“Not quite. You see, it doesn’t matter. According to Earnest here, all this land can be snapped up by me. I’m claiming eminent domain over all the businesses on Main Street. This deal will go through with or without you.”
“You can’tdothat!” Ronnie and Bonnie cried in unison, and Tuppy squared up like he was going to fight Cash.
But the mayor was only looking at Jillian.
“It’s the only way, sweetie,” he said, and there was a pleading note in his voice.
But she was shaking her head. And once Jillian made up her mind, that was it.
“I’m sorry, Cash. It’s over between us.”
Without another word, she turned and left.
“Jillian!” I cried, but Cash saw me watching her go and his face was set grimly as he pointed a big finger at me.
“You still lose, Frankie. And you’ll always lose.”
The townsfolk were all indignantly complaining, several people already had Earnest by the tie, and it looked like he might be getting run out of town on a rail.
But Mrs. Greenberg was advancing on us with her cane.
“Did he really lose? If nothing else, his sperm might have beaten yours.”
And then Tuppy and Dale leaped in between us, and I couldn’t see Cash anymore.
CHAPTER 24
Jillian
Isat on the beach of Ramshackle Bay with a napping Blue in my arms, watching as the waves crashed on the shore.
My favorite place in the world.
I couldn’t help remembering where it all began. . .
Frankie and I were driving down the coastal roads with the top down, trying to find the best beach to get married, and our car ran out of gas in Ramshackle Bay.
“Sorry, I forgot to check. Our chauffeur usually fills it up,” Frankie said, scratching his head in befuddlement at the empty gas gauge. Then he brightened as he looked at me.
“Well, let’s go look at the beach anyway. It’s really pretty.”
And he’d held out his hand to me, hair bleached to almost a golden blonde in the summer. And he was so beautiful to look at that it almost hurt my eyes.
I twined my fingers in his, and we ran down to the water.
It was love at first sight, the beautiful pure white sand, the way the sun hit the sparkling blue waves just right.
“This would be great for surfing!” Frankie said enthusiastically, and that was it for us.
We’d gotten married on this beach.
I’d fallen in love with Ramshackle Bay and I did not want to leave it.
Was Ramshackle Bay full of nosy neighbors? Slightly burnt beer? Was Mrs. Greenberg entirely too picky with her coffee? Yes, yes, and yes.
But it was also full of love, too.
Blue and Ibelongedhere.
