The Summer Sisters (Juniper Springs Book 2)

by Sara Richardson

  “What’s that smile about?” Moe demanded, standing directly in front of her. Funny, she hadn’t even noticed the printer had finished. “Because you surely aren’t excited about the meeting. We can’t cancel, and you know it. Peg would lose her mind.”

  “I know. It’s best to get it over with anyway.” One didn’t have to be a genius to know good old Peg would put up a fight when she saw that Sassy had cut funding for the annual Miss Juniper Springs pageant. Seriously, though. It was a new day. Should they really encourage young girls to get all made up and prance around in fancy dresses? In her estimation, the pageant wasn’t a critical town function.

  “All right. Let’s get a move on.” She accepted the folder Moe held out. “But I’m cutting this thing off at one hour.” Or maybe even less.

  “Why?” Moe held open the door for her. “You got a hot date or something?”

  Warmth crept into Sassy’s cheeks. A blush? That hadn’t happened in a good twenty years. She’d almost forgotten how it felt. “No, I don’t have a date.” Not technically. She didn’t know what to call her meetings with Graham. Initially she could’ve passed them off as business discussions, but they’d taken a turn into more personal matters. She always went to the rose garden with the intention of bringing up the land, but by the time she had to leave to go back to her mayoral duties, she’d forgotten all about her own agenda.

  All week that had been her excuse for going back to see him.

  “You’re smiling again,” Moe murmured, pausing on the top step. “Sassy, are you holding out on me? Who’s the lucky man?”

  “There is no man.” Good Lord, she was nearly seventy, for pity’s sake. Sassy took the stairs quickly, nearly outrunning Moe all the way to the first floor. “Listen here, mister. I don’t need a man to make me smile.” She’d been smiling all on her own for over twenty years. Even after Robert had been arrested. Even after he’d passed away in prison, she’d still found reasons to smile. It was nice to have a friend like Graham, that was all. Someone who had experienced a similar loss. Someone who amused her. Someone who always seemed happy to see her.

  “I’d still like to know who it is,” Moe muttered, then ducked into the meeting room before she could scold him again. Incorrigible man. He was too intuitive for his own good.

  Sassy walked into the room and nearly ran right into Peg. “I was just getting ready to come up and find you two,” the woman snipped. “Everyone has been here for ten minutes.”

  “We were finishing up the budget.” Sassy pulled a copy out of the folder and handed it to her. “As you know, things were left in quite a mess. I’m not sure anyone has attempted to actually balance the budget in years, and we’re not going to operate with a deficit on my watch.” She may have originally taken this job because of the community garden, but she intended to be the best mayor Juniper Springs had ever had and leave things in a much better place than they’d been in when she’d walked through the door.

  “Wonderful.” The woman’s smile had a plastic sheen.

  Sassy sidestepped her and joined the rest of the council at the table. Moe had already handed everyone else a copy of the budget.

  “Let’s call this meeting to order.” She spent the next half hour quickly and efficiently walking them through the new budget—mainly touching on the changes. “I don’t see a way for us to keep funding the pageant,” she said before Peg could argue about the missing line item. “But I am sure those who are dedicated to seeing the event continue will step up to raise the necessary funds.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Tyra said. “I know the salon would be happy to contribute.”

  Arnie gave her a short round of applause. “Finally we have a mayor who’s willing to be fiscally responsible.”

  The positive reactions didn’t leave Peg much room to contest the change, though her distinctive frown made it clear she didn’t approve.

  “I noticed you cut the salary line quite a bit.” Christine pushed her bifocals farther up on her nose.

  Sassy turned to the next page of the printout. “I don’t need the income.” She had saved over the years, investing wisely in her retirement. And she hadn’t even touched the money her aunt and uncle had left her when they’d passed. “So at least for this year, we took out the mayor’s salary.”

  “I see a line item here for the community garden.” Peg stared her down from across the table. “Does that mean Mr. Wright has come to see things from our point of view?”

  There went the warming trend on her cheeks again. Holy cats, she was way too old to be blushing. “Not yet, but I think we’re moving in that direction.”

  “You’ve talked to him?” the woman pressed.

  “I have.” But she couldn’t detail their conversations here. In front of everyone. “And I have another meeting set up with him to discuss things further. I may propose a partnership with the museum. They could provide the land, and we could build the garden. I think that’s a good compromise.” She noticed Moe’s eyebrows peak.

  “Absolutely not.” Peg seemed to channel all of her negative energy into those two words. “Graham Wright can’t keep that land. We need to make sure we have control over what happens on that lot, so you’ll do whatever you have to do to convince him to sign it over to the town. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll hire an attorney to contest the will.”

  It was no use telling her they didn’t have a budget for an attorney. “I can talk with Graham again, but—”

  “Great,” the woman interrupted. “When will you be able to report back to the council?”

  “I would say by our regular meeting on Wednesday.” That meant she had to talk to Graham about the garden right after this meeting. “Are there any other questions regarding the budget?”

  Everyone quietly flipped through their packets a few more times.

  “I think it’s strong work,” Arnie said. “Let’s move it to a vote.”

  Murmurs of agreement went around until Peg finally conceded. “Fine. All in favor of passing this year’s budget?” When everyone else added their aye, the woman recorded a unanimous result.

  “Perfect.” Sassy was the first to stand. “Then this meeting is adjourned.” The group filed out, waving and offering their thanks, and not a moment too soon. She gathered her things and thanked Moe for all of his hard work. “You’ve earned yourself an afternoon off, sir.”

  “Then you’ll see me tomorrow.” He leaned in and whispered, “Give Graham Wright my best when you see him later.”

  Was it possible to get hot flashes after menopause? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Mm-hmm.” The man gave her a hug. “Just make sure Peg doesn’t find out you’re having a secret rendezvous with her nemesis.”

  “I don’t much care what Peg thinks about anything. Even if there were something to find out. Which there isn’t.” Sassy followed him to the door, and they slipped out into the hallway. Surprise, surprise, Peg had stopped to wait for them at the main entrance.

  “We should go have a glass of wine,” the woman said, still wearing that same smirk that masqueraded as a smile.

  Sassy wouldn’t classify the invitation as friendly.

  “Unfortunately, I’m not available, ladies.” Moe stepped outside. “I have a gig in Salida. But you two enjoy.” He winked at Sassy before making a fast escape.

  “You and me then.” Peg attached herself to Sassy’s right side as they walked out of the building. “We can go to the Crazy Moose. We have a lot to discuss.”

  So she could get an earful about cutting the pageant from the budget? Sassy didn’t think so. “I would love to, but I have plans. I’m afraid I have to get going.” The woman had best learn now that Sassy wouldn’t be bullied into doing whatever Peg told her to do.

  “Another time then.” The woman gave her a good long glare. “In the future, I would appreciate you notifying me about large changes to the budget before the meeting. I made sure you got this job, and I can just as easily make sure yo
u lose it.”

  Sassy almost told Peg that she would inform her about changes when she informed everyone else but stopped herself. Would the woman find a way to remove her from office? She couldn’t lose this job. Serving this town had helped her rediscover a sense of purpose. She could make a real difference as the mayor.

  Instead of retaliating against the threat, Sassy looked directly into the woman’s eyes, steeling her gaze. “Understood. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Sassy left the woman in her dust, taking the long way to the museum so she could walk off her irritation before she saw Graham.

  She cut through the expansive park at the edge of Main Street. The late afternoon sun seemed to catch everything in its warm glow, highlighting the leaves on the trees and the petals on the colorful geraniums she passed. A few children laughed and chased each other on the playground with their parents looking on.

  One family had spread out a blanket on the lush green grass for a picnic. This place, this town, was worth every bit of stress she had to endure to serve as mayor. For weeks those mysterious headaches had given her a sense of urgency. She was getting older. She didn’t have as much time to leave her mark on the world. Had she done enough? Had she given enough? Loved enough?

  She couldn’t answer yes.

  Maybe she had given a part of herself, maybe she’d loved, but she wanted to do something bigger. Whether the headaches were a sign of her fragility or not, she wanted to offer all of her love, all of herself. She wanted to make the world better while she still had time.

  She crossed under the shadows of the trees, soaking in the sights and sounds of her town, and by the time she’d made it to Graham’s museum, her heart had righted itself. When she stepped onto the stone path that led to the rose garden, a distinct anticipation seemed to bubble up inside her.

  Before she rounded the corner, Graham met her, taking long strides, looking dapper in his crisp dark jeans and starched green button-up shirt. Quite the difference from the shorts he’d worn all week.

  “Thank you for coming.” It was amazing how a change of perspective could alter a person’s appearance. How she had always thought him to be so stodgy, she would never know. Now that she’d spent time with the man, the jaw she’d once thought unyielding made him look thoughtful. The eyes she’d once thought to be judgmental were the best pair of listening eyes she’d ever encountered, so focused and intent when she talked.

  “I thought we would take a break from working.” He offered his arm to escort her and Sassy took it, again smiling at the oddity of his practiced etiquette.

  “I suppose we’re almost out of work to do in the rose garden anyway.” This was her chance—the perfect opening to bring up the real reason she’d come to see him in the first place. But when they rounded the corner, Sassy stopped. A small table with two chairs sat among the roses. Candles flickered in the very center. Candles! And the man had also set out a bottle of wine with two glasses, an assorted platter of cheeses and crackers, and grapes. A picnic in the rose garden…

  “I wanted to thank you.” Audible nerves made the man’s tone stagger. “For helping me save the roses.”

  Sassy gaped up at him, that post-menopausal heat flashing again. “You drink wine?” was all she could think to say.

  Graham had the best laugh. It resonated low and deep, and it didn’t come easily, which made the sound that much more meaningful.

  “I enjoy wine quite a bit.” He took her elbow again and guided her to the table. “I guess I should’ve thought to ask if you do too.”

  “I do.” She settled into her chair, her stomach flip-flopping. What were all of these strange sensations? They couldn’t be signs of attraction. She was almost seventy years old! She’d given up on romantic love after Robert passed away.

  And this was Graham Wright. The president of the geology museum who’d always seemed so cantankerous.

  “Can I pour you a glass?” he asked, uncorking the bottle.

  Unable to find her voice, Sassy nodded. This whole gesture was very sweet, but Graham certainly couldn’t be operating under the assumption that they were anything more than friends. If he was under that impression, she had to find a way to set things straight right this very minute.

  “Help yourself to the refreshments.” He pushed the plate of cheese across the table and poured himself a glass of wine. “How did the budget meeting go?”

  “It went fine.” How was it that the man seemed to act as naturally as if they sat down for a picnic together every day? “I’m sorry.” She couldn’t continue pretending this wasn’t strange for her. “I have to be honest. I didn’t come to see you earlier this week for a date.” She gestured to the table and the candles and the wine. “I came because I wanted to talk to you about that land.”

  “That’s what I figured.” Graham casually sipped his wine. “But you didn’t talk about the land, so neither did I.”

  Yes, now she realized that had been a mistake. In delaying this conversation she seemed to have misled him into thinking she was interested in something more. “I should have brought it up.” Long before he’d gone to the trouble of planning a picnic.

  “We can talk about it now.” The man set down his glass. “Though I should warn you my position on the matter hasn’t changed.”

  “Neither has mine.” Just yesterday she’d found Graham amusing, but now she was downright nervous. She finally took a sip of wine. It was good wine. Velvety and peppery and expensive. “But I am hoping we can come to a compromise.”

  “What did you have in mind?” His listening eyes had completely focused on her. That expression on his face made her feel seen—not only seen but also valued. Few people in her life had looked at her the way Graham did.

  She stared back at him, feeling her world tilt. This was quite the inconvenient time for one of her dizzy spells.

  The man continued to wait for her response. Silence didn’t bother him, and it wouldn’t have bothered her either if she knew what to do with this picnic—with this shift in her heart.

  No matter what she felt, she couldn’t let it distract her from the reason she had initiated this friendship. “As you know, the town wants the land so we can create a community garden.” Now she was the one being overly formal. After all, formality was the best way to hide vulnerability. “But what if we create a partnership?” Forget what Peg wanted. When it came down to it, Ned had left the land to the museum. And she didn’t care what she had to do in order to get the community garden going. That might be worth losing her job over. “You provide the land, and the town will provide funds and workers to create a space that will help provide for families in our town.” If they were creative enough, they could expand the museum at the same time. “Maybe we can even come up with some outdoor displays that depict the town’s mining history.”

  Graham gazed at her but didn’t speak. He seemed to take his time deliberating. What she’d once taken for rudeness she now recognized as a long contemplative pause. “I like the idea of a partnership,” he finally said. “Ned wanted the land to be used for a good cause. I think he would’ve been happy with a garden to help feed people.” He paused as though caught up in his thoughts again. “I’ll have to take it to my board for a vote.”

  “Oh.” Sassy’s shoulders relaxed a touch. She’d expected more questions, more of a debate. “I could go over the numbers of families I believe it would help.” She had the statistics for income levels and unemployment in town.

  “That won’t be necessary.” She’d seen him smile at her often over the last week, but she still hadn’t gotten used to it. Or, rather, she hadn’t gotten used to the way the man’s smile lifted her heart.

  “We’re meeting this Sunday, so I’ll have an answer relatively quickly. I don’t anticipate running into much opposition.” He sipped his wine and swirled the glass. “You don’t have to stay. If that’s all you wanted to talk to me about. I don’t want to keep you.”

  He didn’t say the words with any self-pity. Something told her this
wouldn’t be the first glass of wine he’d enjoyed alone, but she stayed put. The sun was warm, and she could smell the wine and the roses. It was a beautiful afternoon to share a glass of wine with a friend. Being with Graham made her feel years younger. That couldn’t be a bad thing, could it? “The land isn’t all I wanted to talk to you about.” She sipped from her glass and filled her plate with an assortment of snacks. “I mean, at first it was, but I think we’ve proven this week that we have far more to discuss.”

  “Yes. I believe we do.” Graham topped off both of their glasses and offered her a smile that seemed to belong to her alone.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rose

  Rose couldn’t find a parking spot to save her life.

  She slowed her car in front of Grumpy’s and scanned the streets. It was just her luck that, at the exact time she was late picking up her mother, the ice cream shop had decided to sell double-scoop cones for a dollar. Crowds flooded the establishment next to the coffee shop, leaving her no place to pull in.

  The good news was that Grumpy’s coffee shop was still standing, so her mother hadn’t burned the place down. Yet.

  She guided the car past the antique shop, the clothing boutique, and finally—finally—pulled into a spot by Colt’s hardware store. As far as she knew, he was still working at the resort, but just in case, she hurried to get out of the car and out of sight, avoiding any potential encounters. It seemed every time she saw him, her heart opened a little more, no matter what her brain said.

  But that was a problem for another time. Right now she had to make sure her mother hadn’t driven Grumpy to do something crazy. When Dally had sent Rose the text telling her they were going to X-ray Maya’s ankle just to be safe, Rose had offered to be on Lillian duty, but she hadn’t paid attention to the time, and now she’d better brace for an earful from her mother.

  Trying to be polite, Rose worked her way through the ice cream crowd, smiling and greeting a couple of the familiar faces while she edged toward the coffee shop’s entrance. She stepped inside, heart engulfed in sudden panic when she didn’t see her mother. In fact, no one sat in the coffee shop—not even Grumpy.