curtain that was draped along the wall drops to the floor. Loud gasps echo through the crowd as everyone takes in the sign.
Coming soon! Triton Works, LLC presents Willow Grove Park, a brand new luxury resort!
Mr. Spencer leads the crowd into a booming clap, though it’s slow to start as everyone whispers amongst each other. You can tell who is part of the insider knowledge by the excited whistles and shouts of happiness. But you can also tell who is weary of this change because of how quiet they remain.
Clearing his throat, Mr. Spencer speaks into the microphone again.
“We will share more information soon enough, but I promise this is going to be the greatest thing to happen to this town. Now, enjoy your evening!” With a quick clap the classical music resumes at a louder volume.
I watch along with everyone else as the Spencers, plus Camila, descend from the stage.
The people greeting them with open arms and handshakes are clearly not from around here, if their perfectly tailored suits and shiny Rolexes are anything to go by.
These are the men and women who will benefit the most from this. Not the ones that continue to stare dumbfounded at the sign mocking us from the stage wall.
“Wait,” Piper says quietly, and I pull my gaze from Logan finally. Sound rushes back into my ears, almost flattening me out. “North of here? Isn’t that all Porter Agriculture land? They just expanded their dairy farm last year.”
“It was,” Jackson confirms.
“Now we know why they up and moved without notice a few months ago.” Matt’s face is hard as he connects the dots.
And so do the rest of us.
“They bought out all the surrounding farmland.” I gasp. “All to deepen their pockets with a fucking resort.”
“Are they trying to destroy Willow Grove?” Piper questions.
I shake my head. “Not destroy it, but to turn it into a cash cow. And there is no trying. This is happening. Logan mentioned he had tried to stop whatever is coming, but it’s no use. He can only try to lessen the repercussions.”
We all take note of the sad expressions overtaking our neighbors. Some remain seated at the tables, their heads bowed together in deep discussion. Others flee like the place is on fire, tears in their eyes at the thought of their home changing.
“So this,” Piper waves her hand around the room, “was all for show.”
Optics, I think.
“And so was yesterday. That’s why they wanted this weekend to rake in the money. I thought it was to help the town, but really it was to help themselves and to fund the resort.” I slap my forehead. “I’m so fucking stupid.”
“No, you’re not.” My brother assures me. “None of us could have imagined this was coming.”
A waiter passed by with another tray of champagne. Matt stops the guy and grabs all of us a fresh glass. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he raises his glass, then tosses back the liquid. “I don’t want to entertain these assholes for one more minute.”
We all follow suit, my sinuses tingly at the liquid assaulting them, but I’m glad I have a extra false courage as I start my walk out of the ballroom with my family.
As we exit, we all decide more alcohol is needed to digest the news. Although I don’t want to step foot in the apartment that holds so many memories of the man who lives next door, I also don’t want any of us driving so we start the short walk toward my place.
I’m stepping foot onto the sidewalk when I hear my name called behind me.
“What do you want us to do?” Piper asks.
I take a deep breath and steel my spine. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine. This will only take a second.”
Piper squeezes my hand quickly, then continues to steer the boys away, while they send death glares over their shoulders and toward my apartment building.
“Gwen.” My name is almost a whisper behind me.
I take another breath, then turn on my heels to face the man behind me.
“What do you want, Logan?”
His face is stricken, but I can’t find it in me to care at this moment. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
I huff out a laugh. “You didn’t tell me a lot of things, did you?” Shaking my head, I give him one more chance. “Is there anything else I need to know, Mr. Mayor, before you completely change this town forever?”
He flinches at the title. “Please, just remember everything I’m doing is for you. I would do anything for you.”
“Except loop me in on the truth, got it.” I start to turn away, but he calls out for me to wait.
“They wanted to shut down most of the shops in town,” he rushes out. “Including The Willow Whisk.”
My breath halts. “Wanted?”
He nods. “I stopped it, but I had to agree to other things for my father to back me.”
I attempt a smile, but the pressure in my face keeps me from doing anything except for holding in the tears that are brimming. “Like getting engaged.”
“Gwen, I promise it’s not real, it’s–-”
I stop him before he continues. “I know what it is. Doesn’t mean it hurts any less.”
“Please, baby–-”
“No, Logan. You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to plead with me.
” I run my hand over the silent tears falling down my face, trying not to think about how I probably look like a raccoon as I hold strong.
“We had a good run while it lasted. You don’t owe me anything, but please just remember what this town means to the rest of us before you sit back and allow everyone else to change it forever. Good luck with everything, Mr. Mayor.”
Without another word, I finally turn my back on Logan and head down the street. The pieces of my shattered heart bleed out onto the ground with every step I take.