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“Don’t you worry about that. We have two weeks until the next meeting, and we need to pull together and strategize. The people on the list don’t deserve this, and most of them are against it. I’m afraid Green Breeze will bulldoze the ones on the fence into selling or make the payout too difficult to turn down.
“So, the first thing we need to do is gather the property owners and get on the same page. We can’t have everyone all over the place. They’ll take advantage of that. I think we need to print signs of opposition and place them around Meriden and surrounding towns. If they’re coming for us, the neighboring towns are next. It’ll be in their best interests to be educated and help support us.”
“That’s a good point, Gerry. You’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“I’ve got the time. Might as well use it.”
“These guys want to plaster the benefits of their wind farms around town. We’re going to advertise the negatives! You may be too young to remember, but another old-timer, Mike Kelley, is a retired real estate attorney. Your grandfather Earl, Mike, and I go way back. We’ve lived through a great number of ugly cases involving the land in this town. Mike’s a real shark. Anyway, I reached out to him. I know he wants to stay out of the spotlight since he’s retired, but I got him fired up. He knows the ins and outs of zoning laws in these parts, and if there was ever an expert on real estate law, he’s the guy.”
“Meaning?”
“Right to the chase, huh? Mike agreed to help the property owners pro bono to preserve the integrity of the town. He may be a real ass to the opposition, but he’s the guy you want on your side. You’ll quickly see how valuable he is. Mike also knows Ben and Jenna, which I figure is especially interesting to you.”
Susan delivers our lunch plates. “Anything else for now?”
“We’re all set, hon. Thanks.”
Running those names through my mind, I come up shorthanded. I tear through my burger, suddenly realizing how famished I am. “Who exactly are Ben and Jenna?”
“Solia’s parents. Ben and I have known each other for years, which is why he asked me to keep an eye on Solia. And, by the way you look at Solia, you want to keep an eye on her as well.”
“Wow, look at you, Gerry. I didn’t know you had inside info on Solia’s family. So, what do you know? How are they handling this? Not that I have a right to know, but I don’t want to stand by and watch her lose that place.”
“Listen, Jackson, I know you’ve been through hell and back, and I won’t give you a lecture listing the reasons you’re making a mistake here, but—you’re making a mistake, plain and simple. Regardless, I’m hell-bent on saving the land. I haven’t spoken to Ben yet. That’s where you come in. I don’t want to stick my nose where I don’t belong. See, I figured you knew about the Andersons’ situation until you were sitting alone at the meeting, drooling when Solia walked in and then looking like a lost puppy when she left. I assume you don’t have any information about what’s going on at the Anderson cabin.”
“Gerry, I didn’t have a clue her cabin was on the list. Things were great between us, but I had to tell her the truth about Trinity and me leaving. It’s shitty no matter how you dice it, and now that I’ve found out she might lose the cabin, it’s worse. This woman came here to start over and begin a new journey, and she’s getting let down left and right. I’ll do whatever I can to help her.”
Gerry’s eyes widen, and he stops chewing for a moment at the mention of Trinity’s name. “Help her, and the orchard, is what you mean.”
“Yeah, I hear you about the farm, but that might be an uphill battle. My grandfather is considering the deal. He broke the news to me the other day. I’ve been racking my brain for a solution ever since, but with me in New York and Shannon teaching, what choice do I have? I can’t believe he’s considering selling.”
“That’s some facts right there, Jackson. You’ve got a lot to figure out, boy, but let’s start at step one. You reach out to Solia and see where her family stands. I’ll get an idea of which property owners are willing to fight these jackasses and which we need to convince not to sell. Then we need to get a group together before the next town hall meeting and strategize. Since Mike is retired, he’ll make himself available as long as we let him know when. How does that sound?”
“I’m not sure if she’ll speak with me, but I’m certainly willing to give it a shot. You want me to call you after? I can talk to Ryan too. I know his parents received a letter. Should we pick a time and location to meet?”
“You just convince her to come to our meet-up before the scheduled town council session. That’s all you have to do. How does assembling at town hall, Saturday at ten a.m. sound? Most people came out today, so maybe if we do a good job spreading the word, people will show up. I’ll have some flyers made and get the word out through the store. Most people are in and out during the week. Sound like a plan?”
“Sounds good to me,” I say, ignoring the knot in my stomach as I plan what I’ll text Solia in the hopes of not upsetting her. I’m thankful to have already finished my meal.
“Let’s go. I’ll give you a ride back to town hall.” Gerry throws two twenties on the table and stands.
“Thanks, Gerry, but I’ll walk. I appreciate your help. You think we can pull this off?”
“Sure do. People around here look out for one another. No one should ever underestimate the pride of a small town. No one.”
“Thanks again, Gerry. See you Saturday.”
* * *
Iwipe the sweat from my forehead and slide my truck into reverse just as a message pings in my pocket. I shift back into park.
DAD
Hey! How’d the meeting go?
JACKSON
I’ll call you later. Too many details. It’s a shit show. People are going to work together to fight this.
