Page 145 of Hope & Harmony

“It’s off-season…”

“It’s a failing proposition. One I should have never agreed to.”

Silence fell between them with Baron’s admission. He’d never said it aloud before, but they both knew the strain of the theater was eating away at Baron’s hope for the place. He dragged his foot across the dull red carpet.

“Sam, I hate to say this, but if things don’t turn around here soon, I’m going to have to make some hard decisions.”

Sam frowned and stepped off the stage to stand a few paces from Baron. “Hard decisions like what? You can’t shut it down. We agreed?—”

“I agreed not to renovate in a way that would dramatically alter the visual integrity of the theater. I agreed not to turn it into something else—a Banana Republic or an office building. I didn’t agree to keep the roof from falling in.”

Sam stilled, and the air between them grew thick with the quiet truth. Perhaps letting the theater fall into disrepair was never something Sam had considered, but the look in his eye said he was taking it seriously now.

“You would do that? After everything…” Sam worked his jaw. “I thought we were friends.”

“We are. I just…” Baron glanced up at the entrance, at the decorative balconies and the architecture that made the theater a place he’d wanted to save once upon a time. His emotions werecoming into play again, and that was what had gotten him into this mess to begin with. “It’s just business, Sam.”

CORA

“Everything good, honey?” The red-haired waitress stopped to refill Cora’s iced tea.

Cora swallowed her last bite and groaned. “This is the best cheeseburger I’ve ever tasted.”

The waitress, whose name tag readDee, laughed. “Then you should try our key lime pie. Best one you’re going to find in the Panhandle.”

Cora smiled and wiped her mouth. The cheeseburger and fries should have been filling enough, but the emptiness in her stomach never really seemed to ease since she’d been living on the road. Pie sounded amazing, but she needed to save the rest of her money for gas.

“No, thanks. Maybe next time,” she lied, knowing she’d likely never grace this town again. Not if her California dreams came true anyway.

Dee leaned in, her elbows bent on the counter. “You might as well, honey, because that fine gentleman in the corner booth is paying for your meal anyhow.”

Cora spun on the diner stool to see who Dee was talking about. The fine gentleman was the samevery fine, not-so-nice guy who’d shoved a hundred-dollar bill at her to leave town not thirty minutes ago.

“Why?” Cora muttered, but Dee had already made her way to the pie display and was plating up a big piece for her. “Who is he?” Cora asked when Dee returned.

“His name’s Baron Porter. He is a big deal in this town. Big property developer from Atlanta, but he’s been down herefor the past few years trying to build things up. They call this the ‘Forgotten Coast’ because every time we seem to find our footing, something knocks us down. Weather, economy. The oyster industry isn’t what it used to be. We can’t get by without tourism now. Porter may not be a local, but most of us wouldn’t have a job without everything he’s doing.”

Cora ate her pie, silently regarding the man in the corner who seemed totally engrossed with his phone. No doubt he’d taken pity on her earlier, singing on the streets for gas money. But she’d learned to check her pride long ago, accept the unexpected blessings that came her way, and pay it forward whenever she could.

Having cleared her plates, she rose and made her way to Porter.

“Hi,” she said. “I wanted to thank you for lunch.”

He lifted his gaze from his phone. “You’re welcome.”

Cora nodded, unsure of what else to say. He hadn’t exactly been friendly to her before, but something made her want to linger a little, maybe to peel back another layer of this man who had become a bit of a contradiction in her world.

“Well…” She picked absently at a tear in the leather booth. “Thanks again. For the money, too. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Sorry. I was kind of a dick earlier. Cape Haven has like three cops, and no one’s going to bother you here. I just have spent an unusual amount of time studying the town’s ordinances, and sometimes my mouth works faster than my brain.”

Cora grinned at his self-deprecating apology, one she would have never expected from him. “I accept your apology.”

He traced the edge of his water napkin, folding and unfolding the corner of it. “You travel alone?”

Cora nodded, sensing his concern. A skeptical part of her considered that Porter could be a creep, but none of her instincts were telling her that he was. So far, those same instincts hadkept her safe and guided her to help when she’d needed it. “It’s not as bad as you think. Most people are happy to help.”

“There are also a lot of bad people out there looking to take advantage of someone like you.”

---