Chapter Twelve
“Quit wiggling,” Ella Hall told Olivia for the tenth time as she fussed with her hair, doing something complicated and stylish for the gala. The past week and a half had gone by in a blur, and Olivia felt like a wind-up doll, performing all her duties with an automatic eye on the details, fooling everyone—but at the end of it having no recollection of what she’d done. Her heart hurt as badly as it had the day she’d realized Noah was playing her. She’d ignored his texts and calls since then. He’d fooled her good, and she didn’t need any more pain in her life.
She figured tonight would make or break the school project. Either they’d solidify support for the upgrade, thanks to Fulsom and his friends’ commitment to it, or they’d lose ground. Meanwhile the letters to the editor were undermining their efforts.
The Turners had done their homework well, she thought bitterly. Letters against the upgrade outweighed the ones for it three to one, and that wasn’t even counting the extra letters pinned to telephone poles downtown that appeared mysteriously each morning. Only in the last day or so had the tide begun to turn as those not beholden to the Turners realized the work they’d looked forward to at the high school might not happen if the naysayers had their way.
“Put the letters out of your mind,” Ella told her. “Don’t take it personally. This is business, and business can be cutthroat. Tonight it’s your turn to do your worst.”
“I was kind of hoping to do my best,” Olivia told her.
Ella laughed. “Well, break a leg and all that.”
“I’m nervous,” Olivia admitted. “What if Fulsom and his cronies hate my family? Everyone else seems to.”
“No, they don’t. When Fulsom and his friends meet you, they’ll think you’re a charming young lady fighting the good fight for the next generation. They’re going to be impressed that you got someone like Carl on your side.”
“That was all Virginia,” Olivia said. “She bribed him with a ranch.”
“What does she think now that he married an almost honorary Turner?”
“She says Cooper blood is stronger and that Camila won’t be able to help becoming one of us.”
“But Carl isn’t even a Cooper,” Ella protested with a laugh.
“Evidently Cooper blood is contagious. You’d better watch out.”
Ella just smiled. “I’m glad we’ve gotten to know each other,” she said.
“Me, too,” Olivia said, touched. “I’d never have gotten this all off the ground without you.” If it hadn’t been for Ella and the others, her shame and disappointment over Noah’s betrayal would have crushed her. She hadn’t told them what happened, but she’d let slip she wasn’t seeing him anymore. They’d been tactful and kind, kept her occupied with plans and fussed over her until she felt a little better.
A little.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever feel herself again.
“Sure you would. You sell yourself short a lot, you know that?” Ella surveyed her work and added one more hairpin. “In my experience women do that when something bad happened when they were young. They forget they’re allowed to move forward and leave whatever it was behind.”
Olivia wished wholeheartedly she could leave her trouble behind. But it seemed to be chasing her. Poisoning everything new and good she touched.
“I guess,” she said to Ella. She couldn’t believe the transformation Ella had worked on her. She wished she could make as big a change inside.
“If you need to talk—or need help with anything else, just ask,” Ella said gently. “Whatever is going on, Olivia, you’re not alone.”
Her words struck too close to home because these days Olivia felt more alone than ever.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’d better go check everything one last time.”
“You look stunning.”
“I don’t even recognize myself.” Olivia looked in the mirror one last time. She wore a deep blue Regency-style gown Ella had helped her pick out from the options Alice Reed, a local seamstress and costume designer, had shown her. The old-fashioned dress suited her, and she kept turning to see it from all angles.
“You’re Olivia Cooper. The lady of the hour. One of Chance Creek’s first-tier citizens,” Ella proclaimed.
Hardly, Olivia thought. She wasn’t a first-tier citizen. She was a Cooper.
And if she failed tonight she could lose everything.
“Why are you being such a bear today?” Maya asked when Noah snapped at her for moving too slowly. She and Stella were helping him set up everything for the tubing fundraiser, which would begin at ten sharp the next morning, and they were both working hard. They didn’t deserve to be the recipients of his ire.
But Liam was AWOL, and that steamed him—he needed another man to lug some of the heavy equipment out near the creek. Brandon hadn’t shown up, either, even though he’d said he would. Noah had offered to pay him for two days’ work—today to set up and tomorrow to help run the fundraiser. He’d thought Brandon would jump at the chance to earn a little cash. He could scarcely afford to part with it. Brandon was overdue by several hours.
He obviously wasn’t that hard up.
Which begged the question: How was he making money these days?
At their last meeting, Brandon had admitted he still hadn’t found work, but he didn’t seem as worried as he had before. He said he’d been helping out his mom. There was something about him, something different.
Noah wasn’t sure what to make of it.
He’d convinced several of Chance Creek’s restaurants to sell food at the fundraiser and donate part of their receipts. The women at Fila’s—including Camila—would be arriving early tomorrow to set up a food tent, and the folks from DelMonaco’s were bringing their huge outdoor grill so they could sell hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecued chicken.
“I need to get this stage built,” Noah answered his sister finally. “It’s a two-man job.”
His sisters exchanged a look. “We’re not exactly helpless,” Stella told him.
Noah took a deep breath. “I know. Hell, sorry. It’s just—where the hell is Liam?” And Brandon, more to the point.
“Liam’s done some good work this week,” Stella chided him. “Maybe you need to give him a break.”
Good work? He’d managed to screw up things between him and Olivia, Noah wanted to say. But his sisters wouldn’t see that as a problem. Besides, he couldn’t push all the blame onto Liam. After all, he’d helped convince the coach to write in.
When did he start playing fast and loose with the concepts of right and wrong? Brandon would have a field day if he could see his parole officer now. The letter-writing campaign was unacceptable, period. Losing Olivia was like losing the sun. The world was a bleak, inhospitable place without her, and it was everything he could do to simply go through with his normal activities. He thought about her constantly. Dreamed about her. Somehow he had to make this right, but first he needed to pull off this fundraiser—
For Olivia’s sake.
Would she ever forgive him? He wondered what she was doing now. Getting ready for the gala tonight?
He wished he could be there.
“I guess we’d better get to it.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Maya drawled.
He’d already loaded his truck with the wood they needed for the stage. Noah went back to get it, and by the time he’d driven out near the creek where Maya and Stella waited for him, he’d gotten himself in hand. Liam would turn up sooner or later, and the work would get done. He should be grateful Jed had left them alone today. He didn’t think he could stand it if his uncle had decided to oversee the process.
“How many people do you think we’ll get tomorrow?” Stella asked.
“I don’t know.” He hadn’t exactly been thinking straight when he’d picked the day after the Coopers’ gala for his fundraising event, but then they were targeting a different crowd. It would be grownups at the gala tonight. Families with young children at the Creek tomorrow. He hoped it would work out. “Hopefully enough to pay the library’s bills.”
“What gave you the inspiration to fix the library, anyway? It’s a great idea,” she hurried to add. “Should balance the books a little between us and the Coopers.”
Noah chose his words carefully. No need to mention Olivia. “I realized how bad it has gotten, and we needed a project we could handle. We can do a lot of the work the library needs ourselves once we have the supplies paid for. It’ll be impressive when we’re done without breaking the bank.”
“My brother, the good Samaritan,” Stella teased him.
“I’m doing my best.”
He got to work framing the stage and refused to let his sisters bait him, although they kept trying. The afternoon waned, and when his stomach rumbled, Noah realized they’d worked through dinner.
“Guess that’s good enough for now,” he was saying when his phone buzzed. It was Camila’s number, and he quickly answered it. “Hey, Camila. What’s up? We’re still on for tomorrow, right?” He didn’t know what he’d do if she backed out of running the food court. She and Fila had volunteered to take charge of the vendors.
“Of course. We’re all set,” she answered. “But you’ve got a problem. Thought you’d want to know.”
“What’s that?”
Stella turned his way at the tone of his voice. Maya looked up from where she was packing away their tools.
“It’s Liam. He’s at Rafters with a bunch of his pals. They’re drunk.”
“Drunk?” It was barely seven o’clock.
“That’s right. A friend told me. She thought I might want to know, seeing as I’m with Carl.”
“I don’t follow.”
“They’re talking loud enough for everyone to hear. They’re going to disrupt the gala, Noah. And that’s not cool.”
He couldn’t blame her for being angry. It was Carl’s reputation on the line, after all. He’d gotten the funding together for the high school’s update—these were his friends and business peers attending the function.
“Hell. When does the thing start?”
“In less than an hour. You’ve got to stop them. I don’t want trouble between us, but if they ruin tonight, I don’t know how I’ll forgive them.”
“I understand completely. I’ll take care of it,” Noah promised her. He hung up.
“What’s going on?” Stella asked.
“It’s Liam. He’s planning to ruin Olivia’s gala.” When his sisters didn’t immediately react, Noah lost his cool. “Her gala. The party she’s busted her butt to pull together. Hell, I get we’re enemies, but that’s going too far.”
“If Fulsom and his people pull out, we’re that much closer to winning,” Stella pointed out, but he could tell she wasn’t comfortable with the notion.
“Is that the way you want to win?” Noah demanded. “By humiliating Olivia—and Carl Whitfield—and all the ladies who run Westfield Manor? Heck, Ella Hall is helping to organize this shindig. I thought you were her friend.”
Stella shut her eyes, color staining her cheeks. “I am. God, this whole situation is bringing out the worst in me.”
“In all of us,” Maya said quietly.
“This isn’t who I want to be,” Noah told them. “Will you two help me stop Liam or not? He’s probably already on his way there.”
Stella and Maya exchanged a look. “Of course. But what are we going to do? If we confront him there, we’ll just make a scene,” Stella said.
“Wait—I’ve got an idea.” Maya grinned impishly. “A good one.”
“It’s beautiful,” Regan Hall said.
“It is,” Ella agreed.
They stood in the foyer with Olivia at Westfield Manor, ready to greet their guests. Musicians were tuning their instruments in the ballroom. The distant clatter of dishes in the kitchen announced the caterers had everything in hand.
Olivia tried to give off an air of composed satisfaction, but inside butterflies careened around her belly, and her palms were so sweaty she’d need to excuse herself to wipe them off before shaking anyone’s hands.
“I can’t believe how it all came together,” she said. With the Hall women’s help—and the women at Westfield, too—plus Carl’s deep pockets to smooth the way, the party was set to be one of the swankiest affairs Chance Creek had ever seen.
About thirty guests were flying in with Fulsom. Other donors were coming from around the country. The school board, teachers and staff had been invited, as well as other town dignitaries they needed to get on their side.
“Are you okay?” Ella asked, her concern clear.
“I think I’m going to faint,” Olivia confessed.
“You won’t faint. Just wait, the minute the first few guests arrive, everything will be fine. It’s always worst right before the event begins,” Ella assured her.
Right on cue the doorbell rang, and Olivia jumped.
“Go on. Open it,” Regan whispered.
Olivia took a calming breath and did just that. She was relieved when it turned out to be a party of single teachers from the school who’d come together. Dressed in period costume, they clustered around her, chatting excitedly. Olivia knew most of them, and when she saw their awed reaction to the decorations in the beautiful ballroom, she relaxed a little. Soon the doorbell rang again, this time opening to several board members, followed by a couple of members of the Chamber of Commerce. Soon the ballroom was filled with talking, smiling and laughing people, all looking like they’d stepped out of the pages of a history book.
“See?” Ella said. “It’s better already, isn’t it?”
Olivia had to admit it was. In fact, the only thing missing was—
Noah.
Who was going to be missing from here on in, she reminded herself. He’d been fooling her. Acting like he cared while helping to recruit people to stop their school improvement project in its tracks.
She wasn’t going to think about him tonight.
Soon she didn’t have time to think about anything except caring for her guests, especially once Martin Fulsom, the billionaire helping to fund the project, showed up with a camera crew. She kept an eye on the waiters the caterers had brought and made sure everyone had a full glass and hors d’oeuvres to nibble on. When the orchestra struck up a lively tune, couples began to dance. Olivia spared a moment to wish Noah was here to dance with, then scolded herself. She had to forget him. Besides, she needed to tend to her guests.
As the ballroom filled, it grew warm, and Olivia made sure all the windows were open and even propped open the back door to make sure air was circulating. A half hour later she was hot, breathless and ready to sit down. She was threading through the crowd out of the ballroom, hoping to hide away in the kitchen for a moment of peace, when she heard raised voices.
Male voices.
Olivia pushed through another knot of people.
Liam Turner and several of his friends, conspicuous in their modern jeans and boots, were clustered near the orchestra.
“How’d they get in?” she hissed at Regan, who’d just come to investigate, too.
“I didn’t open the door for them,” Regan hissed back, going up on tiptoe to try to see what was happening.
“The back door. They must have slipped in. Those monsters—they’re going to ruin everything.”
“I’ll find Mason,” Regan told her, but Olivia knew there was no time to waste. The California guests had been having a good time, but if they saw what a hick town this could be, they’d pull their money and run.
“Must be fun to have enough money to ride roughshod over a whole town,” Liam yelled. Was he drunk?
He was definitely drunk.
A murmur of surprise ran through the crowd. Olivia shoved her way closer to him. “Sorry,” she muttered. “Excuse me. Sorry.”
“Read the paper,” one of Liam’s friends called out. “It’s all right there in the letters section. We don’t want these upgrades. Never did.”
Olivia caught sight of two California guests exchanging a look. One of them drained his glass of champagne and looked around, as if seeking a way out.
“Liam!” Olivia finally reached him. “Get out of here, and take your thug friends with you!” She took hold of his arm, but he shrugged her off.
“Thug friends? Are you kidding me?” He raised his voice. “You Coopers are the thugs. Always have been.”
His friends pushed back to clear a ring around them. Olivia knew everyone was looking.
“You’re drunk,” she said as calmly as she could. “I know you’re trying to ruin this for me because you don’t like my family, but I’m not interested in fighting you. I’m interested in helping this town.”
“That’s rich,” Liam told her. “Last I heard you were only interested in breaking and entering. It’s a wonder you don’t have a rap sheet a mile long.”
Another murmur ran through the crowd, and Olivia blinked back the sting of tears. She’d known it was too much to ask for this night to go right.
“There you are,” Stella cried, suddenly appearing by Liam’s side. “Oh, my gosh, when we saw you’d gotten out, we were so scared!” She spoke in the over-bright tone one might use with a senile relative or very small child. Olivia wasn’t sure what was going on. By the look of it, neither was Liam.
He frowned down at his sister. “What are you—?”
“Sorry, everyone. We are so sorry. He likes to wander sometimes,” Maya called out, taking Liam’s other arm. “We try to keep an eye on him, but he’s a wily one.” She shook a finger at him.
Liam’s face went a mottled purple color. “What the hell—?”
Noah broke through the crowd from the other side. “Nothing to see here, folks. Just a family matter. We’ll get my brother out of your way. Come on, Liam. Let’s go back home. You know you’re not supposed to be out on your own.”
Olivia bit back a surprised laugh as Noah and his sisters dragged a flabbergasted Liam out the back through the kitchen. His friends, as shocked as everyone else, melted away quickly, slipping out the back as well. Olivia followed them to make sure they all left, and when they did she closed and locked the back door.
She returned through a crowd of the out-of-town guests. “It’s so sad,” she murmured, loud enough for several of them to hear. “Before he hit his head he was destined for wonderful things.”
“Ah,” one of the female guests said and turned to pass on this information to another one. Soon the room was brimming with music and laughter again.
Olivia breathed a huge sigh of relief when Fulsom pushed his way to where the scene had taken place. He was a handsome older man with a loud voice that commanded attention. Like everyone else he was dressed in period costume and appeared as comfortable in the old-fashioned clothes as if he’d been born to them. “Wait, hold on,” he was saying to no one in particular. “We didn’t get that on film. Can we recreate it for the camera?”
Olivia slid away before he noticed her, trusting he wouldn’t be able to make that happen.
“That was a close call,” Regan said when they ran into each other again.
“Good thing Noah and his sisters came to help,” Ella agreed.
It was. Olivia didn’t know what to make of it—or the fact Stella and Maya had intervened, too. She and Maya hadn’t seen eye to eye since Maya told the sheriff what she had seen in Olivia’s barn. Olivia had always thought Stella seemed reasonable enough—but not when it came to Olivia’s family. Too bad they were on opposite sides of this stupid feud.
But they hadn’t been tonight. Both sisters had stepped up and helped her.
Olivia wondered what tomorrow would bring.
And what would go wrong next.