Home Sweet Home (21 page)

A
ndi hadn’t been to a town hall meeting in a decade. The din of voices in the huge, old red barn hit her first. Every seat was full, and people were lined up all along the walls. They were all chatting easily with one another, passing thermoses of hot drinks and baskets of brownies and cookies back and forth, but she’d been to enough town hall meetings to know that the mood in the room could—and often would—change on a dime.

What had she started?

She looked up and saw Nate standing up on the stage that had been erected in the front of the barn. Her breath shouldn’t have left her at nothing more than a glance at the man she loved, not after knowing him for as long as she had. But it did.

Sensing her presence, he looked up at her from the stage and smiled. Her lips actually tingled in response, as if he’d managed to send her a kiss from all the way across the barn.

A hand brushed her arm, and she pulled her gaze away from Nate to see who was trying to get her attention. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Mr. Klein?” My god, when had the president of the company she was here to represent decided to show up? “How are you?”

“This is quite a lively town you’ve got here.”

She nodded and worked to compose herself. Ever since her grandmother had ended up in the hospital, Andi had been living in jeans and long-sleeved T-shirts. Tonight, thank god, she’d run home from the store to change into a suit, fix her hair, and put on makeup and heels.

“Are you planning on spending the night, Mr. Klein? If so, it would be my pleasure to give you a tour of Emerald Lake tomorrow.”

Andi cringed at what that tour would entail.
Here’s our general store. Here’s the grocery store. Oh, look, here’s my family’s yarn store. And of course, here’s the lake. Isn’t it pretty?
And then after those thirty minutes were up, she’d have to start dancing around like a circus animal to keep her client entertained.

The differences between the city and the lake had never hit home quite so hard.

“Yes, I’ll be at the inn tonight. It was dark by the time I arrived tonight, but I’m certainly looking forward to getting to know Emerald Lake and the Adirondacks better. Be my guest for breakfast.”

Andi knew she’d better get her lips up into a smile and fast. “Breakfast sounds great.”

“Before the meeting begins, Andrea, I wanted to give you something to sleep on. Back in the office, we’ve been tossing around the idea of acquiring at least one of the old buildings on Main Street to put our own stamp on it. Some people want new, some people want something that’s been here for a while. It’s the perfect way to appeal to both audiences. Of course we will assist the current stores in finding excellent nonlakefront locations. Perhaps you can give some thought tonight on which buildings would be best to target.”

Andi felt her smile falter, but she couldn’t manage to fake a positive response. Not when she hated her client’s idea with every fiber of her being.

History was history.

Now she knew how she was going to use her time the next day. She was going to have to use every skill she had in her arsenal to convince her client to keep his hands off of the historic buildings.

And yet how could she be angry with him? He wouldn’t have even known about Emerald Lake if not for her. And she was the one who hadn’t cared about the history of the carousel.

Her stomach roiled at the thought.

What had she done?

Just then, her mother moved to her side. “There you are, honey.”

They’d spoken earlier in the day after her grandmother had been settled back into her cottage. Helen was with Evelyn now so that Carol could attend the meeting without worrying.

“Mr. Klein, I’d like to introduce you to my mother, Carol Powell.”

His attention shifted to her mother so completely that Andi almost felt as if she’d disappeared.

“How do you do?”

Instead of simply shaking her mother’s outstretched hand, he took a more old-fashioned approach and bent over her hand to press a light kiss to it.

Andi couldn’t believe her mother’s reaction, her blushing cheeks, along with the light that jumped into her eyes. She was clearly exhausted from her days in the hospital with Evelyn, and yet a stranger was making her look prettier than Andi had seen her in a very long time.

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Carol said softly before turning back to Andi. “I wanted to let you know I’ve saved you a seat if you need one.”

Still stunned by the clear chemistry between her client and her still-grieving mother, Andi somehow managed to say, “Thanks, but I believe I’ll be sitting up front on the stage so that I can give my presentation and answer questions.”

Looking almost shy, her mother shifted her gaze back to Mr. Klein. “In that case, would you like to sit with me?” A small smile moved onto Carol’s lips. “If you’re not used to it, these town hall meetings can sometimes be a little overwhelming.”

“I’d like that very much, Carol. Thank you.” Before they walked away, he said, “I’m looking forward to hearing your presentation, Andrea.”

Andi forced what she hoped was a believable smile, then watched with more than a little alarm as her mother led her very rich, very distinguished client over to a crowded bench of Emerald Lake locals. Within seconds he was the focus of everyone’s attention. Andi grimaced and wondered if she should go over there and save him.

Nate’s eyes were still on her when she looked back up at the stage.

Her heart squeezed. She missed him.

Rationally she knew it had only been a handful of hours since she’d last seen him, since she’d last been in his arms, but rational thinking fled every time he was near.

She loved him.

A warning flag went up in her as she instinctively moved toward him. She wasn’t used to leading with her heart rather than her head. Not to mention that the strength of what she saw in Nate’s eyes scared her enough to make her almost lose her footing as she walked up the stairs to the small stage.

Nate was right there to help her, to make sure she didn’t fall. Just like always.

“You look beautiful.”

She wanted to kiss him, but they were standing in front of three hundred people—some friends, some foes to her project.

The podium hid their hands from the crowd as he reached out to take hers. He rubbed his thumb across her palm.

“The only reason I’m not kissing you right now is because I know you’d kill me if I did.”

She shivered at his touch and the love in his eyes. “You’re right. I would.”

“Soon, Andi, it won’t matter what people think. Because they’ll know that you belong to me. And I belong to you.”

Her stomach tightened even as she said, “My client is here.”

But Nate didn’t look away from her at her small warning.

“The man sitting with your mother?”

“I didn’t know he was coming.” She frowned. “I hate surprises.”

His low laughter warmed her skin. “Have I mentioned I love you lately?”

Her eyes flew to his. Didn’t he know they couldn’t be flirting like this in front of her client—and practically the entire population of Emerald Lake? “Nate!”

“And that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen?”

Flustered, she worked to turn his focus, along with her own. “I should be reviewing my presentation. I haven’t done nearly as much as I should have today.”

“Why not? Was the store particularly busy?”

“Not really.”

“Then what had you so preoccupied?”

She couldn’t miss the loving gleam in his eyes, the heated grin playing around the corners of his mouth. “You know what.”

“Tell me.”

Just as he’d needed her to say “I love you” last night, she knew he needed this from her now. So even though she knew better than to flirt with the mayor in front of the entire town not five minutes before going head-to-head with him on her building project, she said, “You, Nate. You’re what has me so preoccupied.”

The air between them shot off with electricity. She had never wanted anything more than she wanted to reach out and pull him into her, to kiss him, to lay her claim to his love in front of everyone. Even the warning flags waving all throughout her brain couldn’t find a way to stop her from moving closer.

She was almost there, could almost taste his mouth, could almost feel the warmth of his hard chest pressed up against hers, his strong arms holding her, when Catherine cleared her throat—loudly—beside them.

“The natives are getting restless.” She purposefully didn’t look down at their linked hands. “We should probably get started.”

Andi dropped Nate’s hand and took an awkward step back. “Thanks, Cat.”

Fortunately Catherine wasn’t acting like anything strange was going on. “Here, I’ll put your jacket in the back room just beyond this door. Anything I can do to help you set up?”

Andi reached into her bag and pulled out her laptop. “All I need is the cable to hook this up to the projector.”

Catherine efficiently untangled the cord so that it would reach Andi’s computer. Andi had been giving these kinds of presentations for so long she rarely got nervous anymore. But this time everything felt different. Probably because she’d known everyone in the audience since she was in diapers.

And because she didn’t want to let them down.

Especially the one person who wasn’t there. Her father wasn’t out in the audience, but she could still feel him there. Watching her. Telling her not to give up, no matter what the hurdles.

At this thought, her fingers went numb and she dropped her power cord. Andi could feel Nate’s concerned glance on her even though he was speaking with someone off to the side of the stage.

Catherine quickly moved to pick up the power cord and plugged it in. “Are you okay?”

“No.” Andi started at her too-honest response. “I mean, yes. Of course. I’m fine.”

Catherine uncapped a bottle of water. “Drink.”

Andi hadn’t realized just how dry her mouth was until she put the plastic bottle up to her lips.

“Seriously, Andi, you’re white as a sheet.”

“I was just thinking about my father. About the fact that he isn’t here tonight.”

“He expected a lot of you, didn’t he?”

The plastic bottle shook in Andi’s hand. “Of course he did.”
The brass ring. That’s what he had expected her to grab. Every time.
“What parent doesn’t expect the best from their child?”

“Don’t forget, I’ve known you for three decades. Well, the first two, anyway. I used to see that look on your face whenever you knew your father was watching you do something.”

Andi couldn’t believe she’d been so transparent. Guilt had her saying, “My father was wonderful.”

“He was. And imposing. A little scary, too.”

“I wasn’t afraid of him,” she protested. He had never raised a hand to her. Or his voice.

“But you were afraid of disappointing him. How could you not be? Heck, we all were afraid of disappointing the senator. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to be his daughter.”

Andi’s throat felt tight. Nate’s words from his dock came back at her.
“He hurt you, too.”

And the truth was, she’d never realized how strong her fears had been. Not just of disappointing her father.

But of disappointing herself.

Her entire identity had been her success, first at spelling bees and then with what colleges she went to and then with her career. Somewhere along the way she’d replaced her father’s voice in her head with her own, and she’d drawn a world around herself where there was black and white but nothing else. None of the soft rainbow of colors lining the Lake Yarns’s walls.

She’d wrapped herself up tightly in that identity to try and keep herself warm. But without the heat from Nate’s eyes, from his kisses—from his love—she’d been cold anyway. Somewhere along the way she had forgotten how to do anything but go for the brass ring. Even when it turned out to be so chilly and lifeless in her hand every time she managed to grab hold of it.

Andi felt her friend’s hand on her arm. “I’m sorry. I know you need to concentrate right now. But if you want to talk more later”—Cat paused, looked at Nate, then squeezed Andi’s arm—“about anything at all, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Cat.”

“And good luck. I’m not a fan of the condos, but I guess I get how things are a little better between you and Nate now. He just wants what’s best for you, even when it might not be best for him.” Cat shook her head and gave Andi a lopsided grin. “It was easier when things were black and white. When I could just focus on hating you.”

Andi was glad for the sudden laughter that sprung to her lips. “Yeah. That
was
a lot of fun.”

Cat laughed, too, and it was amazing how much it felt like old times—and how much she liked their renewed connection. Girlfriends weren’t something she’d focused on much for the past ten-plus years. There had been no place for them on her master plan.

Nate moved back toward them. “I’m about to open the meeting. Are you ready?”

No. She wasn’t ready for any of this. Not for the way her hometown, the people of Emerald Lake, the store—but especially Nate—had all crawled in underneath her skin.

Into her heart.

Still, right this second, with her client waiting for her to blow him and the rest of the audience away, there was only one answer. Only one response to Nate’s gentle question.

“Ready.”

Nate frowned at her false smile before turning so that his back was completely to the audience. “I don’t want you to forget for one single second that I love you, Andi. Always. Forever.”

With that said, he turned back around, stepped up to the microphone, and opened the town hall meeting.

N
ate kept his opening statement short. After filling in the crowd on the progress the road crew had been making on the main highway into town and the recent library fund-raiser, he got down to the real reason everyone was there.

“I’ve invited a special guest to our meeting tonight. Most if not all of you know Andrea Powell. Her mother and grandmother have owned and operated Lake Yarns for many, many years, and her late father was a valued member of our community, as well as the entire state of New York. Andrea, thank you for coming to speak to all of us tonight.”

She didn’t look the least bit nervous, regardless of what she was really feeling. It didn’t matter in the least that they were on opposite sides of her project. He was proud of her.

He would always be proud of her.

Graceful and elegant, she rose from her seat and approached the podium. “Thank you, Nathan.”

He almost laughed out loud at the way they were both using each other’s legal first names. They’d been Andi and Nate to each other for so long, it almost felt like a private joke they were sharing with each other amid the seriousness of the night.

She began her presentation, and as she took them through her excellent maps, drawings, and photographs of the proposed building site, he admired the way she spoke to the crowd. Not as if she was above them, but as if she was one of them. Which she was.

He had been a damn fool to say those harsh things in the bar that first night when she’d showed him her initial plans. He knew that now. And he would never stop making each and every one of those cruel words up to her.

The town remained focused and silent until she came to the end of her presentation. “Thank you, Nathan, and everyone who came out tonight, for this opportunity to speak with you about the project.”

She paused, looking down at her notes as if she was trying to make a decision. She folded them up and looked back out at the audience.

“This isn’t a part of what I planned to say, but I can’t help but feel as if my father is here tonight with all of us.”

It was the first time her voice shook all evening, and he watched her try to draw strength from her mother. Carol was right there for her daughter, just like she always had been, with a smile and a small nod.

Nate knew he wasn’t the only one who was choked up as Andi continued with, “As all of you already know, my father loved Emerald Lake. Many times, he told me that he wished more people knew about all our town has to offer, the beauty and nature. And the peace of mind just being here brings.”

Had she realized what she’d said?
Our town.
She was no longer talking about Emerald Lake as if it were an anonymous town that she wanted to bring additional revenue into.

Nate almost lost the fight to get up out of his chair and put his arms around her, to kiss her in front of everyone like he’d wanted to all evening, to drop to his knees and pledge his love to her in front of the entire town.

No, not just tonight. He’d wanted to claim her as his for nearly thirty damn years. Even when they were kids he had looked at her on the playground and thought,
Mine
.

Andi took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and looked out into the crowd, brave and ready for whatever was going to come her way tonight. “And now, I’d like to take your questions and address any concerns you may have about the proposed project.”

Several hands went up, but Mr. Wilcox spoke up without waiting to be called on. “I think we’d all like to hear what our mayor has to say about this.”

Andi moved slightly away from the podium so that Nate could stand beside her. He took her hand in his behind the wooden podium and squeezed it.

Despite the fact that they were standing in front of hundreds of people, the only person he was aware of was her. The vision came at him again of getting down on one knee, up on this stage, proposing to her in front of the entire town.

Someone in the audience cleared his throat and rational thought managed to push back into Nate’s brain.

“Andrea has made some excellent points about our town and about how all of us could benefit from growth. Unfortunately I don’t believe that condominiums are the best way to go about growing Emerald Lake. To me, what makes us special is our personal touch. Every building, every store, every park is unique. Coming to visit Emerald Lake is not like going anywhere else. And living here, as all of us know who are fortunate to call Emerald Lake home, is a true privilege.”

Nate called on one of the women who had her hand up. “Mrs. Wagner, do you have a question for Andrea?”

“I’m not sure how I feel about the condos, but I sure do like the idea of a new football field. Is this something we’ll be able to do without the builder’s money?”

Andrea leaned into the microphone. “I was thrilled by how quickly the Klein Group came on board with the football field. They immediately understood how important sports teams are to all towns, big and small. That being said, I believe that’s a question for Nate.”

Nate was glad to hear her switch back to the shortened version of his name rather than the overly formal Nathan. Taking her space at the microphone, he said, “You all know how important football is to me.” Everyone laughed. “But in answer to your question, Mrs. Wagner, I’ve taken a fairly detailed look at the city’s finances, and I’m pleased to say that a new football field might not be as far off as I once thought, and I’m planning on having a series of brainstorming meetings over the next few months to see if we can make it happen.”

Mrs. Graystone, an elderly woman who had lost her husband to cancer a year earlier, raised her hand. “I’d like to ask you about affordability, Ms. Powell. Without my husband here to help maintain our house, I’m starting to realize that my house is getting to be too much for me to take care of. Especially with winter coming. Knowing there were other options besides leaving Emerald Lake for an old folks’ home in Albany would be really comforting.”

Andi smiled at the woman, her blue eyes warm and reassuring. “I’m so glad you brought up the issue of cost. My client intends to make sure there are floor plans in a range of sizes and prices. Granted, the units with the water views will be more expensive, but I’d be happy to show you the current blueprints if you’d like to see where the more affordable units are situated.”

Mr. Radin jumped up next. “I, for one, would like to know what some city girl is doing coming into our town with her fancy buildings? Not only would your father not be behind these condos, but to my way of thinking, he would be ashamed to call you his daughter.”

Nate felt Andi’s world rock beside him as gasps of shock ricocheted through the crowd. But before he could grab the microphone, Andi’s mother was on her feet.

“Settle down, Ellis. If you have a question, ask it. But don’t you dare say something like that to my daughter again or you’ll have me to answer to.”

Knowing exactly where Andi got her strength from, Nate told the crowd, “None of us came here tonight to give or listen to personal attacks. Andi is here on good faith to talk to our town about her proposed building project. If anyone else comes at her like that, I’ll shut this forum down for good.”

He was so angry he barely felt Andi’s hand on his arm. She said, “It’s okay, Nate.”

She shoved his hip aside with her own to speak into the microphone. “I’m very sorry to hear that you feel that way, Mr. Radin.”

Her voice was steady.
Too steady,
Nate thought. Almost as if she was systematically shutting down chunks of her heart to get through the evening.

“All I can tell you is that I had the town’s best interests in mind when I put together my proposal for the Klein Group. As to what my father would think of it, perhaps you’re right and he wouldn’t have approved. I wish he could be here tonight with us to speak his mind as much as you do.”

Nate knew how hard it was for her to speak of her father, and yet there wasn’t a hint of emotion behind her words any longer. He wanted to pull her away from this stage, this barn, and yank down all of those walls she’d just rebuilt.

The heavy silence in the barn was broken by Dorothy’s voice. “I don’t have any problem with the condos, but I would like to know what the Klein Group plans to do with the historic carousel? Not only is it an important piece of this town’s history, but I believe if we could all work together to find a way to restore it, the next generations of children would enjoy it as much as I did when I was a child.”

Nate was glad to feel Andi soften slightly beside him.

“Thank you so much for bringing up the carousel, Dorothy. Admittedly, restoring it was not part of my initial project plan. But in speaking with you and my grandmother and my aunt and so many others whose memories are so strongly tied to the carousel, I have revised my plan. Nathan is right—this town is special. Very special. And the carousel is one of the elements of Emerald Lake that make it uniquely beautiful.”

She paused to single out her clearly surprised client. “I promise to work closely with the Klein Group to ensure we are doing everything we can to find a new home for the carousel so that present and future generations of Emerald Lake children will be able to enjoy it as much as you did.”

She paused again and seemed almost surprised by herself as she added, “Actually, we’ll be announcing a knitting contest soon from which all proceeds will benefit the Carousel Fund. Anyone who wants to find out more can come and talk to me or my grandmother, Evelyn, at Lake Yarns.”

A younger woman stood up, new enough to town that Nate didn’t know her yet. “Look, this isn’t a personal attack, but I specifically moved to Emerald Lake because there were no motel chains on the water or condos clogging up the town. I can’t believe I’m sitting here listening to this. Not just from her but from our mayor. From everything I’d read and heard about this town before moving here, I expected you to take a much harder line on something like this. What’s going on?”

Andi stiffened again and tried to pull away from him, but Nate wasn’t planning to let go of her hand any time soon.

Not when he needed her just as much as she needed him.

“Welcome to town and thank you for your feedback. My door is always open, and I’d be happy to speak with you more one-on-one about any concerns you have about both the town and my role as mayor. As for taking a hard line on these condos, while I’ve made my personal feelings about them clear already, it’s not up to me to run Emerald Lake alone. My decisions and my choices are not—and should not be—law.”

He ran his eyes over the people in the room, the men and women who had always been such a big part of his life, even before he’d needed their help keeping his family together after his parent’s deaths.

“In fact, before we go any further I’d like to see a show of hands. All of those for the condos?”

Nate was surprised to see more than a few hands go up.

“All of those against?”

Again many hands went up, but not nearly as many people were opposed to the condos as he had expected.

“All of those who would like to continue the discussion before making a decision?”

Half of the people in the barn held up a hand.

Interesting. He’d always trusted his own biases to lead the town in the right direction. Suddenly he wondered if he should have been talking less and listening more. Asking people what they did—and didn’t—want, even when it went against what he himself thought was right for them.

If not for Andi coming into town and shaking things up, would he ever have learned this incredibly valuable lesson?

More questions came, and he and Andi fielded them, her hand in his the entire time, until Catherine finally gave him the signal to close the floor.

“Thank you to everyone for attending our town hall meeting.’

On final person stood up, Jerry, who had gone to high school with both of them and was now raising his young family in Emerald Lake.

“I have one last quick question that I know a few of us are wondering about.”

Nate didn’t want anyone leaving the meeting feeling like they hadn’t had a chance to speak their mind or get their questions answered.

“Sure, Jerry, go ahead. We have time for one more quick question.”

“So, with you and Andi being a couple, do either of you really think it’s possible to be objective about these building plans? Isn’t there an inherent conflict of interest here? Look, what I’m asking is, should we think about bringing in a third, totally impartial party to assess the implications of this project?”

Andi’s hand went stiff and cold in his. He tried to keep his hold on her, but she was already slipping free. He saw Andi’s horrified gaze shoot to where her client was sitting beside her mother and watched a dozen different emotions cross her beautiful face—all of them grounded in fear—and even before Andi leaned into the microphone, Nate knew what she was going to say, knew what she was going to do.

And he also knew that there was no point trying to stop her. Because he couldn’t hold onto someone who wasn’t ready to be held.

Nate had to accept that, in the end, no amount of faith in the world could make love between two people work if only one of them had faith.

“Thank you for giving me a chance to clear things up, Jerry. Yes, Nate and I were a couple back in high school. But I assure you, we are both totally able to be objective now.”

She didn’t say they were a couple again. She didn’t say they weren’t a couple. Andi was the perfect politician, just like her father, hedging her bets, playing both sides.

Jerry looked confused. “So, you’re saying you’re not in a relationship with Nate? And that personal issues won’t affect your objectivity? For either of you?”

The barn was utterly, perfectly silent as everyone waited for Andi’s reply. Nate knew he shouldn’t be waiting along with everyone else. Only a fool would wait for something that was never going to come.

“No,” she finally said, her response barely a whisper into the microphone. “We’re not in a relationship, and personal issues won’t affect our objectivity for either of us.”