“Not so fast,” I interrupt. “Shouldn’t we double-check and make sure there isn’t some mistake?”
“Elinor, I know you all love that tree. Hell! I love it too. But the park has a new owner, and change is inevitable. Doug might as well get the job done.” That’s all the green light Doug needs. He turns back to Lady Whimple, and his chainsaw roars to life.
“You want to be like that?” Brandon shouts over the chainsaw. “Then I’m climbing up that tree and calling my lawyer!” He stalks off ahead to Lady Whimple and climbs the tree with easy confidence.
“Brandon!” Annie gasps from the top of the tree, pressing a hand to her heart.
“Daddy, you’re the best!” Pepper says from the ground. “Can I climb up, too?”
“No!” he calls back. “I’m going to make sure Annie’s safe, but please stay down here with Elinor.”
“But I want to help Annie save Lady Whimple!”
He hesitates. “Why not? Nobody’s cutting down this tree today.” He swiftly descends to the ground and boosts Pepper up to the lowest branch.
“Can you give me a boost too?” my mom asks. I have no idea when she arrived.
“Gladly,” Brandon says, making her a step with his locked fingers. My mom climbs into the tree, quickly followed by J.J. With each new arrival, Annie and Pepper cheer.
Doug turns off his chainsaw. “There must be something in the water at Norland Park that makes you all a little bit loco.”
“Are you leaving?” I ask hopefully.
“No, just taking a moment to regroup. Can you arrest them for disturbing the peace?” He asks Mayor Joe.
“Are you serious? You want me to arrest a little girl?”
“What about the guy with the beard?” asks Doug. Joe breaks out into a belly laugh.
The whole time I’ve been frantically dialing Edward over and over. He finally picks up.
“Elinor?” The sound of his voice is the sweetest sound in the world. “I’m on my way to see you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Good! Because we really need you.”
“What’s up? What’s wrong?”
“Please tell me you didn’t order to have Lady Whimple cut down.”
“What? Of course not. Is someone trying to cut the tree down?”
“Yes—they have chainsaws—and Annie is up in the tree—and Doug says you ordered the tree cut down,” I say in one breath.
“What? No! Elinor, slow down. I don’t know what’s going on, but I promise you I had nothing to do with it.”
My chest loosens with relief. I didn’t really think Edward would have Lady Whimple cut down, but I still feel so much better.
“I have Edward Frechette on the phone,” I say to Doug. “He didn’t order to have the tree cut down. Want to talk to him?”
“How do I know it’s him?” Doug asks skeptically. “It could be anyone.”
“I promise it’s him.”
“I can show him my I.D. as soon as I get there,” Edward suggests over the phone.
