Big Daddy: A Mountain Man's Baby Romance by Rye Hart

Author:Rye Hart [Hart, Rye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: MAGGIE

Carl and Doris both looked at me like I was nuts. Then they looked at each other and smiled.

“Maggie, we appreciate that you’re so fired up about this, but we really did give it a lot of thought,” Carl said. He rubbed a hand over the white stubble on his chin and sighed. “The truth is, we’re both old and tired. The last few years have been a real struggle, what with my old knees and Doris’ bad hip. And business hasn’t been good. We’re not as young as we used to be and this place doesn’t make the money it used to make.”

“I know Carl, but they can’t force you to sell. You can get an attorney. We can fight it,” I insisted.

“Honey, we don’t want to fight anymore,” Doris said, reaching over to take my hand. “Granted, when the mayor first brought this up a few months ago, we were resistant, but once we sat down with that Mr. Prescott and that nice Mr. Jenner, well, it just became clear that it was the best thing to do.”

I stared at her. “You sat down with Mr. Jenner? Tyler Jenner?”

“Yes, dear, the man with the beard that you came in with the other day.”

“You already knew him.” I let my eyes bounce between them.

“Well, yes,” Carl said. “But he asked us not to say anything about the deal until everything was signed, so when you came in with him, well, we just pretended not to know him.”

“That son of a bitch,” I said, my teeth gnashing. Doris patted my hand.

“Now, don’t be too upset with him, sweetie. He likes you a lot. I can tell.”

“He used me,” I said, shaking my head. “He knew all along that he was going to tear down all the shops I took him in. He said I was his tour guide. Bullshit, I was just like the guy who marks which trees get cut down in the forest.”

“Maggie, you’re overreacting,” Carl said.

“No, Carl, I don’t think I am.” I blew out a long breath and wiped my eyes. I mustered the best smile that I could for them. “So, when will you close?”

“We’re having a big closing party next Friday night,” Doris said. “We’re going to invite the whole town to come out and help us say goodbye.”

“Then what?”

They looked at each other and smiled.

Carl said, “Then, it’s Florida here we come!”

Doris grabbed his arm and tugged him close. “If I never see another snowflake that’ll be just fine with me!”

“I’m happy for you both,” I said.

It seemed that everything was working out fine for everyone -except me.

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