‘We’ve been stuck a bit because we don’t have the money to extend or move but now this offer makes it viable. Flynn’s found us a beaut house up his way. We could buy it outright.’
Antonia sat dumbfounded, trying to absorb what they were saying. They were moving, selling the house to Baldessin for a vast sum of money so he could knock it down and build a road through to his resort.
‘What about my house?’ she whispered.
Bron and Kev shared a frowning glance. ‘He’s made the same offer to Flynn.’
‘But the new owner doesn’t want to sell,’ she said. ‘Flynn told me they were happy to rent it.’
‘Flynn is the owner, love,’ said Kev.
‘Flynn?’
He nodded. ‘Baldessin made the same offer to him.’
‘Why does he want two blocks?’
‘He wants a wider frontage because he wants to put in a security-access gate. Fancy-shmancy for the rich customers.’
‘But Flynn won’t sell.’ As she said it, she wondered. Would he? Baldessin could offer a lot of money and that was Flynn’s business. Property investment. How much would his feelings for her and the twins count when it came to the crunch? He hadn’t mentioned a thing to her when he’d told her about Baldessin’s revised plans and he must have known.
And another question raised an ugly doubt. How much part would her refusal of his advances play in his decision to sell or not?
‘If he doesn’t,’ said Bron, ‘… we’re stuffed because Baldessin wants both or neither. He’ll take his idea somewhere else.’
‘That’s blackmail!’
Kev shrugged. ‘It’s the way these blokes operate. It’s business to them.’
***
Simon didn’t want to discuss the new resort plans with Lauren. She was all for mounting another protest against Flynn, whereas he was torn. He knew Antonia loved the Mango House and it represented much more to her than just a house, but she hadn’t lived there very long and she could put down roots somewhere else just as easily. He could help with that, he wanted to help. Flynn had proven to be a false friend, and many people, including Lauren, thought he was interested only in his own wellbeing. Now he might have a chance with Antonia.
Despite the falling-out over Flynn’s accident, Simon was bound to Antonia for life through their children. Flynn wasn’t and was about to prove where his priorities lay. It would be in Simon’s interests if he sold. He was ready to step in with comfort and advice. If she wanted to pack up and leave town, he’d go with her. He was smart enough not to say as much to her or anyone else.
Lauren, along with other like-minded townspeople, had organised a public meeting to discuss the project. Flynn and surprisingly, Aidan, maintained that it was a private matter between the property owners and the developer and had council approval in a general sense. The protesters maintained pressure was being applied to people who had no real choice in the matter and their homes were under threat, that it was a dangerous precedent in that large wealthy companies could buy up property and exert undue influence as a consequence.
‘He could buy up the whole town,’ snarled Lauren. ‘And turn it into a theme park if he wanted to.’
***
Flynn tried phoning Antonia several times but she’d switched her phone to voicemail, which he took as an indication she was blocking his attempts to talk to her because she never returned his calls. The furore that had erupted over the present situation had staggered him and the council. As Aidan said, ‘I thought this would be the end of the protests.’
No one had anticipated the depth of support for Antonia and Flynn hadn’t anticipated the rise of feeling surrounding him. He had supporters and detractors in equal number but the only opinion he cared about was Antonia’s and she refused to speak to him. He couldn’t walk across the street and confront her in the cafe, it was way too public, and he couldn’t visit her at home because he couldn’t walk that far and wasn’t going to ask someone to take him to the Mango House and wait and watch while the door was slammed in his face.
***
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen,’ Antonia said miserably to Cath as they cleaned up after closing time on the day of the meeting.
‘Have you talked to Flynn?’
‘No, I don’t want to. I think I might say something I’ll regret, I’m so angry with him. Why didn’t he tell me he owned my house?’
‘I don’t know but I’m sure he had no idea this would happen. He probably just wanted you to feel secure.’
‘Well, I don’t.’
‘But that’s not Flynn’s fault.’
Antonia wiped the counter with vicious swipes of her sponge. ‘I trusted him … he’s the first man apart from my family and Simon that I trusted.’ She looked at Cath, conscious of the tears pushing at her eyelids. Trusted him and loved him. Missed him in her life, desperately.
‘You can still trust him. He’s a good man.’
Cath was guaranteed to be on his side. She knew that. ‘He lied to me.’
‘Yes he did—sort of—if you can count not saying something as a lie … but I think you’re the first woman he’s …’
‘What?’
‘Become more involved with than usual … he looks to me like a man who’s fallen in love but isn’t sure what to do about it.’
Antonia snorted. ‘Flynn has plenty of women.’
‘Have you seen him with any of them? Where have they all been lately when he needed help?’
There was no answer to that. Did he really love her? He said so but that could mean nothing coming from him. How could she tell? She was back on quicksand again.
‘Has he said anything to you?’
A flush crept up Antonia’s neck, prickling at her cheeks. ‘Yes,’ she muttered. She sprayed disinfectant on the nearest stool and ran the sponge over it. ‘I told him I wasn’t ready for anything like that.’
‘What did he say?’
‘Nothing much but this is probably his way of letting me know he’s pissed off. Selling my home.’ But that was wrong and she knew it. Wrong and unfair.
‘Flynn isn’t like that,’ said Cath firmly, echoing her thoughts. ‘He’s not vindictive. This is a very difficult decision for him. Don’t you see that?’
Antonia didn’t reply. She moved on to the next stool. Cath was beginning to sound annoyed.
‘If Flynn sells he upsets you, the woman he loves. If he doesn’t sell, he messes up Kev and Bron’s chance to buy a bigger house and he also puts the resort plan in jeopardy, which won’t help the town. He’s been working on trying to boost the town’s fortunes for years and years. This is the best thing to happen in the area that I can remember. What’s he supposed to do?’ Cath dropped her wiping cloth into the sink and stomped into the back room.
Antonia cleaned in silence with Cath’s tirade revolving in her head. Put like that, Flynn was in an awful position. She had no rights over him and no right to claim precedence in the town over long-term residents and their futures. She was being selfish and mean while Flynn … She sniffed. Cath thought he loved her. If Cath thought so maybe she was right. Flynn loved her and tried to protect her future by buying the house. If that wasn’t a gesture of love what was? And all she’d done was push him away.
She’d go across the road and tell him to sell as soon as she finished in the cafe. And while she was there she might just suggest she was ready for that second kiss.
But Flynn wasn’t in the office. Brandon said he was at Margie’s preparing for the meeting this evening in the pub.
Antonia went to collect the twins. They’d begged to be allowed to go home with Annabel and Ellie after school to see the kittens and check on the one they’d chosen. Visiting someone else’s house wasn’t terrifying anymore, and was one more thing she had to thank Flynn’s Crossing for. Could she give up the Mango House and start somewhere else? See it bulldozed? And they’d cut down the mango tree. The thought sent a knife to her heart. All those memories lost, hers and Jose
f’s. He’d be upset too.
On the way home, she broke the news to the twins that they might have to move.
‘That’s what Annabel said,’ said Jacob.
‘Did she say why?’ The grapevine no longer surprised her.
‘Because our house is going to be turned into a road. But that’s not true, is it?’
‘I don’t know. Someone wants to buy our house and Bron’s house. They want to build a hotel in the bush and our houses are in the way of the driveway.’
‘But we love our house,’ wailed Sarah.
‘I know. But if it happens we’ll have to move. We can do that.’
‘Where to?’ asked Jacob.
‘Can we go to Flynn’s house?’ Sarah said through a few sobs.
‘No, not Flynn’s house.’
‘Why not? He lived in our house.’ Jacob, with almost unanswerable logic.
‘He wouldn’t want us living there.’
‘Yes he would,’ said Jacob. ‘He likes us.’
‘And we like him,’ said Sarah
‘I know, darling, but … I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ll find out this evening.’
‘At the meeting?’
‘Yes.’ She had no choice but to take the twins with her because everyone who they might have agreed to stay with would be going as well.
Streams of people headed into the pub when Antonia arrived with a twin clutching each hand. People greeted her with smiles and allowed her through the crush to the front of the room, where Bron and Kev waved her to their table. Simon was already there, which surprised her but at the same time having his support was comforting. The twins were delighted.
‘What do you think will happen?’ he asked.
‘I’ve no idea. But if he sells I can understand why he’d do it.’
Simon nodded. ‘Money,’ he murmured.
Not what she was thinking, but Antonia firmed her mouth and stared around the room. Simon would never miss an opportunity to have a go at Flynn. There were others in the room who thought the same way as Simon but they were all wrong about him because they didn’t know what she knew. They didn’t know about his past and his guilt-fuelled attempts to redress a terrible wrong even though he’d paid his debt and wasn’t at fault. Flynn had a conscience, so much so that he was prepared to deny himself happiness because of it. As Cath said, he was a good man.
On impulse she pulled out her phone and sent him a text.
Whatever you decide, it’s okay.
She’d be okay. If she lost the Mango House she’d survive, because it was just a stepping-stone and she wasn’t dependent on it for her wellbeing. She had Flynn to thank for letting her live there. She had him to thank for many things; not least was showing her she was a competent, strong woman who could manage her life and those of her children. She’d survived far worse than this.
A small group pushed through the crowd. Lauren led the way, followed by Flynn, Margie and two men Antonia didn’t recognise. Flynn looked pale and tired. He still wore the moon boot and by the way he sat down she guessed his ribs were sore. He scanned the crowd and when he spied her, paused for a moment but didn’t smile. Had he got her text? There’d been no reply.
Lauren took the microphone and began by welcoming everyone to the meeting, then launched into the main topic.
‘We’ve called this meeting because of the concerns many of us have about the recent spate of development proposals put forward by the council on behalf of the Baldessin Resort Group. While we appreciate the need for some sort of outside economic stimulation to keep our town viable, we can’t allow unlimited access to wealthy companies such as Baldessin’s who have no interest in maintaining the community standards we enjoy and every interest in maximising profits.’
A round of applause greeted her remarks.
‘The council seems hell-bent on letting this man come in here and railroad our residents into selling their land or houses. I want to know where this will end? Is there no limit?’
Beside her Kev grunted. ‘All very well for her to complain. She hasn’t got four kids to support,’ he growled.
Margie stood up. ‘If I may say something, Lauren?’
Lauren handed her the microphone and Margie calmly pointed out the economic benefits of the already agreed-upon lodge and visitors’ centre. ‘In conclusion,’ she said, ‘we’re not offering unlimited access to Baldessin or anyone else. That’s a complete exaggeration.’ She paused and her gaze swept over the silent assembly. ‘There’s no downside to this agreement. Ten new jobs will be created, maybe more, with training for young people in the National Parks Service as local rangers.’
One of the unknown men took the microphone. ‘I agree that outcome is a good one, but it wouldn’t have been if we hadn’t mounted a protest and had it scaled back. Baldessin wanted to take over that whole area, including the co-op.’
Flynn said loudly, ‘No one can do anything if the landowners won’t sell. The co-op proved that. Bruce wants to sell his land and you have no right to stop him.’
‘So do I,’ called Kev. ‘I can’t see there’s a problem and it’s none of your business what I do.’
‘Can’t you see how he’s blackmailing us into agreeing with his plans?’ Lauren yelled. ‘He offers you lots of money and then says if you don’t take it he’ll go somewhere else.’
‘That’s business,’ said Kev. ‘If I charge more than a bloke down the road you’ll take your car there to be fixed instead. Fair enough, I reckon. It’s your choice.’
‘Sean doesn’t want to take over the town,’ said Margie. ‘You’re overreacting.’
‘Are we?’ Lauren glared at Flynn. ‘You’re one of the landowners. Will you take his money and turf Antonia and her children out of their home?’
Flynn stood up slowly, steadying himself before he moved forward. Antonia held her breath. The room went completely silent. He took the microphone from Lauren, and when he spoke his voice was low with a raspy edge and to Antonia’s ear, exhausted.
‘I know a lot of you think I’m a complete bastard when it comes to business dealings. I admit I’m in the property business to make money, and why not? Any business owner or employee is working to make money. But I also want to do the right thing by Flynn’s Crossing and I think everyone would agree that the council has done a pretty good job so far. You keep voting us in so we must be getting something right.’ A few claps and laughter. ‘But this decision Lauren has highlighted is the hardest one I’ve ever had to make. It’s never been personal for me before, the buying and selling of property. Now it is.
‘Many of you know Antonia. She hasn’t been in town long but she’s made it her home and she’s made many friends. I know for a fact she’s had a tough time of it in the last six years; she’s told me things … things I could hardly believe, they were so terrible. Coming here to our town was, for her, a fresh start in life and she’s done it very well.’
Antonia bent her head as eyes bored into her. Simon took her hand and squeezed. She glanced up and caught Flynn’s eyes upon her but couldn’t smile. He went on. This time his voice was stronger and he spoke faster as though he wanted to get it over with, spit out his decision and be done with it. Her throat was so tight she could barely breathe.
‘Kev and Bron have already decided to take advantage of the offer and sell their house, but for me selling the Mango House would be a betrayal of the woman I have grown to love with all my heart, so I’ve decided I can’t do it. Regardless of how she feels about me, Baldessin will have to find another way in. I’m sorry Kev, Bron, but I can’t sell.’ He sat down abruptly.
Antonia gasped. The room erupted in a roar of voices. Kev and Bron stared at each in shock. Simon swore. Lauren laughed in delighted astonishment.
Flynn sat with the wash of noise breaking over his head. Margie was yelling on one side, asking what the hell he was thinking, Lauren was shouting into the mic asking for quiet but the only voice he wanted to hear was Antonia’s. He couldn’t see her through
the crowd, let alone hear her if she spoke. Simon was there sitting next to her, holding her hand, being where Flynn wanted to be—with her. But that didn’t matter if she was happy, and he’d done his best to make it so.
Then she was there in front of him, asking Lauren for the microphone.
‘I’m Antonia and I need to say something, please.’ The roar subsided instantly. She was nervous, her voice trembled and the hand holding the microphone shook. ‘Since I arrived here I’ve come to realise many things, but the main one is about Flynn. He’s a good man and he’s always tried to do the right thing by the town and his friends, but I think in this case, my case, he’s got it wrong. I think …’ She licked her lips and took a couple of deep breaths. ‘He knows how much my house means to me, but it’s just a house in the end. I have had some … hard times and when I came here I was scared most of the time as a result. But now I know I can make a home for myself and the twins … anywhere, really. I’ve learned that since coming here, and I want to thank everyone for helping me and accepting me.’
She was leaving. Flynn couldn’t look at her, at anyone. He stared unseeing at the floor. He’d declared his love for her in front of the whole town and she was turning him down again, in public this time. She’d go away with Simon and set up a new home in some other town and forget all this. Forget him.
She said very slowly and clearly, ‘I want Flynn to sell but I want to make one proviso, if he can. Don’t let Baldessin cut down the mango tree.’
He knew she was looking at him, as was everyone else, but he couldn’t meet her eyes. If he did, he’d break down. She was cutting her ties and giving up the Mango House. She was doing it for him, and for the town. A few people clapped and he wanted to get up and run for his life, for his sanity and his dignity slowing being shredded here in front of everyone.
Kev shouted, ‘Good on ya, love. Thank you.’
She went on, but she turned her back on the crowd and faced him; he knew because as she came closer he could see her pink-painted toenails in the red sandals she wore. She spoke to him, still with the microphone in her hand. Telling the town. ‘Flynn, I told the twins we might have to move and they asked where we would go. I said I didn’t know and Jacob said, “We could live with Flynn. He likes us.”’
The House At Flynn's Crossing Page 26