Matched in Miracle-Episode 1

Chapter 1 

Macy 

Macy Cooper stood in her lavish executive office that overlooked the park below, sharing at the termination letter in her trembling hands. Her heart sank as she absorbed the words, spelling out the end of her career in Houston.  

She had dedicated her entire career to the prestigious Sterling Financial Solutions. The more she dug into company finances, the more discrepancies she found. And now this. Macy should have seen it coming when her boss brushed her concerns aside. What she’d expected was a swift and thorough investigation into who was laundering money.  This wasn’t her fault, except the paper in her fist said otherwise. 

She could hardly get past the first paragraph.  

We regret to inform you that you employment with Sterling Financial Solutions is terminated effective immediately. After a thorough investigation into financial discrepancies within the company, it has been determined that you are responsible for the irregularities.  

Though investigation? Macy was the one doing the investigating. How could he put the blame on her? 

Glancing over the rest of the letter, Macy couldn’t believe what Mr. Guldbrandsen was saying. Serious breaches of trust, misappropriation of fund, and fraudulent activities. The topper: evidence and testimonies collected have substantiated these findings. 

Was he seriously going to land the blame in her lap? How could she possibly go up against their team of lawyers? They’d have her behind bars before she could even prove her innocence.  

Macy pulled her contract from her files and pursued them. At least she’d have her final paycheck, her accrued vacation and hopefully some severance entitlements.  

After crumpling the paper, she tossed it into the trash can and slumped into her desk chair. How had five years led to this? They’d never write her letter of recommendation, especially after what he said in the final paragraph. What exactly had he intimated? 

She pulled the paper from the trash can.  

We wish you the best in your future endeavors outside the world of finances and hope that you will use this experience to reflect upon and rectify your actions. 

Yeah, she bet he wished her best.  

Never in a million years did Macy imagine herself leaving Las Angeles to return to her hometown. She’d sworn when she left never to return. Being blackballed in the financial world had landed her with no other options but to turn tail and run home. Home. Not that anyone here would ever remember her. Good! She’d make a fresh start. After the severance package and the sell of her house, she’d managed to scrape together enough money to purchase Miracle Inn.  

And like the never in a million years of leaving LA, that became her never in a million of owning this dilapidated, out-of-style hotel in the middle of Nowheresville. If it hadn’t been for such rotten timing and horrible bad luck, Macy would have been living the perfect life. 

Standing on the sidewalk and staring up at the sign hanging over the entrance, it practically begged to be replaced along with the peeling paint. The whole inside probably needed as much attention as well. She couldn’t even remember if she’d ever seen the hotel’s lobby when she lived her with her aunt. First, she’d replace the exterior to accommodate a drive through entrance for travels so they wouldn’t have to unload in the rain…and this close to the coast, boy did it rain. 

Her realtor held out the keys. “I think this calls for a photograph, don’t you?” 

Macy nodded her head, turned to face the man standing close to the street, and pretended to smile. Though the corners of her mouth went up, her stomach sunk into her shoes. What was she thinking? No wonder, she’d picked it up cheap. It would take the rest of her money plus a bank loan to refurbish the old place. 

Clenching her jaw, Macy would prove to herself and Sterling Financial Services, and herself, she could redeem her shattered ego and make this not only most profitable hotel in Texas, but the prettiest.  

“How’s that?” Mr. Seymore’s assistant came running up the sidewalk. He turned his phone to show her the image. “I can take another one if you don’t like this one.”  

Yeah, her wild hair looked like she’d stuck her finger in a light socket. And the sun shining on it made it look even more reddish orange than normal. It would have to do, not like it was going on any online website.  

Macy took the keys from Mr. Guldbrandsen. The pictures of the inside didn’t look so bad. A little paint, replace some of the wallpaper to give it a new, but antique feel. It would be easy, right? 

When she put the key in the lock, the weathered wooden door creaked open. What? No one had bother to lock it. How many squatters had made this their home? Well, she’d just have to make sure to kick them out and purchase a new lock. 

Mr. Seymore entered behind her. “You’ll have this place up and running in no time.” He’d assured her last week that the hotel had only been closed for a month prior to its sale, which was a good thing since this was the off-season time of year, and with the air conditioning off, the air hung thick with the summer humidity. 

Macy flipped a switch, but the lights didn’t come on. She’d have to go to city hall and make sure to get that done first. 

The grand staircase swept into the lobby with the sunshine from the paneled window casting light across the carpeting which was tattered in places. 

Her realtor motioned to a hallway leading to another door with a single beveled window in it. “Through that door is the SweetHart’s Café.” 

“You mean I’ll have to run that as well?” Macy hardly knew anything about the hotel business, let alone a restaurant. 

He twisted the knob. “Oh, no. That’s owned and operated by Olivia Hartman.”  

Hartman. She vaguely remembered the Bar Z ranch. Old man Zeke had the best rodeo in town…the only rodeo in town. Macy breathed a sigh of relief. Nowhere in her college program had she ever learned anything about running a restaurant. 1045 

The quaint diner, reminiscent of the 1950s, held a unique charm. From the black and white checkered floors to the red and white décor, this place could easily draw the local clientele as well as other folks around the coastal Texas towns. Hopefully the cooking was as wonderful as the atmosphere here.  

Mr. Seymore led her to the hostess station. The plumb brunette smiled at her realtor. “Hey, there, Jack.” She took two menus from below the cash register. “Booth or table?” 

He waved a hand in rejection. “We’re not staying.” 

“Ah, that’s too bad. Hector’s specialty today is Eggs Benedict. I know how much you love it.” 

Jack grinned and smacked his lips. “Yeah, normally. But the Missus made a huge breakfast for me.” He motioned to Macy. “This is Macy, the new owner of Miracle Inn.” 

“Well, howdy! My name’s Celia.” A huge welcome spread across the hostess’s face. “We’re just mighty glad to get that hotel up and running.” 

Didn’t Jack say that the restaurant had only been closed for a month? Macy shot a questioning glance at Jack. The man ignored her. “Is Olivia in? I’m sure she’d love to meet the new owner.” 

“Not this morning.” The hostess set the menus back under the counter. “She should be in around eleven.”  

“We’ll have to come back later.” Jack leaned against the counter. “You’re going to love Olivia.”  

The front door chimed and in walked the most handsome cowboy who would never let her forget her obsession with hard chiseled muscles, strong jaws, and sun leathered faces…so different from the skinny office boys. Her heart skipped a beat when his pale brown eyes met hers. She’d have come all the way back to Miracle just to get a good gander at him.