Page 70 of Just a Plot Twist
“My grandparents own an energy company. They wanted to move into wind-powered energy and build wind turbines on that property.”
I can’t help the grimace.
“Exactly. It would have been sad to lose so many trees. I was never for my grandparents’ plan, mind you. I supported my grandparents’ wantingto use sustainable energy and all that, but I told them they should choose another location. But their hearts were set on it, and they tried to drum up opposition to the Tates and the resort amongst the community.”
“Did it work? Were people upset with the family?” A sense of injustice sinks inside my gut.
“Not on a large scale, but yes. They had a polarizing effect. They were publicly against the resort from the beginning.”
“And how do they feel about things now that Sophie and Oliver are married?”
“That one Tate in the family is far too many.” There’s meaning there, behind her eyes, but she flicks it away and stares at the floor.
“So you’re bringing them up to let me know that my asking you to go to a party with me would send them over the edge?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Probably. Not that I need to live my life for them.” There’s something behind her expression…maybe she doesn’t quite believe her own words.
I trace the wood grain of the table with my finger. “Sometimes I care too much about what others think, so I get it.”
“But they gave up their whole lives to take care of Sophie and me. Grandpa was making plans to run for mayor of Boulder when my mom died.” She swallows hard. “He had to give up his dream of running for public office for us.”
“We all have priorities, though. I’m sure they don’t regret doing what they needed to do. You’re their granddaughters.”
“But if I positioned myself to run for mayor, then that might kind of make up for it in a way. My grandparents say I’m smart and good withpeople and…” she narrows her eyes. “…It’s not a problem to want them to be proud of me and want to make a difference in the community.”
“Are you interested in becoming mayor?”
“Not in the slightest.” She raises her chin in the air. “I want to help Longdale in other ways. I’ll tell them that eventually.”
“You’ve got this, Claire.”
She presses her lips together, then: “I’m trying to figure out how. I wanted it to come together with a tidy, little bow, full circle like my grandfather’s dream of becoming mayor transitioning to my own reality. It would make a great story.”
“Sure, but their happiness is theirs alone. You can’t really do anything about it. You need to do what makes you happy.”
“I get that, and I want to. But my grandparents aren’t getting any younger. There’s a lot to accomplish and I’m running out of time. Besides, my grandma seems worse lately.”
“Worse?”
“She’s more irritable. Particular. Maybe it’s just a part of getting older, but it’s
hard.”
“I like that you care about treating them well, but again, you have to make you own decisions on what makes you happy.”
“It’s a complex thing.” She frowns. “I’ve been waiting for something to feel right, and the city manager job feels right. If I can get all these projects going, that will be good.” She pinches the middle of her brow. “I’m trying so hard.”
“Agreed. And you should be proud of yourself. But maybe you don’t have to.”
“Maybe I don’t have to what?”
“Try so hard.”
She swallows. “I’m an overachiever. I simply can’tnottry hard.”
“I get that. But you don’t have to prove anything to them. So he didn’t get to run for mayor a long time ago. So what?”
She narrows her eyes. “You literallymoved to Denverfor your father. So you can’t talk about trying to live up to expectations like it’s a bad thing, or that—” She gestures with her hands. “—making sacrifices for the greater good of the family is wrong.”
