Page 38 of A Family Affair: The Plan
Tell him you love him.Mimi believed in forgiveness and second chances, but it would take a lot more than an apology for Sam to forgive her. And giving Hope another chance? That might never happen, which was why she’d decidednotto share talk of love or meant-to-be until she tried to make things right. Part of that plan involved a phone call to Martin.
“I have to call Martin and get him to shut down Kent’s plans.” She squeezed Mimi’s hand. “Thank you for caring so much. I’m truly grateful.”
Mimi’s blue eyes filled with tears. “I’ll help any way I can. Good luck with your call. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll head outside to the patio.” She pushed back her chair, stood. “It’s very calming out there.”
A nod, a smile, and then Mimi said, “I call it my tranquility space, and I’m happy to share.”
Hope made her way to the patio and the bursts of color from the daffodils, iris, allium, lily of the valley, and others she couldn’t name.Tranquility. Peace. Calm.She drew in a deep breath and punched in Martin’s number, determined to find out if he was involved in the offer to buy Edgar Harrington’s property.
“Hope, I wondered when you’d call.”
He still sounded like the man she’d once considered a father figure, the one who never forgot her birthday or a holiday. But maybe that had all been for show…maybe none of it had been real. “Did you know, Martin?Did you know?”
Long pause and then “Did I know what?”
She pictured her mentor sitting in his chair, expression pensive, lips pulled into a frown. “Did you know about Edgar Harrington?”
“Look, Hope. The town is perfect, and if someone is interested in selling his property, then we’re halfway there. Don’t you see that?”
“But he’snotinterested, and Kent is using intimidation tactics to encourage him to sell. I can’t believe you’d permit this.” How many other times had Kent done this and why hadn’t Martin put a stop to it?
“Intimidation? Kent said he thought the man would be open to selling.” Martin sounded surprised.
“No, Kent threatened to squeeze him out.”
“Those are serious accusations, Hope. I’m sure that’s not what he said.”
“Really? You’re sure? Maybe you should check again and have a conversation with your nephew. Maybe you’re closingyour eyes to what you don’t want to see because it’s convenient. I trusted you, Martin. I believed in you. Were you just stringing me along?”
“No! I would never do that. I care about you and I care about the integrity of this firm.”
“Then show it and shut down Kent’s attempts to force Edgar Harrington to sell.”
Magdalena protected its own,and while they might welcome newcomers, they had to be vetted, had to prove they belonged, and if they hurt one of their own? Well, they were done.
News of Hope Newland’s attempt to purchase the Heart Sent for her company flew through town faster than the Christmas Eve snowstorm several years back.
Can you believe that woman pretended interest in the Heart Sent and all along she wanted to buy it?
For what? Some high-end fancy bed-and-breakfast?
No, to use it as a model… They call it a flagship. You don’t think they would have just kept everything the same with Mimi running it… Lace tablecloths, photo albums of all the meant-to-be and happily-ever-afters sitting on the table? What about the blueberry muffins, the apple pies, and homemade meals?
Oh no, they would’ve turned those into peel-back-the-cover-and-heat-in-the-oven or the microwave.
Right, no beef stew or pork roast…no chili… No homemade spaghetti sauce or chicken noodle soup… What about beef stroganoff? Apple strudel? Chicken and dumplings? Homemade bread and buttermilk biscuits? Pancakes! Blueberry, banana walnut… Chocolate chip cookies and lemon meringue pie.
Stop! You’re making me hungry.
Even if they offered Mimi a spot as the proprietress, what would that look like?
Not good. They might make her wear a uniform, and don’t think they’d permit the bouncy ball earrings.
No, indeed.
Poor Sam Harrington. He and that woman might have been trying to keep everything hush-hush, but one look at them together and you knew he was crazy about her.
