Page 23 of Finding Forever

He had a fairly good idea what it was. And if the thought of falling in love made him panic, being alone for the rest of his life was worse.

Chapter 15

The council chambers smelled like old carpet and coffee. This was the last place Beth wanted to be, but updating the council on the arts center’s progress was part of her job. Thankfully, Natalie was sitting beside her in case anyone asked her a question she couldn’t answer.

Natalie had told her the update was usually only ten minutes long at the most. That suited Beth, but what she hadn’t expected was for the room to be half full. Or for Walt Harvey to be sitting with a folder of papers in front of him, looking like a man who’d come prepared to make a point.

After Beth discussed the schedule, the budget, and the issues they’d encountered, the mayor thanked her and asked the councilors if they had any questions.

Walt Harvey stood. “I’ve got more than a question,” he said.

The tone of his voice made the hairs on the back of Beth’s neck stand on end. For the second time that night, she was glad Natalie was here.

Walt cleared his throat. “I’ve got a concern, and I think the people in this room deserve to hear it.” He opened his folder and glanced at his notes. “The arts center is being built on a state grant this town fought hard to get, and with money this council could have used for the county road resurfacing program. I want to know what this council is getting for the money we’ve invested in the arts center, besides a building for people who want to learn how to paint or play the guitar.”

A murmur went through the room. Beth’s pulse climbed into her throat. She looked at Natalie, hoping she would stand in front of the microphone and reply to Walt.

“Do you want me to say something?” Natalie whispered.

Beth nodded. “Yes, please.”

Natalie stood, and in a calm and professional voice, she said, “The grant you’re referring to is specifically earmarked for community art and education. It couldn’t be redirected to roads even if the council wanted it to.”

“That’s not really my question, Mrs. Lanigan.” Walt looked around the room. “What does a working family in this town get out of an arts center? Because from where I’m sitting, this looks like a nice thing for people with time to spare, funded on the town’s good name, with the lease renewal riding on whether you can make it look busy enough by spring.”

The room waited and Beth felt the weight of everyone’s gaze. For one long, terrible second her mind went completely blank. It was the exact thing she’d feared since Natalie had first asked her to speak at the meeting.

Then she thought of the children’s baking class Susan wanted to run, and Colton admiring a local potters work when they’d come into the arts center to show Beth.

He’d never been into an art gallery or seen a pottery exhibition, but he’d admired each vase and bowl as if he’d made them himself. And then there was Kayla. When she was little, she’d sat at the kitchen table with her pencils, drawing princesses and dragons. The joy that art gave her should be something every person enjoyed, regardless of their age or who they were.

Beth touched Natalie’s arm to let her know she’d like to speak. On shaky legs, she rose to her feet. “As you know, I grew up in this town, Councilmember Harvey. I raised my daughter in it. I’ve helped at the Welcome Center and worked with other not-for-profit organizations. Over the last ten years, I’ve watched this town lose the county funding for the after-school program at the elementary school and the art gallery on Main Street. The public library struggles to put new books on its shelves, and the community has to donate money for our festivals.”

Beth took a deep breath. “What we’re building isn’t a center for people with time to spare. It’s for free children’s art class on Saturday mornings. It’s a place for the historical society to finally have a home. It’s Susan Timms teaching a baking class to children whose parents are working two jobs and can’t be there to teach them themselves. It’s not instead of the road money. It’s for the people who’ll be driving on those roads long after this council’s finished arguing about them.”

Beth looked around the room at the people she’d grown up with.

“I understand the caution,” Beth went on, quieter now, looking at Walt directly rather than the room. “I understand it better than you might think. But I didn’t take this job to spend the town’s money on something pretty. I took it because I believe that this town deserves a place that’s just for beauty and belonging. Not everything worth building has to justify itself by the number of potholes that have been filled.”

There was a moment of silence, and then, from somewhere near the back, someone started clapping, and it spread. Not everyone clapped, but it was enough that Beth could breathe again.

When Dave stood on the other side of the room, Beth relaxed. He knew how important the arts center was, and he was used to speaking to large groups. But more than that, people listened to what Dave said because everyone knew he could be trusted.

“I’ve built a lot of buildings in this county,” he said, when the mayor nodded him toward the floor. “I don’t say things I don’t mean, and I don’t waste time on jobs I don’t believe in. This one’s worth doing. Ms. Kowalski is the reason it’s being done right.”

After Dave sat down, the mayor cleared her throat and everyone’s attention spun to the front of the room. “Thank you, Beth, Natalie, and Dave, for updating us about the arts center and adding to the discussion. It is the decision of the council that we are happy with progress on the arts center and will hold the lease to its existing terms. We’re all looking forward to the spring opening.”

Natalie squeezed Beth’s hand. “You did it,” she whispered.

“We all did it,” she replied softly.

While the meeting moved on to other business, something strange and unfamiliar settled over Beth. She had defended the center out loud, in front of the town, without a single note card or a moment to plan what she’d say.

She was confident because she believed in what they were doing. And, in a lot of ways, she was just as proud of the woman she was becoming.

Chapter 16

The parking lot outside the council chambers was almost empty by the time Dave found Beth.