Chapter 15
“This looks wonderful.” Helen smiled as they sat down to dinner. “Thank you so much for the invite.”
“I’m glad you could get a night off from the bed and breakfast. I’m sure you’ve been tied to it since you got here.” Hannah passed the salad.
“Yes. I hadn’t realized that I haven’t had a day off yet. But, to be honest, it doesn’t really feel like a chore to work there. It feels more like I’m making a home.” Helen put some salad in her dish and passed the bowl to Carolina.
“I love the novelty of working at a bed and breakfast. But for me I think it would wear off. Besides, after my divorce I didn’t really want to be around a lot of people, so having people in my house all the time wouldn’t be a good fit for me.
” Carolina put some salad in her bowl before setting it back on the table. “I also think it would be hard work.”
Helen added a piece of salmon and asparagus to her plate and then passed the food to Carolina.
“I don’t find it hard work. I like to keep busy.
I find that there is always something to do.
Besides the obvious cleaning and making breakfast, I handle reservations, offer tea and baked goods in the afternoon, track expenses on what I buy, and maintain the outside living areas, like the porch.
Now that the front of the house and porch are decorated for Christmas—thanks to Carolina—all I have to do is decorate the Christmas trees. ”
Hannah smiled. “It sounds like you are the perfect fit for the bed and breakfast. I never realized how much there was to do to make it run smoothly.”
Carolina nodded. “When I came over with the Christmas delivery, she was already up and ready to go. I was going to decorate myself, but Helen has got quite the eye, and the porch ended up looking lovely.”
Helen felt her cheeks go red. She wasn’t used to compliments. “Thank you. I guess I just like to decorate.”
Carolina took a bite of her food. “How are you liking Hopeton? I think Rebecca said you were from Arkansas. That’s a long way from home.”
Helen could feel all eyes on her. She decided to rip the band-aid off and tell Hannah the truth, some of which Carolina already knew.
She set her fork down. “Yes. I moved here after my divorce.”
Hannah’s eyes filled with empathy. “I’m so sorry. How long were you married?”
Helen took a sip of her wine. “Almost twenty years. But he had gotten us into so much debt between the gambling and the adult websites that I decided I couldn’t forgive him. So, I filed for divorce. And now I’m stuck with paying back a portion of his debt.”
Carolina looked horrified. “That’s not fair.” She glared. “How can a judge order you to do that?”
Hannah shook her head. “Marital assets—or lack thereof—probably. I always think divorce is harder on the woman. You’re right, Carolina, it’s definitely not fair.”
Helen smiled. “I’ve got a plan, though, and have been putting aside a little to pay it off. But, hey, it’s better than staying with someone who lied to you all your marriage.”
Carolina huffed. “Amen to that.”
Hannah gave Helen an encouraging smile. “He’s going to regret losing you, if he doesn’t already.”
Helen chuckled. “At first, he didn’t seem to. He even started dating someone else before the ink was dried on the divorce papers. But the last few days I’ve gotten texts.”
Carolina gaped with astonishment. “Did you respond?”
Helen cringed and shook her head. “Absolutely not. I have nothing to say to him. I’m trying to make a new life for myself, and he’s not included.”
Hannah nodded. “That’s very wise of you, Helen.
But you don’t have to pretend to be so strong all the time.
It takes some time getting used to being by yourself after being married for so long.
I had the hardest time after James passed.
I had to get used to waking up alone and doing things alone.
It was a blessing when Carolina moved into the neighborhood. ”
Carolina brightened. “Well, I think we both helped each other in ways we didn’t know at the time. I also think it helped having Phoenix around.”
Helen frowned. ‘Who is Phoenix?”
Carolina took a sip of her wine and set it down. “He was a stray dog that kept hanging out at my house. I finally just adopted him.” She frowned. “Or maybe he adopted me. Anyway, he’s a great guard dog and companion.”
Helen cocked her head. “A pet is a great idea. But I am always so busy, and I don’t know if having a pet at a bed and breakfast is a good idea. So many people have allergies these days. But it’s something to think about for the future.”
Hannah leaned forward. “I heard you cooked a fantastic Thanksgiving meal for your guests. Will the bed and breakfast have dinners from here on out?”
Helen shook her head. “Not yet. After talking it over with Rebecca and Kacey I just did a trial run. I’ll be doing a Christmas dinner as well since Thanksgiving went over so well.”
Hannah studied her. “I’m surprised you had guests on Thanksgiving. I would think people would spend time with their families instead of going to a bed and breakfast.”
Helen nodded. “Well, they may not have been the typical guests. One was an older gentleman who lost his wife. He wanted to visit the bed and breakfast because his late wife loved visiting North Carolina in the fall. He had some wonderful stories to tell.” Helen felt her face breaking into a smile.
“And then there was a younger gentleman in his thirties. He was recently divorced. His wife and best friend were having an affair which led to him filing for divorce.”
Carolina shook her head. “Was he upset spending the holidays alone?”
Helen snorted. “Absolutely not. He said a weight had been lifted. He was heading on to visit friends the day after.”
Hannah nodded. “Sounds like your guests were lovely.”
Helen arched her brow. “They were, except for guest number three. He was kind of rude. Didn’t want to interact with the others. Kept to himself. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me either. Made me uncomfortable.”
Carolina huffed. “Glad he only stayed one night. Did he say where he was going?”
Helen shook her head. “Nope. He didn’t volunteer any information, and, when asked by the others, he didn’t answer. We were all happy when he went to bed early.”
Hannah furrowed her brow. “Do you ever get scared? You know, being by yourself?”
Helen stopped her fork halfway to her mouth. “I’m never really thought about being scared. Besides, I’m usually so busy, and all the guests are always in and out, I guess I don’t exactly feel like I’m alone.”
Carolina smiled. ‘You can always borrow Phoenix if you need to.”
Helen grinned. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hannah clasped her hands together. “Okay, who is ready for dessert? I made a cheesecake, and Helen brought her wonderful cookies.”
Carolina’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’ll have both.”
Helen grinned. “Me too.”