Page 52 of Sunset Tides
Complaining didn’t do anything to help their cause, but it made Lucy feel better. She and Chip took their seats as Claire read the letter about the upcoming vote aloud.
For such a monumental declaration, it didn’t say much. It stated the address of One Grand Madrona Drive was to be condemned and utilized for redevelopment. It listed the date of the hearing and provided absolutely no one to contact for questions.
“Unbelievable!” Lucy said once Claire was done. “How can they do this?”
“They can’t,” Chip said. “We won’t let them.”
Lillian and Claire exchanged glances. Lucy could feel their worry from across the room, and Claire seemed especially affected. She sat with her shoulders scrunched forward and her head down, as if she were shrinking.
Claire stood and released a shaky breath. “I knew this hotel was too good to be true – and too good to last. Things were going so well. At least we enjoyed it while we had it.”
Lucy stared at her. Maybe Claire was flawed after all. She gave in too easily. Not only did she give up on things, she also gaveup on herself. Where was her fight? Where was her fury? Lucy would fight to the death over a parking space if it was raining hard enough. Why didn’t Claire have that in her for the hotel?
Perhaps it wasn’t a true flaw. Lucy knew not everyone could, or should, be like her. A world full of Lucys would be terrifying.
“We’re not giving up!” Lucy finally said. She pulled out her phone and started searching online. “Okay, here’s something. It looks like the phrase ‘redevelopment’ is associated with something called eminent domain claims.”
“Eminent domain?” Chip shook his head. “What could that possibly have to do with the hotel?”
“Well,” Lillian said slowly, “They could have plans to build a hospital, or a highway, or – ”
“They’re not going to build a highway on Orcas Island.” Lucy scoffed. “No. That makes no sense. Why would they pick here?”
Claire shook her head. “I have no idea, but Lillian’s right. It could be anything, and it looks like we won’t find out for a few weeks.”
“Oh, we arenotwaiting a few weeks,” Lucy said. “Who sent this letter?”
“It doesn’t say.”
“I’m betting the county council knows about this,” Chip said. “Claire, isn’t Margie’s daughter on the council?”
“Who, Tiffany?” Lucy asked. “Tiffany would definitely help us.”
“No, not Tiffany, Jade,” Claire said. “She’s not on the county council exactly, but she worked with them to make that new state park on San Juan.”
Lucy nodded. She knew Jade, too, and was sure she’d help. “Perfect. I’ll start there. We need to figure out who started this, and then we can figure out how to fight it.”
She disappeared into the hallway and started her hunt with a phone call.
“Hey Lucy! It’s been so long!”
Lucy winced. Jade had answered cheerfully, so much so that Lucy felt a bit guilty diving right into what she needed.
Not too guilty, though. “I know! I’m sorry, I’m the worst. I’m calling because we’re in a crisis over here.”
“What’s going on?”
She explained the letter and what she knew about the situation. Jade was horrified and promised to do whatever she could. She thought one of the county council members would at least be open to explaining what was happening.
The only problem was that it was Saturday. Jade promised to call her council friend immediately, but she warned they may not have time to talk until later that week. The woman, Angie, owned a restaurant in Roche Harbor and was quite busy on the weekends.
Though she wished it could happen faster, she would play with the hand she was dealt. Lucy said any time would be great and thanked Jade for her help.
They ended the call and Lucy got back to work. First she read a truly horrifying story about a neighborhood claimed by eminent domain. It was supposed to be for a factory – the company claimed it would bring jobs to the area and be a net positive.
In the end, the factory was never built, and hundreds of people had lost their homes.
Horrible.
