Page 64 of Enemies in Paradise

“I have the last say on whether the shop is designated historic. I’m the last one to sign.”

I don’t even know how to respond to that, so I sit first. I hate it when Grandpa is vague, expecting me to put the pieces togetherwhile not giving me any clue what the final picture is supposed to look like.

“Why are you letting her submit the papers to city council if you don’t plan on signing them?” I ask finally.

“Because if the city council doesn’t go for your proposal, even if Cassie isn’t able to buy the shop, I don’t want someone else coming in and tearing it down. I’m willing to say goodbye to a piece of my family history, but only for family. Only for you, apparently, since no one else but you wants to tear it down.”

That takes me back, but only for a second. Then I see what he’s trying to do. “Grandpa, I will not feel guilty about trying to keep the pond that meant so much to Mom. It’s more important to me—and to you—than the shop. She told me more than once that she’d loved skating there with you when she was a kid, and she loved teaching her own kids what her dad had taught her.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel bad,” he says in the gruff voice I’m more familiar with than his calm one.

“But don’t you see what you’ve done? I don’t have a chance getting my proposal approved now.” This may be the first time I’ve raised my voice to Grandpa, and I don’t feel good about losing my cool.

“What makes you think you don’t have a chance? I thought you believed in what you were doing.” Grandpa’s voice gets louder too, and seconds later Granny peeks her head into the room.

“Everything okay in here?”

“Fine,” Grandpa and I both snap.

“It doesn’t sound fine,” Granny scolds.

“We’ll keep it down, sweetheart,” Grandpa tells her, politely, but in a way that seems as if he’s shooing her out of the room.

“Thank you, dear,” she says, cheerfully ignoring his dismissive tone. “Can I get you something to eat, Baby Bear?”

My eyes dart to Grandpa. This is not the time for Granny to use the nickname she and Mom had for me when I was little.

“Sure, Gran. Thanks.” I give her a quick smile, careful not to dismiss her the way Grandpa did, but also wanting her to leave.

As soon as she’s gone, I turn back to Grandpa. “I believe in my proposal, but how am I supposed to get the city council to believe in it too if Cassie’s giving them another option for the property? Not only that, but she’s presenting to them the same night I am.”

“And that’s what you’re mad about? That she has the same chance you do to sell her idea to city council?”

“Yes!” I blurt. “I’m your grandson!”

“So, you’re entitled to the building?” Grandpa gives me a pointed look.

The obvious answer is yes. But that’s not the right answer. At least, it shouldn’t be. I wasn’t raised to believe I deserved to have something someone else had earned.

So I don’t answer at all. I stare at my hands instead.

Grandpa points the remote at the TV and clicks on the news, a sign that our conversation is over. But as I’m about to stand, he turns his head to look at me.

“Now that you’re mad, are you really ready to fight for what you want?” Grandpa raises an eyebrow.

I meet his eyebrow with a long stare. In the background, the weather woman announces warmer than usual temps are on the way. Paradise will be in the forties next week.

“I’ve always been ready to fight for it,” I answer, but my eyes travel to the TV screen and the weather report.

Britta’s words about an indoor rink come back to me as I realize I’ll have to cancel practice next week until temps drop below freezing again. The ice will be too thin.

Grandpa’s voice draws my attention back to him. “No, you’ve been ready to fightmefor it. I’m easy to win over. You’re my grandson, and I love you.”

He clears his throat, seeming as surprised as I am that he used the L-word.

“Except I didn’t win you over,” I mumble, trying to get us back on familiar ground.

“You won me over, but if you want this park and pond to work, you need the city’s support. Mine’s not worth a hill of beans if they’re not behind you, and you know it.” His steely gray eyes bore through me. “How’s your presentation coming?”

---