Page 121 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

I look at Teddy, who's chewing his nail like a squirrel chewing a nut, and then I look at the rest of the room.

"Chick Parkinson, you have grandchildren who like to come visit in the summer, don't you?" He nods. "What do they like to do?"

"They fish, play kick the can, go to the park. They take swimming lessons at the town pool because it's so much harder for my son to get them lessons in the city. Half the time, they ride their bikes around town and look for kids to play with and end up covered in ice cream and dirt."

"Jorge, didn't you have to hire extra help at your shop? Who's working there now?"

"My daughter and a couple of her friends," he says, gesturing to people in the room who I can only assume are those friends' parents.

"Does she like the work?"

"She loves it," he said. "She said she wants to take it over one day."

"Who else here has family who wants to take over their business someday?"

Several hands shoot up.

"They can't do that if Dumfries comes in! Sugar Maple has room to grow, but we can all grow with it. We can keep this same small town feel even as we expand our reach and our services! Dumfries can offer you money now, but when it's gone, it's gone. If we band together, think about the legacy we can leave for the next generation! We can have commerce and community, and we can do it on our terms."

I look down at my colorless attire. I smooth my hand over my too smooth hair. I try to adjust glasses that aren't there.

"I know I don't exude the same confidence that my partners do?—"

"Stop," Rusty says. It's the first thing he's said since I started my speech. "Don't you dare apologize for who you are. Don't you change who you are! You don't need to be anyone but you to inspire people. If the people in this room are too simple or small-minded to appreciate your vision, then they deserve exactly what happens to Sugar Maple if they sell to Dumfries."

Teddy holds out his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. No need for name calling."

"Shut up, Teddy," Rusty says.

"You rubes can do whatever you want," Bill says. "I'm still selling to Dumfries. And considering I own two of the buildings on the northside of Maple, y'all can go to?—"

"I motion that any sales to commercial developers have to be approved by a majority of the chamber of commerce," Tripp says.

"Hey!" Teddy yells. "I'm the mayor!"

"All in favor?" Tripp says.

Over half the room agrees.

Tripp slams his fist on the table louder than any gavel. "Motion approved."

Bill fumes. "You can't do this!"

Lou's looking at documents. "Sure he can. Says so right here."

Philip, Teddy, and Bill protest loudly, trying to convince everyone not to listen to me, but their desperation turns more and more people off.

"Let's put it to a vote," I say over their arguments. "All in favor of selling to Dumfries Holding?"

Only Teddy and Bill put their hands up!

Only Teddy and Bill!

I hold back tears. "And all in favor of revitalizing Sugar Maple commerce with Jane & Co.?"

Every other hand raises.

My friends all jump up and rush me. The five of us hug, and Lou squeals. “You did it!”

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