House Calls: Callaghan Brothers, Book 3 (29 page)

“How many properties are affected?” a disembodied voice asked from the back of the room.

“For those of you not familiar with the protocol for these meetings, questions or comments must be first recognized by the Board,” the Secretary said icily, shooting another irritated glance toward the back.

At least two dozen hands shot into the air, but the Chairman ignored all of them.  It was Shane who stood up.  “I wish to speak on the matter.” 

“And you are?”

“Shane Callaghan.”

The chairman’s lips grew into an even thinner line. 

“Proceed.”

“As I understand it, you are looking to rezone the Flynn property because it has not been used for agricultural purposes.  Is that correct?”

“It is not our intent to target a single property, Mr. Callaghan,” Lance Williams said with a forced smile that did not reach his eyes.  “We seek to make the tax base more equitable for everyone.  The zoning ordinance is very clear on this.”  He looked out into the audience, hoping to see some agreeable nods, finding none.

“Yes, it is,” Shane said in his calm, quiet tones.  Shane didn’t have to raise his voice or use a microphone to be heard.  When he spoke, people couldn’t help but listen.  “It clearly states that the land be used for agricultural purposes.  Nowhere does it state that such purpose must be for profit.”

On the raised dais, a few members of the board shifted on their seats.  “Excuse me?”

“Maggie Flynn
has
been using the land for agricultural purposes.  She cultivates organic herbs for home remedies, which she provides to several members of the community on a regular basis free of charge.  She allows the local elementary schools to make use of her land for educational purposes, hosting field trips every fall.  She opens the orchards up to the locals of Pine Ridge so that they might pick from them, again without charge.  She donates untold bushels of produce to the local shelters and charitable organizations throughout the year.”

Lance Williams shuffled a few papers.  “None of that appears in our documentation, Mr. Callaghan.” 

“Obviously.  That is why there are over one hundred constituents present here this evening, willing to provide testimony.”

The Board members exchanged glances.  “How many of you wish to speak on this issue?” the speaker asked.  Nearly every person in the audience stood or raised their hand. 

Far in the back, Spencer Dumas slipped away, smiling to himself. 

M
aggie unplugged the land line and turned off her cell phone; she couldn’t stand the incessant ringing any longer.  Her answering machine was full, the voicemail maxed out.  She closed the curtains and locked the doors.  If it had been dark she would have turned out the lights, but the brilliant early summer sunshine prevented her from hiding in the shadows. 

She sat at the kitchen table, staring at the scarred top, running her fingers over the wood worn smooth as glass over the years, relishing the feel of each nick and gouge.  How much of this would she lose?  She would probably end up selling everything just to try and make a dent in the balloon payment she knew was forthcoming.  It would only be a matter of time now. 

The County Board had met last night; she just couldn’t bring herself to go.  Instead she huddled beneath her grandmother’s quilt with a cup of hot cocoa, George snuggled by her side.  Michael had insisted on going, and encouraged her to go, too, but said he understood why she didn’t want to.

Tears filled her eyes again.  She loved him so much it hurt.  Telling him she couldn’t marry him had nearly destroyed her.  But after the initial resistance he just held her with that implacable calm, promising her that everything would work out.  She wished she shared his faith.

At least she still had her dignity.  If she had attended the meeting last night there was little chance she’d be able to say that.  She knew she wouldn’t have been able to hold her tongue when all of those politicians started waggling theirs, preaching about fairness and honesty, accusing her of deliberately trying to cheat the system.  Especially when most of them were probably involved in much worse, not to mention the fact that they were most likely snugly aligned in Spencer’s pocket. 

No, sometimes it was better to just stand up and take what was coming to you, with as much self-respect and dignity as you could muster.  She knew she hadn’t done anything illegal.  She knew she was an honest person.  Just as she knew, deep in her heart, that legally distancing herself from Michael and Lexi was the best thing she could do for them, no matter how much it hurt.  

The knock on the door didn’t surprise her; what was surprising was that it had taken this long.  She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.  Maybe it was the sheriff, serving her papers.  Maybe it was Spencer coming to gloat.  Or maybe it was a friend who had come to offer support.  In any case, she wanted just a few more minutes of peace and solitude to brace herself for what lay ahead. 

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Ian asked from behind her, startling her so much that she cleared her seat by several inches.  He strode across the kitchen and took everything in.  “Christ, Maggie.  Forget farming.  You should open a bakery, you know that?”  Every available surface was filled with pastries, cookies, pies, and breads.  That’s what happened when Maggie was stressed out and unable to sleep a wink. 

“You really need to stop breaking into my house.”  With a pang of sorrow she realized she probably wouldn’t be able to say that much longer.

After agonizing over the available choices for a few minutes, Ian finally decided on a bear claw.  His eyes rolled back in his head as he took a big bite.

The heavy knock sounded again.  “She’s not going to answer it,” he called out cheerfully.  “You might as well just come in the front.  I left it open.”

Maggie looked at him in disbelief.  He smiled unapologetically.  Before she knew it, Sean was striding into the kitchen, followed by his twin.  “You could have just opened the door, asshole,” Sean griped at Ian.

Ian grinned, unrepentant.  “Not my house.”

Taryn and Jake came in next with Riley in tow.  Taryn went right over to Maggie and gave her a big hug.  Riley put her pudgy little hands on Maggie’s cheeks and gave her a wet, slobbery kiss.

Lexi followed with Jack holding Patrick.  Aidan and Kieran brought up the rear.  Soon her kitchen was filled, looking remarkably smaller than it had only a few minutes earlier.

Maggie tried hard to summon a smile.  “Did you come to help me pack?”

“Why?  Are we going somewhere?”  Michael’s deep voice resounded through the kitchen.  He strode over and kissed Maggie as if nothing was wrong.

“Last I heard, I was,” she said, looking in puzzlement at the crowd in her kitchen, most of which was made up of large men eating.  It certainly didn’t look anything like the pity party she was expecting.  As a matter of fact, they all seemed strangely... happy.

“Change in plans, love,” Michael said.  “The County Board has had a change of heart.”

Maggie stared around in disbelief at the smiling faces.  “What did you do?”

“We did nothing,” Ian said, his mouth filled with pastry.  “But apparently you have done a lot.  At least a hundred people spoke on your behalf last night, Mags.”  He laughed.  “The meeting went till well after midnight.”

“I don’t understand,” Maggie said, shaking her head.  “I don’t even know a hundred people.”

“Ah, but they know you,” Michael said, guiding her gently to a chair. 

“It’s true,” Jack explained.  “All the field trips, food donations, and natural remedies you’ve been giving people all these years – they were all qualified, legitimate agricultural uses, regardless of whether you charged for them or not.”

Maggie blinked, and looked over toward Shane, knowing instinctively he had been the one to find a way out of this.  He looked almost embarrassed.  “I get to keep my land?  My house?”

“All of it,” Shane confirmed.

Tears formed in her eyes. 

“Ah, don’t cry, Mags,” Ian said, even as Michael kneeled beside her chair and pulled her against him.  “It’s okay, love,” Michael said soothingly.  “I’ve got you.”

It took a few minutes, but Maggie was finally able to pull herself away and wipe at her eyes.  No matter what they said, she knew they were responsible for this.  For all of it.  “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Well I do,” said Jake, his eyes twinkling, his deep, booming voice resonating throughout the kitchen.  He didn’t talk much, but when he did, you couldn’t help but pay attention.  “The first thing you can do is tell our sorry-assed brother that the wedding is back on.  We’re tired of him moping around the Pub.  It’s bad for business.”

Maggie framed Michael’s face with both of her hands and looked into his eyes.  “I can do that,” she said softly.

“And the second thing,” Aidan added, “is to sign this contract with the Celtic Goddess so that we can move forward with our new organic menus.”  He slid a sheath of papers across the table and handed her a gold pen. 

“I’ve already been through them all,” Shane said around a strawberry-and-cheese danish.  “And I can tell you the Goddess is being extremely generous.  The land, the house, it all remains yours.  The Goddess will provide the equipment and the labor.”

“It also names you as a member of the Celtic Goddess Board,” Lexi said excitedly.  “Director of the new Organics Division.”

Maggie was at a loss.  “I don’t know what to say...”

“Don’t say anything.  Just sign it,” Taryn coaxed.  With trembling fingers, Maggie did just that.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Ian added mischievously.  “You’ve got to promise never to stop making these bear claws.”

* * *

M
ichael and Maggie’s wedding was held a week later.  Rather than a big affair, they opted for an intimate evening candlelight service for close family and friends only, followed by a low-key dinner at the Goddess.  After everything that had happened, they were all thankful for the quiet affair.

“Maggie.”  Spencer Dumas stepped from the shadows while Maggie waited for Michael to bring the car around.  “You look absolutely beautiful.”

“Spencer?” she asked with a note of fear in her voice. 

Spencer smiled.  “Relax, Maggie.  I just wanted to wish you the best.” 

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad everything worked out for you, Maggie.  I really am.”  With one last smile, Spencer turned and walked away, back into the shadows.

“Are you okay, love?” Michael asked as he opened up the passenger door of the black Jag for her, saw her looking off to where Spencer had disappeared only seconds earlier.  The man always did have an impeccable sense of timing.

Maggie turned to her new husband, snaking her hands up and around his neck.  “Everything is perfect, Michael.  Absolutely perfect.”

Y
ou didn’t have to pick this book, but you did.  Thank you!

If you liked this story, then please consider posting a review online!  It’s really easy, only takes a few minutes, and makes a huge difference to independent authors who don’t have the mega-budgets of the big-time publishers behind them. 

Log on to your favorite online retailer and just tell others what you thought, even if it’s just a line or two.  That’s it!  A good review is one of the nicest things you can do for any author.

As always, I welcome feedback.  Email me at
[email protected]
.

Or sign up for my mailing list on my website at
http://abbiezandersromance.com
  for up to date info and advance notices on new releases, Like my FB page (AbbieZandersRomance), and/or follow me on Twitter (@AbbieZanders). 

Thanks again, and may all of your ever-afters be happy ones!

Abbie

A
bbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really.  Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too.  Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true.  She promises her readers two things:  no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending.  Beyond that, you never know...

Contemporary Romance

Dangerous Secrets (Callaghan Brothers Book 1)

First and Only (Callaghan Brothers Book 2)

Five Minute Man

The Realist

Time Travel Romance

Lost in Time I

Lost in Time II

Paranormal Romance

Vampire, Unaware