Chapter 17

17

Percy

I felt like I was walking into an execution. The last twenty-four hours had really destroyed me. The emotional highs and lows had been extra high and low. But now, after a long day in the bakery, it was time to see what the city of Foggy Basin was going to do about the resort and their insistence on removing the businesses on our side of town.

The word on the street was not good. The mayor and city council really felt that the resort was a necessity, and the tourism that it would bring in would be important enough for them to threaten eminent domain for the building of the megalopolis that would soon destroy the view of the lake. Two words that could destroy everything that we had built.

The other owners met me outside in front of the hall, and it was glaring when some of them didn't show up. They had signed the agreement, and the money had been too much for them to ignore. I got it. Small businesses were a lot of work, and the struggle could be painful. They had decided to rip the band-aid off. Maybe they would rebuild on the other side of town, or maybe they had decided to retire. Either way, it only hurt our cause.

"Looks like Roger and Paul have thrown in the towel. I have to say that last offer really made me think," Susie sadly shook her head. "I guess this is it, kid. You did a real good job, though. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't win."

"Thanks, Susie." I glanced around at everyone and was shocked to find Tim in the group. "I'm glad you could join us."

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," he grinned. "I think we're all going to be surprised."

"You think we're gonna win?" Susie huffed. "We all know that George wants this to go through. We're fucked."

"We'll see. I think I have hope, Susie."

"Hope you have enough for us all," Tammy Sue laughed. "Because I am all tapped out."

"Let's just get this over with. If they're gonna take it away, I want them to tell me to my face." I walked up the stairs and turned around to face my friends. I hadn't known most of them very well at all when I moved back. But we had banded together, and I was glad to be facing the firing squad with all of them. "Remember that no matter what happens, we don't have to let it be the end."

"This is it for me, kid. If they force me to sell, I'm not going to try to rebuild. I'll just retire somewhere else. I don't think I'd want to stay here," Susie said sternly.

"Well, let's see what they have to say." I turned and opened the door. Everyone followed me into the small auditorium, where the city council had their monthly meeting. I was shocked to see so many other people sitting on the benches. I had only ever came to one of these things when the first offer arrived, and it had been practically empty. Only Evelyn seemed to ever be here.

That wasn't the case today. Ben's mother, Nancy, was sitting in the front row. Most of our town had filled the benches, except for the front right row. That must be the greedy corporate monsters in their very expensive suits. They stood out like a sore thumb amongst the town's people.

"Give them hell," our resident burly lumberjack, Nate, said as I walked by. Ezra waved, and Ken Johnson looked angry. He was usually so pleasant at the gas station.

"Looks like almost everyone is here," Mayor George Nelson stood up and looked down the dais where the other seven members of the city council sat. He didn't look very well. I guess telling your friends that they were losing everything they had wasn't very good for his disposition.

"Sorry, I'm late. I was… uh… looking at those numbers, and…" The mayor's assistant started whispering something in his ear. He pulled out a folder and handed it to the mayor. Everything stopped as the mayor passed the folder down the line to the rest of the council members. They nodded one at a time, and eventually, the folder was sent back down the line to the mayor.

"Alright. We only have one order of business today: the land lease and business acquisition by the outside firm Boyd, Hollman, and Brooke, as well as a few Foggy Basin business owners who I know would like a chance to be heard. We will keep to the schedule as prepared for this meeting." He looked at his watch and glanced around the auditorium as if he were looking for someone. "Shall we begin?"

"The first person on the agenda is Susie Stanton of Susie's Dress Emporium." The mayor's assistant read from the agenda.

"You got this, Susie." Tammy Sue patted her on the back as she stood up and made her way nervously to the microphone.

"My name is Susie Stanton, and I know everyone in this room except for the gentlemen sitting to my right in the very fancy suits. They look very expensive and well-tailored. I have had the pleasure of selling upscale clothes in town for the last twenty-eight years. Almost every high school senior has bought their formal attire at my store. Many of the ladies in town wear what they acquired in my store to church or out to eat at one of our fantastic local restaurants." She cleared her throat.

"After I graduated high school, I went off to find myself, and when that didn't work, I eventually came back to my home – to Foggy Basin, and I have never left. When my grandmother passed away, I used the money that she had left me to start this store. A nest egg that was given in love which allowed me to become a proud Foggy Basin business owner. I have enjoyed watching the joy on your faces when you found the right dress in my store. I have felt like a part of your families over the years and have developed many friendships during that time because of the service that I provided to the town. It has been one of my greatest pleasures. I am not ready to retire. I enjoy what I do. But if I am forced to move because my business is being taken away from me, no matter the payout, I will not reopen. This town will have told me how important I am to them, and I don't think I would have the energy to rebuild." She cleared her throat again. "That's all, George."

The mayor smiled at her. "Thank you, Susie." He glanced back around the room. "Who's next?"

"We only have one more business owner to speak to before we get to the rest of the business, Sir." The assistant said quietly. "How much time do we…"

"Percy Armstrong, we would all like to hear from you, please. It's your turn, young man." George abruptly stood up and glanced again around the auditorium. He frowned and sat back down.

"You got this, Percy," Tim put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "Speak for the rest of us."

I stood up and made my way down the aisle. Tammy Sue moved her knee so I could slide by, and I walked up to the microphone.

"My name is Perseus Armstrong, and I have had the pleasure of being a part of the business community of Foggy Basin well before I was ever born. My parents visited Foggy Basin on their honeymoon and moved here shortly afterward. They began a business called Don't Go Bakin' My Heart well before I was ever born. They baked cakes for the special occasions in everyone's life. They made cupcakes and cookies for little league games, as well as a thriving storefront that people visited often to get their sugar fix."

"When they told me they wanted to retire, I left my job at a Michelin-starred restaurant in France to come home. That's how much this place meant to me—not just the bakery but the town itself. Foggy Basin has been and always will be my home. Its people will always be my people because that is the joy of living in a small town. We stick together and do what is right for each other."

"Do you know what isn't right? Telling businesses that have stood the test of time that they are no longer viable in the march of progress. Killing thriving local storefronts to be able to accommodate an outside industry that has never been a part of our community before. How many good jobs do we have to lose for this new company to come in and provide jobs for the community that aren't as good? How many Foggy Basin owners have to have their history stripped away for another industry that is unknown to the people of Foggy Basin?"

"These gentlemen do not know us. They are not a part of us in any way. What do they see? More money for them in their large big city building. Where is the desire to keep Foggy Basin weird and to keep the money and jobs within the small business community? How many restaurants will the complex have? If you look at their other resorts – each of them have the same four restaurants inside. What else does the resort have? About seven other stores on their properties would ensure that any tourism that came into our towns would barely ever bleed into the city itself. These resorts are like small towns all on their own. We may need tourism, mayor, but I am afraid that what they bring isn't tourism – it's the death of the businesses inside the town."

The mayor held up his hand, and I paused. "Finally…" he sighed.

"I'm sorry?" I was completely confused.

"You're not wrong." Ben's voice said firmly behind me. I turned to find him walking down the aisle. "You've never been wrong."

"Ben, what are you…"

"Mister Fitzgerald, we wondered when you were going to join us." One of the men stood up and held out his hand to Ben, who stared at it. We've saved you a seat." He looked at Ben with distaste.

Ben smiled back at him. "I'm afraid I am no longer on track to become a partner, Richard. HR has been given my resignation about three hours ago."

"I'm sorry, but what is going on."

"My name is Ben Fitzgerald and I am from Foggy Basin. Up until a few hours ago, I worked for the organization that is trying to build a resort in our town. Our town," he glanced at me. "But after speaking to the mayor, he offered me a job that I could not turn down. I now work for the city of Foggy Basin, Richard."

"Do you have anything else to add, Percy?" Mayor Nelson asked kindly. He now looked a lot calmer.

"I just… uh…"

"Why don't you let us take it from here? I have this, Percy. Trust me," he said firmly.

I did, and maybe I was a fool. But the way he stormed in here like he was riding a white fucking horse had taken my breath away, once again. I stepped away from the microphone and Ben grabbed my hand and kept me by his side.

"We're all good mayor." Ben said.

"What is going on here!" Richard Boyd demanded and the mayor slowly stood back up.

"I am afraid that we have had some changes to our plans, Mister Boyd. After further investigation – which I am sad to say this council did not do enough of – we have decided to terminate the offer to Boyd, Hollman and Brooke for the leasing of city land to build a resort. The studies have shown that your resorts are not good for the community's health."

"What are you talking about?" Richard turned and spat angrily.

"We were given numbers from your organization that seem to be fairly fraudulent when compared to the numbers given to me by the smaller towns where you have built your other resorts. Did you know that only forty percent of those towns have had their financial numbers increase, Mister Boyd? Those are drastic differences from the forecast that you presented to us."

"Where di you get those numbers? If Mister Fitzgerald, who is fired, by the way, gave those to you, he would be in breach of contract with the firm."

"Ben did nothing of the kind. Those numbers came from the other city councils and mayors that I personally contacted."

"I did already quit, by the way," Ben chuckled. I think he was enjoying this more than I would have thought.

"This is ridiculous. What we provide cannot be quantified by the economy of the town. Small businesses open and close all the time. It's not a steady…"

"Sixty percent of those towns saw a decrease in money coming into the town shortly after the resorts opened. Businesses began to fail. It's one of the reasons that we have ordinances in this town to keep out big box stores. Once we looked at the rates of business failure in these other towns, we're afraid that our ordinance would not allow you to conduct business here."

"This is ridiculous." Mister Boyd looked furious.

"Have you done it, Bobby?" Mayor Nelson asked his assistant.

"Yes, sir. It has been sent." We have just denied your permits and sent a letter to your lawyers saying that we will not continue with the negotiation of your contracts, which have never been signed.

"You have no idea what it is you are doing."

"Oh, I think I do. The meeting is adjourned unless you have anything else to say, Percy?"

"Meeting adjourned," I squeaked, feeling like I was flying.

The gentlemen in the fine suits all exited quickly from the auditorium, and I was left there standing next to Ben, who had never let go of my hand.

"I'm tired of saying sorry, Percy."

"I'm tired of forgiving you," I chuckled. I was also tired of my head spinning around like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. I didn't know what was up and what was down because I was fucking confused.

"Can you please tell me what is happening?" I asked numbly. I was happy, but it had all happened so fast that I didn't know what any of it meant.

"I will tell you all what is happening, unofficially, of course." Mayor Nelson came around the dais and stood in front of all of us. "Foggy Basin will never take away your businesses. I was about to make… Well, the council and I were about to make a very big mistake, and your Ben here called me last night and changed my mind. At his suggestion," Mayor Nelson winked at him. "I did call the other towns where BHB had built their resorts, and they had quite a bit to say to me."

"It was all you, Mayor. I just made a suggestion as a concerned resident." Ben winked back.

"But I still believe that more tourism to our small town would be good for everyone. Ben, here, has put me in touch with a small boutique firm that has built small resorts in other places." Mayor Nelson grinned happily, and like a fool, I grinned back. What the hell had just happened? Did Ben come in and save the day? Why would he throw everything away?

"He's a friend who used to work with me but then struck out on his own. He raises private capital, but what I like about him the most is his commitment to the health of the small towns where he builds."

"Yes, a small resort with nice pools, golf courses, and activities that use and take care of the land around us is exactly what we needed. It also helps that the town itself will be a stakeholder in the resort. What is it that we have in spades around here? The great outdoors. This will be a resort for people who come here to explore and to have fun. We have been promised that there would be no shops or restaurants in the resort itself, since it will be right on the edge of the town. Think of the money that small business owners will make. It's a win win and all thanks to our hometown hero, here."

"I'm glad I could help, Mayor." Ben grinned and glanced at me, and I dropped my eyes.

"Son, you need to call me George." He clapped him on his shoulder. "I'm glad to have you on the team."

"You're really working for the town," I squeaked.

"Ben will oversee the resort's construction and serve as our new business and growth developer." Mayor Nelson said quickly and then cleared his throat. "I need to get back to it. See you next week in the office, Ben." He left us and Ben took my other hand in his.

"You're moving back here?" I whispered.

"Unless you tell me not to."

"Please?"

I'm sorry, I…"

"Will you please shut up and kiss me." And he did. Fireworks exploded once again in my brain as Ben held me tightly against him.

"I'm really glad you're not a greedy corporate monster. I should have listened to you."

"I should have told you the truth."

"It's all real?"

"Ask me."

I think there are other things I would prefer to do with my mouth." I giggled.

He bent down and kissed me chastely. "Like this?"

"I can't believe you're staying." He kissed me again.

"There was no way I could ever leave as soon as I saw you."

Maybe I was about to get my happy ending after all.