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“So?”
She sighed. “Jay, whether you realized it or not, your opinions regarding free schooling for all older children made an impact on me. Not because of your status or lack of, but because of mine. As a female. I was born with an innate maternal instinct. As most all females are. It is our nature to feel concern for the well-being of our children. If we target the heart strings of the female population, we are sure to gain their support.”
He actually smirked. “By putting on a romantic play?”
“Possibly,” she raised her chin, refusing to allow him to intimidate her.
His smile turned soft. “Again, good in essence except for one small flaw. If I’m going to bring something to council table, it will require some form of petition. There’s a very good possibility, council won’t even consider the female opinions.”
“True, but those women do have an impact on their male counterparts.”
Jay studied her closely. “You’ve being putting a lot of thought into this.”
“Just a little.” Feeling pride, she straightened her back. “I’m not so inept after all.”
“I never thought you were.”
She flinched. Not from hurt, but from something completely opposite. It was the first time anyone had ever felt she was capable of anything other than becoming a beautiful decoration.
“So, tell me,” he said, still watching her closely. “Why the sudden interest?”
She truly had no answer so instead said, “I could ask you the same.”
“I have my reasons,” he said softly, making Erika feel suddenly foolish, as it was obvious he had no intention of sharing them with her.
“Me too.”
He smiled and placed his hat on his head. “So, what is it you need from me?”
Pleased, her smile quickly returned. “A balcony.”
“A what?” His eyes narrowed in part humor and part confusion, but didn’t look in the least put out.
“For the play. The most dramatic scene takes place with Clarisse declaring her love to Dominique from her balcony window.”
“Aren’t you slightly jumping the gun?” he asked. “You haven’t even proposed the bylaw.”
“We have plenty of time. Ryan won’t be back from abroad for another two months. So the play won’t be able to be performed until then. Meanwhile, we can move forward with our plan.”
Sighing, Jay rubbed the back of his neck. “Fine. So where do you plan to put on this play? Your grandfather’s theatre? Somehow I don’t think he’ll be plenty pleased to see me hard at work in any of his establishments other than that playhouse of his down on the flats.”
Erika couldn’t help but grin. “Or too happy to have a play performed in his theatre without benefiting from the proceeds. I thought of holding an open performance in the square park.”
Narrowing his eyes, he gave her a scrutinizing gaze. “You sure you want to do this? I mean, this is your grandfather, after all. You’ve never had to challenge him before.”
“I know,” she admitted. “But I’m sure.”
He nodded. “All right, I’ll get some wood from the lumber mill and get started. If I get Garrett’s help I can focus more time on this new campaign of yours.”
A smile naturally lifted the corners of her lips. Yes, it was her plan. “We can also employ Fiona’s help in that territory. She has a remarkable insight to what people are looki
ng for.”
“Sounds good.” Pausing, he stopped to look at her and frowned slightly. “I would never had guessed of all people to come out of the woodwork, it would have been you, princess.”
Grinning, he gave her a nod and tilted his hat in farewell as he left the house. Erika watched him go and felt like she was glowing inside. For the first time in her life, she felt giddy with excitement. Never would she have imagined that she would have felt such satisfaction by embarking on anything so strongly. Through the hall window, she watched Jay head for the barn and smiled softly.
“Sweetheart?” Ryan’s voice drew her attention back around. She had almost completely forgotten about him. “Everything settled?”
