Page 30 of Meet Me at the Grand

“Can’t it be both?” Cody smiled and started examining the radiator with his tools. “Did you know this place started out as a family’s beach home? Then it was bought by a retired military captain—he served on a boat on the Great Lakes, actually—and turned into a hotel way back when.”

“Aw, so you’re a history buff then?” Liam peered over the lid of his laptop as the guy wiggled the radiator.

“If you live on Jonathon Island long enough, everyone becomes a history buff.”

“And how long have you lived here?”

Cody pulled a short silver tool from his belt pouch and placed it on the radiator valve, turning it. Air hissed from the contraption. “My whole life, same as Dani.”

“Oh right. She mentioned that your family was in both the fudge and fishing trades. Those don’t seem to go together.”

“Mom was the fudge maker, but her arthritis has stopped her from doing that for a while now. My sister Lily took up the candy making, but she doesn’t live here anymore.” His new friend offered a sad smile. “And as for the fishing, well, Dad retired a few years ago. And I’m doing this now. A lot of people have had to make adjustments to their livelihood just to stay on the island.”

“Really? Dani mentioned a downturn in the economy, but I didn’t realize it was so widespread.”

“Oh, yeah. Tons of shops had to close because the economy is so highly influenced by tourism. No tourism, no money coming in. That started with the closure of the Grand, but when the pandemic hit, this place became a shell of its former self. All it needs is a little fixing, a little paint—and a new hotel and crop of fresh residents, of course.” Cody shifted to look at Liam. Air continued to leak from the radiator, but the pace had slowed. “If this plan of yours doesn’t work, I’m afraid even more people will leave, and it’ll become a complete ghost town.”

The radiator clearly wasn’t on, so why did it suddenly feel stifling hot in here? “Dani said something similar, but I guess I thought she had some other plans up her sleeve too. You know, things to re-attract the tourists, to boost tourism numbers.”

“Can’t have tourists if you have nowhere to house them. And this hotel only has about thirty-five rooms.”

“Makes sense I guess.” Heat crawled up Liam’s neck. “I promised her I’d get this right.”

“Dude, you look a little green around the gills. I didn’t mean to freak you out. I’m sure those plans are great. Between your skills and how much Dani cares, you’ll knock it out of the park.” Cody turned the valve key back and studied the radiator again.

Liam closed his computer lid and pushed it from his lap onto the white comforter beside him. “She really does care, doesn’t she? I’ve never met someone so passionate about their home before.”

“That’s Dani—always putting others before herself. She’s got a really big heart.”

At the words, Liam’s gut pinched. He coughed. “You, uh, don’t have a thing for her, do you?” Not that it mattered. Why would he care?

“What?” Cody threw back his head and laughed. “No, man. She’s like a sister to me.” Then he cocked his head at Liam as he stood from his squat. “Why? Doyouhave a thing for her?”

Yeah, definitely it was burning up in here. “What, me? No. Not like that. I mean, she’s cute and all, and super smart, and determined, and I…”

And he kind of wanted to knock Cody’s huge smile off his face.

“Shut up, man. Dani’s cool, but I’m not looking for anything right now. Besides, I’ve done the long-distance thing before, and it only ended with both of us being disappointed.” Liam scooted to the edge of the bed and tugged his suit jacket off. Why had he even bothered to wear it today, given he’d mostly stayed inside? But there was something comfortable about it, something that made him feel more like himself.

More secure in his abilities.

“If that’s all true, then why are you acting so flustered, huh?”

Liam stood and started to pace. “Maybe because the more I think about it, the more I hear about what this whole hotel restoration means to you all, the more I wonder if my plans are going to pass the council. If they’re going to approve the plan. If my plans have what it takes to wow visitors so you all can breathe new life back into the island as a whole.” Frowning, he stared at the threadbare carpet. “Because I’m starting to realize I can’t separate the one from the other, can I?”

And that it was all up to him.

He was going to fail the town.

Fail her.

Just like…

“No. You can’t. But Liam, have you done your best? Do you feel like the plans you’ve drawn up are the best way to help revitalize the town?”

“I do, yeah. And I’ve gone over them again and again, tweaking them till they’re perfect.” But there were so many unknown variables. Despite what Dani had told him, what did a city kid from the beach know about what these small-town Midwestern residents wanted or needed in a hotel?

But the meeting was at ten o’clock in the morning. It was too late to do anything but double down on the plans he already had. And honestly, he should be fine whatever the result. Because even if the council rejected his proposal, he could tell Dad he’d given it an honest shot, and he’d be home in time for supper either way. Ready to pitch the Bertram project and provide a path for Dad’s eventual retirement.

---