Chapter 43 Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn
It takes a few days to get everyone on the same page within the town, and to do it without raising too many red flags.
Anyone working in town hall seemed to understand now is not the time to venture into town, because while usually any of them, the mayor included, could be found walking the streets any day, no one had been seen since the gala.
“Good,” Piper says when I bring it up to her on Thursday. “They should be scared the mob could be unleashed at any moment.”
She wasn’t totally wrong.
I took what Ophelia said to us to heart because she was right, something I made sure to tell her every chance I got, because she deserved it after the talk down we got on Monday.
Everyday this week, as if we had some secret club going on, more people would stop by The Willow Whisk for a cup of coffee and to let me know they were ready to back me up when I needed them.
It should come as a surprise to no one that the whole town seemed to be against this overhaul Mr. Spencer had set us up for.
And the more I looked into Triton, the more I realized Willow Grove was about to be in bed with some shady creatures.
The amount of towns they left as a shell of what they once were because of some luxury resort they attempted to fit into their area in their wake should be studied.
All but one had epically failed. It all seemed to all hinge on the fact that every contract included a messy addendum that shut down all of the small businesses.
The same businesses that built the very town they destroyed.
And we would not allow this to happen to us.
I hadn’t seen or heard from Logan since that night, mainly because I had not returned to my apartment aside from once to pack a bag of clothes and necessities.
I was afraid of what would happen if I did come face to face with him right now.
The chances were high of either slapping him or kissing him.
No real in-between that felt right to me.
I never saw him around the cafe either.
It was weird. I went years without seeing the man, living a full life full of comfort and love. One month of him being back, and I feel like my heart is missing right out of my chest just after a few days of not seeing him.
I missed the sound of his voice when he just woke up, the smell of skin when I rolled over to cuddle in the middle of the night, the comfort of his arms when he wrapped them around me. But what I missed the most was how he felt like the missing piece I never realized wasn’t there.
Now I realize. Now I can feel the emptiness of the space he wormed himself into with every breath I take.
I wondered how he was going to take it when this request for a town meeting landed on his desk later today.
A soft knock on the office door has me raising my head and smiling when I see it’s Ophelia.
“Are you ready to send it?” she nods toward the document in my hand as she takes the seat across from me.
“I think so.” I stare at it for another moment before looking back up at her. “Do you think they are right? Am I the right voice for them?”
“Sweetheart, I couldn’t have found a better person myself.”
I harrumph into my chair. “I forgot you’re biased.”
She laughs. “Maybe, but it’s also the truth. All of those people trust you for good reason. You have a wonderful head on your shoulders and you are good at making people listen.”
“Some people, maybe,” I mutter. “The one in particular I need to hear me out, not so much.”
Ophelia hums in a disagreeing tone. “I don’t know about that, Gwen.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
She shakes her head. “Just my grandma sense tingling. Besides, I saw that boy with you. I watched with my own two eyes how much he cares about you.”
“If you’re talking about that day after the hospital, may I remind you that you were high on pain medicine.”
“They were good, but not that good. Have you even tried to talk to him since then?”
I shake my head.
“If that’s what you want, I will support you. But as the owner of the house you have been basically haunting all week, closure might be good for you. Might clear up some uncertainties.”
“I am as certain as I can be, Grandma. He omitted the truth many times over. He also made me fall for him even after he knew there was no future for us.”
She squints at me. “That’s an awfully bold statement for someone so young. No future? That’s nonsense.” Ophelia sighs when I stare at her. “But I guess I get it. Just make sure you don’t deadbolt a door and throw away the key when there might be a chance you want to reopen it again.”
“Stop being so wise,” I groan.
“I guess there are always bolt cutters. Could be a good Christmas present for you this year.”
“Did you need something or did you just come in here to antagonize me?”
“Actually,” she pops to her feet. “There’s a reporter here that asked to speak to you.”
“Me?” I squeak out.
“Yes, you. And it’s not Ronnie from the Gazette, either. Come on out when you’re ready. I’ll set them up with a coffee while they wait.”
Pulling out the compact I keep in the drawer of the desk, I rub the mascara smudges from under my eyes and fluff my hair a little. It’s the best I can do after sitting in here all day stressing over the request I was to present at town hall this afternoon.
Stepping into the dining room, I catch Ophelia’s eyes who points toward the couch along the side wall. A familiar man sits poised with a pen and paper, already jotting down a pad full of words that has my mouth going dry as I approach.
“Mitch?” He raises his gaze up to meet mine with a wide toothy grin. “You’re a reporter?”
“All my life,” he chuckles. “I guess it’s time for an official introduction.
Mitchell Shephard, lead reporter with the State Chronicle.
” He gestures toward the open spot in the couch next to him.
“Please, have a seat. We have some things to discuss. I’ve been hearing a lot about you the last few days. ”
“You have? I hope all good things.”
“So far, so good. But then again I haven’t reached out to the mayor yet.”
I rub my sweaty palms on my jeans. “Is it safe to assume this work trip has to do with the town takeover? How did you even know about it? You’ve been here for weeks.” Questions bubble within me and I’m trying hard to decide what more I need to know.
Mitch holds his hand up gently to slow my interrogation.
“I think I’ll keep my sources secured for now, if you don’t mind.
Just rest assured it’s someone in your corner.
I am here to help spread the word about what Triton is trying to do to Willow Grove.
Between you and I, I have been on the hunt for a piece to knock the lid off their scamming ways and I think this might be the one. ”
My eyes grow big. “Really? Our little town?”
“Oh, your ‘little town’ has been the talk of the state and the surrounding area for weeks, ever since your ads went viral for your Harvest Festival. You really put this place bigger on the map, which I have to wonder if that was part of the plan.”
“I didn’t know anything.” The words rush out of me. A deep worry settles within that he would think I would toss my home under the bus the way it has been.
“Not you, Gwen. I know you had no malicious intent. You can see your love for Willow Grove and its people from a mile away. Clearly, so can everyone else, because any time I have asked for information since the news became public, everyone pointed me in your direction.”
I can feel my cheeks heat up with the recognition.
“I still don’t understand how you just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
Mitch flips open his notepad, a shit-eating grin on his face telling me there’s more than even we know right now.
“I promise to make it all make sense eventually. But first, let’s start with Triton and your mayor.
This is your chance, and mine, to bring awareness to the predatory ways these major companies can be with small towns.
If we aren’t careful, we could have these ‘luxury’ resorts taking over all of the quirky small towns America has to offer.
And I promise you, no one wants that. So, what do you say?
Want to make the front page of the paper and stop these greedy old men? ”
Nibbling on my lip, I take a moment to think. To double check that a target on my back is something I need right now.
A quick glance at my fellow townspeople living life all around me. Eying around us silently, at the cafe I built with the help of family and friends. My gaze tracks out the window to see the neighbors strolling down the sidewalk and tourists leaving other stores with big smiles on their faces.
This isn’t fair to any of them. It isn’t fair to me. We deserve to have our home be what we want it to be. We don’t deserve to have greedy people swoop in and change our whole lives to make them richer or more powerful. Not when we are already powerful just from the love we have for each other.
I take a deep breath, easing the tension in my shoulders to look my new partner-in-justice head on.
“Let’s do this.”