Page 12 of Take This Heart
I clear my throat. “Honestly? The land’s incredible. We can do a ton with it. Smarter structures. Integrated water systems. Minimalist builds with full-window lake views. Elevated walkways for accessibility. Modern materials—glass, steel, stone.”
Goldie scoffs. “We grew up on that land,” she says, voice softer now. “Hanging out with the guests who stayed in thecabins. There’s a clearing where my brothers used to camp out every summer. My mom would bring lemonade and tell us stories about the lake spirits. You build a steel structure there, and I swear I’ll chain myself to a pine tree.”
“That might complicate permitting,” I say dryly.
She glares at me. “This isn’t just about you and your sleek ideas. It’s about roots and memory. My mom’s gone, and this place is what’s left of her. I’m not going to stand by while it turns into another metal-and-concrete tribute to capitalism. You want to glass over everything that makes this placereal.”
The room is still as everyone’s gaze ping-pongs between Goldie and me. Tully and Camden have eased next to Goldie protectively, Tully crossing his arms as he stares at me.
A loon cries out in the distance. The sound never fails to make my chest ache.
“I didn’t come here to erase anything. I want to honor the land while making it sustainable, desirable, and usable year-round,” I say.
Her voice drops an octave. “You want to make it a luxury destination with infinity pools and helicopter landing pads.”
“Oh, you’ve seen inside my mind and know what I want?”
“Someone has to. You clearly haven’t looked at the soil erosion data or the wildlife survey.” Her chest is rising and falling, pink dusting each cheek.
“Okay, okay, let’s not get hostile,” Everett says, clearing his throat.
“We’re not hostile. We just have incompatible visions,” she says.
I let out a long whoosh of breath. “I apologize,” I say, looking at Everett. “I’m here to bring your ideas to life, should you get this land.”
Goldie’s head falls back and she groans. “He wants to tear down Spoonbridge and Cherry, for God’s sake.”
Damn,she’s something when she’s mad. Her cheeks flush, and her hands gesture like she’s trying to lasso the right words. Her sweatshirt is slipping off her shoulder again, and the distraction is criminal.
“That thing is iconic,” Tully says.
“Right?” Goldie says, flinging her arm out.
“I don’t want to tear it down. I simply want to move it so someone else can enjoy it.”
Tully looks between Goldie and me and I can see his wheels turning.
“Sounds fair,” he finally says.
Goldie groans again.
Everett puts his arm around his daughter and squeezes her shoulder. “Hey, don’t run Milo off before he’s even gotten started.” He laughs.
“I’m sensing we missed another important conversation somewhere along the way,” Camden says, barely containing his laughter.
“Yeah, what did you do to get Goldie all worked up?” Noah says, laughing. “Our little free spirit here rarely gets wound so tight.”
Goldie folds her arms again, like she’s holding herself together. “Shush, all of you.”
Dylan comes over and kisses her cheek. “I didn’t say anything.”
She turns to him and puts her hand on his cheek, smiling up at him. “Another reason you’re my favorite,” she says sweetly.
“Hey,” her brothers all protest.
It’s hard not to laugh at that.
“You really believe you can design something that matters here, Milo Lombardi?” she asks.
