Chapter 6
Amelia
With sleep still clinging to my eyes, I stumbled out of bed and headed for the window. The morning sun shined on the garden next door, highlighting the empty trap that sat mocking me. My heart sank. Hopper had outsmarted me. How? Frustration coursed through me.
I scanned last night’s camera footage. Around midnight, Hopper had made an appearance. The rabbit had climbed into the cage, stolen the carrots, and hopped back out multiple times. It was like he was taunting me.
“You’re a crafty devil, aren’t you?” I mumbled to no one. Pulling my coat over my pajamas, I stomped out to the cage. Everything looked exactly as Zach had instructed for the correct setup. Picking up a loose branch, I smacked the lever that was supposed to shut the trap. It worked. The door came down with a sharp squeak. It wasn’t faulty mechanics or user error. That rabbit was just smart.
“I don’t give up easy, rabbit.” He might’ve bested me last night, but persistence was my middle name. Well actually, it was Rene, but that was beside the point. I needed to get a life. I was arguing with a rabbit, and the worst part was he didn’t even know I was arguing with him.
The area was pretty quiet. Teddy didn’t appear to be around. Good. Seeing his arrogant face mocking my failure was the last thing I needed today. It was my first day working at the Inn, and anxiety gnawed at me. Business and family didn’t always mix. As much as I loved Sydney and Blake, working together might be too much.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I even fit in the business. Julia was fully capable of running the Inn herself. They didn’t exactly need me. Was this just a pity job? I laughed out loud at the thought. No, Blake didn’t do pity. Just in case, I planned to apply for some freelancing marketing jobs when I got home later. It wasn’t steady work or even guaranteed work, but it was at least a start.
I headed over to the Maple Tree Inn around eight in the morning. I was a little too late to see Leah off to school, but maybe I’d catch her this evening. She was still one of the best things about moving here.
The bell on the door jingled as I entered the foyer. Sydney swept the floor behind the counter. “Hey, let me do that.”
She looked up with a smile. “No, I’m fine. I’m pregnant not injured.” Despite the cool weather, little beads of sweat formed at her hairline.
“Well, if you won’t let me take over the sweeping, where would you like me to help?”
The phone rang. Sydney answered it in her best customer service voice. The switch from normal Sydney to business Sydney was almost comical. She booked a new reservation. Just as she ended the call another one rang—another reservation.
“Wow, two back-to-back reservations for this weekend?” I asked. I had no idea October was so busy in Starfall Creek. The Inn had expanded to ten rooms including a couple of stand-alone suites near the new barn reception area. At this rate, we’d be completely booked for the weekend.
“Yeah, you moved here at the perfect time.” She set the broom aside and rubbed her belly with a wince. “This weekend is the Maple Days Festival. People come from all over to enjoy it. Moonridge gets most of the traffic, but we get our fair share of overflow guests and traffic. It’s great for the whole county.”
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked.
Sydney’s green eyes were bright, but exhaustion lingered behind them.
I pulled out the stool that sat under the counter. “Sit, take a break.”
“Thanks,” she said, taking the seat. “I’m just feeling a little crampy.”
Crampy? She was only six months pregnant. That couldn’t be good.
“Don’t give me that look. It’s just gas.” She laughed it off. “Honestly, you and Blake have the same skeptical expression.”
She wasn’t the first person to say that. “Okay, but promise me you’ll take a break if you need it.”
She drank from her gallon-sized water bottle and nodded.
“Wow, that looks like a workout in itself,” I said. “Do you really need to drink all that today?”
She laughed. “Yeah. On the upside, lugging this thing around is building my guns so I can carry this kid around eventually. I have a feeling he’s going to be a big boy.”
My orientation was fielding calls, acting as a concierge for the guests, and busing tables in the dining area. Running an Inn was no joke. It was hard work, even with help. Julia helped Beth, the groundskeeper’s wife, in the kitchen and helped Miriam clean the rooms. I jotted down some ideas to improve efficiency. Blake had been gone all day. He still had his construction business to run and had a few jobs in the tricounty area. There were at least two opportunities for new employees, assuming Blake and Sydney could afford it.
Sydney was spreading herself too thin. This job wasn’t a pity job. They needed me. The only break Sydney took was after the lunch rush. She winced and rubbed the left side of her belly again, as she sat down.
“Sydney, you really should go rest,” I insisted, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You've been on your feet all day.”
She shook her head. “Leah has a basketball scrimmage game after school, and I promised her I'd go.”
“Hey, don't worry about it,” I volunteered with a reassuring smile. “I'll go in your place.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, wavering between concern and gratitude.
“Absolutely. Go rest. I've got this.”
Julia walked out of the kitchen. “And I’ll take over the front desk duties.”
Sydney gave us both a long look before conceding. “Ok, but please tell Leah I’m sorry. I hope she’ll forgive me.”
“That girl loves you,” I said firmly. “She picked you to be her mom, before Blake even figured it out.”
As I entered the gym, sneakers squeaking against the polished wooden floor filled my ears. Blake spotted me from the sidelines and waved, a playful grin spreading across his face. He was such a goofball since he got remarried. He wasn’t exactly the grumpy older brother he used to be.
“Sydney said you’re taking her place in the fan club tonight,” he teased, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
“Yup, I’m supporting our future WNBA player.” I nodded at Leah as she dribbled the ball expertly between her legs. She looked up and gave me a thumbs-up, her face flushed with excitement.
“Thanks for coming, Amelia,” Blake said with a serious tone. “It means a lot to all of us.”
“Of course, it's my pleasure.” My heart swelled with pride as we watched Leah weave through her opponents, sinking basket after basket. “She's really got talent, you know.”
Blake nodded. “Yeah, she does. And it's great to see her so happy out there.”
Leah's team dominated the scrimmage. Moments like these that made my decision to help at the Inn feel so right. The joy and love shared among family was something I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
As I watched Leah's team celebrate their hard-earned victory, a pang of longing twisted in my chest. The laughter and camaraderie on the court made me yearn for a family of my own, my heart aching with bittersweet emotions. At thirty-six years old, time was slipping through my fingers, and the desire to have a baby before I turned forty grew more urgent each day.
I’d never really thought of having a family of my own until lately. I had been so career-focused it had never even crossed my mind. But after losing my job unexpectedly, what did I really have? Nothing of consequence, that was certain.
Being the fun aunt was great and all, but when I dug deep enough, I wanted more. I wanted to be a mom and a wife. I just hopped I hadn’t already met the best man for me and ignored him because I’d been so busy climbing the career ladder.
My mind raced, calculating the dwindling timeline to meet my future husband and start a family. If I wanted to have baby before forty years old, that left me four years to get pregnant. No, three years—pregnancy was nine months. And I’d really like to be married at least a year, so that put me at thirty-eight years old. Which meant, I really needed to find a suitable man soon. What if I never met someone who could share the joy and warmth of these moments with me?
I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment, as Leah ran over to us, her face beaming with excitement.
“Did you see that last shot, Aunt Amy?” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride.
“It was amazing, kiddo! You were unstoppable out there,” I replied, ruffling her blonde hair affectionately. “You’re lucky I love you. You are the only one who I allow to call me Amy.”
She belly laughed basking in the post-game euphoria as Blake’s phone rang. His face paled, and I immediately sensed that something was wrong.
“I’ll meet you guys there. Everything is going to be okay. I love you,” he said. He put the phone back in his pocket.
“What happened?” I asked, my stomach squeezing uncomfortably. That had to be Sydney he was speaking with.
“Sydney thinks she’s in preterm labor,” he choked out, his voice wavering. “Julia's driving her to the hospital.”
“Go, Blake,” I urged, my heart pounding. “I'll take care of Leah. Just go.”
“Thank you, Amelia,” he whispered, giving me a tight hug before sprinting toward his car.
“Is Sydney okay?” Leah asked, fear creeping into her young hazel eyes.
“Sydney’s strong, and she's in good hands. We'll be there for her, okay?" I reassured her, squeezing her hand gently.
Taking a deep breath, I drove Leah home, trying to offer her some comfort amidst the uncertainty.
* * *
I sat on the living room floor, my laptop open before me, the soft glow of the screen casting shadows on the walls. It was late, and Leah was fast asleep in her room, her face a picture of peaceful innocence.
I had promised Sydney that I'd help improve the Inn's social media presence, and now was as good a time as any to start putting a plan into action. My fingers danced across the keyboard, typing up ideas and strategies while my heart still carried the weight of worry for Sydney and her unborn child.
“Maybe we could host a contest,” I murmured, thinking aloud. “A free weekend stay at the Inn for one lucky winner and their family. It could generate some buzz and attract new guests.”
As I delved deeper into brainstorming, I found comfort in the familiar rhythm of marketing work—it brought a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
“Or maybe we could collaborate with local businesses,” I continued, my fingers flying over the keys. “Cross-promotions, joint events, something to get the community talking about the Maple Tree Inn.”
My phone buzzed, and my heart leaped to my throat. It was a text from Blake.
“Still at the hospital. Doc says it’s just Braxton Hicks, but they’re keeping Sydney overnight for observation. She’s asleep now. Will keep you posted. Thanks for everything, Ames.”
I exhaled a shaky sigh of relief, my body sagging with the weight of the day's events.
“You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything. Leah was upset but went to bed easily,” I typed back, knowing it was a small offering in the face of the unknown. I looked at the time and gasped. 11:55 PM. I had been working for hours.
Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.