Christmas in Angel Harbor - Jeannie Moon Page 0,78

thick, ominous. Gary looked down, Mariel looked up, but no one was speaking.

“Tell me,” she demanded firmly.

Mariel took one step forward and drew a deep breath. Jane was curious about her. Was she the woman shopping for Christmas gifts, or the one who was trying to look like she owned the world? “Ms. Fallon. The Homestyle Group will be taking control of the property, and we aren’t going to renew your lease. I’m very sorry. Since this is unexpected, the company will work with your attorney to compensate you for any loss of business while you relocate. We want to be good neighbors.”

“Relocate? There’s no place to relocate.”

Viti was there now, and so were Gina and Tracy.

“Good neighbors?” Gina whispered. “Are you kidding?”

Tracy was pacing she was so angry. “This is outrageous. How can you do this to her? To the town?”

“It’s not personal,” Mariel said with a glance around the room. “We’re putting in a beautiful restaurant, and we will help you make the transition. The property is perfect for what we have in mind. We’re going to combine it with the building next door.”

“It’s been perfect for the bookstore and has been for eighty-five years.” Jane’s voice shook and she fought the tears that were building in response to her anger. “Why here?”

“I don’t know what went into making the choice, but the property is in escrow. We will be closing on it by Christmas.”

Jane felt a huge weight settle on her chest.

“This is tragic,” Gina said, her voice cracking as she spoke. “The bookstore is the town’s anchor. Jane is the anchor. This is unconscionable.”

From the expression on her face, Mariel wasn’t expecting this kind of backlash. “I’m sorry. Like I said, we will help you. I can write you a check today. Maybe this is an opportunity to downsize. I mean, who goes to bookstores anymore?”

“How can you be so tone deaf?” Viti retorted. “You don’t know anything about us.”

Jane leaned into the desk. Closing her eyes, she wanted to drown out the noise in her head, but all she could hear was the noise of people talking around her. The outrage from Viti, Gina, and Tracy pulsed through her, but it was her mother’s gentle hand dropping down on hers that brought her back. Opening her eyes, Jane saw wisdom and strength in her mother’s eyes. “You’re made of strong stuff, Jane Mara Fallon. Don’t let this beat you. You have always controlled your story—don’t stop now.”

“I don’t know what to do.” The words caught in her throat, choking her.

“You don’t have to know.” Danny, who was standing behind her, leaned in. “Let them sweat a little. Give yourself time to think.”

It was good advice. She didn’t want to be pressured to make a decision when she felt so blindsided.

“Stand up tall,” Mom said. “Show everyone what you’re made of.” Kathleen Fallon was a force to behold, whether she was in the classroom or tending to her family. Jane needed to remember that she had as much of Kathleen in her as Mike.

Straightening her back, Jane surveyed the scene. Elisa, the owner of the local pub and the president of the Chamber of Commerce came rushing through the door, and Viti and Gina intercepted her. There was too much going on. Too much chaos.

“Everyone stop!” Jane never raised her voice, so when she did, it got people’s attention. “Gary, Ms. Consuelas, you need to leave.”

Mariel looked distressed. It seemed she was starting to understand this wasn’t going to give her company the great optics they were hoping for. “Can we talk privately? We will work with you.”

“Yes, you will. But I’m not discussing this now.”

Gary, who’d dropped the ball in a hundred ways, nodded. “I’ll call you later, Jane.”

“No. You won’t. I’ll be hiring someone else to negotiate with Homestyle. We will not be in touch about this, or anything else.”

“You can’t be serious. You’re firing me?”

“Do I look like I’m not serious? Get out.” Jane walked to the door and pushed it open. “Mariel, leave your card. Someone will reach out in due course.”

Doing her best to exit gracefully, Mariel did what Jane asked, leaving her card before making her exit. Gary was a little slower, but he also made his way out.

Jane was wrung out. How had she been so blind? Signs had been thrown at her left and right, and she’d ignored them. The wobble in her legs finally dropped her into the big chair by the front window. Bending slightly, Jane