years ago, wasn’t it? I haven’t seen much about it since, but I guess I’m not surprised that Chandler would take a run at it.”
Seth nodded. “That’s what’s going on here. And you’re right. Hale suggested it when he first approached the town. He thought he could make it work, if he could convince the voters. That’s why there’s a Special Town Meeting scheduled.”
“And that means my orchard and part of your land?” Meg didn’t like the way this sounded.
Seth nodded. “It does. Problem is, the idea has galvanized the town and splintered its good citizens into a lot of factions. The younger ones, who’ve moved here recently, are all for having more amenities—they’d love to have a Starbucks around the corner and more stores. But then there are the ecologists, who are worried about environmental impact, and the preservationists, who are worried about the historic properties in the way and the threat to the character of the town. And the landowners, who feel strongly about their property.”
Rachel spoke for the first time. “Seth seems pretty cool about it, but our family has been on that land since it was first settled back in sixteen-whatever. The developers want a chunk along the highway. Which could mean a strip mall in the front yard, and all the lights and trash and noise that come with it.”
Seth turned to her. “Rachel, you’re exaggerating. The selectmen wouldn’t let that happen—we have the right to control what kind of development takes place. But I may have to recuse myself from the debate, since I have a direct interest.” He looked at Meg. “Listen, are you registered to vote?”
It took Meg a moment to grasp the question. “I was in Boston. Not here.”
“You’d better, then. You can’t attend the meeting unless you’re registered, or at least, you can’t cast a vote,” Seth said promptly.
“So I need to attend the meeting?” But registering to vote meant declaring that she actually lived in Granford, and Meg hadn’t been willing to admit that. On the other hand, she did have a personal stake in the outcome, and it made sense to keep an eye on the process.
Seth looked outraged. “Of course you do. It’s democracy in action, in the best sense. And you’re a local property owner.”
“Okay, tell me what I need to do. Will tomorrow be soon enough?”
Rachel started collecting cups. “Seth, time for you to go home. Can’t you see this poor woman is falling asleep?”
Seth stood up quickly. “Sorry, I get kind of carried away about all this. Meg, I’ll swing by around eight, if that’s okay?”
“No problem.” Meg managed to make it to her feet, far more slowly. It had been a very long day.
Rachel was quick to notice. “You have everything you need? Then go to bed. We can chat more in the morning. Seven thirty good for you?”
“Fine.” Meg was happy to have everyone else make her decisions for her. Right now all she could think about was that big bed with the cool white sheets. “See you then.”
Seth led her out into the hallway. “Will you be all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just tired. And I’m sure there’s more to come.”
“Count on it. Well, see you in the morning. Get some sleep.”
Upstairs, Meg changed into her nightgown and then tried to read the book she had set aside. But she gave up the effort after a couple of minutes, turned out the light, and tried to ignore the distant voice in her head: Chandler’s dead, Chandler’s dead …
Think about something else. Seth. The plumber with an Amherst degree. Who took finding a corpse in stride. And who had been kind enough to worry about how she felt. That was nice. Rachel was nice, too. Plenty of nice people around here.
She drifted off to a troubled sleep.
9
Meg awoke with a start at six thirty, even though she had forgotten to set the alarm. It was still winter-dark outside, but she could hear distant clatter somewhere below her in the house. Rachel fixing breakfast, no
Seth nodded. “That’s what’s going on here. And you’re right. Hale suggested it when he first approached the town. He thought he could make it work, if he could convince the voters. That’s why there’s a Special Town Meeting scheduled.”
“And that means my orchard and part of your land?” Meg didn’t like the way this sounded.
Seth nodded. “It does. Problem is, the idea has galvanized the town and splintered its good citizens into a lot of factions. The younger ones, who’ve moved here recently, are all for having more amenities—they’d love to have a Starbucks around the corner and more stores. But then there are the ecologists, who are worried about environmental impact, and the preservationists, who are worried about the historic properties in the way and the threat to the character of the town. And the landowners, who feel strongly about their property.”
Rachel spoke for the first time. “Seth seems pretty cool about it, but our family has been on that land since it was first settled back in sixteen-whatever. The developers want a chunk along the highway. Which could mean a strip mall in the front yard, and all the lights and trash and noise that come with it.”
Seth turned to her. “Rachel, you’re exaggerating. The selectmen wouldn’t let that happen—we have the right to control what kind of development takes place. But I may have to recuse myself from the debate, since I have a direct interest.” He looked at Meg. “Listen, are you registered to vote?”
It took Meg a moment to grasp the question. “I was in Boston. Not here.”
“You’d better, then. You can’t attend the meeting unless you’re registered, or at least, you can’t cast a vote,” Seth said promptly.
“So I need to attend the meeting?” But registering to vote meant declaring that she actually lived in Granford, and Meg hadn’t been willing to admit that. On the other hand, she did have a personal stake in the outcome, and it made sense to keep an eye on the process.
Seth looked outraged. “Of course you do. It’s democracy in action, in the best sense. And you’re a local property owner.”
“Okay, tell me what I need to do. Will tomorrow be soon enough?”
Rachel started collecting cups. “Seth, time for you to go home. Can’t you see this poor woman is falling asleep?”
Seth stood up quickly. “Sorry, I get kind of carried away about all this. Meg, I’ll swing by around eight, if that’s okay?”
“No problem.” Meg managed to make it to her feet, far more slowly. It had been a very long day.
Rachel was quick to notice. “You have everything you need? Then go to bed. We can chat more in the morning. Seven thirty good for you?”
“Fine.” Meg was happy to have everyone else make her decisions for her. Right now all she could think about was that big bed with the cool white sheets. “See you then.”
Seth led her out into the hallway. “Will you be all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just tired. And I’m sure there’s more to come.”
“Count on it. Well, see you in the morning. Get some sleep.”
Upstairs, Meg changed into her nightgown and then tried to read the book she had set aside. But she gave up the effort after a couple of minutes, turned out the light, and tried to ignore the distant voice in her head: Chandler’s dead, Chandler’s dead …
Think about something else. Seth. The plumber with an Amherst degree. Who took finding a corpse in stride. And who had been kind enough to worry about how she felt. That was nice. Rachel was nice, too. Plenty of nice people around here.
She drifted off to a troubled sleep.
9
Meg awoke with a start at six thirty, even though she had forgotten to set the alarm. It was still winter-dark outside, but she could hear distant clatter somewhere below her in the house. Rachel fixing breakfast, no
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