46. Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Three
B y the following spring, Nadine’s divorce was final and she’d received her settlement money. All the upstairs bedrooms had been completed: painted; hardwood floors refinished; and decorated, with Maureen’s help, in subdued tones and colors. A plumber was coming to make sure the bathrooms were all in proper working order, and the guy Nadine had originally hired to do the renovations was back, as she needed the entire kitchen overhauled and up to code for an inn. He was also going to renovate the third-floor attic and install larger windows. It was a huge space and although it couldn’t be used for guest accommodations, she’d use it for her own room, freeing up the entire second floor for guests. She hoped she was that busy.
Many nights she lay awake, wondering if she’d get any guests at all. Nightmares of an empty inn haunted her .
When she confessed this to her mother, Louise’s solution was simple: plan a grand opening and get the show on the road.
Following her mother’s advice, she firmed up the completion date with the renovator, gave him an extra two weeks, and made an appointment with an attorney to make sure she had all her ducks in a row with licensing and permits.
One morning over breakfast, she discussed her grand opening plans with her mother, Maureen, and Angie. They’d all gathered for brunch on a Sunday. There were scrambled eggs and bacon, and rye toast with Gibson’s grape jelly.
Nadine and Herman had been living at the house on Pearl Street since after Christmas. The holiday had gone well. Emma had chosen to spend Christmas in Lavender Bay with Nadine and the Cooks, and then flew out to see Richard in January.
“When’s the grand opening?” Angie asked, picking up a strip of bacon from her plate and biting into it.
Nadine gave her the date.
Maureen spoke up. “That’s perfect. Right in time for the Lavender Bay Parallel Parking Championship! You should notify the organizer and let them know you have rooms available if any of the out-of-towners need accommodation.”
Nadine’s head was swimming. “Wait. What? Parallel Parking Championship?”
Angie, Maureen, and their mother laughed.
Louise stood and brought the coffeepot over, pouring some in everyone’s cup. “I know it sounds strange, but this is the twelfth year. People come from as far away as Buffalo, Cleveland, and northwest Pennsylvania.”
Angie spoke up next. “It’s only a one-day event. You have to parallel park, and the winner gets a trophy.”
Maureen held up a finger. “But if you hit the curb, it’s an automatic disqualification.”
The questions came fast from Nadine, her brunch forgotten. “How did I not know about this? And people actually sign up to participate?” This was mind boggling, but she was willing to go with it.
“There were over one hundred entrants last year,” Louise said, scratching her arm. “Lots of people from Lavender Bay participate. It’s kind of fun.”
“Get out.” Nadine still wasn’t sure whether they were teasing her or not.
“We’re serious. Go online later and look it up.” Angie smirked. “That jerk across the street, Java Joe, won it two years ago and still has the sign in his window.”
Nadine had missed that on her visit to Java Joe’s and decided as soon as she could, she’d be looking into this event.
“There’s all sorts of festivals here,” Louise said .
“Other than the usual ones like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Fourth of July, et cetera,” Maureen added.
Angie held up her hand and lifted her fingers one by one, ticking off the list. “There’s the Parallel Parking Championship we’ve already mentioned, there’s Jacques Aubert Day”—Nadine had forgotten about the day celebrating the town’s founder—“there’s the Grape Festival in September, there’s the Lavender Bay Beach Sports Tournament the first week in August . . .”
“Don’t forget the Beach Barbecue Championship,” Maureen said.
Their mother chimed in. “And the hot air balloon festival, that’s always a lot of fun.”
“Wow, this town has a lot of championships,” Nadine noted.
“This town likes a winner,” Angie said sarcastically.
Nadine’s mind worked frantically over how she could maximize these opportunities for her own business.
“Back to the inn. I’d like to donate some loaves,” Angie said.
“Loaves?” Nadine was clueless.
Louise laughed, Maureen giggled, and Angie, always short on patience, rolled her eyes.
“Loaves,” Angie repeated with a sigh. “Banana loaf, blueberry loaf, orange cranberry loaf.”
“I’ll never eat all that,” Nadine said .
Angie shook her head and looked at her mother and Maureen seated across the table from her. “What are we going to do with her?”
Louise laughed and shrugged. “Accept her as she is?”
This resulted in a hearty laugh from Maureen.
“The loaves are for your welcome hampers for the rooms. Mom told me all the wonderful things you’re putting in them,” Angie explained.
“Oh,” Nadine said when it finally dawned on her. And then, “Of course. The guests will love that.”
Louise grinned. “If someone handed me baked goods, I’d like it.”
“That’s so thoughtful, Angie. I really appreciate it,” Nadine said.
“I’ll provide loaves the first week and if they’re a hit, I’ll give you the recipes and you can make them yourself.”
Surprising Angie, Nadine jumped out of her chair and wrapped her arms around her sister. “Thanks, sis.” She placed a kiss on the side of her sister’s face.
Angie brushed her off with a laugh. “Okay, calm down. Stay in your lane. Or at least get back in your chair.”