3 Never Tell Your Dreams

by Tonya Kappes

  Please, please let me help Granny. Maggie closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. There wasn’t anything in the world she wanted more, then to help Hazel.

  The breeze felt good on her face. Slowly she opened her eyes, curled on her tiptoes, and lifted her arm in the air.

  “Seriously?” The male voice asked.

  Maggie jumped around, clutching the quarter in her fist.

  “Grady?” She didn’t know whether to hug him or just stand there. She blinked a few times to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. She was confused, but not nuts.

  He stood with his hands in the pockets of his khakis, as if he were protecting himself. His baby blue shirt was a little wrinkled, probably from the trip to Grandberry Falls.

  “You need a haircut.” Maggie knew she should say something different, but she couldn’t.

  I have no feelings for you. She tried to control her thoughts as she looked at him, but she was surprised. She didn’t care that he was there. Oh my God. I really have no feelings for him. She searched for the attraction she once had for Grady, but it was nowhere to be found.

  Be angry, be angry, she thought.

  “That is all you have to say to me?” Grady laughed, shuffling his Sperry’s along the pavement. “I bet you hate me.”

  Maggie put her hands in her pocket, along with the quarter. She wasn’t sure what he wanted her to say. She wasn’t sure why he was here.

  “Of course I don’t hate you.” She knew there were a lot of unanswered questions, but what good would the answers be now?

  In fact, he had done her a favor.

  “You know what? This is where I need to be right now.” Maggie nodded. “I’m not sure why you did what you did, but those questions can be answered in time.”

  Grady looked at his watch. “Well, I don’t have any appointments today. What about now?” He asked, pointing to the Trembling Cup.

  Maggie glanced over to the coffee shop. Jenna and Liz had their faces planted on the window, staring at Maggie and Grady.

  Maggie didn’t owe anything to Grady, but in order to figure out her feelings for Mitch, maybe she did need to put the entire Grady situation behind her.

  Plus Mitch was nowhere to be found, and she did have a while before she needed to help set up the decorations.

  “Sure, you can buy me a cup of coffee.” Maggie held her head high and walked to the Trembling Cup.

  She tried not to make eye contact with anyone. It was a matter of minutes before the entire town found out that Grady was here.

  “Isn’t that your Aunt over there?” Grady raised his hand, giving a slight wave.

  Maggie glanced at Jenna, and waved her way.

  “Yes.” Maggie was relieved to see that the line had died down. “I’ll get a table, and you can order me a black coffee.”

  He had no power here. She could tell he was trying hard to keep the peace. Little did he know, she wasn’t going to even fight with him.

  Nervously, she looked out the window toward the courthouse. The mayor’s parking space was still empty. She didn’t want Mitch seeing Grady, even though she was certain he’d hear about it. Seeing was different than hearing in her book.

  Maggie’s phone beeped. She pulled it out of her briefcase.

  What is he doing here???? Jenna message read.

  Maggie quickly texted back, I have no idea. AND I DON’T CARE! She noticed he had their coffee and moving toward her. She typed quickly; I have no feelings for him!!

  Maggie glanced over Grady’s shoulder to see Jenna read her text. Jenna looked up, a smile planted across her face.

  Maggie looked at her watch. Wherever Mitch went, he had to be back soon.

  “Do you have to be somewhere?” Grady asked. He set the two mugs down on the table.

  “Yes, I do. But why don’t you tell me why you are here.” Maggie peeled back the creamer foil, poured it in her cup, and stirred it. She gave a wave to some people standing near the counter.

  Yes, everyone in Grandberry Falls was going to find out that Grady Cohen had come back to town.

  “I couldn’t continue to live my life in New York when you were here. I had to tell you why I called off the wedding.” He sat back in the chair, and played with his napkin.

  He was nervous. He deserved to be nervous, so Maggie let him sweat it out.

  “Go on.” She picked up the mug and took a sip. “I’m all ears.”

  “Maggie, I do love you.” He took her hands in his. “And I could’ve lived with all the superstition you seem to believe in, but I can never compete with Grandberry Falls.”

  Maggie looked away. She couldn’t bear to hear this. Her heart stopped. Mitch’s car was parked in the mayor’s parking space.

  “Keep going.” She pulled her hands out from under Grady’s. She prayed Mitch didn’t see them through the window, though it would be hard not to notice since it was a straight shot from the courthouse.

  “Whenever you came to visit or when I came to visit, you became this girl I didn’t know. You were more relaxed, and just. . .just. . .happy.” He paused, and then continued, “It is a happiness that I couldn’t give you. There is no way I’d ever move here, and eventually you would want to come back.”

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He was right. No matter how hard she tried to distance herself from Grandberry Falls, the more she was pulled to come back.

  “Being here at Christmas made me realize how much your family means to you. I was raised with a nanny. Even though I had a mother, she was that in name only.” He leaned in and whispered, “You have Hazel, who may be your grandmother, but she raised you as if she was your mom.”

  That was the truest statement Grady had ever said to her, and the nicest compliment he had ever given Hazel. Despite their differences, Grady had finally realized the importance Hazel had played in her life.

  “Yes, I see Granny as my mom.” Tears lined the edge of her eye lids. “But you didn’t have to leave a note. You could’ve told me in person.”

  Grady shook his head back and forth several times. “No, no I couldn’t. Or I’d never had been able to let you go.”

  Maggie got it. No matter how hurt she was, she understood why he had done it. He really did love her to let her go.

  “Grady, its okay. I forgive you.” Maggie cleared her throat. “Little do you know how right you are. Only, I wish I hadn’t spend my life savings on that damn dress.”

  That was the only thing she regretted.

  “Oh, that.” He pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “I made a couple calls and sent the dress back. The full refund should be here.”

  Maggie took the envelope and looked inside. There was a check for the full amount.

  “And what about that ring?” She wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easy.

  “You took the ring back?” He asked.

  His eyes sagged down. It was a look Maggie didn’t recognize. Grady was hurting.

  “I needed money. I left with nothing, Grady,” she said. He might be right about her not being able to walk away from Grandberry Falls forever. But he was wrong on how he broke up with her.

  “It’s a family heirloom. And the one you had is a replica of the real one you would’ve gotten on the day of the wedding.” Grady ran his hands threw his hair and let out a big sigh. “I completely forgot about it.”

  “Why?” Maggie asked. “Why a fake?”

  “You know my family. They are so protective of their money, and couldn’t risk you running off before the wedding.” Grady stared blankly at her.

  It was time to let him off the hook. She needed to move on and so did he. After all, she did get the full refund back on the dress.

  “Grady, you did me a favor. I really do love it here and I was not able to choose between you and Grandberry Falls,” Maggie’s voice cracked. “Eventually it might have torn us up. And right now, this is where I need to be. Van Meter is representing the Pelt Company to claim eminent domain over Granny’s farm. I’
m here trying to save it.”

  “Oh, Maggie.” Grady leaned in and tried to take her hand, but she pulled it back. “I’m sorry. I just want to comfort you. But I know you will beat them. You were the best litigator they had.”

  He was right, again. Maggie poured her heart and soul into Van Meter and Associates.

  “We are trying to come up with a solution before tomorrow.” Maggie bit the side of her lip. “I’ve only been able to look at the documents for a couple of days. Like you, Granny didn’t want to tell me because she didn’t want me to come back to Grandberry Falls because of her. She wanted me to come back in my own time.”

  She leaned her head to the side to get a better view of the courthouse. Mitch’s car was still there.

  “What do you keep looking at?” Grady looked out the window.

  “Nothing. I just have a lot of work to do before Patricia shows up.” Maggie didn’t have to tell Grady anything. Plus she didn’t want to upset him about how she was feeling for Mitch. She was confused. She couldn’t even explain it to herself, much less someone else.

  “It’s Mitch,” Grady’s voice trailed off. “You are in love with him.”

  Hearing Grady confirm her fear, her heart sank.

  In love with Mitch? She questioned herself. Oh my, God. I’m in love with Mitch.

  “I’m sorry. I have to go.” Maggie stood up. “Grady, thank you so much for coming, but you really didn’t have to. I’m good. In fact, I’m great.”

  She gathered her briefcase and ran out of the coffee shop.

  Abruptly she stopped when she realized she was standing in the mayor’s parking spot. And it was empty.

  Chapter 33

  Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark. ~ Rabindranath Tagore

  Mitch was so excited driving back from Lexington. He was so glad that he had taken a chance and made the trip. Bob Jr. had been so helpful.

  He held the deed to the property in one hand and the other on the wheel. Now that he had it in his grasp, he wasn’t going to let it go.

  “Maggie, I’m coming.” He said, thinking about how happy she was going to be.

  There was no way he was going to question why his mom owned the property on the other end of town, especially when it was not farmable, but he was grateful she had held onto it for him.

  Thank you, mom. Mitch loved his mom and she always looked out for him, even in death.

  The old truck hadn’t been pushed to go this fast in years. But he couldn’t wait. He imagined the entire conversation with Maggie. Hopefully she was sitting in his office, and when he told her that he actually owned the property she questioned, she’d grab him, they’d kiss, and she’d realize that she was in love with him.

  Mitch pulled the truck into the mayor’s parking spot, and grabbed a quarter out of the ashtray.

  “A little wish can’t hurt,” He muttered, gripping the deed in his hand.

  He dodged a few cars with a smile and a wave, making his way across the street. He noticed the Trembling Cup was full of citizens.

  He smiled when he saw Maggie. She wasn’t alone. He squinted to see who she was with.

  Grady?

  “Damn,” he whispered. He put the quarter in his pocket, and turned around. “Stupid waterfall.”

  Grow up, man, Mitch beat the thought into his head. He was a complete idiot to think that Maggie was beginning to feel something for him. In the back of his mind he wondered if after tomorrow Maggie would pack up and go back to New York City.

  But there was a job to do. He had to get all of his ducks in a row with the eminent domain case with or without Maggie in the future.

  “I wondered where you were.” Susie Benton sat at her desk with a slew of post-it notes in her fist. “These can wait. But that Patricia Van Meter called to confirm she’d be here first thing in the morning.”

  “Great.” Mitch grabbed the notes from her and went straight into his office.

  Maggie had his keys and she was sure to return them, but he didn’t want to be there when she did. He grabbed all of the Greenlee farm files, and tucked them under his arm.

  “Now where are you going?” Susie jumped up from her desk chair. “Mitch? Are you okay?”

  “I think I’m coming down with something.” He continued to walk out of the office. “I’m going to work at home if you need me.”

  He didn’t wait to hear her reply. His plan was to get out of the courthouse before he ran into Maggie. He was coming down with something. It was something he’d felt for years. An aching, a yearning for something he would never be able to have. Maggie.

  Chapter 34

  Faith makes things possible, not easy. ~ Unknown

  Maggie twirled around. Surely she didn’t just miss him or that rickety old truck that Mitch loved.

  She ran up the courthouse steps and into the building. Maybe someone had taken Mitch’s truck to run an errand. It wasn’t unusual for friends to borrow your truck or anything else they needed around here.

  “Hi, Susie.” Maggie tried to catch her breath. She didn’t know what she was going to say to Mitch when she saw him, but she knew she had to be honest.

  “Maggie, are you okay?” Susie’s eyebrows narrowed.

  Maggie waved her hand in front of her. “I’m fine. Just a little out of breath. Maybe I need to take some exercise class or something. I have nothing but time.” Maggie nervously laughed. “Is Mitch in his office?”

  “No, he was acting strange too.” Susie looked her up and down. “Sort of like you; in a hurry to get out of here.”

  “Oh.” Maggie couldn’t help but wonder if Mitch had seen her and Grady. Probably not. “Did he say where he was going?”

  “Nope.” Susie started to click away on the computer.

  “Did he say anything about tomorrow?” Maggie felt like she was pulling teeth to get any information out of Susie.

  “Well, Patricia Van Meter did call to say she was going to be here first thing in the morning.” Susie didn’t take her eyes off the computer.

  “Susie, listen. I’m not going anywhere. I’m back. And I’m thinking about taking the County Attorney position. So we are going to have to put our differences behind us.” Maggie planted her briefcase on Susie’s desk. She dug Mitch’s keys out of it and tossed them on Susie’s desk.

  Susie picked them up. “He gave you the keys to the office?” Her mouth dropped open.

  “Yes. Now is there any other information you can tell me?” Maggie pleaded. She cared about the case, but she cared about Mitch more.

  “He said he wasn’t feeling well and was going home to work for the day.” Susie sat back in her chair and folded her hands. “So, what are your intentions with Mitch? You know, we aren’t those teenage kids anymore.”

  Maggie sat down in the chair in front of Susie’s desk. For some reason Maggie felt that she needed someone to talk to, and Susie was there.

  “Grady came into town this morning. He left me because he knew my heart was really in Grandberry Falls. He said he didn’t want to settle for half of my heart.” A tear dripped down Maggie’s face. “I’m afraid I’m in love with Mitch, and I might have screwed it up after all these years.”

  Susie set the tissue box in front of Maggie.

  “You know that he and Wendy aren’t engaged anymore, right?” Susie gave Maggie a little hope.

  “Yes. Wendy told me. He hasn’t said a word and that is what scares me.” Maggie wiped her cheek.

  “You and I have our differences, but we both love Grandberry Falls. I’m sure you haven’t screwed things up with Mitch.” Susie got up and walked around the desk. She sat down in the other chair next to Maggie. “I was here to pick up the pieces for everyone when you left and decided to never come back. And when Mitch came to New York and saw you with Grady, I was here. I saw what you had done to him after all of these years.”

  “I know. I know,” Maggie whispered, looking down at her fingers. “It’s taken losing my Granny’s farm to get my head out of my ass
.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Mitch is going to save the day. I’m sure of it.” Susie got up to answer the phone.

  Maggie had to do something. She had to find Mitch. She grabbed her briefcase off the desk and headed back to her car. Susie said he was going to work at home, and that is exactly where Maggie was going to go.

  ***

  Mitch glanced at his cell every time it rang. When he saw it was Maggie, he pushed the decline button. She was the last person he wanted to talk to. He was on a high from learning about the property he could offer Van Meter, but quickly fell flat on his face when he saw Grady holding Maggie’s hands across the table.

  You are so stupid. He couldn’t stop beating himself up. Maggie didn’t want him years ago, and she didn’t want him now.

  He had to keep his distance. The only reason she had been spending time with him was for Hazel and her family.

  The phone rang again. He didn’t even look at it. He knew it was Maggie wanting to know what he had found out. She could wait. He didn’t need her to give the proposal to Patricia. He’d gotten this far on his own. He’d finish it tomorrow.

  There was no guarantee that Van Meter’s clients would take the deal, but Mitch would offer his property. The only thing Maggie did do was put the correct wording in his mouth.

  He rehearsed the speech over and over. The speech he would give tomorrow to Patricia and Hazel.

  Chapter 35

  Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. ~ George Seaton

  Maggie reached for her ringing cell. She was positive it was Mitch calling her back.

  “Hey. Where are you?” Maggie asked.

  “Where are you?” Belle asked back.

  Maggie pulled the phone away from her ear to confirm it was Belle’s number. It had to be Mitch calling her back. She was wrong.

  “I’m heading over to Mitch’s house.” Maggie let it slip. “Ummm. . .to talk about the case.”

  “You need to get over here to help decorate.” Belle demanded.

  Maggie sensed a hint of anger in Belle’s voice.

  “You said you were going to be here by eleven. And it’s noon.” Belle said.