Page 20 of Ever With Me

At least Pops seemed to be taking this well. He’d shown up early this morning—someone in town had seen the plastic on the window and called him. Predictably. Nothing in Brandywood happened without Pops knowing about it. It was a small miracle that Brooks had crashed when he did—on a Sunday a few hours before dawn might be theonlytime he would have been less likely to be seen.

Not that Maddie was fully confident someone hadn’t seensomething. After all, Travis had needed to tow the wrecked car away. But fortunately, for as many businesses as there were on Main Street, only a handful of them had residents living on the upper floors. Retail space on Main was a premium, and most of the buildings near the Depot in the last few years had become purely commercial.

Naomi was clearly agitated. “This is a disaster.” She directed a sharp look at Pops. “We’ll need to close for the day.”

Pops’s normally pleasant expression darkened. “We can’t do that. Some people have traveled here just to see the Depot. That’s not fair to them.”

“Not everything in life is fair. Just ask Maddie about what happened last night at the fair committee meeting.” Naomi flicked her annoyed expression at Maddie.

Maddie squirmed. Naomi wasn’t intending it as an attack, but somehow Maddie couldn’t help but feel defensive about the whole thing. Like she’d lost the big act for the town fair concert by dating a jackass. “I know, I know. I should have signed a contract.” She couldn’t keep the defeat out of her voice. “I got the deposit back, though.”

Naomi raised her eyebrows, a flare of surprise lighting her expression. “Wait a minute. You mean to tell me you never had them sign a contract?”

Maddie shifted her weight back, crossing her arms. “I didn’t think I needed to. It never occurred to me that Josh would dump me and then have his cousin switch the dates on us. I just thought?—”

“Always get a contract, Maddie.Always.Even with people who are legit and you don’t think would break their word.” Naomi shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m having to tell you this.”

Guilt spilled into Maddie’s throat with an acid clench.Oh shit.

Naomi is really going to flip when she finds out about my handshake deal with Brooks Kent.

“Well, lesson learned,” Pops said. “But it needs to be taken care of right away. The festival is a little under a month away. Though I heard Maddie assured TJ she’s got another act lined up.” He gave Maddie a curious look.

Great. The last thing she wanted to do was continue that stupid lie.

Thankfully, Naomi spoke up. “Speaking of another act, we could also consider getting quotes for the repairs in here by someone other than Garrett. I know we all love him, but there are other contractors in the world.”

Pops shook his head. “I don’t just love Garrett. He’s one of our own. The whole point of all I’ve done and built is to give back to Brandywood. After all the ill will from the Depot last year and with the tourist center about to open, I want our town to know how much I will support every one of them.”

A lump formed in Maddie’s throat. Pops had been through so much in the past few years. The highest of highs—a random appearance on a cookie recipe special for the magazine that Sam Doyle had worked for—had led to an unexpected career and fame. He’d gotten a television show on the Happy Home Network, a line of branded products, built the Depot, providing careers for all his grandchildren to manage his mini empire.

And he’d reconnected with his former flame, marrying Bunny Wagner the year before.

But the work had taken a toll on his health, forced him to retire from bartending at the pub he’d built and worked in most of his adult life, and turned half of the town against him. Many of Brandywood’s residents had disliked the changes and tourists who now came for Peter Yardley and his Country Depot.

Even though Lindsay and Travis had worked out a solution that had pacified those angry residents, Pops still carried the weight of so much on his shoulders.

Maddie was so proud of him. He always did the right thing, trying to see the best in everyone and lending a listening ear to people who came to him for help.

Even if they don’t always deserve it.

She couldn’t lie to her grandfather about the fall festival. “I don’t really know if I’ll get a bigger musical act than River House,” she said, returning the conversation back to his earlier question. “But I’m working on it.”

“We need to be realistic.” Naomi frowned. “River House was sheer luck. It’s not like we’ll have another band that big just walk through the front door.”

Maddie straightened.

Actually . . .

No. She couldn’t even consider it . . . could she?

Brooks Kent wasn’t just a singer. He was an enormous star, with all the arrogance of one, too. If she asked him to sing at the charity festival, he’d probably laugh in her face.

But he owed her a favor.

Even if he skulked out the door this morning when I was asleep.

Whatever reason Brooks had for wanting his privacy, she’d granted it to him. Naomi and Pops didn’t know the full extent of things, and Maddie wasn’t sure she could keep it a secret if any more people knew. Between Dan, Travis, and Garrett, too many people knew already.

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