Page 46 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

PIPER

No Room For Negotiation

It’d taken some maneuvering but Tessa and I got around the yellow caution tape, multiple severed tree limbs, and more than a few crumpled roof shingles, before we reached the front door of Huckleberry Lane.

We found Beck and Torran pacing inside the living room, their gazes darting more than once to the disaster area that surrounded their home.

A day after the tornado and everything in and around Ivy Falls was chaos.

The storm had cut us off from all utilities: water, power, phone and internet.

More than once, the fire chief had suggested to Mr Wright that in his capacity as mayor he should evacuate certain parts of town, but when he broached the subject everyone in Ivy Falls refused to leave.

‘Tor. Beck,’ Tessa started. ‘Piper and I have something we want to discuss with you.’

‘Whatever it is, can it wait?’ Torran said. ‘The foreman from the first cleanup crew is supposed to stop by and tell us how long it’ll be before they can get people here to clear the yard.’

Tessa gave me a weighted look. This conversation had to happen now if our plan was going to work.

‘No, because we need to make some decisions,’ I said.

Beck furrowed his brow. ‘Decisions about what?’

I gave another hesitant glance in Tessa’s direction. ‘The wedding.’

Torran gave an ugly snort and rubbed at her stomach. ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding.’ Like she knew how that might hit Beck, she quickly added, ‘I mean not right now.’

It was clear from their tense shoulders, the way worry colored their eyes, that they’d already given up on the chance of a ceremony anytime soon.

‘This tornado has clearly thrown a wrench into things,’ Tessa started.

Torran let out a caustic laugh. ‘A wrench? It’s more like a twenty-foot tree.’

‘Let’s all sit,’ I suggested, hoping to keep things calm.

Torran and Beck slouched down onto the dark leather couch, while Tessa and I found spots in the matching armchairs.

Tessa pulled in a full breath and said, ‘We don’t want you to cancel the wedding.’

‘There’s not much choice considering the state of our backyard right now,’ Beck said.

‘What if there was a choice?’ I said.

Beck looked at me with a defeated look that made my heart ache. ‘I don’t see how.’

‘We hold the ceremony in the square.’ I paused. ‘And we ask the town to help.’

Torran set her jaw. ‘Absolutely not. Everyone is dealing with their own issues with this tornado. None of the shops near the square have power. Half the roof on Minnie’s Market is gone. We can’t ask people to help us when they have their own problems and families to worry about.’

‘Don’t be upset,’ Tessa said hesitantly. ‘But we’ve already started floating the idea. There’s going to be a town meeting today at three to discuss it.’

I waited for their protests. Instead, Torran turned into Beck’s shoulder, letting out small sobs.

‘Did we overstep?’ I blurted. ‘I’m sorry. We only wanted to help. You two have been through a lot, and we don’t want to see this day taken away from you.’

Tessa moved out of the chair and knelt in front of her sister. ‘Tor, you’ve done so much for this town. Let them help you and Beck.’

Torran sniffled. ‘Dammit. These hormones have turned me into a blubbering mess.’ She swiped at her cheeks. ‘How could we pull this off in three days?’

‘That’s what we’re going to talk about at the meeting,’ I said.

‘The wedding will be smaller. More intimate,’ Tessa added. ‘But none of that matters if we can get the two of you hitched.’

Beck rubbed at his tired eyes and turned to Torran. ‘I don’t care where, or how, we get married as long as I can slip a ring on your finger and vow to love and protect you for the rest of my life.’

Another tear slid down Torran’s cheek. ‘That’s all I want too.’

A victorious smile lifted the corners of Tessa’s lips. ‘Then you both agree that if we can put a wedding together, you’re in?’

Beck and Torran gave each other such a loving look that I couldn’t help but think about Ford. How if he was here he’d be the first person pitching in. Doing whatever he could to help make the day beautiful for the people I loved.

‘If you can convince Ivy Falls to help us, we are definitely in,’ Beck said before he pulled Torran in for another embrace, her tears quickly falling again.

‘What the hell is Amos doing?’

Mr Wright paced in the back of the town hall’s meeting room, hands shoved into his pockets, shoulders tensed up around his ears.

‘He’s doing what you asked,’ Tessa said. ‘You were the one who said you couldn’t run the emergency meeting because it was a conflict of interest. That another council member had to be in charge. Amos has been your friend for over twenty years, Dad. He’ll handle this.’

He scrubbed a nervous hand over his mouth. ‘Maybe this was a bad idea. They’ve been arguing about excavators for over half an hour now.’

The wood-paneled meeting room was wall-to-wall Ivy Falls residents.

Most of the chairs in the twelve narrow rows were occupied by the usual suspects.

Ferris sat next to Doc Sheridan and his wife, Sylvie.

Behind them was Silvio, Mrs Vanderpool, Miss Cheri and Isabel.

To their right was Deputy Ben, Diego and Manny.

All the window shades were open, and Manny brought in a generator for extra light, because the tornado had destroyed many of the power poles around the square.

I hadn’t seen this many people attend a town meeting since Silvio swore someone stole the sandwich board outside the hardware store.

After a lot of accusatory dialogue, he was reminded that he’d loaned it to Mimi’s Pizza for a festival they were doing with their new food truck, which set off a whole other argument about what was the best pizza topping.

Ferris nearly lost it when Deputy Ben brought up pineapple, arguing fruit should never be on pizza.

Mr Wright had to finally break it up with the promise that they’d do a poll at the end of next month’s meeting.

Amos sat in the center of the semicircular table at the front of the room. He’d dressed for the occasion in a starched blue shirt and matching tie, taking his fill-in role for the mayor seriously. His eyes narrowed on the crowd and he banged on the gavel calling the meeting back to order.

‘We’re not gonna solve how to get three excavators down main street to load up all the trees down near the soccer fields tonight. At this point, we can’t even get word from the cell-phone companies about when we can get the towers up and running again.’

Because Ivy Falls was without any kind of cell service or Wi-Fi, everything had been brought to a standstill.

Businesses were closed and people wandered the streets aimlessly looking for something to do.

More than a few residents mumbled that they felt helpless.

Wished they could do more to assist with the cleanup.

That’s when Tessa had come up with the brilliant idea to put everyone to work on Torran and Beck’s wedding.

Amos waved in our direction. ‘Tessa, please come to the front and make your presentation.’

Mr Wright squeezed her hand before she moved down the aisle toward where the council sat.

‘Hello, everyone. It’s good to see you all, and I’m glad everyone is safe.

’ The piece of lined notebook paper in her hand shook as she spoke.

‘I asked that this emergency meeting be called because, as many of you know, Torran and Beck were supposed to be married this Saturday in the backyard of Huckleberry Lane.’

Everyone nodded along.

‘I’m sure word has also spread that their big magnolia came down, as well as several other trees, and their fence, in the tornado. Right now their backyard resembles ground zero for the apocalypse.’

Murmurs rose as she went on.

‘Torran and Beck are at home right now meeting with a cleanup crew, but we’ve gotten their permission to have this meeting.

’ She took a thick gulp and went on. ‘This town has always pulled together for the people they love. You rallied around my mother when she was sick. Helped support me when I was struggling with the bookstore. There are countless other ways this community has helped out when you’ve been called on.

’ She chewed on her lips nervously. ‘I’m here because I’m asking for your help to put on a wedding for them. ’

Mrs Vanderpool’s hand rose. ‘When were you thinking?’

‘They’ve been through a lot. I want them to be able to celebrate on their original day.’

Ferris jumped to his feet. ‘You wanna put on a wedding in less than seventy-two hours?’

‘Yes,’ Tessa said in a voice that insisted there was no room for negotiation.

‘Torran’s dress is safe, but the flower shop is a mess. My coolers are down and the workspace is torn up,’ Ms Darcy said. ‘I won’t be able to do boutonnières or bouquets.’

‘That’s all right. We’ll use the roses from my garden,’ Ferris offered.

‘Barbie and I will take care of the cake and the donut tower for Torran, but if our ovens still aren’t running we may need to use one in a local home if you have gas,’ Susan added.

Isabel and Miss Cheri immediately volunteered.

Mr Wright shot me a hopeful look. When you needed support, this town never let you down.

‘The sheriff’s office has a tent we use at outreach events. I bet we could get it out of storage. Set it up for the reception,’ Deputy Ben called out.

As more people raised their hands, offered their help, Mr Wright rubbed at his eyes.

‘You had to know once they were asked, the town would come through,’ I said.

‘I’ve been so distracted by the everyday business of Ivy Falls that I’ve forgotten it’s not the paperwork or processes that makes this community function – it’s the people. It shouldn’t have taken a destructive act of nature to remind me of that fact.’

‘It’s easy to get caught up in what’s going on in our own lives. To forget that we have an incredible support system here if we ask for it.’ My gaze darted to where Old Mrs V sat with Silvio. How the ache in my chest reminded me that one important face was missing in this crowd.

Ford would have loved the conversations and wild banter that filled this meeting.

The way Silvio teased Ferris about his precious roses.

How more than once Isabel glanced over her shoulder to make sure the mayor wasn’t pacing too frantically in the back of the room.

Old Mrs V’s shushing as too many people spoke over each other.

Tessa continued to recruit help. Manny offered to gather a crew to bring in chairs and string more lights in the gazebo.

A few people even volunteered to set up their smokers to make brisket or barbecued pork.

Others agreed to bring salads and other side dishes to round out the meal for the reception.

Once every task was filled, the space vibrated with the sound of applause. Amos banged the gavel with a little too much fervor and adjourned the meeting.

People filed toward the back of the room and Mr Wright shook every person’s hand, thanked them personally for their help. Amos came hustling up the aisle toward us with Tessa following.

‘Thought I did pretty good for running my first meeting, don’t you agree?’

It was hard not to smile at the self-satisfied look on Amos’ face.

‘Thanks, pal. You did well,’ Mr Wright answered.

‘Boy, the power of smacking that gavel is a rush. Maybe I’ll run for mayor considering…’

Mr Wright shot Amos a dark look as his old friend pressed his hand over his mouth, shook his head and sped off toward the exit.

‘Dad?’ Tessa propped her hands on her hips. ‘Anything you want to tell us?’

‘I was going to speak to you girls after the wedding, but I’ve decided I’m done being mayor once my term is over. It’s time for someone new to lead Ivy Falls. Guide this town into the future.’

‘Will you go back to the bank full-time?’ Tessa asked.

His gaze flicked to where Isabel was talking to Deputy Ben.

‘Part-time. Isabel and I have been talking about traveling. And…’ His lips split into a wide grin.

‘I’d like to dedicate a lot more time to being a grandpa.

Help Torran and Beck out when they need it.

’ He reached out and squeezed Tessa’s hand.

‘You and Manny too, because this family is really growing.’

Tessa pressed a kiss to his cheek. ‘I’m headed to Huckleberry Lane. You two want to tag along? Help me tell them the news?’

‘Yes, I want to see exactly how you’re going to convince them this is going to work,’ I said.

Mr Wright pulled us both into a hug and said, ‘Guess we have a wedding to put on!’