come back year after year.” She looked around the room at the interested faces peering back at her. “Speaking as a person, I just want to be your friend. Speaking as the GM for The Jade, I just want to contribute to everything this town already has working for it, not take anything away. Thank you for letting me speak.” She pointed at the back table. “Now I have to steal one of those cupcakes for my ride to the farm to meet some dogs.” She was met with a smattering of applause, which, to her surprise, built to a medium-sized reception. She relaxed. It had been worthwhile to introduce herself, which was only reinforced when the meeting concluded and several individuals approached her.
“Irene Strong,” a woman said, extending her hand for a shake. Becca accepted it. “We’re glad you came out and let us hear your side. It helps to see the person in charge up close and understand that you’re just a normal human being like all of us loonies.” She laughed. “Anyway, welcome to town.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Becca said with a grin, mid cupcake swipe. Others approached, and Becca happily greeted each of them.
“Not saying I love that hotel because I don’t, but I liked what you had to say.”
“Nice speech. Welcome to Whisper Wall.”
“Maybe try unpacking one box every day. That’s what I do.”
“Well, I’m at least glad to hear you appreciate good wine. That’s step one to becoming a local.”
Becca exhaled. Not everyone hated her, and that mattered so much, maybe more than it should have. She had to talk a big game at work and was always viewed as a go-getter in the corporate world, taking no prisoners, but underneath it all, she was a people person. She liked having friends. Feeling better, she scanned the space for Joey and saw her speaking with a man across the room. When Joey smiled, her whole face lit up and her cheeks dusted pink with exuberance. Warmth washed over her when she saw Joey laugh. She never did come over to say hello, and that took a bit of the wind out of Becca’s sails. She’d hoped they’d find a way to still be friends, even from different sides of this issue. But Joey, who was maybe even more beautiful today than the last two times Becca had seen her, adjusted the leather bag on her arm and walked right out of the room without even a glance in Becca’s direction. Becca deflated further but vowed to not give up completely.
She could be patient and would definitely remain friendly. No matter what. Like good wine, sometimes things just took time.
* * *
Joey didn’t enjoy the ire or the awful feeling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t like her to carry anger. She was normally a happy, carefree, even cheerful person, but this hotel business had left a definite bad taste in her mouth that she didn’t enjoy. As she drove home from the meeting, she thought back on the speech she gave, and how Becca Crawford had taken the floor and done everything in her power to dismantle every shred of Joey’s argument, using her charm and charisma to do so.
She’d done a half-decent job of it, too, as much as Joey hated to admit it. She’d spoken with eloquence and poise, looking so put together in that plaid jacket, which was of course accentuated by her chestnut hair, which she’d worn down. Joey gripped the steering wheel with extra force while her conflicting emotions about Becca duked it out like second graders in a playground scuffle. She didn’t know Becca well, but she certainly came with a list of impressive traits, if only she was using them for good and not evil. How was Joey supposed to reconcile the fact that she actually liked her opposition?
When she returned to Tangle Valley, she found Gabriella staring dreamily at the new truck, which had been washed, detailed, and delivered to the vineyard with an actual giant bow on the side. He’d even found a guy to paint the Tangle Valley logo in place of the peace sign. Score one for Powell.
“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Gabriella held up her hands in a gesture that reminded Joey of early morning game shows from her youth.
Joey laughed. “You two look like you were destined for each other. I can just see all the memories ahead.”
“There will be plenty. I think I’m going to call her Jolene