The meeting was in an uproar before the first hour was done. The theater began as the hot topic with Ivan and Missy pushing it heavily.

A man named Burl Winston did a presentation on exactly what it'd look like and what it'd do. Missy tried to rally the merchants into liking his plan. It didn't take much work with some of them, like Matilda, Axelrod and Amos.

Of course others like Mr. Lee didn't like it much. They were after his store and he didn't want to sell it. But Amelia had found a way to get a lawyer to help him hold onto it.

"You can't force him or the others to sell," she said, "You're not a mine or a railroad company. You're a private investor."

Ivan didn't look impressed.

"I have my lawyers into it. There might be a loophole in the law."

Amelia didn't think so but she didn't know for sure. She'd have to ask the lawyer.

"We'll see to that."

Others grumbled at her for opposing the plan but she'd been used to that. Matilda sniffed, obviously not happy.

"I can't believe our chance at bringing some culture in this town," she said, "But I'm not surprised."

Amelia narrowed her eyes.

"Not surprised at what?"

Matilda wrinkled her nose.

"That you of all people would try to thwart the efforts of those trying to put Paradise back on the map."

Amelia sighed.

"That's not what I'm trying to do."

Matilda shook her head.

"I mean look at you…you're expectant and you're not married after divorcing a perfectly fine man."

Amelia wanted to roll her eye beyond tired at Matilda's overly romanticized view of her ex-husband who'd left her high and dry after all.

"He's not a fine honorable man. He's a con artist who ran real estate scams among other things."

Matilda sniffed.

"He didn't leave you…with child and scandalizing the entire town."

Amelia just stared at the woman. She knew she was a bit of a busy body and had idealized Pierce and what she shared with him but how could she be so blind?

"It's my business not the towns. It has nothing to do with what's happening in our town or how it's affecting people…like Mr. Lee."

Matilda waved her hand.

"Oh that…he'll just have to do something else…it's not as if he's not being…compensated for his land. A man like him should be thankful…"

Amelia sighed.

"Thankful that he's being undersold on his property…that he's giving up a business he's worked on years of his life. He's got two sons to support now."

Matilda shrugged.

"There are other towns…better suited for him and his sons."

Amelia heard the tone in her voice and knew it'd been used often enough by different people when Mr. Lee first settled here after he'd been unable to work in the mines anymore due to an injury. No one would loan him money for his new business until she talked Pierce into doing it with their bank. She considered it more than giving Mr. Lee a chance, it was a good business decision. The mining town needed a new hardware store.

Mr. Lee had been there when she needed it after Pierce had left her high and dry. He'd been one of the people to check on her to help her feel a little less alone. People like Matilda had tried to make it her fault for driving her husband away.

"He's doing just fine here," she said, "Maybe Paradise just isn't ready for this kind of progress that's going to hit some businessmen unfairly."

Matilda shook her head.

"Maybe you'd better focus on your own problems like having a baby out of wedlock. When you start showing will you still be flouting it about in public?"

Oh Amelia wanted to punch her, use the boxing skills her father had taught her but she just held her ire in check.

Ethan walked up to her and put an arm around her waist.

"Hi Matilda…how are you this evening?"

Matilda looked a bit taken aback.

"Hello Mr. Cord…I was talking to Amelia here about the progress in this town…"

Ethan just looked at her.

"We might have a different idea about progress."

Matilda just flashed them both a look of disapproval and walked away. Both of them nearly started laughing. But he stroked her face thoughtfully instead.

"Amelia, what did she say to you?"

She looked nonchalant.

"About what…about taking Mr. Lee's store? She didn't think it'd be a problem to ruin his life."

Ethan wasn't surprised about that.

"I know how she feels about that but what did she say to you?"

"Same old thing Ethan and I can handle it…and no it doesn't change anything."

He felt frustrated. He understood why she didn't want to run off and get married. Pierce had burned her badly but he wasn't her ex-husband. He loved her and he loved the baby they'd have together…just like the rest of his family.

"They won't give you any peace if we don't get married."

She sighed.

"I know…but I can't…It's not you…it's just that being married the first time…I can't go back there again…I won't…"

She started walking away from him out of the building. He followed her.

"I'm not him…I'd never do what he did to you…"

She stopped and softened.

"I know Ethan but it was so hard even before he left and our marriage was really over. I don't know if…I'm meant to be married. A woman's got no rights when she's a wife, not over property…"

"Amelia I don't work that way," he said, "I'm not going to take anything from you."

"I know…but well there are other things…"

"Like?"

She shook her head.

"Some things I need to work through myself Ethan…and I need some time…"

Ethan saw the look in her eyes and knew she was determined to get her way on this…there was a reason and he didn't fully understand it. But he respected her.

"Okay…but I'm going to take care of you…whether you like it or not Amelia," he said, "Married or not."

She knew he'd get his way on that. As determined as he was to be with her. She knew that deep down inside she knew he wasn't like her husband…but her heart needed some convincing.

Pierce had hurt her more badly than she let on to him or anyone. Yeah she needed some time to work through her past to move on in the present.