She raises her eyebrows. “You’re sure?”
I nod. “I’m sure, Gam. Don’t worry about it. Not to mention, it’s kind of nice thinking that this one is for more than just money. Even though Mayor Reed is a royal jerk with a stick up his ass and an ego the size of a continent, I’m okay making a deal like this. The road work is probably only the tip of the iceberg with him, and if I show him I’m game to play ball as long as I get something out of it too, that’s a good relationship to have.”
Gam shrugs noncommittally and says a quick “thank you” as the waiter drops off a basket of rolls. She grabs one, quickly tearing a piece off and throwing it in her mouth. “Well, don’t stress yourself out over it. That’s all. And I wouldn’t use that sort of negotiation logic with Olivia’s granddaughter, if the two are anything alike.”
It didn’t occur to me that my grandmother might have known hers—and now I’m realizing Gam might really be able to help me.
Of course, I would never assume that they’re the same person, but they very obviously have similar interests. A lot of love between the two. And if I had to bet, I’d say Eve Harper looked up to her grandmother as her idol.
Andthatcan influence you long after that person is gone.
I nod, taking another bite of my bread, and eye my grandmother. “So what was Olivia like?”
5
EVE
The municipal building is on the far side of town, past the shops and the inns and the restaurants that make up the most bustling areas. It has a stone facade and large, heavy wooden doors with their original knockers, well-worn with time.
Today they're propped open as the town filters in, neighbors and shop owners greeting each other easily. Members of the town council wander, popping in and out of conversations while gently herding the growing crowd into their seats.
“Eve!”
The sound of my name has me searching for my girl group. Tabby, who owns the town’s tea shop, and Rory, who owns the flower shop a few doors down, always come to town meetings, since it’s generally the best place to find out about upcoming town events or other business that might affect their shops.
Izzy and I pop in and out when we need to, mostly because I’m on the outskirts of town, so the only events that really affect me are ones that the farmparticipates in. Halloween hayrides for the littles who aren’t quite old enough to go on the town’s scary hayride. The sunflower festival that results in dozens of tractors full of people visiting the farm.
And Izzy comes because all her friends are here.
She waves me over, patting the seat next to her, and Tabby grins as I sit, her face lighting up. “Are you going to get in a fight with the mayor again? All I’m asking is for a heads up because last time I really wanted some popcorn for that show.”
“No,” I say. “That wasn’t a fight. It was a strongly worded request to protect the sunflower farm that has unfortunately not been granted.”
She purses her lips, tucking a strand of curly brown hair behind her ear. Her eyes are glued to mine, glistening with the prospect of good gossip. “Uh-oh. What happened?”
Mayor Reed’s voice booms out across the room as he bangs his gavel on the podium. “If everyone could please find your seats and settle down.”
I lean across Izzy so I can speak to Tabby, my voice lowered. “Asshole who bought the land next to me waltzed onto the farm in his fuckingloafersto measure my stream.Measure. Not protect. He’s not interested in protecting anything, just covering his ass.”
She raises her eyebrows. “And he’s still alive?”
I give her a tight smile. “Not for long, if I have anything to do with it.”
“Ladies,” Mayor Reed booms, eyeing us. I wave him off in lieu of flipping him the bird because I recognize that while he did not upholdhisend of the deal, I still need him on my side.
“Sorry, Reed,” Rory calls out.
He nods. “We have a packed agenda today, so let’s get started.”
He rubs his hands together as his attention turns to the topic list in front of him. He runs a hand through his graying hair, his expressive face giving some minor reaction to every topic he lists out for the group.
When he finishes, he glances up at the room. “Do we have any additions we want to add to the list before we start?”
I raise my hand. “The development being built next to the sunflower farm,” I shout, before he can call on anyone else.
He eyes me over his reading glasses. “Ms. Harper, is this related to last month’s request?”
“Yes,” I say.
