Page 14 of Your Heart & Mine

Harper tried to wrap her mind around Brenna’s idea, and the fact that it came from her baby sister. Maybe she wasn't giving Brenna enough credit after all, but a B&B? “I don’t know, Brenna. It would take a lot of remodeling and then there are the historic register people to fight with. I’m not sure we have the time or cash to make that happen.”

“Actually,” Elizabeth said, tapping her chin. “This could be interesting to look into. Brenna's right. My friend, Lis, just came all the way from Norfolk to have a barn wedding over in Henry County a few months ago. I remember her showing me the wedding magazines and the venues she was looking at. Lots of them weren't as nice as this place. It's all over Pinterest. I can do a little research on the historical register regulations as well.”

"And I could build a website and promote it. I could become the event planner. I know I could, Harp," Brenna said excitedly. "It's exactly the kind of thing I've been longing to do."

The weight on Harper's heart lightened the smallest fraction at her sisters' enthusiasm. Her lips quirked up in a half smile. ""Okay, I'll keep an open mind. Let's keep thinking and meet back here tomorrow morning with what we've come up with." Her eyes strayed to the ceiling where she knew Cam's room lay. "Now, I'd better go drag Cam's frozen, British ass out of bed and take him with me to town to find some warmer clothes. There's no Nordstrom or Tommy Hilfiger stores here so this should be an adventure. I wonder if I can get him in plaid flannel and Carhart's?"

Brenna snickered and Elizabeth just rolled her eyes. The sisters smiled at each other; the tension suddenly broken.

As Harper ascended the stairs, she rolled her sister's suggestion over in her mind and a new one began to take shape. What if they didn't just save the house? What if they could recover some of her father's properties and do something good with them? One of the things that had attracted her to Carolina Realty was the community projects they liked to partner on — buying up dilapidated properties and turning them into daycare or senior centers, affordable housing and the like. They'd even been pivotal in getting a new elementary school built in Lucama, a tiny North Carolina town that was in desperate need of one. Marijo, the owner of the company, had a strong philanthropic streak.

Harper's steps quickened as the thoughts kept coming. Maybe there was a way to turn the tragedy of her father's death into a positive legacy for them all.

Chapter twelve

Community

Nothavingplannedonstaying in Carrington Ridge more than a couple of days, Wyck found his wardrobe and supplies quickly dwindling. The hotel offered to send some things to the cleaners, but in the meantime, he figured he'd make a trip to the local Wal-Mart for some essentials.

Thirty minutes later, he was not at all sure the trip had been a good idea. In Richmond, he was normally out of a store in minutes not making eye contact with anyone but the cashier—and that was hit or miss. They were on their phones or talking to coworkers just as often. Here in Carrington Ridge, everyone met your eye, usually with a smile, and if they knew you, stopped to chat. Sometimes, even if they didn't. Today, every aisle was a minefield of people who recognized him and needed to 'catch up'. He was exhausted and hadn't even gotten half the things on his list yet.

Wyck started down the aisle again, rubbing his forehead where a headache was just starting to bloom. He had to admit that part of him enjoyed seeing people who he'd grown up with and seeing what they were doing now, but the other part just wanted to get in and out. It would be too easy to get sucked back into the small-town life, and he wasn't at all sure what his future held at this point. Ideas had been rattling around in his head since he'd been back, but he didn't know if he was up to the task.

'Oh my God, it is you!" A voice bellowed as he tried again to make it down another aisle, looking for razors. "Meghan said she'd saw you, but I didn't believe it. Never thought I'd see you in these parts again."

"Good to see you, Tug," Wyck said, putting a smile on his face and pumping the big man's proffered hand up and down in greeting. The clap on his shoulder almost had him falling over. Tug had been a defensive tackle on the football team while he'd been a running back. While the man's gut had obviously grown over the intervening years, he was still broad-shouldered and, apparently, strong.

"What have you been up to, Crockett?" Tug asked, his gap-toothed smile wide and friendly.

Wyck gave a little wince at the name and an inward sigh. He started in on the spiel he had locked down having repeated it over and over since he'd entered the store. Got a scholarship to Old Miss. Living in Richmond. Working in real estate. Tug nodded along genially.

"When you just up and disappeared, Martin tried to convince us you'd been kidnapped by aliens." Tug guffawed at his own jest. "We've missed you man."

"Thanks, Tug. I should have said good-bye but, well, you know…" He was pretty sure Tug didn't know but he politely agreed anyway. "What about you? What have you been up to?" Wyck found suddenly, to his surprise, that he really was interested in the answer. He'd always liked Tug and he seemed to be the same good-natured giant he'd always been.

"Well, me and Carly got married, you know. Well, no, you wouldn't know, would you?" He chuckled at himself. "Anyway, we tied the knot and have a few kids now. I've been working at Ridgeway Tire. Carly's a nurse, but she was having to travel so far to work, she's given it up until all the kids get in school."

The man took off his cap and swiped his thinning blond hair back with his meaty palm. Wyck noticed the black under his fingernails. The thick calluses on his hands. His face lined with more wrinkles than he should have at their age. He'd been working long and hard for a lot of years.

"Times are tough, man," Tug continued. "Course, it's never been easy 'round here, but seems to be worse these days. Lots of people going out of business. Now that Mr. Carrington is gone, well, people at the mill are nervous about their jobs. No one knows what's gonna happen."

Wyck nodded thoughtfully. When he'd been buying up all Jonah's properties and businesses, he'd not given much thought to how it would affect the people that worked in those businesses or those that patronized them. His only goal had been to take them away from his enemy.

"I hate to hear that, Tug," Wyck replied honestly. He wanted to tell the man it would get better but didn't want to just be spouting pleasantries. The vague idea that had been floating around his head began to wriggle lower in his gut. He wanted to help these people,hispeople. He'd spent so many years running away from his past and where he'd come from, he'd forgotten the really good aspects of how he'd grown up. The sense of community. The true friendships. The slower pace of life.

Before he could come up with anything else to say, the big man shot him another grin. "Hey, but enough of that. Really good to see you, man. You staying for a while? I know Carly'd love to see you."

"Not sure, yet, but give me your number and, if I decide to stay a while longer, I'll give you a call. I'd like to see Carly, too." As he put the man's digits in his phone, he realized he had a smile on his face. He really would like to see Tug and Carly again. He'd known them all his life. The interconnectedness of small-town life was starting to thaw the heart he'd thought was blackened and charred to a coal long ago.

After Tug disappeared down the aisle and before returning to his perusal of razors and shaving cream, he dialed a number on his phone. "Jackie? It's Wyck Ward. Could you meet me tomorrow afternoon? Great. Three it is."

An idea had started taking shape in his mind. He couldn't wait to get back to his room and start making plans.

At three o'clock on the dot the following afternoon, he was sitting in front of Jackie's desk at Mountain Top Realty.

After parting ways with Tug, Wyck grabbed the last items on his list and headed to the checkout, mind churning. His chance encounter had sparked the inklings of an idea. Before he could change his course, he pulled out his phone.

"Jackie? It's Wyck Ward. Could we meet tomorrow afternoon? Say around 3? Perfect."

---