Best Laid Plans: A Bloomfield Novel

By Martha Rogers

 Welcome to Bloomfield, where life is simple, love is real, and stories are shared.

Architect and hometown boy Hal McKenzie is called back to Bloomfield when the mayor needs help figuring out how to expand the city hall and courthouse. That will mean having to move the old Founders Cottage provided by the Caroline Short family.

Hal was sweet on Caroline back in high school and knows that moving her family’s historical landmark isn’t the best way to take another shot at having a love connection. Now he must respect the mayor’s wishes while convincing Caroline that he still cares for her.

Best Laid Plains is a charming romance illustrating how honesty really is the best policy, and God is in control of even the smallest details of our lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781433679292

Martha Rogers

My outlook on life is like Bernie’s. His journeys take him many places, and he always has a positive outlook on his surroundings, wherever that may be. Since becoming a Christian, I try to see the best in people, and my desire is to bring some sunshine to people’s lives along the was. I thought of Bernie when I would read to my three children as they were growing up. I used to read them all the classics, but then I started to write about a little earthworm who would dig his way around in the earth and pop up at different places, and his adventure would begin. The words I wrote soon became a book. My son, Paul, who was artistically gifted, brought Bernie to life. The early writings of Bernie’s Journey sat upon the shelf for years until Paul, who is active-duty USN, was deployed overseas. That is when I had the idea to send him the draft of the first book. Thank God, Paul had some down time, and he started his sketches during that time. Drawing the pictures for Bernie’s Journey not only helped Paul occupy some otherwise unpleasant hours, but our book was coming to fruition.

Book preview

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Chapter 1

He can’t do this to us! Who does Woody think he is?" Caroline Short waved the daily Bloomfield Gazette in the air. He could have at least warned us. She marched up to the hostess stand.

Every patron in the Pink Geranium Tearoom turned to stare. Warned us about what, Mom? Selena laid a stack of menus to the side and grabbed the paper from Caroline’s hands.

Conversation buzzed about the room with a few patrons continuing to stare at Caroline, who now stood with her hands planted on her hips. She turned to face the noonday crowd.

Caroline’s gaze roamed about the room and scrutinized each diner. All conversation ceased under her gaze. A few gripped their pink or white napkins, others laid down forks and waited for her to speak. Even the pink geranium plants hanging at each window appeared poised in anticipation of her information. Mayor Woodrow Hansen is planning to move Founder’s Cottage between the courthouse and City Hall for expansion. That house was the first one in town when my great-grandfather Miller built it back when Bloomfield was founded. My grandfather donated it to the town for a landmark. Now the mayor wants to tear it down and move it for progress.

Murmurs around the dining tables erupted into loud objections as customers shook their heads in disbelief.

Selena thrust the paper back at Caroline. There has to be a mistake. They can’t move a landmark on a whim.

Winnie Simpson, Caroline’s best friend, marched to the front and grabbed the paper from Caroline. When did this happen? She read a few lines and then swirled like a top to point a finger at George Pearson, seated by a window. You’re on the town council. Did you know about this?

George’s face flushed as red as his tie. Not really. Woody mentioned he had some ideas for expanding the hall, but he didn’t say anything definite. I’m just as surprised as you are.

Winnie strode over and shook her finger in his face. And why don’t I believe you, Georgey?

George looked like he might explode at Winnie’s use of his childhood nickname. Caroline hurried over to the table to prevent further damage from Winnie and a stroke in George. Good thing she hadn’t completed it with the Porgie portion of it. Although the man still carried a lot of extra weight, he wasn’t fat like he’d been as a boy.

Caroline grasped Winnie’s hand and pulled it down. George, tell me exactly what you know, and do any of the other council members know about this?

I really don’t know anything, Caroline, I’m sorry. If I’d known this was the route he was taking, I’d have warned you and tried to stop him.

Winnie snorted. Oh, sure. Like you and he aren’t in cahoots with just about everything else going on around this town.

Caroline squeezed Winnie’s arm. That’s enough. You’re making it worse.

Ouch! That hurt, and I don’t see how it could be much worse than having your family home torn down.

Selena stepped over to her mother’s side. Nobody’s going to tear down anything. Let’s calm down and think through this logically. I thought the house had been made a historical landmark, so it’s protected by law and can’t be touched.

Again, George turned a deep shade of red. Um, no, the designation was never submitted, so it’s just a town landmark—not a national one.

Selena’s gasp joined that of several nearby diners. Her eyes opened wide, and her mouth gaped open. She turned toward her mother. What is he talking about? That was supposed to have been taken care of last year.

Winnie snorted again. If you ask me, Mayor Woody has been less than honest with us, and I wouldn’t put it past George here to have been in on it. Once more, she turned an accusing sneer in the councilman’s direction.

Caroline blinked her eyes. This couldn’t be happening. Everything had been in order and all the forms filled out and ready for submission. She narrowed her eyes at George. What have you two been up to behind my back? Was Victoria Masters in on this?

No, no, I promise you that there was no collusion. Woody must have forgotten to send the request in or to the right people or something.

I just bet he did, especially after my calling and reminding him three times in the past six months. Caroline glanced at the newspaper again where she read that the mayor said the city council would look over the proposal and plan he’d drawn up. He hoped they could begin work on the expansion and other improvements by mid-July. That gave her just a little over a month to come up with an alternate plan to block the expansion.

George had no response to her statement and resumed eating his lunch. Winnie, however, wasn’t through with him yet. She pulled out a chair at his table and plopped down in it. George, you knew Woody didn’t get that request in for recognition as a national historical spot and you did nothing about it. Why?

He yanked his napkin from his lap and wadded it on the table. Winnie, that didn’t have anything to do with me, and I can’t make the mayor do anything. Now leave me alone. He shoved back from the table. Selena, I want my check. I won’t stay here and be given the third degree by anybody.

Winnie sat back with her arms crossed over her chest, a smug expression on her face as she nodded her head. Got your hackles up. I suppose you’ll go straight to Woody’s office from here.

George said nothing, but glared at Winnie. Caroline waited until he had paid his bill and left before she joined Winnie. You have to behave yourself. I can’t have you running off my customers like that.

Oh, pooh. He was finished anyway. Winnie nodded at his near-empty plate.

Still . . . Caroline sighed and slumped in her seat. I . . . don’t know what to make of all this. If Victoria didn’t know, I wonder what she’s thinking about the news. One thing for certain, Victoria was one of the most respected women on the town council, and if she didn’t know the expansion would include Founder’s Cottage, then she’d help Caroline fight the mayor.

She glanced over at Winnie who still sat with her arms crossed, wearing a sullen expression that warned of an approaching storm. Bless her, Winnie had a heart as big as all outdoors, but she didn’t mind telling people what was on hers. Ever since Earl died, Winnie had been at loose ends. She was the sort who needed somebody to take care of, and right now Caroline was that somebody. If Winnie would just open her eyes, she’d see that Woody, the most eligible older bachelor in town, had his eye on her, even if he was being a sneak right now.

Better calm the storm with Winnie before it became full blown. Winnie, I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding. We’ll talk with Woody and find out exactly what’s going on.

Winnie worked her mouth back and forth, bunched up her lips, and frowned. Her fingers now tapped against the table top. I’ll give Woody the benefit of the doubt. It isn’t like him to up and do something like this behind a body’s back, especially yours. But if he’s serious about this, then I just might wring that skinny neck of his like a chicken for Sunday dinner.

Caroline had no doubt she’d do just that if her anger boiled enough. She patted Winnie’s shoulder then strode to the telephone. Time to get the garden club ladies in on this. After all, they were the ones responsible for keeping the cottage grounds looking so pretty every season.

Before she picked up the phone, Winnie mumbled in the background, Yeah, right, call in them Bloomfield Bloomers. They always have to be in the middle of everything.

Caroline shook her head and punched in the number for Sherry Butler, the club’s vice president. She’d be on Caroline’s side for sure since she and Victoria didn’t take to people changing things in their town. After she talked to Sherry, a call to her son, Don, was next. As executor of his grandparents’ will, he would have more of an idea about how to fight such a move.

Winnie still grumbled as Caroline dialed. Winnie couldn’t forgive the gardeners for not allowing her to join the club, but the poor soul killed everything she tried to grow.

Hal McKenzie drove into Bloomfield with several thoughts running through his mind. The first was whether or not he’d see Caroline Short, and the other questioned why his old buddy, Woody Hansen, wanted to see him.

Ever since his wife’s death several years ago, Hal had considered returning to his hometown and settling down in the old home where he’d grown up. Now that the house stood empty after the last renters left, the idea loomed as more and more inviting. A lot would depend on what happened on this trip.

He drove past the Pink Geranium Tearoom and spotted George Pearson rushing out the door like a posse was after him. Hal shook his head. George must be in a hurry to get back to his insurance business. Hal slowed his car then turned around and pulled into the parking lot, taking the spot vacated by George. Hal hadn’t stopped for lunch on his way to town, so he figured he could kill two birds with one stone. He’d have his lunch, and he just might see Caroline.

The place buzzed with conversation as he entered. It seemed like every person in the room talked at once, drowning out the clink of silverware and glasses. The place hadn’t changed much in the years since he’d been there. Pink and white was still the main color scheme repeated throughout in linens, floral centerpieces, and the geranium plants adorning the windows.

Before he had a chance to see who might be seated around the tables, Winnie Simpson spotted him and made a beeline in his direction. Not exactly the first person he wanted to see, but he could no more step out of her way than he could halt a runaway train.

Well, look who the cat dragged in. Hal McKenzie. Haven’t seen you since your ma’s funeral. What in the world are you doing back in Bloomfield? Atlanta getting too hot for you these days? I sure hope you’re here to do something about your parents’ house. It’s been sitting empty too long, and it’ll go to pot if you don’t take care of it. She stopped square in front of him with her hands on her hips and a smirk on her lips.

Some things never changed. He let her finish her rant before he grinned at her. "Good to see