On the Corner of Hope and Main Read online

  Map

  Map of Henry Adams © by Alexandria Sewell

  Dedication

  To those finding the courage to let their light shine

  Contents

  Cover

  Map

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  P.S. Insights, Interviews & More . . .*

  About the Author

  About the Book

  Also by Beverly Jenkins

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  Chapter

  1

  Suffering through another boring workday, Leo Brown picked up the framed photo of himself and his ex-wife, Bernadine, from its place on his desk and studied it. Taken fifteen years ago during a Mediterranean cruise, the smiling faces reflected happy times. Or so he’d thought. He’d given her everything a woman could ask for—cars, jewelry, multiple homes complete with maids—but she’d wanted more: kids, love, and his presence in her life. She wasn’t content with attending formal events tied to his job as a vice president of the world’s largest oil conglomerate or posing with him during photo ops with foreign dignitaries. She’d wanted him. And as the years went by, they grew further and further apart. Cheating became his answer to the proverbial male midlife crisis, and when she caught him playing the two-backed beast with his secretary, she’d gotten revenge by taking him to divorce court and his bank account to the cleaners. He set the picture down.

  In the years after, she made the news by using the settlement money to buy herself a town. Henry Adams, Kansas, a historic little place founded in the 1880s by freed slaves. Under her guidance, it rose from dirt poor and dying to a twenty-first-century jewel, and even he had to admit she’d done a great job. He’d also admitted to being still in love with her, so two years ago, with that in mind, he tried to win her back. At the same time, his company wanted to build a pipeline beneath her town’s surrounding farmland and made him point man on the project. He figured it would be a win-win—woo his wife back, and secure approval for the venture. But she no more wanted the pipeline than him, and she convinced the farmers of the same by informing them of the health hazards it posed to their families and livestock, and the company’s shoddy environmental record. Ninety percent of the farmers targeted declined. It was not only Leo’s biggest failure as an executive, his employer, Salem Oil, found the dismal outcome so infuriating, he was downsized and out of a job before he could say, oil spill.

  And now, he was in an entry-level position at Mega Seed, the nation’s largest seed and tractor seller, making significantly less money. No longer rubbing shoulders with sheiks and European government officials, his time was spent with farmers, silo operators, and combine dealerships. He blamed Bernadine. Had she minded her own damn business, the pipeline would’ve gone through and he’d still be vacationing in the Maldives and Paris, and holding high-level meetings with Middle East princes and oil ministers that brought in billions. Instead, he was in a tiny office in Iowa, seated at a desk littered with seed catalogs and glossy brochures showcasing the latest in farm equipment. He no longer wielded power as a vice president, commanding multiple offices and people numbering in the thousands. Hell, he didn’t even have a secretary. What he had was a cubicle in a space shared by three other company reps who hated him as much as he did them and the job. When he was first hired by Mega Seed, he hadn’t minded starting at the bottom. It was a good way to acquaint himself with how the company operated and its products. However, after twelve months, he hadn’t been put on the fast track as promised, and the people at the top were no longer taking his calls or replying to his emails. After bragging to his office mates about being destined for bigger and brighter, and leaving them behind to slog through fields of corn, sorghum, and soybeans, the lack of promotion was enraging, and embarrassing. Leo was almost sixty years old. At his age, he knew his prospects for climbing into the company’s upper echelon were as bleak as the Iowa winter, but he didn’t have to like it. He was accustomed to wielding power, and he wanted that again.

  A beep from his laptop signaled an incoming email. He almost ignored it, but seeing it was from the CEO of his former employer, Salem Oil, he sat up, eyes wide and read it. Then read it again. Salem and Mega Seed were partnering on a joint project they wanted him to lead. His prayers had been answered. He quickly scrolled down to the email he’d gotten last night from Big Al Stillwell, a farmer in Henry Adams. Two years ago, Big Al had been one of the few supporters of the pipeline and had occasionally stayed in touch in hopes the project would be resurrected so he could be paid by Salem and buy back the land he’d lost to foreclosure after Leo left town. Leo hadn’t been much interested in Al’s updates on the town’s goings-on. Now he was. Finding the email, he read that Henry Adams would be electing a new mayor and, according to Stillwell, there were no strong candidates. A kernel of a plan took shape. Leo owned various homes around the country and one was in Franklin, the town next to Henry Adams. How mad would Bernadine be if he returned and ran for the job? Damn mad, he figured, and his candidacy might even serve as a cover for the assignment he’d been handed. After taking a minute to respond to Big Al’s email, Leo picked up his phone and called his old CEO.

  Chapter

  2

  As the calendar welcomed October, the residents of Henry Adams basked in the fading warmth of fall. The kids broke out their fleeces and hoodies. Farmers stockpiled wood, cleaned up the now empty corn and soybean fields, put up hay for their animals in anticipation of winter, and stored their combines. Everyone knew by month’s end, there’d be far colder temperatures, and maybe the first flakes of snow, so they enjoyed it while it lasted.

  On this Saturday, the sun was shining, the temperature in the fifties, and Bernadine Brown, owner of Henry Adams, was behind the wheel of her new truck, Baby Four, on her way to a morning meeting at the Power Plant where she worked. Like the previous three versions, the truck was a cobalt blue Ford F-150, and the chrome was so bright you needed shades. Baby One had been destroyed in an arson fire set by Big Al Stillwell’s vengeful mother, Odessa, angered by Bernadine’s opposition to Salem Oil’s proposed pipeline. Baby Two was totaled a short few weeks later when Odessa ran Bernadine off the road. This past summer, Baby Three was hauled to the junkyard after being shot up by members of the Russian Mafia who’d paid the town an uninvited visit. Bernadine thought the new truck might’ve needed to be a different color and given another name, but she’d chosen to stay with what she loved.

  Five years ago, she purchased Henry Adams off eBay, and for a tiny town on the plains of Kansas, there’d been enough drama during her ownership for a Netflix series. Examples? Riley Curry’s six-hundred-pound hog, Cletus, sat on a nasty old man named Morton Prell and squashed him to death. Crystal, Bernadine’s adopted daughter, was kidnapped and held for ransom by her birth father, Ray Chambers, who was promptly given his comeuppance when a tornado killed him. Gold was discovered by a local farmer, and when a bunch of half-wits came to town looking for more, a riot ensued. Under Bernadine’s guidance and limitless checkbook, Henry Adams had gone from barely breathing to a high-tech showcase with far-reaching Wi-Fi, solar streetlights, and a townwide security system that helped foil the plans of a revenge-seeking social worker who tried to burn down Gemma Dahl’s home last year. A state-
of-the-art school had been built, along with a new church and a rec center that served as the hub of the community. The town was thriving, but one never knew what kind of craziness a day in Henry Adams might bring, so Bernadine stayed on her toes.

  She parked Baby Four in the parking lot of the Power Plant, the red, flat-topped building where she and the town’s executives worked. Inside, she bypassed her office and went straight to the conference room to attend the first meeting of the newly formed Henry Adams Advisory Council.

  Helping themselves to the breakfast buffet she’d ordered were town fire chief Luis Acosta; the town security VP, former colonel Barrett Payne; Mayor Trent July; and the town CFO, Lily Fontaine July, aka Trent’s wife. Also on the council and seated at the table were Malachi July, Bernadine’s former sweetheart—whom she chose to ignore—and Rocky Dancer James. Both were part owners of the town diner, the Dog and Cow aka the Dog. Next to Rocky was her husband, Jack James, the school’s master teacher. To his right sat Marie Jefferson, superintendent of schools, and Dr. Reg Garland, town pediatrician. Also in the room were Reverend Paula Grant, and the Henry Adams matriarch, Tamar July, the ninety-plus-year-old mother of Malachi, grandmother of Trent, and ruler of everything and everyone—including Bernadine.

  Once everyone had plates and were seated, Bernadine began the meeting. “I want to thank you for agreeing to be here this morning. We don’t have a traditional town council anymore, but everyone here has contributed to Henry Adams’s success and growth, so I’d like for us to act as a replacement and meet once a month.”

  “And the purpose?” Marie asked.

  “Discuss items and issues that impact the town.” And she gave examples. “Maybe Barrett wants to talk about new security systems, or you and Jack need updated school equipment, or Reg comes up with ways to ensure all the kids in our area of the county are vaccinated. I’ve been talking to each of you individually about the things you’re handling, so I thought if we met once a month it would help eliminate some of the items on our calendars, and everyone would know what everyone else is doing. Does that make sense?”

  Marie replied, “It does.”

  Jack added, “Sounds way more efficient.”

  Reverend Paula said, “I agree, because I may not know what’s going on with Luis or Colonel Payne, for instance, if it isn’t discussed at the regular town meeting.”

  Tamar said, “I think this is a great idea, Bernadine.”

  She was glad they were on board. She glanced at Mal. He met her gaze emotionlessly. She refocused. “So, first off. We have the election coming up. Anyone have thoughts on that—other than wanting Trent to stay in the job?”

  He grinned. “No. I’m done. Someone else’s turn.”

  “Do we have an Election Commission?” Barrett asked.

  Bernadine had no idea. Lily shrugged and looked to Trent, who shook his head no.

  Reverend Paula asked, “Is one needed?”

  Barrett said, “I think so, yes. To have a commission setting parameters on what’s allowed and not during the campaigning speaks to transparency.”

  “This is just a small town, though, Barrett,” Trent said. “For mayoral elections, we don’t even use printed ballots. People write down their choice on a piece of paper and put it in the box at the Dog. Has always worked. Why make it complicated?”

  “Because this is no longer 1950, Trent.”

  Thin-lipped, he acquiesced with a tight nod.

  Bernadine thought the system outdated as well but held off on saying so for the moment.

  “Who’s allowed to vote for mayor?” Luis asked.

  “Anyone over eighteen with a Henry Adams mailing address,” Mal answered.

  “Which is how many?”

  Trent shrugged. “Maybe eighty, eighty-five households. I’d have to check for an exact number, but I’m guessing a bit under two hundred people. Most don’t bother voting for mayor. There’s more focus on the state and national elections.”

  “Are there defined duties for the mayor?” Barrett asked.

  Tamar replied, “Not anything written down that I’m aware of.” As town historian, she’d know better than anyone.

  “Don’t you think there should be? Vague duties may have worked in the past, but this is a growing community now. Mayoral powers need to be codified.”

  “Why?”

  “Suppose the mayor and Bernadine don’t agree on something. Who prevails?” Barrett asked.

  “I do,” Bernadine replied to him frankly. “The person writing the checks carries the most weight. I’m not saying I’m right in every instance, but I’m always open to compromise or to being proven wrong, Barrett. You know that.”

  “So, what you’re really saying is, the mayor has no power.”

  “No, I’m not. Trent advises, consults, and steers the ship in areas I know nothing about. We’d not be this successful were it not for his expertise. There’s plenty of power in the hands of the right individual. Are you going to run?”

  “Thinking about it.”

  “Then keep this in mind. Henry Adams needs a team who’ll work together to get things done. If you want to waste time fighting over who holds the reins, the town loses.” The colonel was a good man, but he was accustomed to being large and in charge, and that wasn’t going to be helpful at the end of the day. This was not the Marine Corps, and she and the citizens of Henry Adams weren’t recruits.

  Barrett asked, “Who else is running?”

  Lily replied, “Officially, only Riley Curry’s expressed any interest so far.”

  Bernadine said, “For what it’s worth, I think you’d make a great mayor, Barrett.”

  “As long as I don’t step on your toes.”

  And sometimes he could be a jerk. “Yes.”

  Lily said, “I think what Bernadine just said about the ways Trent helps is a good mayoral job description: advise, consult, and offer expertise to the town owner.”

  Jack James said, “I agree.”

  Bernadine did too and asked Barrett, “Would you be willing to head up an Election Commission and report back as soon as possible so we can present the parameters at the town meeting next week? But if you decide to run, you’ll have to step down.”

  “Of course.”

  She added, “And for the record, I agree that we need a better voting system than pieces of paper and a cardboard box.” She gave Trent a smile.

  Barrett responded, “Then the commission can come up with a plan. Anyone wanting to work with me on this is welcome.”

  Reg Garland spoke up for the first time, “I’ll help.”

  Tamar weighed in. “So will I.”

  Bernadine was pleased by their responses. With Tamar on board, any of Barrett’s over-the-top recommendations, such as all candidates had to be Marines, would be quashed.

  Reg asked, “Trent, are you sure you don’t want to run?”

  “Positive. Only reason I was mayor to begin with was because people were tired of Riley’s craziness and no one else wanted the job.”

  “I’m glad you stepped up, though,” Bernadine told him. “Without you, Henry Adams wouldn’t be the success it is today.”

  “I’m not so sure you’re right, but I appreciate you saying that, Bernadine.”

  She was right. Trent’s engineering skills and calm, easygoing manner had been of unquestionable value on the quest to bring Henry Adams into the twenty-first century. None of the accomplishments would have been possible without him at the helm. The prospect of possibly having to work with Riley kept her awake at night, but she held fast to the hope that the voters had more sense than to elect someone with none.

  With the election discussion settled to her satisfaction, Bernadine brought up the next item on her agenda. “Luis, are you and the family packed and ready to move in?”

  “Yes, the kids are so excited, I don’t think either of them slept last night. I didn’t, either.”

  The Acostas’ new home in the town’s subdivision was finally ready. Since moving to He
nry Adams, a bit over a year ago, they’d been living in one of the double-wides on Tamar’s land. Luis and his two children and his mother-in-law, Anna Ruiz, were moving in later in the day. “Do you have enough help?”

  “I’ve plenty. Between the Dads Inc. and some of my old fire crew members in Franklin, we should be done in no time.” He glanced around the table and said sincerely, “I’m so thankful to be in this community. No one can ever accuse Henry Adams of not taking care of its people.”

  “Amen,” Reggie replied.

  That care was one of the things Bernadine took most pride in. No one was allowed to drift through life unloved and alone. If you stumbled and fell, there was someone to help you get back on your feet. In a way, she’d bought the town for that reason. Initially, it had been to give five, at-risk children a safe haven in which to grow. In the years since, Henry Adams had wrapped its arms around the Acosta family; Gary Clark and his daughters; Gemma Dahl and her grandson, Wyatt; and more recently, Gemma’s two foster children, Lucas and Jasmine Herman. The residents had even extended a hand to Riley, ensuring he had a job and a decent place to stay, despite him being a one-of-a-kind pain in the behind. There was hope and caring on every corner, and no matter how large Henry Adams grew, Bernadine didn’t want that to change.

  As the small talk continued around the Acostas’ move, her eyes strayed to Mal. She knew he wanted to reclaim his place in her heart, and she’d told herself she’d forgiven him for the embezzling he’d done, but beneath it all bits of anger lingered, along with doubt. As a result, the reconciliation was not going well. Even though she missed his balancing presence in her life, and the good times they’d had as a couple, a voice inside kept asking: What if her wealth made him do something equally as dumb, or even dumber in the future? He swore he’d learned his lesson, but male pride was a hell of a drug as her daughter, Crystal, often described problematic things. Truthfully, Bernadine had loved Mal July. She just wasn’t sure a reboot of their relationship was possible.