Page 66 of The Library of Second Chances
“Seems to me if they went ahead with that they’re going to need someone to manage the marina and all these contracts going forward.” Fuller raised an eyebrow.
“You mean me?” Logan was surprised to find his heart leap at the idea. He was more excited about that prospect than he’d felt all day about the Boston job. It was too late, though. The town was ready to vote at the council meeting on Tuesday to sell the land to Dan Turner.
“I’ve never heard you talk about any place like you just talked about this tiny little island. Don’t you want to do work that excites you? Man, I love my job here. Wouldn’t trade it for anything, and don’t think I haven’t had other offers. And that woman—Lucy?—she sounds like someone worth sticking around for. I’ve never had that, but if I did, I don’t think I’d let it go so easily.”
Logan shook his head before taking another drink. “It’s too late. They’re voting on the sale Tuesday. I could try to pull something together between now and then on the ferries, but I don’t think that alone is enough to change their minds.”
“What do you know about shell middens?” Fuller donned a mischievous grin, just like back in college when he’d convinced a professor to let them miss class for two weeks to go to Major League Baseball’s spring training to “study the historic preservation efforts used to save minor league ballparks.”
“Shell middens?” Logan was stumped. “Nothing. What are they?”
“They’re how you’re going to save your waterfront.” Fuller slapped him on the back before downing the rest of his beer.
Twenty-Seven
Lucy
Lucy nearly tripped over the thick envelope when she walked in the front door of the store Thursday morning. Her name was printed in neat block letters on the front, but there was no address or postage.
After opening the metal fastener on the back, she pulled two stacks of papers from the folder, each secured with a small binder clip. A single sheet of paper slipped to the ground, sliding across the floor until Lizzy grabbed it with a paw and began attacking it.
“I think that’s for me,” she told the cat before running a hand down her back. Lizzy arched in reply and began to purr. As Lucy continued petting the cat, she read the neatly typed note.
Lucy,
I’m headed up to Boston, but I wanted you to have this before I left. It has everything you needto convince the bank to approve your loan for the building.
You can do this. I believe in you.
Logan
She flipped through the two sets of paperwork. They were complete business plans for both the bookstore and for the building, including timelines, maintenance schedules, reserves, and more. Everything they hadn’t gotten to. He must have spent hours on this.
It wasn’t until she read through the note a second time that his words sank in.I wanted you to have this before I left. Her heart sank. He was gone already? It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since the community forum. She’d thought it would take him a little while to figure out where he was heading next. He couldn’t have lined up another job this fast, could he?
She had to sit down. She moved to one of the blue armchairs by the front window and read the note again. He believed in her. But he was also gone. Two competing thoughts fought for her attention, like a tug-of-war inside her head. He’d believed in her so much he’d spent hours finishing up the business plans and delivering them to her. But then he left. Just like everyone did eventually.
The bells on the front door jingled, drawing her attention. She wasn’t open yet, but she’d forgotten to lock the door behind her. Her breath caught as she turned to see who had come in. Maybe Logan hadn’t really left without saying goodbye.
But it wasn’t Logan lumbering toward her. It was Mayor Jenkins. She really wasn’t in the mood to talk, but she plastered on a smile.
“Good morning.”
“Mornin’, Lucy. I wanted to come by and see how you’re doing.” He sat in the chair next to her.
Setting the paperwork on the small table between them, she sighed. “I’m fine, I guess. Obviously, I’m disappointed. Maybe the cruise ship wasn’t such a bad idea. If I’d focused on compromising instead of winning, maybe we could have figured out a solution that didn’t involve selling out to a developer.”
“Lucy, this isn’t about you doing anything wrong or not doing enough. It’s just business.” The mayor shrugged. “I don’t love the idea of selling to Turner either, but it’s not my decision. The council is prepared to approve the sale. It’s the fastest way to get the money the city needs. We have to weigh the infrastructure needs against whatever disadvantages the sale might bring. Besides, we don’t know exactly what Turner plans to do with the land just yet.”
Lucy frowned. “I have a pretty good idea. Has he ever developed anything on this island that didn’t end up being a high-density eyesore?”
The mayor didn’t argue. He simply sipped the coffee he’d brought with him and petted Lizzy, who was now circling his legs.
Lucy glanced at the note and plans she’d set on the table, and she couldn’t resist asking about Logan. “So the town just ends its contract with Logan, and he goes on to the next place?”
“I wouldn’t worry about Logan. Sounds like he already has his next job lined up in Boston. It’s probably better suited for him anyway.”
Her heart sank. “Well, that’s the end of that, I guess.”
