Page 19 of All Because of You

Madison hurried toward the bar and grill, one of the northern-most storefronts on Main Street. She ducked inside, the smell of grilled burgers and onions overtaking her. Big-screen TVs playing different sports channels lined the walls. Patrons were scattered around the room, eating and laughing. Outside, a patio extended onto the beach, granting visitors a gorgeous view of the foamy ocean and California coast rising to the north. That’s where Madison headed.

Fewer people sat on the deck, but there, in the corner where he’d always eaten his Saturday lunch, no matter the weather, sat Bud Travis. Though he was ten years older, the spry seventy-something looked almost the same as he always had, with his diminished hairline, high cheekbones, long white beard, and tan skin. On his plate rested a few bites of the grill’s calamari sandwich—Bud’s favorite as long as Madison had known him.

At her approach, he looked up from the book he was reading and flashed her a grin. “Well, I’ll be. Is that Ms. Maddie Price?”

Madison couldn’t help but return the smile. “Hey, Mr. Travis.”

“You’re all grown up, so it’s Bud to you now.” Winking, he held out his hand.

She gripped it and leaned down for a hug. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

“Mr. Bud, then.”

Why had she waited nearly a week to find him and say hello? At least she’d remembered how much he’d always enjoyed Chrissy’s carrot cake cookies. She pulled them from her bag and held them out. “I come bearing gifts.”

Whistling, he took the bag and opened it, inhaling the scent of the fresh-baked treats. “My, how I’ve missed that smell. Please say you’ll sit and share a few.”

“I may have already eaten my weight in them. But I would love to join you regardless.” Madison pulled out the chair across from him and sat facing Bud. In the distance, she glimpsed the lighthouse that was only five miles north of Walker Beach. “How are you? And how’s Velma?”

“We’re both fine, just fine. And how are you, Ms. Maddie? I’m sorry about your aunt.”

“Thank you. I’m good. Actually, I’m . . .” She bit her lip. “I’m moving back. To run the store.”

“I’d heard that.” A small frown tugged Bud’s lips downward. “Well, that’s great news.” He took a cookie in hand and stared at it but didn’t make a move toward eating.

“You don’t look like it’s great news.” She studied him. “Because of Herman Hardware?”

“You know about that, eh?” Wrinkles she hadn’t noticed before became more prominent on Bud’s forehead as he scowled. “I’m sorry, Maddie-Girl. I don’t mean to be a downer. You know me. I’ll be voting against it. Stores like that don’t have Walker Beach’s best in mind. They only care about the bottom line, not people. Not like your Aunt Chrissy did. But my voice doesn’t carry much weight around here anymore.” Finally, he nibbled the cookie.

“I’m sure that’s not true.” She reached across the table and squeezed his wrinkled hand. “You’re well-respected by everyone.”

His gaze narrowed. “Not everyone. To a lot of people, I’m just an old codger, too set in my ways—in the traditions of the past—to allow progress. And maybe I am. But there’s something to be said for tradition.” Snagging his napkin, he swiped cookie crumbs from the corners of his mouth.

She let go of his hand and grabbed a cookie for herself. “Well, I know of at least one other government employee who will do all he can to oppose the agreement.” Evan hadn’t come out and said as much, but with his job, he had to hold some influence. And after the way he’d treated her last night, she couldn’t imagine him not lending his full support. “If we could sway just a few more council members to our side, the motion will fail, and Herman Hardware will leave our little town alone.”

Grunting, Bud quirked a bushy eyebrow. “And just who would the other employee be? The committee is keeping it fairly hush-hush for now, and as far as I know, I’m the only one against it.”

“Evan Walsh.” Breaking the cookie, she popped a piece in her mouth. The cream cheese frosting melted against her tongue. Aunt Chrissy really had been a genius when it came to her cookies.

After she swallowed, she noticed a strange look on Bud’s face. “What?”

“Evan Walsh, you said?”

“Yes.”

“He’s the one who spearheaded the whole agreement from the beginning. It’s his father’s pet project.”

She pressed her fingers against the remaining cookie in her hand. It crumbled, falling onto the wooden table. “Are you sure?” There had to be a mistake. Evan would have said something.

Or maybe she’d fallen prey to his charms. Again. But why would he betray her?

Her head hurt.

“Sure as I am that the sky is blue.”

Madison was glad someone was sure of something, because right now, she didn’t know what to believe. Who was Evan Walsh, really? Was he friend or foe?

The only thing Madisonwassure of? She wasn’t in high school anymore.

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