Chapter 8
Ted
The sun dipped lower in the sky as I stood at the edge of the Maple Tree Inn and Sam Finnegan’s farmland, waiting for the land surveyor to arrive. Sweat trickled down my back, and I wiped my brow with the back of my hand. It was an unusually warm day for Moonridge County. A complete shift from the light snow we’d had over the weekend.
“Ted,” the surveyor greeted me, extending his hand. We exchanged pleasantries before diving straight into business. “From what I can tell so far, it does seem like the property does belong to Mr. Finnegan.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, still having a difficult time believing it. An hour ago, I’d been ready for this moment, but now I wasn’t so sure. Knowing Blake, this could get ugly.
“Quite certain,” the surveyor replied, pointing to the markings on his map. “The boundary lines are clear, and they've been corroborated by the county records.”
I sighed, resigning myself to the task at hand.
“Teddy!” Amelia called out unexpectedly, startling me. “What are you doing here?"
Her blonde hair glinted in the sunlight, and she looked so serene as she walked over to us. The land surveyor gave me the records with plans to send me his official notarized copy later this week.
“Amelia, I didn't expect to see you here,” I confessed, surprised by her presence.
“I’m helping out until I find a permanent job,” she replied with a smile, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Now, answer my question. What's going on?”
“Uh, well…” Pulling at the tie around my neck, I cleared my throat. “The thing is, there's a bit of a property dispute between your family and Sam Finnegan. I'm just here to sort things out.”
“Dispute? What kind of dispute?” Amelia's expression shifted from friendly curiosity to steely determination. The gears clearly turned in her head. There was no easy way out of this conversation.
“Apparently, part of the land where your family built some new structures actually belongs to Mr. Finnegan,” I explained, bracing myself for the storm that was sure to follow.
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the weight of this situation growing heavier by the second. “Amelia, I really need to speak with Sydney about this. She's the one who inherited the Inn from her great aunt, after all.”
Amelia crossed her arms, looking protective and slightly annoyed. “Sydney doesn't need any more stress right now, Teddy. The doctor just put her on bedrest for the rest of the week.”
“I had no idea. Look, I understand this is a terrible time,” I said softly, trying to convey some sympathy. “But this isn't something I can just ignore. My client has a legitimate claim.”
“Fine,” Amelia huffed, pulling out her phone. “I'll call Blake then. He should be able to handle this.” Worry was etched in her eyes as she dialed her brother's number.
In the safety of my office, I had felt much braver. But here, with the reality of the situation bearing down on me, I couldn't help the gnawing pit in my stomach. Facing Blake seemed unavoidable now.
“Hey, Blake. Ted Cranston is here, and he needs to talk to us about some property dispute between us and Sam Finnegan,” Amelia explained over the phone. “Can you meet us outside the Inn?”
“Thanks,” she said after a moment, hanging up and turning her hazel eyes back to me. “Blake's on his way. You can discuss it with him.”
"Alright," I replied, trying to tamp down the unease that was bubbling up inside me. I stood there, shifting my weight from foot to foot, attempting to look casual as we waited for Blake to arrive. The cozy atmosphere of the Inn seemed to mock me, reminding me of how out of place I felt in this close-knit community. I squeezed the paper clip I kept in my pocket. It helped soothe my nerves. By the end of the day, it was shaped more like a pretzel than a paper clip.
“We're not going to just roll over and give up our land without a fight,” Amelia warned, her voice firm and resolute.
“I wouldn't expect anything less from the McKennas,” I replied, my tone equally determined. Our gazes locked, both of us standing our ground, as we waited.
The sound of crunching gravel heralded Blake's approach, and my heart rate quickened. I willed myself to remain calm and cordial, despite the memories of our past conflicts. In a way, I admired him. Nothing appeared to ruffle him. He was always calm and cool.
“Ted,” Blake greeted me, his tone measured but reserved.
“Blake,” I replied, nodding in response. We stood there for a moment, sizing each other up, before I cleared my throat and attempted to explain the situation. “I'm here on behalf of my client, Sam Finnegan. He claims that part of the land the Inn expanded onto actually belongs to him.”
Blake's eyes narrowed as he considered my words. “That’s not possible. I got the proper permits before I started the construction.” He put his hands on his hips and stood taller.
“Nevertheless,” I continued, also adjusting my stance. “The surveyor has validated Mr. Finnegan's claim. The boundary line does indeed extend onto the disputed property… As a courtesy, I can allow Amelia to make a copy of the surveyor's official assessment.”
"Thank you," Amelia interjected, her voice tight with barely concealed frustration. She disappeared inside before quickly returning and handing me the original.
“Mr. Finnegan is willing to be quite lenient,” I said, shooting Blake a smug look. “He's not seeking restitution for the land use or any compensation for his time and expense. All he asks is that the new buildings be removed promptly.”
Blake's face reddened, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "That's ridiculous," he snapped. “I just built those buildings. I checked the boundaries myself and got the official permits from the county.”
“Then it seems someone made a mistake,” I replied coolly, squeezing the life out of the paper clip in my pocket. “If you won't comply with Mr. Finnegan's request, we'll have no choice but to see you in court.”
My heart raced as I spoke, adrenaline pumping through my veins. It was an uncomfortable feeling, but a part of me undeniably thrived on the confrontation. Even if I wasn’t always confident.
The tension mounted between Blake and me, like an invisible force. It was then that Amelia stepped in, her hazel eyes sparking with a protective fire that caught me off guard.
“Teddy,” she said, her voice firm and steady. “We'll see you in court, then."
My heart hammered in my chest as I looked at her, suddenly aware of just how close we were standing. Her blonde hair framed her face in soft waves. What would it feel like to brush those strands away from her cheek?
“Amelia,” I started, struggling to regain my composure. “This isn't personal. It's just business.”
“Business?” she retorted, her tone incredulous. “You're threatening to tear down buildings my brother worked so hard to build? You call that business?”
“Look,” I said, trying to keep my voice level. “I understand that this is difficult for your family, but the surveyor's assessment is clear. The land belongs to Mr. Finnegan.”
“Maybe your precious surveyor made a mistake,” Amelia shot back, crossing her arms defiantly. “Or maybe Mr. Finnegan is just being greedy.”
“Amelia—” I began, but she cut me off with a wave of her hand.
"Save it, Ted,” she snapped. “We'll fight this in court, and we'll win. You can count on that.”
Her words stung. Our budding friendship had just been dealt a severe blow. As much as I wanted to reassure her that things would work out, I couldn't deny the facts. I was doing my job, and if that meant going up against Amelia and her family, so be it.
“Alright,” I said, nodding curtly. “We'll see you in court.”
That went about as well as I had expected. As I turned to walk away, my heart ached at the thought of what might have been.