Part 14 (1/2)

”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 d.a.m.n 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 a.s.sociates.

”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 doc.u.ments 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, G.o.d. 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?

”d.a.m.n,” 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.