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"I want to tear it down."
All the council's eyes grew wide at her words. "You want to tear down the alpha house?"
"It's only the alpha house if the alpha lives there. And we don't plan to, so it's just a house, and this house has money. I don't see why we would just allow it to sit. We can sell all the assets and give parts of it back to the community where it should have been in the first place."
"That is your house," Lilly spoke up in a soft tone. "That's not our home. Whatever is in the alpha house is yours now."
"I have a house," she said softly. "And I have more than enough to live happily. We aren't the ones suffering. So, starting tomorrow, I want everything to start being sold, and we can move forward with tearing it down."
Everyone stood stunned. Benton stood next to her, giving her a nod in agreement. "It's better for the community. The garden can be picked, and all the plants can be moved. And if someone would like anything out of the house, they can have it. All other items can be sold, and the money can be put back into the community."
No one said anything, and Benton looked at them confused.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's just …" Lilly looked about, ready to cry. "It's been a while since anyone thought about the community."
It twisted her heart to hear Lilly say those words, but she knew it was true. She had seen the condition the town was in.
She smiled, looking at each of them. "Let us make something clear. We are not like Troy and Reba. We didn't come here to take their spots and continue their reign of terror. We are here to make everyone’s lives better, and it starts with giving back what you all should have had in the first place."
After a little more chatting, they were taken to the abandoned house. A bunch of people had gone in and started cleaning and even brought groceries inside.
Benton spoke some more with the council while she thanked Lilly for all the help she'd given her. After a couple more hours, they were finally alone.
She sighed as she sat on the couch in the living room and looked at Benton. He stood in the kitchen leaning over the counter. Both were quiet, thinking to themselves. She looked outside the window and was able to see the alpha house in the distance. It suddenly made her question everything.
"Are we sure we can handle this?"
Benton looked at her. "Are you worried?"
"I just … it's a lot to take in." She looked at him. "We now make all the decisions and rules for the community. What if we screw up?"
Benton walked around the counter and came toward her. He sat on the couch, pulling her into his arms. "We won't. Yes, this may be a big role, but I think we can handle this."
She leaned into him. Yes, they could, but it would be hard. They would have to get help from the community to get their footing.
"They all sound relieved that Troy and Reba are gone," Benton said, stroking her hair. "They couldn't help but go on about how they hope we are going to be different."
"Do you think selling the house and everything in it is a good start?"
He nodded, kissing her forehead. "I do."
She relaxed into his arms. It wasn't long ago that she thought she would lose him. When Reba had her pinned, and she watched as Troy was just seconds from ripping Benton's throat out, she thought she was going to lose.
She closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment of quiet. Tears welled, but they were filled with excitement. She had done what she’d wanted years ago. She finally saved the seniors in her town.
She opened her eyes, realizing something. "I will have to leave my work."
Benton leaned back, looking at her. "What do you mean?"
"I can't run two businesses. And certainly not from a distance. I'll have to leave the senior center. This town is going to need my full attention." The idea made her stomach dip. She was going to miss her work and everyone she knew. She had spent so much time building it, it was going to be hard for her to leave.
"You don't have to leave completely. You could be an advisor out there. It's not like you're abandoning them either, Opal. You're just starting another business in another town. It's a good thing. They will be happy for you."
He was right. She would miss people. She'd gotten to know so many seniors, and she wasn't going to see them as often as before.
She looked at him. "And what about you? Are you okay with this? Your life is certainly going to change now."
