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Maddox settles on one of the stools along the counter and leans his elbow and back against the counter. Without knowing what I’m doing or why, he gives me a thumbs-up and flashes a cocky grin.
“Go on then.” Pop grudgingly steps back and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Most of you know me. I’m Oliver Winslow and I’m a private man. Generally, I’d never do something like this, but Dot has given me no choice.”
A wave of murmurs rise among the people, and I hold up my hands and raise my voice. “Before I say any more, I want you to know this isn’t me bad-mouthing Dot Malone. In fact, I gave her ample opportunity to take the lead and tell everyone her way. Unfortunately, she chose to do nothing, and in turn, it left me hanging. I’m no longer able to sit by and let her tell lies that affect me and my life.”
Wren tugs on my sleeve, eyes flaring wide and wild. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nod and turn back to the clearly rapt crowd. This is both a blessing and a curse of a small town. Everyone feasts on everyone else’s business. It’s a national pastime.
“A little over two years ago now, I called off our engagement.” This news garners another outburst of gasps, whispers, and people shifting and shuffling in their seats.
“I was the one to end the relationship.” This point bears repeating although I have no doubt somewhere along the way, the reverse may be told. “Dot said she needed time to figure out how she was going to tell her family and friends. I gave that to her. But as you can see, that day never came. Dot was stalling and I tried to give her the time she needed.”
An embarrassing slash of red colors my cheeks. I can feel the heat as I fess up to my greatest mistake. “We haven’t been together since the day I called off the engagement. In fact, I am madly in love with Wren Tyler. I plan to marry her.”
I pull her closer into my side, and at the same time, Maddox cups his hands around his mouth and lets a few hollers rip. A couple of men in the back join in with whoops and other people chuckle and clap. Pop shifts uncomfortably and sharpens his eyes on me.
“Dot’s baby isn’t mine.” This revelation causes an uproar with several tables breaking out into conversations. Some are loud and others whisper as if no one could possibly guess what or who they’re talking about.
“And there’s one more thing. I was recently informed that my father, Merrick Winslow, as a public official may have misappropriated town funds for his own personal gains. I don’t know if this is true, and I fully support an investigation. While neither Eddie nor I were aware and we are not our father, we do sincerely apologize for this.”
A long silence falls over the crowd. Most people avert their gaze. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, and the fallout of my father’s wrongdoings might take some time. My announcement will spread through town, and in hours or maybe even days, whatever repercussions there will be will come to light.
“Oliver.” Wren slides an arm around my waist, tentatively smiling. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I wasn’t going to let Dot have control over us and our lives. I’m going to take care of Bright Horizons next. She isn’t going to?—”
Her grin grows wider as she cuts me off. “Seems like we were both thinking the same thing. You don’t have to do anything about Bright Horizons. It’s a go.” She jumps into the air and throws her arms around me.
“What? Really?” I hold her in my arms so we’re eye level. She nods and laughs. “That’s amazing. What happened?”
She fills me in on her visit to the mayor and how Bill Malone had no idea his daughter had threatened her, nor did he or the council have any intention of rejecting the program. In fact, their objective was the exact opposite.
She makes a point of stressing that she didn’t bring me up or the whole broken engagement and pregnancy debacle. All of which I appreciate. I’ll have to talk to him eventually, once everything is out in the open. But ultimately, that mess is for Dot to clean up.
As Wren finishes with how things were left with the mayor, Maddox interrupts with a slap to my shoulder. “Well, well, that was some kind of speech.”
“Had to be done.”
Percy joins us too and adds, “I couldn’t agree more.”
Mad then gives Wren a light squeeze on the arm and looks back to me. “How long do you figure it’ll take Dot to hear about this?”
“Maybe an hour,” I say at the same time Percy says, “Twenty minutes.”
“Well, you better be prepared to run,” he jokes, and the women laugh, though Wren’s gaze holds a hint of apprehension.
I tighten my hold in reassurance. “Doesn’t matter what she does. The truth is out there. Dot can’t hurt us anymore.”
“I wouldn’t have handled it the way you did.” Pop joins our group, eyes fixed on me. “But that’s one way of setting the record straight and getting your life in order.”
His large, calloused hand wraps around the nape of my neck, and he squeezes like he used to do when I was younger. It was his way of showing me he was proud of me.
“Thanks, Pop.” He shakes my hand and then draws Wren in for a hug.
Maddox shakes his head and offers a wry grin. “You know, I’d like to say I’m surprised by all that Dot’s done, but I remember high school. She was always conniving and controlling.”
