Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay, Babette Jongh [book club books txt] 📗

“We’ll also have to hire someone to run the day-to-day operations,” Mack said. “Feeding the animals, cleaning the enclosures…”

“I’ll do it,” Sean volunteered. “Let me.”

Edna reached out and ruffled his hair as if he was five years old, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“You’re a little young for that job,” Reva said. “But I’ll need some help around the barn, if your mom doesn’t mind you working here a couple hours after school each day. That’ll free me up to help Abby get the shelter up and running.”

“I know just the person for the daily operations job,” Edna said. “Heather Gabriel,” she called into the kitchen, where Heather had disappeared again. “If you don’t want to be nominated for something, you’d best get back in here and speak up.”

“I’m coming,” Heather called back. “Just wiping down the countertops.”

Reva smothered a smile. She couldn’t wait to tease Heather about this the next time she saw her. She’d already wiped down the countertops so much that they’d need to be resealed.

“She’ll be perfect,” Edna said, “don’t y’all think?”

“Heather is wonderful,” Reva agreed. “And I know she has written grant proposals for the elementary school before, so she can help Abby with that.” But she glanced at Mack uncertainly; the actual hiring would be done by the city council, and while he’d been the one to think of offering Abby the job as the shelter’s director, Edna didn’t have that power.

But Mack grinned. “That sounds great, Edna. If Heather wants the job, I’ll put in a good word to the city council.”

Reva squeezed Mack’s shoulder. He was such a good man. “It feels like everything’s coming together, doesn’t it?”

As long as the mayor didn’t shoot the whole thing down.

Chapter 26

The city council members had agreed that the courthouse wasn’t big enough to hold the huge crowd expected at the council meeting that would decide the fate of Bayside Barn. So it was in the town’s auditorium that JP held forth on the benefits of building a huge marina complex. With the charisma of a talk-show host and the earnest conviction of a televangelist, JP made an argument that even Quinn wanted to buy into, and he knew better.

Quinn’s palms started sweating when he realized that not only would his presentation follow JP’s, but it would have to be even more convincing. This was their only shot. Abby squeezed his thigh, whether in warning or anxiety or comfort, he didn’t know. He glanced over to see her encouraging smile. “Stop worrying,” she whispered. “You’ve got this.”

And when President Tammy introduced him and he stood behind the podium to present his case, any nerves he had been feeling melted away. The vision of the future animal shelter just felt right. It felt meant to be.

He clicked through the PowerPoint presentation he had prepared, with photos of the existing property along with renderings of the changes and additions he would make. Even the leaking pool seemed to be perfect for the animal shelter, because the new beach-style ramp would make the pool accessible to the shelter dogs.

“We’ll build a concrete-block wall between the shelter and Bayside Barn,” he explained, showing another slide, “so the shelter animals won’t be bothered by field trip buses coming in to Bayside Barn. An access gate between the two properties will be large enough to accommodate any vehicle. Whenever the shelter receives any abused or abandoned livestock, they’ll be housed at Bayside Barn, at least until the shelter has its own barn space and fenced grazing pasture, which we’ll build in phase two, about a year after the shelter opens.”

When he finished his presentation, the packed crowd in the auditorium surged to its feet, whooping and cheering. Quinn felt himself blushing, his cheeks pulsing with his heartbeats. He had been so in the zone during his presentation, he’d almost forgotten how big the crowd was. He quickly gathered his notes and ducked back to his seat, while people he’d never met clapped him on the shoulder and congratulated him.

After a few minutes of quiet discussion among the city council members, President Tammy took to the podium. “The council unanimously agrees to allow Bayside Barn to keep farm animals, and indeed, any animals Reva Curtis deems appropriate for the education goals of Bayside Barn. We further decree that once given, this permission cannot be rescinded for any reason.” She glanced at the mayor, who answered her unasked question with a brief nod.

She sat, and the mayor took the podium.

“Furthermore,” the mayor boomed, “as the mayor of Magnolia Bay, I am delighted to accept Mr. Lockhart’s generous donation of the animal shelter that this community has needed for so long. As you all know, I have worked tirelessly to…” And while the mayor unfurled his stump speech, giving himself all the credit for making this miracle happen, Quinn noticed a quiet disturbance happening at the edges of the crowd.

Reva, Abby, Edna, and all the other Bayside Barn volunteers were moving through the auditorium, each carrying a cardboard box through the audience. People were gathering around the women to peek into in the boxes, then reach inside.

Abby bumped into Quinn from behind with the sharp edge of the box she was carrying. “Want one?” she asked.

“One what?” He tilted the box toward him. “Awww.” He sifted through the multicolored plastic stars and picked out a blue one with gold lettering. “I’m proud to be a Bayside Barn Buddy,” he read out loud.

“I’m proud you’re a Bayside Barn Buddy, too,” Abby said, her hazel eyes sparkling.

He pinned the star to his shirt and leaned in to give Abby a kiss. The big box of stars was in the way, so he took it from her and handed it to the nearest person. “Here,” he said. “Give these out, please, so I can kiss my girlfriend.”

The mayor finally ended his speech. President Tammy plucked the mayor’s white cowboy hat off his head, stepped to