Dana’s smile was full of kind regret. “I feel the same way, Mrs. Hart. But I’m very glad you’ve all joined us again tonight. I’ve been looking forward to this.” She glanced at Mitch. “Did the reports and aerial views you asked me to email help you?”
“They did. Thank you,” Mitch said, lifting the bags he held and exchanging a glance with Kristen.
After nodding, Dana stepped back, glanced at the group seated at the table, then rubbed her hands together briskly. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
Over the next half hour, Dana introduced the new guests who had joined them—all three were project manager consultants for the Department of Transportation—then walked the committee through a slideshow presentation on the wide screen at the head of the room. Each slide presented detailed data regarding traffic patterns and survey results. When the slideshow ended, Dana picked up two rolled posters, slid the rubber bands off, and spread the posters across the center of the table.
“These are the proposed plans for the bypass.” She leaned across the table and
pointed to the upper right section of one plan as everyone leaned in for a better look. “Construction would begin just north of the outskirts of Peach Grove on Highway 1, would extend several miles outside the city limits, then would reconnect with Highway 1 well beyond the southern outskirts of town.”
Bud sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin and nodding. “That’s exactly as we discussed. Looks good.”
The room grew quiet as everyone studied the plans silently; then Elena scooted closer to the table. “And this?” Her finger touched a large area toward the center of the proposed bypass. “Whose land would the road be next to here?”
Dana shook her head. “Not next to but through.” She cast a sad smile at Emmy. “That’s where the bypass would cut through the center of Hart’s Hollow, a farm I believe belongs to Mrs. Hart.”
Mitch tensed as Emmy stared down at the plan, her chin trembling. “It’s one thing to hear it,” she said, her voice breaking, “but it’s another to see it.”
“What are they talking about, Nana?” Sadie, who’d left her seat beside Dylan and Zach, placed her hand on Emmy’s forearm and lifted to her tiptoes, straining for a glimpse of the papers on the table.
“They’re talking about taking our house,” Dylan said, joining her, with Zach at his side. He frowned over Emmy’s head. “You’re not gonna let them, are you, Uncle Mitch?”
Mitch hesitated, glancing at the faces around the table. The pleased look on Bud’s face had slowly receded, and Elena’s eyes glistened as she stared at Emmy.
“That’s not my decision,” he said, standing and facing the DOT project managers. “But I’m hoping all of you will be willing to hear and consider an alternative.”
The room fell silent. Al handed Stephanie two tissues from his shirt pocket. One she kept for herself; the other she handed to Jenny. Tears rolled down their cheeks.
Sniffing, Emmy turned her head and looked up at Mitch, her eyes welling. “My Mitch has a plan. A great one.”
Mitch’s lungs stalled. Oh, man. If this plan failed—if he failed—to save Hart’s Hollow Farm, Emmy’s heart would break, and every reason she had for getting out of bed each morning would be lost. Every ounce of hope she had would leave her, and there would be nothing left to hold on to. There would be only the slow decline of her health in a strange place. And that was all any place other than Hart’s Hollow could be for her now.
A hand slipped inside his and squeezed. “Mitch has spent hours reviewing the needs and wants all of you expressed at the previous meeting and in subsequent surveys, and I think you’ll be pleased with what he’s proposing, if you’ll allow us to proceed.”
Mitch looked to his right. There was Kristen, holding his hand and smiling at him, as though he was the only man in the world, and in that moment, that was exactly how he felt. Us had sounded as good on her lips as he’d imagined.
“Please go ahead,” said one of the men seated by the wall. “We’d like to hear you out.”
Kristen squeezed Mitch’s hand once more and gave him an encouraging smile. Not much was different at this meeting compared to the last one, except for the three project managers, who watched them from afar with polite but otherwise blank expressions.
It was nerve-racking, to say the least, but Mitch had created a solid plan that posed a good chance of persuading them all.
“Mitch?” Kristen prompted, nudging him with her elbow. “You want me to grab the plans?”
He straightened his tie and smiled. “Please.”
Kristen bent, sifted through one of the bags they’d set beside the table, then withdrew a plastic tube housing a rolled canvas. Mitch took one end of it, and they placed it on the table.
“I took the liberty of contacting Mrs. Markham over a week ago and asked her to send me as much data as she could release regarding the plans proposed for the bypass.” Mitch pulled several packets from another bag at their feet, then passed them around the table. “In these handouts, you’ll see the Department of Transportation’s plan laid out in detail, with the relevant data supporting each potential change notated in the margins,” he continued. “The most prevalent concerns center around congestion and noise in downtown Peach Grove, the safety of pedestrians and the impacts any proposed change might have on our environment, businesses, and community.”
Mitch placed a hand on Emmy’s shoulder and leveled his blue eyes at the group in front of him. “At our last meeting, Emmy brought up the point that dismantling Adams County farms will break the backbone of our families and community.” He glanced at Kristen, and the appreciation and admiration in his expression warmed her chest. “The new plan that Kristen and I are proposing directly addresses all the aforementioned concerns—and integrates elements that are specifically designed to strengthen our families, businesses, and communities—while staying within the budget allotted for a potential bypass.”
He lifted his chin at Kristen, and hands trembling, she unsealed the plastic tube, slid out the rolled canvas, then peeled off the small piece of tape that held it together. The canvas loosened, and Mitch’s big hand joined hers in unrolling it across the table.
Audible gasps escaped Iris and Elena as the canvas settled into a flat position, revealing an appealing mix of color. One of the aerial photos Dana had provided had been enlarged and enhanced for detail, and it formed the foundation of the plan. A printout of the final draft of one of Mitch’s architectural sketches overlaid it, and the amenities, streetlighting, and landscaping in each individual section had been hand-painted by Kristen.
“Oh, it’s gorgeous,” Iris said, leaning closer for a better look.