The Billionaire's Secret Love Child(106)

“Help? What help is it to take away everything he’s ever worked for?” My arms waved in frustration in front of me. “The McGarity’s have been in this area for generations! You can’t just come in here and--”

Matthew’s eyes traced to my side, his hands fell out of his pocket, and for the first time I saw his expression waver.

“Momma,” Philip’s hand tugged at my sweater, his other hand hugging Zelda, now freed from her cage, close to his chest.

My hands immediately fell to my side and I patted Philip’s shoulder.

“It’s alright, Philip,” I said. “I was just having a talk with--Mr. Gordon.”

The room suddenly felt tense, and I dared not make eye contact with Matthew.

Pete came fumbling into the house, the sound of luggage bags being placed on the wooden floor.

“Hey, Philip, don’t you wanna see your new room?”

Philip perked up and I nodded permission as he ran toward Pete. I peeked out and sent a thankful glance toward Pete as he and Philip walked up the narrow wooden stairs.

I turned around, only to be awkwardly met with a broad, suited chest.

I backed away.

“Excuse me,” Matthew made his way out toward the hallway. “I should be going.”

I didn’t have any time to say anything before he was already bounding out the door. I peeked out the window as he spoke briefly with my father before shaking hands and leaving for his car, which must have been parked out back.

I sighed and slumped into the red couch. I was so tired, and that was not at all the welcome home I was prepared for. In a moment, the jet lag took over and the last thing I remember was the smell of wildflowers and the memory of fireflies flitting above a deep canyon.



“My, what a pleasant surprise,” Maggie Turner greeted me as soon as the bell rang at the storefront door of Gordonville’s Country Market and Cafe.

“It’s good to see you too,” I said. Wafts of cinnamon and apples filled my senses, and the smell of freshly baked goods. Maggie wiped some stray strands of her jet black hair from her face. Her long black braid fell toward her back, her green apron messed with flour.

We stared at one another for a few solemn moments. Then, a smirk, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer myself. I laughed, and Maggie let out a girlish squeal as we embraced one another.

“Where in the world have you been, Erin McGarity?” she held me out with her hands on my shoulders.

“I miss you too, Mag.”

The ring at the door sounded.

“Come on,” Maggie ushered me toward the cafe nook of the store.

We sat ourselves at a table. It was still early in the day after our arrival. Philip was still at home with my dad, and I took the time to head into town for some items, and not without stopping to pay a visit to my best friend.

I took a sip of warm cocoa from my mug.

“When you said things were rough, I didn’t think you meant Big Man Matthew was going around town buying people out.”

“Okay,” Maggie took a sip of her drink. “Big Man Matthew? What is that?”

I rested my hand underneath my chin, my cheeks red. “I was trying to make him sound ominous.”

“One,” she said. “That makes him sound like Paul Bunyan’s awkward cousin. And two, he’s not really a bad guy. He’s just...really powerful. And wealthy. And handsome...”

I sent her a darting look and she took another sip from her mug.

“To be fair,” she said. “He’s the one with the sympathy card.”

“What?” I sat up in my chair. “He’s trying to steal away everything my family’s worked for!”

“You left him at the altar, Erin. Then you left town. You didn’t call, you didn’t visit. You don’t really have a right anymore to defend the place.”

I grew hot at Maggie’s stark comments, but deep down, I felt it too. I had left. And six years was a long time, apparently. Enough for the entire town to change, and the people in it.

“He’s done some good, you know. I’m sure you noticed all the unique little shops in town--”

“Yeah, it does seem a bit niche, doesn’t it? I mean, who’s coming out to Gordonsville for arts and crafts?”

“That’s just it, Erin. Matthew’s been bringing in some steady flow. We get some real adventure seekers out here, for hiking and hunting, and the investors bring in some top tier folk, you know? They come for meetings and outdoor events, and the Gordon’s host them all at their log cabin club. It’s different, but it means we’re all able to keep our heads above water.”

I sighed without response.

The doorbell jingled at the front of the store. The young girl cashier greeted the customers.

Maggie stood up with her mug.

“I should get back to making pies.”

“This place is so adorable,” a high-pitched drawl sounded through the store, with the clacking of heels hitting the hardwood floor.

Tourists, I thought, with rolled-eyes. Yuppie tourists are exactly what we need in this town.

I snaked my way down one of the aisles.

“Isn’t this marvelous, Matthew?”

Matthew?

I stopped in my tracks.

The woman’s heels came to a stop, and I heard her voice close now, coming from the other aisle.