“Silence!” Cash thundered. “Everyone hasn’t forgotten what a jackass you are.”
There was a general rumbling and rustling, and for a moment I thought I’d be the only one objecting.
“When you say money flowing into this town,whois it going to flowto?” Mrs. Greenberg suddenly put in.
“The parameters of this deal are fluid,” Cash said easily, his bright white smile flashing. “But I can promise you I have your best interests at heart. Who are you going to trust,meor that idiot?”
Shit.
I felt my hope sinking.
If he made it between me and him, the town was going to lose. Cash was very popular, while I was a total pariah.
Then, the door opened and Jillian walked in with Blue on her hip.
As always, the irritated rustlings and bustlings turned into general oohing and aahing over how cute Blue was, how nice Jillian was looking, what a pretty picture they made, how shining Jillian’s eyes were, etc.
But her lips were set firmly today.
“I want to keep my business,” Jillian said flatly. “Period. Can this Beachy Peachy Dreams Corporation guarantee that with all their economic development and synergy strategies, that I can keep my coffee shop?”
A total, dampening silence fell onto the assembled crowd, and I could feel their eyes all turn to the front, where Cash stood at the podium.
For a moment, I thought he was going to bluff his way through, but then I saw his big fingers move slowly to his tie, and he adjusted it. Like he was suddenly feeling a bit choked.
“Are you really going to side with Frankie?” he said, and did I detect a jealous note in the big man’s voice?
“Can you guarantee everyone will be able to keep their businesses?” Jillian retorted. “Mrs. Greenberg? Tuppy? Ronnie and Bonnie? Dale of Dale’s Fish ‘n’ Chips? The Pemberley B&B?”
There was another silence.
Was Blue really my baby? She seemed to be looking right at me, staring into mysoul.
“No,” Cash finally said. “I can’t.”
There will audible gasps all around me.
“I want to keep Treasured Memories!” Bonnie yelled angrily, while Ronnie said, “Hear, hear!”
Everyone seemed to agree, and I seized the moment.
“Let’s put it to a vote!” I cried as Earnest vainly tried to quiet the crowd.
It didn’t take long for the votes to all go into a wooden lockbox, which was opened and counted by Earnest’s assistant Augustus.
And, no matter how scorching Earnest’s glare was, Augustus counted true.
It wasn’t even close.
There would be no deal with the Beach Peachy Dreams Corporation.
“The votes are in!” I said exultingly. “You have gone down to a resounding defeat, Mr. Mayor.”
Cash smiled, and I could see every one of those gleaming teeth. “Very nice, Frankie. The love you have for this town is. . . quite touching.”
“It’s not about me. Now everyone gets to keep their businesses.”
And Jillian, I thought to myself. That’s the most important thing. That Jillian is happy.
