Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Rowan
On my second full day in Dragonfly Lake, I emerged from my room a few minutes before I needed to leave for my meeting with Chloe Henry.
Yesterday I’d discovered the complementary muffins served in the inn’s common area were worth getting up for.
As I walked down the hall toward the lobby, the sweet aroma of baked goods hit my nose. A girl could easily get spoiled with fresh-baked breakfast every day.
“Don’t get too used to it,” I muttered under my breath.
My funds were severely limited. If I thought too hard about my financial situation, I could bring on a good panic attack.
I was getting a slight discount on my room at the inn by paying for a full week, but the truth was, I didn’t know how many weeks I could stay here.
I was on the brink of having to sleep in my car.
Once I’d quit my teaching job because my grandmother was no longer safe by herself, the two of us had ended up living on her social security income alone. There hadn’t been much left after paying the rent on her two-bedroom house.
All I had left to my name were my car, my few belongings, and the proceeds of selling everything she’d owned.
She’d sold her car a few years ago. The furniture and decor items hadn’t netted much, but between jewelry my grandfather had given her over the years and his treasured vintage motorcycle that had still sat, unused for years, in the garage, I had a few thousand dollars to live on until I could secure a paycheck.
It’d killed me a little to have to give up all but one piece of her jewelry, but I couldn’t let sentiment win over practicality.
Please let Chloe Henry be an answer to my immediate money problems.
“Good morning,” I said to Sadie, the girl behind the check-in desk who I’d met yesterday. I flashed her an attempt at a smile.
“Good morning, Rowan. Today’s muffin offerings are blueberry and chocolate chip.”
“Oh, hard choice,” I said.
“You can always get one of each.”
I laughed, feeling myself lighten up a little. “It’s good to have options.”
“Enjoy,” she said as I went into the adjoining room, which was like a giant, homey living room with a big stone fireplace, several large, comfortable sofas and armchairs, and a wall of windows with a view of the wintery but beautiful lake.
Next to the living room was a dining area with a scattering of tables. There was a kitchen attached to it, with a serving counter. That’s where the muffins were lined up, alongside a coffeemaker and hot tea setup.
I grabbed a chocolate chip muffin and a cup of coffee. I mixed in a packet of sweetener, then took my breakfast with me, back through the small lobby toward the door to the parking lot.
“Have a good morning,” Sadie said as I went by.
“Thanks. You too.”
If Chloe could offer me a job on the spot, I’d consider it a damn good morning.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, but the air was crisp. I hurried to my car and got the heater going while I stirred my coffee and took a bite of muffin. It was every bit as good as yesterday’s apple cinnamon.
I headed to the Rusty Anchor Brewing Company, which was about a mile or so down Honeysuckle Road. I’d passed it yesterday when I’d gone into town to buy a few grocery items at the Country Market.
The town, I had to admit, was adorable. Though it was small, there was nothing sleepy about it.
Most of the stores had been closed for New Year’s Day yesterday, but I’d parked my car on the square and walked a slow lap around it, taking everything in.
Lots of people had been out and about, coming and going from the bars and restaurants that were open, as well as the gym.
I’d seen multiple shops I’d love to explore, even though I couldn’t buy anything that wasn’t a necessity.
The brewery shared a parking lot with Henry’s Restaurant.
When I turned into it, there were only a few cars.
It wasn’t quite ten a.m., so I was guessing the restaurant wasn’t open yet, and Chloe had told me the brewery was closed the rest of the week for the holidays, giving its employees time off.
I was grateful she’d insisted on meeting me today in spite of that.
I entered the brewery and took it in with a sweeping look. The decor was a combination of homey wood and industrial metals, tastefully combined. Through a wall of windows on the far side were several giant gleaming metal vats where the beer was made.
In one corner stretched a long, L-shaped bar for tastings, and on the wall behind it was a sign with the Rusty Anchor logo that said, “Facilitating bad decisions since 2021,” making me smile and think this might be the kind of laid-back place I needed while I healed emotionally and got back up to speed.
There were high-top tables scattered around the perimeter of the room, leaving the center as a large, open space.
“Hello?” I called out when I heard footsteps echoing.
A woman who looked to be in her thirties appeared from a hallway on the other side of the room.
“Are you Rowan?” she asked.
“I am.” I walked to meet her halfway.
She had dark, glossy hair, a welcoming smile, and an air of confidence about her. She was dressed in charcoal tailored pants and a slate-blue long-sleeve polo with a Rusty Anchor logo on the chest.
“I’m Chloe. It’s nice to meet you,” she said warmly as we shook hands.
“You too. Thank you for meeting me on your day off.”
Chloe laughed. “I’m kind of bad about taking days off sometimes, but I love my job.”
“This place is impressive,” I said, meaning it.
“My husband and our brewmaster and co-owner had a dream. I came along for the ride.” She glowed with obvious pride. “Can I get you something to drink while we talk?”
“I’m good. I just had some coffee.”
“I thought we could sit upstairs. It’s a little more comfortable and warmer.”
“Sure.” I was interested in seeing the rest of the building and getting a better feel for everything.
I followed her back in the direction she’d come from.
“This is where we make the beer, obviously,” she said, gesturing toward the towering silver vats through the windows.
“Kemp Essex is our brewmaster and my husband Holden’s best friend.
His office is tucked inside the brewhouse.
” Once we turned a corner, she continued, “Holden’s the general manager, and his office is here. ”
We entered a stairwell and went up a floor.
“Up here we have the rest of the offices and another public room,” Chloe continued.
“Do you function as a bar too?” I asked as we entered that public room, which had more tables and a railing that overlooked the two-story brewing room below.
“Not exactly. In the summer, we open the beer patio nightly, and we serve beer there. We have an agreement with Henry’s Restaurant, which my husband also owns with his brothers, to offer a limited menu along with our beer, and the servers are technically employed by the restaurant.
But as for an indoor, year-round bar, we don’t do that.
Not yet, anyway, and I don’t think that’s in the plans.
We’re just delving into special events.”
“Like wedding receptions and parties?” I asked as we sat on stools at one of the tables, thinking this space would be ideal for both.
“Exactly. We’ve held events for our own business, and they worked out well. But we’re still relatively new, so expanding is gradual.”
“This place would make a gorgeous site for just about anything.”
“I’m personally excited about the potential. I love new challenges.” Chloe straightened and seemed to click into business mode. “So Presley told me a little about you and your situation. I’m so sorry about your grandmother’s passing.”
“Thank you. I miss her like crazy, but with Alzheimer’s, there’s this whole aspect of relief that she isn’t suffering anymore. No one should have to go through such a horrible disease.” I swallowed hard at the emotions that welled up, then attempted a bittersweet smile.
“I can’t imagine what either of you went through. Presley said you’re planning to search for teaching jobs for the fall eventually, but you’re in need of income right away?”
I nodded. “I’ll be frank with you. I never planned to quit teaching, but my grandmother couldn’t afford a caretaker and wasn’t safe alone.
I had to choose between making money and taking care of her full-time.
Through some of my education connections, I tried writing science curriculum at home, but that work wasn’t steady, and it became too much for me to handle deadlines as my grandmother required more of my time.
” I shook my head and shut out the emotions, wanting to paint the rest of the picture briefly so we could move on.
“I’d make the same decision again if I had to do it over,” I continued, “but it’s put me in a dire financial situation. We were living on her social security, and of course that ended when she died. I considered substitute teaching, but I really need something a little more predictable.”
“Substituting would be a challenge,” Chloe said. “Even if you could get a position each day, I shudder to think of facing a classroom of kids. Of course, I’m not cut out to be any kind of teacher.” She smiled. “Teachers are special souls, for sure. I have the utmost respect for them. For you.”
“Thanks,” I said. “It’s definitely not for everybody, but I did it for three years and loved the kids.
I do want to eventually get back to it, but I need some time before I walk back into a classroom full of teenagers.
I’m flexible and a fast learner. I’m reliable and get along with all kinds of personalities.
If you have any positions available, I’m all ears. ”
“I’m looking for an assistant for Holden and me,” she said, watching me closely.
“We’ve grown to the point where our small staff is stretched to the limit.
We need a detail person. Particularly as we begin marketing our venue for events.
As much as I’d love to have my hand in everything, there are only so many hours in a day, and we have a one-year-old at home. ”
Since I hadn’t known much about Chloe’s business before, I’d figured I would be involved in serving or bartending or something similar. This sounded even better.
“I’m intrigued,” I said.
She told me more about what she envisioned me doing on a daily basis. It would be a wide-range, kind of do-whatever’s-needed position, as it was new, and she was still figuring it out. She was apologetic for the lack of structure.
I was fine with it and relieved as hell she might be willing to hire me in spite of my plans to return to teaching. I could put up with a lot to have a full-time paycheck right away.
“What questions do you have for me?” she asked.
I laughed. “What can I do to convince you to hire me? I love the atmosphere here, and you seem like you’d be wonderful to work with.”
“I like to think I’m nicer than a classroom full of teenagers,” she said.
“Most days. We’re a baby company, but Holden and Kemp really know what they’re doing.
Thanks to our ties to the restaurant, which already had a sterling reputation, we’ve been getting regional attention almost from the start, so we’re growing fast. One of the challenges of growth is the pace of hiring additional employees.
We’ve needed an assistant for months but dragged our feet. Then Presley called.”
“Presley’s amazing,” I said of the girl who’d lived next door to me for half of my childhood. We’d reconnected at my grandmother’s funeral and met for lunch a few days later. If Chloe hired me, I didn’t know how I’d ever pay Presley back for the connection.
“She’s the best. Like the sister I never had,” Chloe said. “She vouched for you completely, but even if she hadn’t, I like you and suspect we’ll work very well together. That’s a lot more important to me in this position than your specific skill set.”
I asked her about work hours, and then before I could inquire about money, she spelled out the salary and benefits, which mostly kicked in after six months.
I wasn’t too concerned about paid vacation, but the health insurance would be welcome.
I’d had to drop mine months ago because I couldn’t afford the premiums.
“Everything sounds great,” I said. “I’d love the opportunity.”
“Can you start on Monday?”
“Absolutely.” I sat up straighter, hope pumping through me.
“Then I’ll see you then. Eight a.m.”
“I’m hired?”
Chloe held out her hand for me to shake. “Welcome aboard, Rowan.”