by Rachel Magee
Once they left, she turned to Braxton. Propping her hands on her hips, she glared at him. She wasn’t sure if hurt, disappointment, or frustration burned in her gaze, but all three were circling through her. How could he?
“Were you going to tell me you invited them, or were you planning on making the entire deal without getting me involved?”
Braxton’s brow was still furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Millie nodded her head at the now empty doorway. “The Callahans showed up to look at the property you’re showing them, and they’re ready to offer five percent above the price you set. One problem. This is my property.”
The creases in his brow deepened. “I admit, the Callahans are my clients, but I didn’t invite them today.”
Millie cocked an eyebrow. “They said you told them this property would be perfect for them and then called last night to tell them it was available.”
Braxton shook his head. “I mentioned this property to them months ago, but I haven’t said anything to them since. And I certainly didn’t call them last night.”
Millie dropped her hands to her sides. They still tingled with the rush of anger, but confusion was clouding everything. “Then who did?”
“That’s what I’d like to know.” He ran his hand through his hair and let out a sigh. “Look, I swear to you I have nothing to do with the Callahans being here today. But the fact that they’re here isn’t awful. The truth is you might be looking to sell.”
Millie crossed her arms in front of her chest, anger sparking inside once more. “I assure you, I’m not looking to sell.”
Braxton pressed his lips together and gave her one of those I-feel-sorry-for-what-I-have-to-say puppy-dog looks. “I have some bad news.”
“What kind of bad news?” Millie couldn’t help but be skeptical. She wanted to fully trust this man she was falling for, but the current situation combined with her not so stellar track record kept stepping in her way.
“The board is going to vote no.”
It took a second for the words to register because that scenario wasn’t even on her radar. “No? H-how do you know? The vote isn’t until tonight.”
“Jose called to give me a heads-up. Everyone has already made up their mind. The vote will be seven to one.” Braxton shook his head. “I’m so sorry, Millie.”
Millie stood there, stunned. “Jose’s voting no? But I just spoke with him. He said the place was beautiful.”
“And it is. This has nothing to do with the renovations or with you. They’re afraid of the precedent allowing a hotel will set. They don’t want a bunch of hotels and vacation rentals taking over our neighborhood.”
A sagging disappointment joined the party of intense emotions pulling her down as she tried to process this information. “So it was all for nothing. I jumped through all of their hoops and there was never any intention of them saying yes.” Tears stung her eyes.
Braxton reached out and pulled her into a hug. “It wasn’t for nothing. Look at what you did. This place is amazing.”
She relaxed into his chest, allowing the tears to escape. This wasn’t how she saw today going. At all.
“And on the bright side,” Braxton continued. “The house being in prime condition will get us a much more generous offer.”
Millie pulled away from him and stared at him with a horrified expression. “What do you mean a better offer? I’m not selling.”
“But…” He took a step back, giving her space, which she appreciated. “You might have to. You said yourself that you can’t afford to keep it without paying customers.” Braxton’s words were kind but matter-of-fact, like he’d already made the decision for her.
“So that’s it? You think I should just give up?”
“Absolutely not. Millie Leclair doesn’t have the quitting spirit.”
At least they agreed on that. If he believed in her, then they could surely find a way to convince the board.
“That’s why, after I got off the phone with all the board members last night, I looked up every property in Summer Island you might like. There are several options that would make perfect bed and breakfasts.”
Millie let out a sad chuckle and shook her head. “Let me get this straight. You knew about the vote last night, but instead of calling me, you spent the rest of the night looking up properties to sell me?” She couldn’t decide what offended her more: that he didn’t tell her or that he’d already decided her next move for her.
“Not sell you. Show you. And there are some good options. In fact, there’s this one on the beach over on the south side of the island that you’ll love. I have an appointment for us to go look at it tomorrow.”
Millie threw her hands up in the air. Was he not listening to her at all? How could he tell her not to give up and then suggest the same thing? “I don’t want to look at another house, Braxton. I want this house. I want to run my family’s inn.”
“At this point, that’s not an option.” Braxton’s words were firm as if this whole situation was already set in stone.
“Then we make it an option,” Millie countered. She hadn’t come this far and done this much to give up that quickly. She retiled the freaking roof for goodness sake.
“How? I’ve already personally spoken to every board member and no one is swaying. And once the vote is cast, the decision is final.”
Millie shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ll figure out a way. I’m not giving up because a bunch of neighborhood know-it-alls are scared about setting a precedent.”
Braxton sighed, looking frustrated. “You’re going to go bankrupt chasing after a dream that can’t be.”
“But it’s my dream to chase after.”
“I get that, but you can’t go about it recklessly. You have to be reasonable.”
His words cut through her like a knife, going straight to her heart. This was the kind of guy she was falling for? Someone who was going to talk her out of her dreams? Someone who didn’t believe in her?
She’d walked down that road before. She knew how that story ended. It might’ve been a new town with a fresh look, but apparently it was the same cast of players. Only this time, Millie wasn’t falling for the same mistake.
“Right. Reasonable like you. Who has wanted to sell this property, my property, from day one?”
Braxton took another step back, looking offended. “Is that what you think of me?”
Her heart ached as the cold truth trickled in. Everything she’d been so sure of just yesterday was crumbling around her. The board was voting no. Her already exhausted bank account was about to be stretched to the point of breaking. But worst of all, the man she was falling for wasn’t the man she thought he was.
But she’d been down before, and she’d learned enough to know that just because she was down didn’t mean she was out.
“Thanks for the heads-up on the board’s decision, but you can delete your property search. And you can tell the board Millie Leclair is not giving up the Leclair property.”
…
This conversation was not going at all like Braxton had planned.
Had he dreamed about selling the property for a long time? Sure. And did he make a few phone calls the day he found out it had been left to a distant heir that lived up north? Yes. What real estate agent wouldn’t? But he let that business opportunity go the second she told him she wasn’t selling. This conversation had nothing to do with him as a realtor and everything to do with her situation.
“First of all, I don’t want to sell your property. But our hands are tied. I can’t sit here and watch you self-destruct because you’re stuck on a goal that can’t be accomplished.”
Hurt flashed in her eyes. “You think I’m being reckless and am going to self-destruct?”
So maybe that hadn’t come out exactly like he meant for it to. “Perhaps tha
t was a bad choice of words, but I worry about you. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“But you don’t believe in me. You don’t think I can do this.”
He sighed. “I believe in you. You can do amazing things. But this…” He motioned to the room around them. “Some dreams are impossible.”
Millie pressed her lips together and stared out at the gathered guests. “Right.”
“We’ll find you another property you love. And with the differences in the prices, you’ll have plenty of money left over. We’ll fix it up however you want.”
“We?”
Braxton could tell she was upset, so he treaded carefully. “Yeah. It won’t be this property, but you’ll still be living out your dream of opening a B&B. I think it’s your best option.”
Millie looked up at him with a storm brewing in her eyes. “Really? Because I think my best option is not being with someone who doesn’t back my dreams.”
Braxton huffed out a breath. Why wouldn’t she listen to reason? “I am backing your dreams, but sometimes dreams need to be modified. I can’t just stand here doing nothing and watch you get hurt just because you wouldn’t consider better options.”
Millie met his gaze. “Then maybe you shouldn’t be standing here at all.” She walked across the foyer to the already opened door and leaned against it. “I started this on my own, and I’m going to finish it on my own.”
Pain seared his heart. He knew this kind of hurt. It was different from the physical ache of a torn muscle or a broken bone. This kind of pain cut deeper, and no amount of physical therapy could make it better. Hadn’t he promised himself he’d never be in a place to hurt like that again?
Their relationship, if he could even call it that, was at an impasse, which he probably should’ve expected. Really, there never should have been anything there to begin with. Even in his most optimistic moments he’d known deep down it was a long shot. She didn’t know how to play it safe and he didn’t have it in him to watch her get destroyed. Wasn’t this conversation the very reason he had decided he was out of the relationship game for good? He should’ve listened to his own good advice the first time.
He walked over to the open door and stepped out on the porch to leave. But the problem with the heart was that it didn’t always listen to reason. “For what it’s worth, I sincerely wish you all the luck in the world.”
Millie’s gaze was unflinching as it met his. “Goodbye, Braxton.”
He gave her one last lingering look, then jogged down the steps to his car.
Just like that, it was over.
Whoever said it was better to have loved and lost had obviously never been in love to begin with. There was no pain in the world that compared to the pain of a heart breaking. And if the only way to avoid ever feeling like this again was to not fall in love, Braxton swore that from this moment on, he’d never do it again.
Chapter Twenty-Three
By the time Braxton got to Summer Island Memory Care Home, he was in a foul mood. If there’d been any way he could have skipped his daily chess game, he would have. But since he’d been out of town, he at least needed to check on his friend. It was his responsibility after all.
After being buzzed into the facility, he plodded across the grand room to their normal table, careful to avoid conversation with anyone else.
“You’re late,” Henry grumped. It was his standard welcome. No matter what time Braxton arrived Henry always said he was late. Normally, he played along, but not today. He wasn’t in the mood.
“No, I’m not. I’m actually early. But the timing doesn’t matter. I’m here. Let’s play.” Even though he was sitting in front of the black pieces, he picked up his pawn and made the first move.
Henry studied him. “What’s wrong with you?”
Braxton massaged his temples, trying to rid himself of the memories of everything that had transpired since he woke up this morning. Really, if he could’ve rewound to the beginning of the summer, he would have. “I’m having a bad day.”
Henry reached across the board and returned Braxton’s piece to its original position and made his own first move. “You think you’re the only person in the history of time to have a bad day? We all have bad days. I might be having a bad day too.”
Braxton moved a different pawn in a counterplay to Henry’s move. “Are you?”
Henry shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. Some bozo just stormed in and tried to steal my turn, which is crappy. And what’s-her-name over there keeps telling me I can’t have any cookies.” He motioned to Veronica who was talking with another resident near them.
“You already had your cookies, Mr. Donovan. Two of them. You can’t have any more because you’re watching your blood sugar.”
Henry snorted. “I’m a grown man and I still have to ask permission to eat a cookie.” He moved his knight. “See. Bad day. But you don’t see me storming around, do you?”
Leave it to Henry to remind him not to take his life too seriously. “Don’t give Veronica a hard time. She’s just doing her job.”
“That’s what people keep telling me. But she’d be doing a better job if she wasn’t so stingy with the cookies.”
Braxton could feel his tight grimace give way to the beginning of a grin, taking the edge off his dark mood. Maybe taking a step back and focusing on someone else was a good thing. “Besides the cookie thing, how are you?”
“Fine, I guess.”
“Have you been taking your medicine?”
Henry shrugged, focusing on the board. “I do what they tell me.”
“And you’ve been sleeping all right?”
Henry raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to keep asking me questions so we can avoid your thing?”
Yep. That was pretty much the plan. “I’m checking on you. It’s my job.”
“Apparently I’m good. Let’s check on you for a while.” Henry folded his hand on the board and leaned in, waiting.
This was one of the times when Braxton hated this disease the most. He could’ve used Henry’s advice right about now. It seemed unfair to sit across from the one person whose wisdom he valued more than anyone else’s and not have access to it.
Braxton picked up his pawn and moved it forward one space, plunking it down with more force than he’d intended. “I might have messed things up with this woman.”
Henry nodded. “It’s always about a lady, isn’t it?”
Memories of the fight with Millie replayed through Braxton’s mind, and he fiddled with the chess piece in front of him. “Not anymore. I’m done.”
Henry shook his head, looking defiant. “Done? No. You’re not done. I didn’t coach you to run away when things got tough. I taught you how to fight for things you wanted.”
“What if I don’t want this?”
Henry motioned to the chess table. “Then we’d be playing chess instead of sitting around talking like a bunch of old, old…” His face screwed up as he searched for the right word.
“A bunch of old hens?” Braxton suggested.
“Right. That.”
Braxton sat back against his chair and crossed his arms in front of his chest, glaring at the man across from him. “Fine. Let’s play chess. It’s your move, old man.” He was acting like a sullen teenager, but he didn’t care.
Today hadn’t gone as expected. Heck, his life hadn’t gone as expected.
Henry studied Braxton for a second. “Don’t walk away because it’s hard. Walk away when it’s over.”
The truth of his words stung and Braxton squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out his feelings for Millie. “How do you know when it’s over?”
Henry snorted. “If you haven’t left everything on the course, it’s not over. Quitting early only leads to regret. Fight for what’s worth fighting for.”
The words hit Braxton with more volume than if he�
��d used a bullhorn. So maybe he wasn’t getting Henry’s advice the way he’d hoped to get it, or the way Henry had given advice in the past. But he was still passing on his wisdom in the only way he could. Maybe Braxton had messed up the chance to find out all the details of Henry’s Big Regret, but he wasn’t going to miss this chance to ask him about it again.
“Was Mildred The Big Regret? Mildred Leclair?” The question had a high likelihood of upsetting Henry, something Braxton tried to avoid. And if Henry showed signs of frustration, he’d back off. But for some reason this part of the story felt important, especially considering his current circumstance.
“Mildred,” Henry whispered. A parade of emotions flickered across his face so quickly Braxton couldn’t quite interpret them all, but they finally landed on a look Braxton knew well—confusion. Henry stared out into the distance as if searching for his lost memories.
After a few seconds, Henry looked up, the all too familiar blank look settled on his face. “Mildred Leclair owns Seascape Inn.”
It was probably as close to confirmation as Braxton was going to get. He would’ve loved to hear the story of young Henry and Mildred. He wanted to know what happened that ended their love story and why Henry walked away. But for now it was enough to know that if he had to do it over again, he would’ve fought harder. If Braxton was looking for advice, this was as close to it as he was going to get.
“That’s what they tell me,” Braxton said.
“I could tell you some stories.”
Braxton chuckled. “I bet you could.”
The last of the anger he’d held on to from his argument with Millie faded away, leaving only the relentless ache of the heartbreak.
He made his next move on the chessboard and considered his situation.
So life hadn’t worked out the way he thought it would. There’d been quite a few heartbreaks he wasn’t counting on and plot twists he never saw coming, but it was his life. These were his people and, for better or for worse, they were worth fighting for. Especially Millie.