Christmas Home (The Coming Home #6)

13. Ruther

thirteen

Ruther

A fter tossing and turning all night, and pain hitting me every time I moved, I somehow woke the next morning surprisingly rested. I hobbled into the living room on my crutches, and Corey greeted me with a smile.

As always, he went to the coffee pot, poured and fixed my coffee as I liked, and placed it in front of me. “I spoke with Jake Hudson about the condo, and he assured me a long-term stay works just fine. Apparently, the owner got married recently and is extending the honeymoon.”

I grinned at our lucky timing. “Thanks, that’s great news.”

“Oh, and another thing,” Corey said and peered at me over his glasses, a sure sign I wouldn’t like what he was going to say next. “Word’s clearly gotten out about why you were lurking in the woods. Mr. Hudson would like to meet with you about your ‘development plans.’”

I chuckled despite Corey’s accusatory look. “Yes, Dr. Ash warned me that Jake was on the trail. I guess he’s the town busybody.”

“Well, you don’t need me to tell you it’s never good for a development project’s potential to leak before it’s settled. You’ll have all sorts of trouble when the locals come at you with pitchforks.”

I shrugged. “There’s no project, Corey. I’m simply curious.”

“So, I should decline Mr. Hudson’s meeting invitation on your behalf?” Corey asked.

“No, let’s hear what he has to say.”

Corey humphed and looked back down at his laptop. I sipped my coffee and stood to go to the kitchen for something to eat.

“Don’t eat much. The meeting is this morning for breakfast. In fact, you’ve just got enough time to get a shower.”

“Okay, help me unwrap this ankle. The tightness hurts,” I said, and Corey nodded.

I washed down more pain meds with the last of my coffee, then basically crawled into the shower. I was happy to talk to Jake and anyone else about a potential project, but honestly, I was more excited to see Clyde now that I’d officially met him. Maybe if I played my cards right, he’d let me get to know him better.

I was disappointed when we walked into the café and Clyde was nowhere to be seen. When Mrs. Cole, who I now knew was his boss, caught me looking, she smiled and whispered, “Today’s his day off.”

I grinned sheepishly. “Am I that obvious?” I whispered back.

“You’ll find this town is full of interested parties, but I think I’m the only one who noticed. You’ll be looking for Jake and his posse, too, I’m guessing?”

I laughed. “You don’t miss much, do you?”

Her eyes twinkled as she smiled at me. “Over in the far corner. That’s where Jake likes to hold court.”

I nodded and headed over. Corey had helped me into the café, but to avoid making me look weak in the face of potential partners, he let me hobble to the table aided only by my crutches.

“Good morning,” Jake said upon seeing us. “Come have a seat.”

Two chairs sat side by side, clearly pulled over in anticipation of our arrival. After we shook hands and sat down, Jake made the introductions. “This is Lance, my husband, and I think you’ve already met Amos and his husband Doc, our mayor. But I don’t believe you’ve met Todd, Amos’s son, and Linc, his right-hand man.”

I smiled and greeted each of them. It probably should’ve been disconcerting, but it amused me how everyone in town seemed to know our names regardless of if we’d been formally introduced.

“So, I hear you paid my better half a visit yesterday,” Todd said and nodded toward my crutches. When he saw my look of confusion, he added, “My husband runs the medical clinic in town.”

“You’re married to Dr. Ash?” I asked. Todd smiled and nodded, and the way his eyes sparkled at the mention of his husband’s name, I figured there was a good story there. I also wondered how I’d missed the fact that Amos’s son and Emanual’s son were married, given the ever-present grapevine that ran through Crawford City.

“Before you boys get started with all your important business,” Mrs. Cole said behind us, “go get something to eat. Mr. Corey, shall I get you your regular?”

Corey smiled up at her, a genuine smile, unlike what he usually gave servers in restaurants. “No, ma’am, I think I’d like to try your buffet today.”

I’m not sure who was more surprised, me or Mrs. Cole, but when I glanced at her, she seemed to have recognized the honor it was for Corey even to consider eating at a buffet. His willingness to try it was testament to Mrs. Cole’s cleanliness.

Corey stood and immediately solved my twisted ankle issue by saying, “Why don’t you and Mr. Hudson discuss the particulars of the condo while I get us both something to eat?”

Jake clearly understood what was happening and smiled up at Corey before nodding.

“So,” I began as soon as the rest of the party were at the buffet, “how did you figure out I was interested in the motel property?” I ignored Corey’s suggestion we talk about the condo. I knew for a fact my assistant had all those details ironed out and they’d be contractually solid.

Jake seemed amused by my directness. “Crawford City’s a small town, and not much happens here that I don’t hear about. As it happens, though, I was coming back from a trip to Nashville and caught sight of you hobbling out of the woods with that good-looking fella Mrs. Cole just hired.”

“And you figured we’d only be in the woods together because I want to purchase the property?”

Jake stared at me for a beat, then burst out laughing. “Mr. Crawford, you don’t strike me as a man who goes for a roll in the woods with handsome strangers, so unless my instincts were off, you were there for some other reason.”

I nodded, unable to hide my smile. “Between you and me, I wouldn’t mind a roll in the woods with that particular man, but no, you’re correct. I went there because I’m curious about a potential development opportunity so close to downtown.”

Jake nodded. “Things in these parts have changed a lot over the years, I’d like to think mostly for the better.” The rest of the crew returned to our table as he spoke. “However, that area has been considered blighted since the railroad split it from the rest of town.”

I looked around the group as they all nodded in agreement. “So, if development is done in an area the town considers blighted, will they consider it ever being anything but?”

“Oh, that’s all in the PR,” Jake said. “Which, lucky for you, I’m an expert in.”

I chuckled. Jake was a character and one I enjoyed getting to know. A lot more had to be figured out, though, because had I not been hesitant before, I most certainly would be now. Knowing how the rest of the town viewed that swathe of land was cause for caution moving forward.

I listened as each man talked about the need for more residential housing. Corey knew enough to question them without my involvement, shaking out more detailed information and jotting notes on his phone to review later.

Ultimately, before we all disbanded, I’d learned that the men agreed small, middle-income housing was the type most needed. Apartments were unlikely to be a good solution, at least not yet. They also didn’t hold back in saying more than a few townsfolk would be happy to see the old motel leveled.

I wondered where that would leave someone like Clyde. He was staying in that motel, and to be honest, besides it being a little run-down, it didn’t seem as seedy as these guys were making it out to be. I’d certainly seen worse.

Later, once Corey and I were back in the solitude of the condo, he began peppering me with questions. “What’s on your mind? Do you think apartments? Will the local economy continue to grow, or will it stagnate? Or maybe it’s already in decline?”

I didn’t answer, instead letting my assistant’s very sharp mind ferret out all the necessary questions to create a reliable feasibility assessment.

We worked the day away, both of us on our laptops, and when my body complained about sitting for too long, I told Corey I was going to the hotel gym.

“Stay off that foot, or you’ll have major issues,” he warned.

“Yes, Mother ,” I said as I slipped into my room to change. I could lift weights, at least, even though my body was craving cardio. Perhaps this was punishment for traipsing through the wilderness without proper footwear. Corey had yet to confront me about my poor choices, and I wasn’t fool enough to think I wouldn’t have to face it eventually, but for now, he was intrigued with the project enough to give me some breathing room.

That shocked me, to be honest. Corey loved a project, but always in New York or another large city. He was not a small-town guy, and as smart as he was, I knew he understood this project couldn’t bring in the same revenues as our urban builds. How could it?

Regardless, I was happy for the reprieve.