The Sweetheart Deal. Syndi Powell
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until he’d gotten whatever he wanted. Instead, the new Adam had gone along with her proposal.
As if he didn’t care.
“Just like that.” It had been too easy. He had to have some other kind of angle he was working on with her. Because he never did anything at face value. He always had a scheme going. “He doesn’t matter.”
“If you say so.”
More of the women started to stir, so Megs busied herself slicing the raspberry strudel that she’d made yesterday. She handed a slice on a napkin to Lizzie and a cup of herbal tea. “Thanks.”
“My Grammy had a recipe she called the baby maker. I’ll see if I can find it if you want to try it.”
Lizzie gave her a half smile. “I might take you up on that.” Penny clapped her hands. “I filled the canteens with wine, so once we’re dressed, we can go on our hike.”
Kelly whispered to Megs, “Hiking with wine? I don’t get it.”
“It’s not just a hike to the lake,” Megs explained. “We do a polar-bear plunge before we run back. The wine is to give us the courage to go out naked into the icy water.”
Kelly’s head snapped up. “Skinny-dipping in February? Isn’t the lake frozen over?”
“Not completely.” Megs shrugged. “You don’t have to if you’re chicken. Not everyone does it.” She winked at her sister then joined the others to get ready.
* * *
“I WANT TO see the man in charge!” The old man stood in the middle of the bank, hands on his hips. “They said he has money, and I need some.”
Adam saved his work on the computer then walked into the lobby. “I’m the branch manager. Why don’t you step into my office and we can discuss what you need?”
The man pushed Adam aside and took a seat in one of the chairs. He whistled as he took in the furnishings of the office. “No wonder this bank never has any money. You spend it all on decorating.”
Adam took a seat across from him and folded his hands on the desk in front of him. “Mr. Taber, right? You used to drive the school bus.”
The old man eyed him and gave a short nod. “For thirty-eight years, I picked you kids up and dropped you off. I’m retired from there now, but I work part-time at the hardware store.” He paused. “Or I did until that roof collapsed.”
“When do they expect the hardware store will reopen?”
“Few weeks, best they can tell.” Mr. Taber shook his head. “Problem is, I live on social security and that job. How can I pay my bills if I’m not working?”
Adam pulled out a pad of paper and started to take notes. “That’s a very good point, Mr. Taber. How much did you usually make at the store?”
“In a week? About one-fifty after taxes.” Mr. Taber shifted in his chair. “I wouldn’t normally complain, but that paid for groceries and gas in my car. No paycheck means I’m not eating.”
Adam wrote all of this down, then pulled out a withdrawal slip from a desk drawer. “Will three hundred dollars help you in the meantime?”
Mr. Taber’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s the catch? I done told you I’m not working, so I can’t pay it back.”
“We set up the community fund to help people like you survive until the hardware store reopens. And we don’t expect to get paid back.” Adam signed the slip. “Will tens and twenties be sufficient?”
The old man nodded. “Fine.”
Adam stood and left the office. He went up to one of his teller’s windows and waited as she ran the transaction and counted back the money. Adam placed it in an envelope and took it with him to his office where he held it out to Mr. Taber. “You’ll let me know if you need any more.”
Mr. Taber stared at the envelope. “Is this some kind of joke? I walk in with empty hands and walk out with cash? Maybe that’s why you people never have any money.”
“This all comes from donations, Mr. Taber.” He thrust the envelope in the man’s hand. “People want to help others like yourself in this community.”
“I never took no charity, but I appreciate the help.” He stuffed the cash in his coat pocket. “Now, are you done with me? Or can I get out of your hair?”
Adam shook his hand then saw him to the front door. He turned to find some of the other customers watching him. A woman approached him. “How do I donate to the community fund? Can I just write a check?”
Adam ushered her into his office. Sometimes you gave, but other times you received.
* * *
BEING A NEW MOM, Suzy had stayed behind to keep the wood-burning stove fed and roaring when they returned from their hike to the lake. She grinned at their wet heads. “You all did it?”
Kelly scowled at her sister and moved closer to the stove to warm up. Megs grabbed the wool blanket that she’d brought with her and draped it over her sister’s shoulders. “You’ve officially been initiated into the girls’ club.”
“Only had to freeze my nether regions to do it, too.” She grasped the ends of the blanket and pulled it around her.
Tori put her arm around her waist. “The only thing is that you can’t tell anyone about it. Otherwise, I’m sure we’d get a few spectators.”
“Jack.” Penny and Shelby nodded at each other. “If he only knew what we did in his cabin each year.”
Presley and Page joined Kelly near the fire while the veterans compared notes to years past. Suzy walked up to Megs and handed her her cell phone. “You got a call while you were out there.”
“Thanks.” Megs checked her caller ID and frowned at the unfamiliar phone number. She pressed Redial.
A male voice answered on the other end. “Megan? It’s Adam.”
She glanced at the other women, then walked quickly down the hallway to Jack’s study. She closed the door behind her. “Is something wrong?”
“I haven’t heard from you since we met on Thursday. I’d hoped to have your application so we can get moving on that loan.”
Right. The loan app. “I’m not home this weekend. It’s going to be the middle of next week before I have it ready for you.” Silence on the other end. She sighed. “I’m working on that business plan you asked for.”
“If you need assistance, I’d be glad...”
“No.” She winced at her tone and dropped her volume. “I mean, no, thank you. I’ve got someone who’s volunteered to help me.”
“Good.”
A moment of silence while Megs wondered why he’d call her on a Saturday morning. And how had he gotten her cell phone number? Probably from the listing on her personal account. She cleared her throat. “So I need to get back to my friends.”
“Sure. Have a good weekend, Megan.”
She hung up before she could tell him to do the same.
* * *
AT TWO, ADAM helped the tellers get their cash drawers back into the vault and shut the door, spinning the dials to secure it for the weekend. He’d hoped that by being in the office on the weekend, he’d get more traffic from the Lincoln Street business owners needing loans. He’d had one customer besides Mr. Taber. John Striker, who ran the hardware store. The damage had been minimal to his store, but enough to need some assistance.
He tried not to take the absence of the other business owners personally, but it looked as though his efforts to improve the relationship of the bank to the community had a long way to go. He walked his staff