To Be With You

by Daphne Abbott

  * * *

  The next morning, I drove to the mansion by myself. Fabián had stumbled into the rental around three in the morning, and the commotion I’d heard led me to believe he had not arrived alone. Rather than interrupt his latest conquest, I left him a note on the counter next to a massive bottle of pain relievers and a jug of water.

  When I pulled up to the house, Olivia was already there with Nick, standing in front of the porch. They both looked serious as they stared at the scrollwork around the columns. Steeling myself for the meeting ahead, I grabbed the messenger bag from my passenger seat and tugged at my tie to get the knot straight. The coffee in my stomach burned like acid, but I forced myself to get out of the car.

  “There he is,” Nick called.

  I plastered on a smile that didn’t feel right and walked across the gravel drive. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”

  “Dry rot,” Olivia muttered as she continued to stare at the column. “Plus, some mold, and maybe a woodpecker or two.”

  I looked up at the column and had to agree with her assessment. “That kind of thing is not uncommon in homes of this age. Luckily, you have enough pieces of the scrollwork in good condition. We’ll make a pattern from them so Nick’s guys can make replacements.”

  Standing next to her for the first time since that confusing kiss had my body buzzing with awareness. I glanced to see if she was just as affected as I was, but all of Olivia’s attention was still on the house. Interesting. Was she going to pretend it didn’t happen?

  “Liv, stop freaking out. You knew we’d have to replace some of it,” Nick said. His voice was teasing, but firm. Nick was the master at talking down a freak out. The guy had more than his share of it growing up with a mom that was sick with cancer for most of his childhood, a father too distracted to care for his kids, and younger siblings that needed care and attention.

  I watched as Olivia snapped to attention and opened her mouth as if to argue before she snapped it shut and gave my cousin a look that would have put fear into a lesser man. “I know we have to replace it, Nicholas. But someone has to think of the cost of these things. Contrary to popular belief, I am not made of money.”

  Nick narrowed his eyes, and I shrank back involuntarily. I’d been on the receiving end of that look a lot as a kid. It was not a look to ignore. “I’m not looking to take you for a ride, Olivia. But we have to do this thing right and keep the Historical Society happy. That means we replace what’s broken.”

  I could feel the tension ratcheting up, and rather than watch Liv’s iconic temper boil over onto my cousin, I stepped between them, my back to Nick, and held up my messenger bag. “Speaking of the society, I’ve got my final plans all ready for you to look at.”

  Olivia’s expression changed in an instant from frustration to pure excitement. “Gimme!” she cried and reached to snatch my bag from my hand.

  “Nope,” I said and swung it up in the air, out of her reach. “Are you going to play nice with Nick?”

  Olivia huffed and blew a hank of brown hair that had fallen from her up-do into her eyes. “He started it.” I narrowed my eyes. “Fine, but tell him to stop spending my money like it’s water!”

  “You want this place looking picture perfect?” Nick asked, as he stepped to my side.

  “You know I do,” Olivia grumbled.

  I had to bite my lip to stop the laugh that bubbled up. She looked like a child being scolded by a parent. Nick was such a master at the guilt trip. I need to take notes. Maybe then I’d get my way more often when making business decisions with Fab and Jo.

  “Come on, you two,” I said as I started up the stairs. “I can’t wait to show you my masterpiece.”

  “Awfully cocky, isn’t he?” I heard Olivia mutter to Nick.

  “Must be all that time he spends in New York,” Nick replied. “I told him he needed to get out of that city before his ego got as big as a Macy’s Thanksgiving float.”

  I ignored their insults and walked through the house to the kitchen. While they continued to chatter, I set up the computer and the mini projector I’d brough. If we’d been closer to a bigger city, I’d have gotten prints and made official presentation packets, but beggars couldn’t be choosers in the north woods. Once Olivia okayed the designs, I’d send Fab to the nearest big city to get prints made for the historical society meeting in two days.

  “Ooh fancy.”

  I looked up at Nick and gave him the stink eye for the latest quip. I knew he said it all in fun, but many of my family members called me too “fancy”. It was a sore spot since the day my younger brother found my copy of Pride and Prejudice, borrowed from Rose’s library. Jake had taken joy in calling me Lord Callum for weeks after finding the leather-bound book in my bedroom, and the name had stuck for years afterwards.

  “Should I make popcorn?” Olivia asked as she pulled out a chair at the makeshift table and sat down.

  I ignored her and finished setting up the computer, turned off the overhead lights, then flicked on the projector. The front elevation of Van Ess House filled a five-foot square on the wall. I’d rendered this plan in full color, with bright butter-yellow siding, white trim, and touches of lavender accents. The color scheme was not the original, but it was the scheme that Rose had preferred, and I wanted to honor her with that one decision.

  “Cal,” Olivia breathed. Eyes fixed on the image, Olivia folded her hands over her heart.

  “I know the color isn’t the original,” I rushed to assure Liv. “But–”

  “Rose always said the house looked like a wedding cake in those colors,” Olivia said, and finally turned to me. “It’s beautiful, thank you.”

  Heat crept up my neck, and I cleared my throat twice before I could answer. “I haven’t shown you my ideas for the inside yet.”

  “Then hurry up and show me. Because we need to restore this place to that,” she pointed at the picture on the wall, “as soon as humanly possible.”

  Chapter 10

  Olivia

  Owning a piece of history was a blessing and a curse, but it meant the world to me. However, I could do without the meetings, approvals, and bureaucracy that owning a historical house forced me to endure. I just wanted to renovate my house and open my business, but because of the value of the house, the city forced me to get approval for every single change I wanted to make.

  Today, they had summoned me to a meeting with the board of the historical society to present the plans for repairs and improvements to the house and grounds. I was a ball of nerves as I sat in the hallway just outside the meeting room. I’d dressed carefully for the event in a new light-weight suit in a soft peach color that complimented my complexion and brought out the hints of red in my hair. The suit had been a splurge, but I hadn’t been able to resist how powerful—and sexy—I felt.

  “Hey. Sorry we’re late.”

  I looked up from my phone to see Callum walking down the hall with Fabián behind him. It startled me to see the normally eclectic Fab in a pair of black slacks, a crisp white dress shirt, and a pair of black suspenders. If it weren’t for the man next to him that tempted me night and day, I might have spent more time appreciating Fabián.

  Callum stood tall and proud in a pair of slacks the color of wood smoke with a matching vest and a white shirt that was tailored so well I wondered if it was custom made. He had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and once again, I could see a tattoo peeking from below the sleeve. He looked cool and urbane in a way no man in Eagle Creek could ever look, and it mesmerized me for several long minutes.

  “Liv?” Grace Harper, my father’s secretary, called out as she opened the door to the meeting room. “They’re ready for you.”

  I shook my head to clear the sexual haze that Callum had created and smiled at her. “Thanks, Grace. Cal and Fabián just got here, so we’ll be just a sec.”

  Grace nodded and popped back int
o the room. I turned back to the men. “Did you get the prints?”

  Fab held up a large tube. “That’s why we were late. I got stuck with the amateur team at the office store in Menominee.”

  Speed and efficiency weren’t always the norm in this part of the state, so I couldn’t berate them for being late. I stood from the bench and shoved my phone and notebook back into my bag, all while trying to ignore the tremble that had started in my legs.

  “How about you, Liv?” Callum asked. “Are you ready for this?”

  I plastered on a wide smile. “I was born ready, Cal.”

  His eyes narrowed, and he slid his bag off his shoulder and handed it to Fab. “Take that and get stuff set up. Liv and I will be a sec.”

  Without a word, Fabián took the bag and the tube of plans and went into the meeting room. Once the door clicked shut, the hallway was once again silent, and I was alone with Callum for the first time since I stole a kiss and told him I wanted more. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest, but I couldn’t tell if it was because of the kiss or the room full of people waiting to judge me.

  Cal stepped closer and lifted his hand like he wanted to touch me, but then stopped and ran it through his own hair. “Do you want me to take the lead?” he asked, and I noticed there was a slight tremor in his voice.

  Could that mean he was just as affected as I was?

  “No, I’ve been dealing with them for months. I’ll be okay,” I said.

  He nodded as he shifted his eyes to the meeting room door. “I assume the usual suspects will be in there.”

  “Yup, all the same busybodies except for my dad, who took over Rose’s spot.” There was a small twinge on his face before he smoothed it away. “But Miss Ida is still a part of the group, so at least we have one ally.”

  Callum laughed. “I don’t know about that. She might still be mad about my senior prank.”

  I laughed too and gave his shoulder a little squeeze. “I think she forgave you as soon as she figured out you printed the dirty cartoons she found in the library.”

  “All right,” he said, and reached out to thread his fingers through mine. “Let’s knock the socks off these old windbags.”

  Inside the dated conference room, with the 70s era wood-paneled walls, were the expected players. My father, Eagle Creek’s mayor for the last twenty-five years. His secretary, Grace. Ida Lehman, the town’s former librarian and current head of the historical society. Dave Rossum, the local butcher and long-time board member. And Terry and Joan Lindquist, my childhood dentist, and his wife.

  Aside from Ida, who always had a smile for me, the people assembled around the table looked up at Callum and me with dour expressions on their faces.

  “Good morning, everyone,” I said and took the seat Grace indicated on the far side of the table.

  Callum and I exchanged a glance. They had set the table up with my father at the center and the other board members on one side of the table. While Fab, Callum, and I were on the opposite side in chairs that had to be at least two inches too short for the table.

  Dad was up to old tricks again, but I wouldn’t let his power-play affect me.

  “Callum, good to have you back in Eagle Creek,” Dad said in a voice that didn’t sound genuine. “I hear you’ve made a name for yourself since you left.”

  Callum laughed. “My partner Fabián and I have been working hard on our show, but I’m not sure we’ve made a name for ourselves yet.”

  “Partner?” Joan Lindquist asked, and something about the way she said it set my nerves on end.

  “Business partner,” replied Fabián. His smile was warm, although it was obvious Joan had confused the relationship as romantic. If it had been me, I would have put the woman in her place, but Fabián remained charming as ever. “Cal’s the reno expert. I take care of the filming.”

  My father cleared his throat. “We’re glad you could meet with us this morning, Olivia. As I’m sure you know, the town and the historical society are eager to hear about your plans for the Van Ess House. I understand there have been some issues regarding the repairs we discussed last month?”

  I struggled to keep my smile from turning brittle. I could not tolerate any sign of weakness around these people, especially my father. “Actually, with the help of Callum, Fabián, and Nick, we’ve got a new set of plans that incorporate the changes you demanded. A construction crew is ready to begin the work pending your approval.”

  Fabián pulled out the presentation packets we’d put together over the weekend and passed them out to everyone at the table. We’d spent hours putting every tiny detail of the repairs and the master plan for turning the Van Ess House into Primrose, Pine, and Promises.

  I paused, letting each person open their packet and review the first few pages before continuing. “The Van Ess House has sat mostly abandoned and unused for fifteen years. Ever since Aunt Rose had to go into assisted living, our family has only maintained the house and made no improvements to the building or the land.”

  Several people nodded, and Ida gave me a small smile of encouragement. It felt good to have a friendly face on the board because I knew the changes to the grounds and the addition of a nursery would controversial.

  “What’s this part about the gardens? We didn’t discuss this last time, did we?” Terry asked, pointing to the first page of the packet.

  “No, we didn’t. The gardens are part of my plan for the Van Ess House. I want to restore the home first and cut back all the overgrown and decaying gardens.” I turned to Callum. “Could you show them the top elevation?”

  Callum pulled the plans to the center of the table and flipped the top page over to reveal the full-color illustration he’d done of the top-down view of the house and grounds. “I want to turn the home into a wedding venue with a new garden center in the empty field behind the carriage house.”

  “A business? This is a private home, always has been,” my father sneered, looking down at the colorful rendering of my dream. Leave it to Roger Van Ess to sneer at his only daughter’s biggest wish instead of supporting me in my dreams.

  “People in this town have converted several of our older homes businesses,” Dave said as he leaned forward to look at the plan. “It charms the tourists that so many of our shops are not big box stores.”

  “The Van Ess House is one of the oldest homes in the state that has remained private,” Roger continued, as if he hadn’t heard Dave. “We need to preserve the history of the area and not monetize it.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, but Callum’s hand on my knee stopped me.

  “The home will remain relatively unchanged. The kitchen will be updated and expanded to provide space for catering staff, and the HVAC system needs an entire overhaul. But I will preserve all the original finishes and structure where I can,” Callum said, and then pointed to the carriage house and the land beyond it. “Here, we are proposing to convert the current carriage house to the storefront for the garden center and nursery. With greenhouses and an orchard in the open fields just behind it.”

  The room fell silent as the board read the bulleted business plan and flipped through the large architectural drawing. It was a struggle, but I resisted the urge to fidget as we waited for them to read through our carefully planned proposal.

  “Are you planning to use the plants from the nursery to offer floral services for weddings?” Joan asked.

  “Yes, for the time being, we will only offer the service to customers with weddings at the house. The ten-year plan is to expand the operation and offer floral and landscaping services to the public. Since the kitchen will be up and running sooner, we’re going to offer catering services and box lunches in order to generate revenue,” I replied.

  My excitement for the project was hard to contain, and I wanted to gush about all the ideas I’d been planning, but I knew that acting too excited would not
benefit me here. “I’ve already approached a master gardener about employment, and he has tentatively accepted based on the final approvals from this board and the town.”

  “This entire business is seasonal. How do you plan to sustain any kind of income during the off-season?” Dad asked.

  To the townspeople in the room, his question probably sounded like a reasonable one for a concerned parent. But I knew better. Dear old Dad was probably looking for any weaknesses in the plan to shoot down the entire thing.

  “We’re not here to discuss the success of her business plan. We’re not approving her for a business loan. We’re only here to approve the changes to the land and the home in order to accommodate the prospective business,” Ida said with a sharp look at everyone assembled.

  “I agree with Miss Ida,” Dave Rossum said. “Anyone that wants to improve their garden around here has to drive an hour to the nearest home center. A nursery in our town would be a welcome addition.”

  “I don’t know,” Terry said, and looked to his wife and my father. “I agree with the Mayor that the house has always been private. Opening it up to business seems like it devalues the house and the land, don’t you think?”

  “Not to mention the garden center and the wedding business would compete with already established businesses in the area. How could that be fair to those people in town?” Joan added.

  “This will take years to get off the ground,” Roger said. “Do you really want to have the land torn up for years just to put in a business that may never take off?”

  “Actually, Nick has agreed that if he can start within the next two weeks, they will complete the construction and renovation before Halloween,” I said. “We could still host the charity haunted house and hayride like we do every year.”

  “You three have to be out of your minds,” Ida said. “We are not in the business of saying what businesses can and cannot open in this town.” She pointed a finger at my father. “You’ve still got your panties in a wad because my friend was smart and bypassed you in her will and gave the house to Olivia,” Ida said as she stood from her seat. “My vote is to approve these plans and allow the renovations to begin. That is our only job here.”