Page 86 of Falling For You

“Lisa, here with WBOP and one of the protest organizers. Can you tell us a little about yourself?”

My eyes widened as I stared into the lens, feeling entirely out of place.

The reporter gave a little nod.

And I stared into the large glass tunnel as I fell down the rabbit hole.

The reporter nodded again, and I cleared my throat.

“I’m Violet. My family owns the Honey Leaf Lodge, which is next to the property that’s being sold. In fact, we were promised first rights if it was sold, but I guess a verbal agreement only goes so far.”

I let out a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. This was important. This was our chance to make our voices heard. But my heart hammered in my chest, and my pulse raced between my ears.

Just don’t faint,I told myself.

I couldn’t screw this up.

The reporter took over, seeing the glaze in my eyes. “I count at least a few hundred protestors surrounding the town, and that’s saying something for a town of this size. Residents gathered early this morning to protest the sale of a large plot of land to out-of-town developers planning to build a mega-resort. Am I right in saying that?

I nodded, feeling the fight come back. “That’s correct. They’ve been working quietly with the village and the landowner to get this slid through without us knowing. Today, they sign on the dotted line. They’ll make it a done deal, but we want our voices heard. Something like this, without working with the residents, is bound to cripple our small businesses. We need to work hand in hand where growth is concerned.”

My heart slammed in my chest with every beat. But I looked directly into the lens and pretended I was speaking to Owen. “Buttercup Lake isn’t just a place. It’s a community. It’s where we’ve all built our lives, raised our families, and made memories. This resort… it’s not just going to change the landscape. It’s going to change everything. The businesses that have been here for generations—our lodge, the local shops—can’t compete with a massive corporate development. We’ll losewhat makes this town special. If nothing else, today shows that we’re loyal to one another. And loyalty goes a long way.”

Lisa smiled. “And what would you say to the developers who argue that this resort will bring jobs and tourism to the area?”

“Sure. But how many Ma and Pa places will it wipe out?” I clenched my fists at my sides. Anger flared up inside me. “It’s not about bringing jobs or building tourism for them. They want the money that this will provide. It’s about greed.”

Lisa turned toward the camera and summarized what I’d said before wrapping up the segment. The camera turned off, and she spun around to greet me.

“Thank you, Violet. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops. We got the morning crowd, and they’ll re-run the piece at noon and this evening.”

“Perfect.” I nodded, knowing tonight would be too late.

“Good job, honey,” Millie whispered.

I nodded, and my pulse finally slowed. Lisa and her crew moved on to interview a few more townspeople. When they walked away, I was swarmed by people congratulating me and patting me on the back for standing up for the town.

“You nailed it, Vi,” Liam said, hugging me. “You said exactly what needed to be said.”

“Yeah, but will it make a difference?”

“It’s a start,” Beck chimed in. “People are paying attention now. The media’s here. We’ve got momentum.”

I nodded, wishing I didn’t still feel so uneasy.

This fight wouldn’t be easy, and I wasn’t sure it would be enough.

As I glanced across the street, something caught my eye—someone, actually.

My heart skipped a beat as I spotted Owen leaning against a lamppost, watching the scene unfold.

He was holding a sign.

He wasn’t saying anything.

He was just… there.

His expression was a mix of emotions—something between pride and regret.

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