Page 86 of The House on Blueberry Lane

CHAPTER THIRTY

IT WAS PAST noon on Monday when Jaye walked out of a meeting that had started at eight o’clock and should have ended more than an hour ago. One of the other bankers in town, who was rumored to be entering politics, had wasted everyone’s time grandstanding.

After talking to Dean and Franklin and making lunch plans, he pulled his phone out of his jacket and saw he’d missed a couple of calls, and all from Vaughn. He hadn’t seen or talked to Vaughn since the wedding. Since the newlyweds had only planned to be gone a week, chances were Vaughn and Sierra had returned from their honeymoon by now.

He returned the call. “Vaughn, this is Jaye. I was in a meeting and see I missed your calls.”

“Thanks for calling me back. There’s something going on here in the cove that I think you should know about.”

“What?”

“The school board is bringing Velvet before them this evening on a code-of-conduct violation.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I wish I were. It took a lot of digging to find out the reason, since some of the board members don’t even know why. I understand Velvet doesn’t even know, and they won’t tell her until the board meeting tonight.”

“And what’s the reason?” Jaye asked angrily.

“Someone found out that you purchased land for her in Reid’s new development and they are trying to say it is a conflict of interest.”

Jaye gritted his teeth. “And just how is that supposed to be in violation of anything? Velvet and I are adults and it’s nobody’s business what we do. And it’s my money to do with as I please.”

“True, but no one knew you and Velvet were involved. I heard they first tried saying it was a morality violation but, just like you said, you’re both adults and you can do as you please with your money. They knew that wouldn’t stick so they went after a code-of-conduct violation since you’re sponsoring that cooperative bank at the junior high school.”

“What does that have to do with anything? Velvet isn’t involved with that and, even if she was, how would anything that would benefit the school cause a problem?”

“It doesn’t and shouldn’t. Once the school board agreed to allow you in to partner with the schools, they’re saying since your purchase of that land was a gift to her, she should have disclosed it.”

“What the hell? Velvet doesn’t even know I purchased that land for her. It was going to be a surprise wedding gift.”

“The two of you are getting married?”

“I’m working on it. Damn. I’ve been working on it since coming here, but dumb crap like this will not put things in my favor with her, Vaughn.”

All Jaye had to do was remember what Velvet had said the last time they’d talked. She’d seen his coming to town and taking over the bank and deliberately becoming her neighbor as manipulations. He could just imagine what she’d think when she discovered he’d bought that land for her, too.

“If you ask me,” Vaughn said, “it sounds like someone has it in for Velvet and is trying to shame her into admitting the two of you are involved in an affair that no one knew about. There are some in Catalina Cove, even members of the school board, who feel it’s their God-given right to know everything.”

“Well, I got news for them, it isn’t. And if they were so concerned about it, then why didn’t they contact me or bring me before the school board? This is nothing but bullshit and I’m not having it.” Jaye rubbed his hand down his face, not wanting to believe any of this. “What time is that school board meeting?” he asked.

“At six.”

Jaye glanced at his watch. In order to make that meeting, he would need to leave now. “I’ll be there.”

VELVET PULLED INTO the school’s parking lot and when she saw all the cars, she figured a basketball game was probably going on as well. She checked her watch as she swiftly walked up the steps and entered the school.

“Velvet?”

She turned upon hearing her name and saw Sierra, Vashti and Bryce. Smiling, she headed toward them. “Hey, guys. Are all of you here for the game?”

Vashti looked confused. “What game?”

She gestured at the parking lot. “I saw all the cars and figured there was a basketball game going on.”

Sierra shook her head. “Those cars are here for you.”

Velvet’s eyes widened. “For me? What on earth for?”

---