Aunt Emma’s Attic wasn’t a permanent solution for the space, but it was enough to charm Courtney Caring. Courtney had a song climbing the charts and a huge Instagram following. She bought a hat, posted an adorable selfie with it, and tagged their location on the map. This was tourist town gold! Take that, Chef Ellston and Covert Pier.
The impromptu car show saw Luke Brush, country music’s best bad boy, test driving a vintage Mustang down the main street while his girlfriend posted it to TikTok.
The best moment came that night, as Hope served a meal that got raves from the members of Burgundy Four and River Ann Flowers. They all tweeted pictures, and soon, Hope’s Table was trending on Twitter.
Libby was sitting at the bar at Hope’s Table with Keith. She was fairly certain it was the first time she’d sat down in over a day. He lifted his draft beer to her glass of red wine.
“Irish Hills is looking positively trendy.”
“Ha, well, there’s a lot of duct tape involved.”
“Still, no one here seems to notice that. I heard that River Ann chick talking about filming a music video here.”
Libby clasped her hands together to try to contain the excitement that was bubbling up inside her.
“You’re cute when you’re tickled pink.” Keith leaned forward and gave her a peck on her forehead.
“Thanks. I am tickled. I just wonder about Goldie. She’s my one worry right now.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure she knows that she should stay. I think she has one foot out the door back to L.A.”
“If she’s as smart as she seems, and if Joe turns on that charm, I’d say you don’t have much to worry about.”
Libby hoped that was true. While she wanted to enjoy the success, she did worry. That was the price you paid for caring about people: worry.
Hopefully, the Sandbar Sisters showed Goldie that no matter what was happening in her life, she had a safe place here.
Libby still had businesses to lure to fill the vacant buildings. She had plans for the buildings across the street that they hadn’t touched yet. And there was the Lake View Dance Pavilion. She had so much to do!
But thankfully, all of a sudden, Irish Hills was looking a lot more appealing. It was practically cool. That was all Goldie. Her connections had made this happen.
“Can I buy your next rounds?” A man in jeans and a t-shirt who looked familiar stood between her and Keith. Familiar but different. Who in the…?
Whoa.
It was Stirling Stone. She’d only ever seen him clad in his business suit. She’d never seen him look so casual.
Libby noticed Keith’s normally laid-back demeanor shift. Her enemy was his enemy, the clear message.
“Whoa, no thousand-dollar suit? Slumming today?”
“I am not. I’m here to concede.”
“Concede?”
“I’m done trying to turn Irish Hills into a Stirling Stone Development property. You won at just about every turn. I know when I’m beaten.”
Libby had to shake her head to be sure she heard right. It had to be another ploy of his.
“I’m assuming this is your latest tactic. Maybe one of your subsidiaries is going to start pushing to buy up the properties?”
“No, if I buy something, I buy something. I’m not hiding that. But if you want to call Mayor Eastland, you’ll see Grant Mills has submitted the paperwork to withdraw the request for a second eminent domain hearing.”
“You got Archeologie Outlet to select Covert Pier. You won that one, not me.”
“That was a tiny thing. Look around. You won. I mean, the lead singer of Burgundy Four is about to propose to River Ann Daisy or whatever her name is, at that table in the corner.”
