Chapter Fourteen
JOE SAID, “COME LEXIE. COME AND PLAY.”
Once again, Lexie scanned the crowded hall, pleased to see so many small business owners had turned up.
“Thank you, Janet, for all your help,” she whispered to her friend seated next to her.
On the other side, near the front, sat Linda Curtis whispering back and forth with a small contingent of her cronies. Lexie guessed they talked about her, given that more than one had turned to look her way.
The council was moving through the agenda quickly, and Lexie’s stomach tightened as the vote approached. From where Joe sat up front on the riser along with the other four council members, he caught her eye and smiled slightly. Joe wanted to reassure her that everything would be okay, but Lexie’s hands tightened on her thighs. Nothing was settled until it was settled.
“Thank you for that input from the town treasurer,” the mayor announced. “We’ve got one more thing on the agenda, but first I’d like to take a moment to recognize someone that I see here today. Alexis Kosta, would you please stand up.”
Lexie lurched in surprise, mouth dropping open. What the!
As she rose, her eyes found Joe, and he shrugged.
“As I think most of you know, Ms. Kosta is our new town librarian. Blue Haven has always valued free access to books, but I’m pleased that under my administration we were able to find the budget to hire a full-time librarian. Ms. Kosta comes to us with a top-rate education in library sciences from the University of Michigan, and it is my understanding that she’s already vastly improved our small library. We’re pleased to have her on board, and hope that she’ll be able to stay in our employ for many years.”
Was that a threat? Lexie’s eyes met the mayor’s. She forced a smile past tight face muscles.
“Again, welcome to Blue Haven, Ms. Kosta.”
The audience clapped politely. Lexie glanced around, smiling, seeking faces she recognized, before taking her seat again.
Janet squeezed her hand. Her whispered, “What game’s he playing?” only confirmed Lexie’s opinion that Klanderman was sending her a subtle message while also taking credit for the work of the library committee.
“Now on to the last item.” The mayor drew the crowd’s attention back to him. “This won’t take long at all, and we can all get back to the beautiful beach on this glorious fall day. Myself, I’ve got a salmon swimming out there with my name on it.”
While chuckles erupted throughout the hall, Lexie tensed, her body and mind readying for battle. Klanderman was right about one thing—it wasn’t going to take long. It would, however, decide her future on so many levels that it made her head spin. Her job. Bankruptcy. Her parents’ retirement savings. Joe. Her entire life.
The mayor announced the proposed ordinance, making it sound like a panacea of good for the community and, contrary to his promise, immediately called for a vote of the council. Rumbles erupted throughout the hall, while The Triad and friends nodded approvingly.
“I make a motion to approve Ordinance 453-A,” said the vice mayor sitting at Klanderman’s right.
“I second—”
“Wait!” Joe interjected. “Council rules call for open debate before any major new motion is approved.” Murmurs of agreement sounded around the hall, emboldening Lexie.
The mayor frowned at Joe. “That’s true, however, this ordinance isn’t new. While it’s been tabled for a period of…review, it received debate when it was first proposed following the expansion of the town’s authority over the township area several years ago.”
Joe frowned back from his spot at the end. “Still, given the magnitude of impact it will have on local businesses, I make a motion to allow debate today.”
“Hear, hear,” called a man Lexie didn’t know sitting in front of her.
Klanderman snorted. “A motion isn’t needed for that, as any councilman with experience would know, and I don’t see how wasting everyone’s time will help the town. Further,”—he turned to speak directly to Joe—“I would think that you, of all people, would understand the magnitude of your request.”
Lexie twisted her hands in her lap. She looked over at Mrs. Curtis and only then recognized the man next to her was her brother, the bank manager. He was currently glaring at Joe. Nausea, worse than the time she’d eaten bad lake trout, roiled her stomach.
She caught Joe’s eyes again and raised her hands in a pleading gesture, trying silently to tell him, It’s okay. He didn’t have to lose his bank loan for her. Whether Joe understood or not, he subtly shook his head at her.
“Come on, Klanderman,” called another man. “I’m a business owner and pay my taxes. I want my chance to speak.” Lexie looked behind her and the owner of Blue Heaven winked at her—Joe must have talked with him.
“I have something to say, too,” seconded a woman, and quickly many others joined in.
The mayor shook his head as did two other council members, but the councilwoman on the other end of the dais anxiously watched the growing unrest of the voters. Lexie hoped she could be turned. After searching the crowd, the councilwoman murmured, “I think we have time for some debate, George.”
Loud applause followed, and the female member smiled and nodded.
Klanderman stared at the voters for a beat longer and abruptly changed tactics, nodding to the crowd and raising his hands in self-deprecating surrender. “Of course, I bow to the will of the people every time.”
He seated himself and gestured to the small podium facing the council members. “I invite you to come forward and remind you that, per the rules, each voter is limited to two minutes to voice their opinions and, of course, to lend their support.”
Lexie gripped the seat to keep herself from jumping up. She didn’t agree with Klanderman that as an employee she had no right to speak her mind, but maybe she wouldn’t have to risk her job if enough opposition was voiced without hers.
For the next forty-five minutes people came forward. While a few were in favor of the proposal for a variety of reasons—primarily traffic congestion or sanitation issues—most wanted further explanation why it was needed. Restaurant owners and small shopkeepers were in favor of more visitors. No one mentioned Lexie’s B&B project outright, but subtle assertions for and against it were raised.
The mayor raised his hands for quiet. “Now that we’ve heard from everyone in the entire town,” he drawled in mock exhaustion, garnering some chuckles, “I think we can proceed with a vote.”
“I haven’t yet had my chance to speak,” said Joe into his microphone. Lexie tried to catch his eye again, warn him off, but he avoided looking at her.
“But you’re on the council,” retorted Klanderman. “And we’ve talked about it already.”
All eyes turned to Joe, who looked determined. “Nevertheless, I’ve something to add and I’ll be brief.” After waiting for murmurs of support, he continued. “As most of you know, I was born and raised in the area. Not a townie, but out on a farm well south, where my family still runs our blueberry business. I’m pleased to be back after many years away.”
“Thank you for your service,” called a man and others agreed, when Joe was too modest to spell out what he’d been doing away for all those years.
“Thank you. I’m glad to be back, and I love Blue Haven and want this town to succeed. Unfortunately, what I’ve seen is that over the years, we’ve lost ground to the neighboring beach communities. We’re shrinking, when they’re expanding. Granted, we’ll never be a big manufacturing center again. Those days of pounding out new pianos are long gone, but that doesn’t mean we can’t thrive. So, while I understand the infrastructure concerns we need to address, I believe that instituting this new ordinance will hurt Blue Haven in the long run.”
Many in the crowd voiced agreement, bolstering Joe. “I think that instead of limiting growth, we should seek out ways to encourage it, which ultimately will increase our tax base. You know what they say, a rising tide raises all boats.”
Lexie was so proud of Joe. He was right and that gave her an idea. “I have something to say, too,” she called, rising and hurrying to the podium.
“The time for debate is over,” said the vice mayor. “Not to mention you’ve a vested interest in the outcome.”
“Everyone does,” called Janet. “So let her speak.”
“I’ll be quick, too.” Lexie smiled at the people around her, realizing she could find many good friends among these people if she made more of an effort. “I am brand new, so you may think that I should stay out of it, but I have an idea. Mr. Van der Meer is right. Blue Haven needs to compete against the neighboring beach towns for tourists, but they all have something we don’t. Holland has its Dutch heritage and tulip festival. Even growing up across the state, I’d heard about it. Whether it’s Christmas in July or the Coast Guard Festival, all the neighboring towns have something that marks them as special and draws tourists. So, I’d like to propose that we start a tourism committee to develop a special identity for Blue Haven and maybe a festival to draw tourists to our wonderful town.”
Addressing the crowd, rather than the council, Lexie asked, “What do you think?”
The crowd was nearly unanimous in voicing support, but Lexie knew she needed one more vote. Hurrying over to Linda Curtis, she said, “What do you say? With the council’s approval, would you join me in forming such a committee? I’ll do the leg work and research, and you, with your experience serving tourists, can head it up?”
The room grew quiet, as if everyone knew this was the turning point.
Curtis rose and turned to Lexie. “I don’t know how successful your idea will be…” Doubt pinched her face in tight lines. “But I can’t disagree. This town is slowly shrinking. I don’t want it to die or get absorbed into the ever-expanding cities to the north and south of us.”
“What do you say?” Lexie offered her hand to Curtis. “Join me and let’s make a difference together.”
The woman’s expression relaxed slightly, and finally broke into a small smile. “Okay, but we’ll need lots of help.” Curtis looked over her shoulder at Janet, asking a silent question, and she nodded and stood up. “Okay then. Let’s do this.”
Curtis took Lexie’s proffered hand and shook it. All around them, encouragement rang out, until the mayor again called for quiet.
“Everyone, please take your seats.” The mayor gestured for quiet. “We still need to vote on the ordinance.”
Lexie’s stomach flipped. None of it would matter if they voted her out of business, and by her estimate the mayor still had enough yes votes.
But Joe interceded again. “I want to make two motions. One, that we authorize the establishment of a tourism committee. And, second, we again table Ordinance 453-A to give the new committee time to develop a plan and implement it.”
“Joe, that’s not how council motions work. But…” Klanderman looked out at Curtis, who nodded. “Okay, we can do that.”
Agreement rang out through the room, and in short order the motions were approved and the meeting concluded.
Joe joined Lexie near the exit where she stood receiving congratulations and thanks from many people she didn’t yet know but hoped to soon. Janet gave her a quick hug before going to talk with her old friend, and Lexie was pleased to see they looked happy together.
Joe slid his hand around Lexie’s waist, drawing her closer. He kissed Lexie behind her ear and whispered, “I’m proud of you. What a brilliant idea.”
“Is this your way of announcing we’re a couple?” she asked, seeing people watching them.
“I have to,” he responded. “Now that you’re so popular, I’ve got to stake my claim.”
“Ha,” laughed Lexie. “I’m staking mine, too.”
She turned into Joe’s arms and slid her hands up to his face, pulling him down to her. Then she kissed him full on the lips, and not for a short time, either.
Not while the hall slowly emptied.
Not while the lights were being turned off.
Not until the janitor teased, “Get a room.”
Lexie and Joe pulled apart, laughing, and walked hand in hand out of city hall and into the town square, into the place she now called home.