AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ariel made her way back to the B and B, still a little worked up from her encounter with Trish, Tiffany, and Connor. As she walked through the back kitchen door, she was greeted with a warm smile from Darcy, who was rinsing out his empty parfait glass.
“You don’t have to keep making me breakfast, Boss,” he admonished.
“You’re working hard, the guests are happy, and you deserve a little care yourself,” Ariel said. “Besides, that parfait recipe is one of Jill’s. You should go thank her.”
Darcy’s eyes twinkled at the suggestion. “Maybe I will,” he said.
Katie walked in with a small smile on her face, still in her pjs, yawning and stretching. "Hey, how was your walk?" she asked Ariel. “I saw you charging across the field, and now the noise has stopped.”
Ariel smiled back. "It was good. I ran into Trish, the mother of your rival. Trish and Tiffany? What a pair."
Katie's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, Trish? What did she say?"
Ariel rolled her eyes, "She was obnoxious. She seems like Tiffany’s biggest cheerleader, and with a mom like that, who needs enemies? Of course, I told them you are a million times the catch that old Tiff is.”
Katie laughed, "I’m not even worried about it. They do deserve each other if he’s into her—and I mean that. Imagine if their love lasts, and he ends up with Trish for a mother-in-law? Ugh.” Katie shuddered. “But thanks for standing up for me."
“I'll always have your back."
There was a knock at the door. Ariel went to answer it and was surprised to see Doris standing on the back porch, wearing a tight-lipped smile.
"Hi Doris, what brings you here?" Ariel asked, surprised to see her.
“I was at the shed. The noise stopped. I suppose you went against what I said and stood up to the mayor.”
“I did. Look, Doris—”
“He's been causing trouble for years, and it's about time someone put him in his place."
Ariel paused, taken aback. Was this the same woman who had just told Ariel to stay out of Stanton’s business?
Doris looked at her intently for a moment before continuing. "You know, years ago, when your father was still around, the mayor led a smear campaign against him. Almost the same way he’s messing with you, only your daddy didn’t have no business to wreck.”
Ariel’s scalp began to prickle.
Doris continued. “Stanton spread all sorts of rumors and lies, trying to ruin your dad’s reputation." Doris said, her voice low and filled with bitterness.
Ariel felt a knot form in her stomach. She had always known that there was some sort of animosity between her father and the mayor, but she had never known the details.
"I had no idea," she said softly, feeling a rush of anger and sadness wash over her.
Doris nodded, her expression grave. "It's a dirty game, politics. And the mayor has always been willing to play it, no matter who he hurts."
“And did that—does that have anything to do with why my father left?”
"Before the mayor was the mayor, he had a deal with your dad to buy this property. Your dad was going to sell it to him," Doris explained.
Ariel's eyes widened in surprise. Her dad had considered selling Leeside?
"But then your dad found out that the mayor planned to tear it down and build a hotel. Just like he is now. Your dad called off the deal, and the mayor was so angry that he started trying to destroy him," Doris continued. “Your dad went wherever he went not long after. That’s all I know.”
Ariel felt a surge of anger and betrayal. She had always known that the mayor was a shady character, but she had no idea that he had gone to such lengths to ruin her dad's reputation.
"Thank you for telling me, Doris," Ariel said, her voice shaking a little.
Doris patted her hand sympathetically. "I know it's hard to hear, dear. But it's important that you know the truth. Your dad was a good man, and he didn't deserve what happened to him. Whatever it was.”
