Chapter 18
18
Tracey sat in the back corner of Books and Vibes. Her coffee was cold and the scone she’d ordered half-eaten. She’d spent most of the time writing out her wildest dreams for The Fresh Place Inn. The process had been fun, even exhilarating while she’d daydreamed and let her imagination take control and explore the possibilities. Now as she sat there staring down at her ideas, the euphoria from dreaming was slowly being replaced with the dread of self-doubt. Along with a healthy dose of fear.
Her dreams were too big. How could she accomplish all this when she’d barely been able to get her staff levels back where they need to be? Where would she find the money to invest in the things she wanted to do? Sure, Peachtree Cove was named Best Small Town, but once that faded who would come here just to stay at her inn? Was it even worth it to try and make the inn better than it was?
Sighing, she sat back and absently reached for her mug of coffee. She took a sip and frowned when the tepid liquid hit her tongue.
“Need a refill?”
She looked up to find Mikayla standing next to her. Two paper cups in her hands. She held one out to Tracey.
“I do, actually. But you didn’t have to get me one.” Tracey took the offered cup.
“When I plan to impose myself on someone, I feel it’s usually better to do it bearing gifts.” She sat down opposite of Tracey.
Tracey chuckled and took a sip. “Mmm, this is good. What is it?”
“A cinnamon nutmeg latte. They made it special for me.”
“That’s cool. I like it. Thanks again, and if you’re bringing coffee, you’re not an imposition.”
“Good to know.” Mikayla looked at the papers on the table. “What are you working on?”
“Your homework, actually.”
Mikayla’s face lit up. “I hoped that’s what you were doing.”
“Really? Why?”
“I like seeing people I’m working with doing what I tell them to. I’ve taught people who think the homework is just a waste of time. They think coming and listening to me is all they’ll need to make their business successful.”
Tracey had thought that was all the class would be. A series of lectures that would tell her what to do to grow business at the inn. Mikayla had pushed them all to continue to think about what they wanted then make a road map to get there. The homework might give her a headache, but it had challenged her to think about things she hadn’t considered before.
“That’s their waste of time and money. Why pay for a class if you’re not going to at least try and do what you’re told?”
“It’s easy to say you want something in life. Actually doing what it takes to get what you want takes effort. Not everyone is ready to put in the effort.”
Tracey frowned down at her papers. “I can understand why. It’s scary to dream big.”
“That’s the other reason I decided to sit down here with you. I saw the frown on your face, and I want to help you out.”
“Help me how?” Unless Mikayla had a shot of confidence in her bag that could make Tracey’s doubt about her dreams disappear.
“By talking things out. If you’re struggling with something or have hit a roadblock, talking about what you’re working on can help.”
“You’re willing to spend time helping me think this through? Right now?”
Mikayla laughed lightly and nodded. “Yeah. Why is that so hard to believe?”
Tracey shrugged. “I don’t know. Because I saw your prices for one-on-one coaching, and while you’re worth it I can’t afford you.” She couldn’t imagine Mikayla helping her for free.
The smile on Mikayla’s face changed into one of understanding. “Well, consider this a study session with the teacher. You’ve already paid for the class, and this is just a bonus. Plus, I like you, Tracey. Always have. I’m proud of what you’ve done, and I want to help. Simple as that.”
Tracey was momentarily lost for words. In high school she and Mikayla had both worked at the Taco Bell for a short time. Tracey had quit after the assistant manager who always picked on her by giving her the worst tasks had tried to embarrass her by making her clean underneath the equipment with a rag instead of using the mop. Tracey had thrown the rag in her face and walked out. Mikayla had been there that night. They’d gotten along pretty well when they worked together, but that was the extent of their connection.
“You do?”
Mikayla nodded and laughed. “I do. Ever since you told Heather off and quit. She was such a bitch and loved to pick on you. Before that, really. You never let anyone get over on you, and I admire that about you. So tell me what’s got you frowning.”
Mikayla’s comment dazed Tracey for a moment. She wasn’t used to people admiring her, much less someone as put-together as Mikayla. Thankfully, Mikayla’s invitation gave Tracey something to focus on instead of sputtering and questioning if she was sure she had the right Tracey. She’d take the compliment and savor it later.
“I’ve got some ideas for the inn,” she said, “but they seem too big.”
“Too big how?”
“Well, for one thing this is Peachtree Cove. We don’t really have a lot to draw people here. If I invest heavily, it’s not like it’ll bring more guests to the inn.”
“I’d disagree. The Best Small Town designation has gotten the interest of a lot of people. The mayor is not only working on efforts to promote what’s happening in Peachtree Cove but also to play up some of the recreational resources you have. The lake can be a huge draw, the walking trails around town. There is an active fishing and boating community here. That’s a part of economic development that isn’t just business-related. People may not always want to stay at a hotel. Your inn could fill the gap.”
She hadn’t considered that. She hadn’t joined the Business Guild yet, and her guest membership for being friends with Cyril was about to run out, but she remembered a talk about working with the recreational community to help promote the town. She hadn’t made the connection between her inn, with its perfect setup for weddings and birthday parties, as a place for boaters and outdoor enthusiasts to stay.
“Okay, that’s something to consider. But regardless of the reason people come to town, they might not automatically consider my inn as a place to stay.”
“Then, you make the inn a place to stay. Tell me your ideas.”
Tracey looked down at her papers. She did want to make The Fresh Place Inn the place to stay, but she’d been too afraid to say it out loud. Now that Mikayla had said it as if the dream weren’t impossible, Tracey began to think about how to make her big idea come true.
“Well, I’ve got the land next to the inn. Not just the house.”
Mikayla held up a hand. “Hold up, you also have the land?”
Tracey nodded. “Yeah, Old Man Sullivan sold me the house and the land.” More like gave it to her, but she didn’t make that much known. People already assumed the man had helped her because she was giving him sexual favors. Which was not the case.
“What do you want to do over there?”
“I thought about putting little cottages on the land between some of the peach trees that are still there. So that you had the main inn and carriage house but also more rooms.”
Mikayla sat forward. “That’s a great idea! You can market them as private little getaway spots.”
That was the exact thought she’d had. Still she asked, “You don’t think that’s too much?”
“No. What else were you thinking?”
Tracey spent the next few minutes going over her ideas for the cottages. How to make each one provide a slightly different experience than the others. Mikayla loved the idea.
“You can also go beyond just being a place to stay. You can look at events, too.”
“Events? Like bigger weddings?”
Mikayla shook her head. “Wine tastings, pumpkin patches, hay rides, that kind of stuff.”
Tracey considered the options. She had enough land to do that. “Hmm, I never thought about that.”
“That’s how you make the inn a draw. It’s not just a place for weddings and to sleep but another destination. People come to an event and have so much fun they go home talking about the event to everyone they know. So not only are they coming for, say, a wine tasting, but they fight to stay at the inn because they need somewhere to lay their heads after all the drinking.”
Tracey snapped her fingers. “I could invite local food trucks or vendors if I have a tasting or something like that.”
Mikayla’s eyes lit up, and she tapped her hand on the table excitedly. “Ooh, I like that idea. You can start that now before you have the additional cabins.”
The idea of putting something together was already forming in her brain. “I could start small. Maybe a food truck event and showcase of our local breweries and wineries.”
“Bring up the idea at the Business Guild meeting, and I’ll bet they’ll help you pull it together.”
“I’m not officially a member.”
Mikayla gave her a pointed look. “Then, you better join ASAP. This is something the Guild would eat up.”
“You really think so?”
“Tracey, don’t doubt yourself. This is a great idea. It’ll take some time and planning, but I can help with that.”
“But we’ve only got three weeks left in the class.” There was no way she’d flesh out all these ideas in three weeks.
Mikayla shrugged. “Yeah, in class but also after. I just finished working with one of my mentees. So if you’re interested, I’d like to mentor you on this.”
Tracey wanted to jump at the offer, but the price list on Mikayla’s website flashed in her head. If she were thrifty, she might be able to afford one-on-one coaching with Mikayla.
Mikayla leaned forward and smiled. “I see your brain working. Don’t worry about the fee. This is for a friend.”
Tracey shook her head and held up a hand. “No. I believe in paying people what they’re worth. I can’t ask you to do this for free.”
Mikayla studied her for a second before nodding. “Okay, then how about a discounted rate? And before you say no to that, I realize that entrepreneurs in Peachtree Cove can’t pay what my clients in larger cities offer. I do have a scale based on business size and yearly profits. We can use that sliding scale.”
Tracey considered then held out her hand. “Then, consider me your newest mentee.”
Mikayla shook Tracey’s hand. “Great! This is going to be so much fun.”
Tracey smiled. The light of euphoria from working directly with Mikayla chased away the darkness of fear and doubt that had hovered over her previously. For the first time in a long time, she was excited about her future.