Page 5 of The Library of Second Chances
After Hallie’s aunt passes, she finds out she has to complete a bucket list she made as a child in order to get her inheritance. She returns to her aunt’s beachhouse to complete the tasks and finds something that means even more than any inheritance. Loved it!
Signed,
Sucker for Summer Love
Lucy didn’t know who had left this one, but she had a feeling they could definitely be friends. The book was by one of her favorite authors, but she hadn’t gotten the chance to read this latest release yet because it had flown off the shelf at her store. She dropped the book into her purse and checked her watch. Time to get over to the town council building so she could get a good seat.
When she entered the council chamber it was already half full. The waterfront development had become a contentious issue, prompting crowds to appear at council meetings to ensure their voices were heard. As of yet, they hadn’t found a plan a majority of locals could get behind. Some, like the Heron Isle Conservancy, whose president and several members were already seated on the right side of the room, wanted the parking lots that currently served the docks to become green space instead, an extension of the park that formed the town square. They were directly opposed by the charter fishermen who needed the parking lots so tourists had easy access to their deep-sea fishing charters. Then there were the general contractors and tradesmen from the larger nearby city of Jacksonville who wanted in on building the multi-use complex proposed by two of the developers. As Lucy looked around the room, the groups looked like rival cliques from high school taking to their own corners of the lunchroom.
Even though she found the seating amusing, Lucy followed suit and went to sit with the other downtown business owners.She was, after all, their leader and they’d look to her to make a statement during the public input portion of the meeting if anything concerning was addressed. Lucy scanned the crowd for anyone she didn’t recognize, trying to get an idea of who her newest adversary might be, but she didn’t notice anyone out of place.
Bob was seated in front of her, so she leaned forward to whisper to him, “Pam said you heard they brought in someone. A fixer?”
He turned around to face her, his deep wrinkles giving away his age. Bob had owned the hardware store Lucy’s entire life. She’d always loved going there with her father to find the bits and pieces they needed to repair a railing or build another bookshelf for her always-expanding collection.
“Yeah, Pete said he overheard them talking about it when he was here yesterday getting a permit for his new front door.”
Pete owned the menswear store in town. His was another familiar face that had been around since she was a kid.
“What’s a fixer do?” Lucy asked.
Bob shrugged, stroking his beard. Lucy had always thought he looked a lot like a Black Santa Claus when she was growing up, and he’d only grown to look more like Saint Nick as he’d aged.
“Sounds like he’s supposed to get us all onboardanotherwaterfront development.”
Lucy’s pulse quickened. She thought this meeting would be about tabling the waterfront development until they could explore the possibilities a little more thoughtfully.
“A different one?”
Shaking his head, Bob shrugged again. Just as he was opening his mouth to say more, the mayor banged his gavel to bring the meeting to order. The room was full to its seventy-five-person capacity with a few people standing along the dark-paneled wood walls.
As the mayor opened the meeting, led the pledge of allegiance, and went through some general housekeeping, Pam slid into the seat next to Lucy, who had been keeping her head on a swivel, watching the stragglers as they came in, trying to spot anyone she didn’t recognize who might be the “fixer,” but all she saw were familiar faces. She fidgeted as the council went through the other agenda items, ranging from designating a day to honor a former fire chief who’d recently passed to listening to a presentation by the local humane society on its new “Dog of the Month” program. Pam nudged her and smiled during the last one, mouthing Ava’s name, whom she’d no doubt enter every month until she won.
When it was time for the final item on the agenda, everyone seemed to straighten a little in their seats. It was time to get down to the real business.
“Up next on the agenda is the potential development of the Heron Isle downtown waterfront.” The mayor cleared his throat, looking up from his notes to scan the crowd. “We’d like to open with a presentation from Mr. Logan Lancaster, a consultant the town has hired to help us come up with a solution that increases the town’s revenue while also addressing the concerns so many of you here tonight have previously voiced.”
Hushed whispers erupted across the crowd, but the mayor banged his gavel quickly. Once the room quieted, he held up his hands in surrender.
“Look, I know the waterfront development has become a hot-button issue. I live here too, and I want what’s best for our community. But the budget is hurting. We lost the library almost two years ago now, and the elementary school needs some serious work on its plumbing and air-conditioning, not to mention upgraded technology in the classrooms. That moneyhas to come from somewhere. I implore you all to listen to what Mr. Lancaster has to say. There will be plenty of time afterward for public comment.”
The crowd began whispering again, but Lucy was too busy looking around the room to see who she was up against. Then she spotted him. The green-eyed man from earlier was striding confidently toward the podium. Her heart sank. He wasn’t Prince Charming to her Cinderella.
He was Logan Lancaster.
Three
Logan
Logan took his place at the podium, aware that every eye in the room was on him and every hushed voice was talking about him. He didn’t mind. People always acted this way when he came to a new town. Change wasn’t something people readily accepted, but he’d seen firsthand what happened when someone refused to adapt.
“Mr. Mayor, council members, thank you for inviting me to speak tonight,” Logan said as he faced the crowd. He’d learned it was important to address the townspeople, not just the elected officials. He had to make people feel they were part of the process, that their opinions would be heard. And they would be, but he might also have to try to change a few of them along the way. Often they couldn’t see the forest for the trees because they were too close to the situation.
He’d seen city after city thrive after his plans were implemented. Municipal revenue went up, which meant better roads, improved schools, and infrastructure upgrades, and healways tried to accomplish his goals without disrupting anything with history or character. Preservation and progress didn’t have to be mutually exclusive, a fact he’d successfully convinced a dozen other towns to believe.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he continued, “my name is Logan Lancaster, and I’m here as a consultant with the town of Heron Isle to find a plan for the waterfront that benefits each and every one of you.” He paused to make eye contact with several people in the crowd. He wanted them to feel he saw them and understood them. “I know you’ve already seen three plans and that none of them fit your needs.” He paused as the crowd mumbled its disapproval of the previous plans. He then held up his hand.
“And that’s okay. I’m here to help you find one that does fit the unique attributes of your beautiful island. I’ve only been here for a few weeks—mostly holed up in my cottage reviewing your past meetings and proposed plans—but I’m already taken by what I’ve seen of your pristine sandy beaches and your beautiful historic architecture. I can see why you all love it so much and want to protect it. I promise you, I’m not here to destroy that. I simply want to find a way to enhance what you already have in a way that benefits the city financially so your island can continue to thrive.”
