Chapter 14 #2
“Speaking of baking,” Elaine said, “help me decide what should go on the menu for the grand opening. We should have cookies, right? And maybe cupcakes and croissants?”
“Those all sound great to me,” Michelle said. “And I think we should order a cake too. You know, a fancy one with something written across it to commemorate the occasion.”
“Great idea,” Audrey said. “And we should have options for people with dietary restrictions. We don’t know who’s going to drop in during the grand opening, and we should be prepared.”
“Shep suggested that already, actually,” Elaine said. “He suggested gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options.”
“He suggested vegan?” Michelle gawked.
Elaine laughed. “I was surprised too. But see, he’s a thoughtful man. And as he put it, he can make anything. So I think we should order those options too.”
They chatted about the pastry menu for the grand opening for a few more minutes, and Elaine filled out the form that she’d gotten from Shep.
She found herself carefully writing in her best cursive, something she didn’t normally bother to do.
She was a little surprised to realize that she wanted to impress Shep with her beautiful handwriting.
You wouldn’t think I cared at all what that man thinks of me based on the way I behaved, she thought, amused. But he is an impressive, talented, ultimately generous person. I guess it’s only natural that I’d want his good opinion.
Once Elaine had finished filling out the form, she returned it to her purse so that she could deliver it to Townsend’s.
“We really do have an impressive business going here,” Audrey said, sighing in satisfaction as she looked around the beautiful parlor. “I’m sure teaming up with Townsend’s Bakery like this will really help us stand out to the judges of the Up-and-Coming Business Sponsorship Contest.”
“I’m so glad Evan had the foresight to suggest that we enter that contest,” Michelle said warmly. “He’s really had our backs in all this.”
“He really has,” Audrey said, staring into space and looking a little dreamy-eyed. “He’s been so supportive at every step of our journey. He really is a great guy.”
“He sure is,” Michelle said, clearly noticing the smitten expression on her mother’s face and getting gleeful. “So Mom.” She elbowed her mother playfully. “When are you and Evan going to officially become a couple?”
“Oh, hush,” Audrey said, twitching a little as she brushed off the question hurriedly. “I think partnerships with other businesses will be extremely helpful to us. Why not partner with another business too? We should see if there’s another business in town that wants to collaborate with us.”
Michelle wrinkled her nose, seeming to be fully aware of the fact that her mother had abruptly changed the subject on purpose. Elaine chuckled.
“That’s a good idea, Audrey,” she said. “Do you think it should be a business directly related to what we do? Or just any business that we can offer mutual support to?”
“I think it could be any business, really,” Audrey said. “Our guests will have all kinds of needs while they stay with us, and—oh! What about the mechanic shop? I bet Theo would be very interested in teaming up with us.”
“Sure!” Elaine said eagerly. “That’s a great idea. People who are traveling often need vehicle repairs or tuneups. And it’s always hard to know what mechanic to go to when you’re away from your hometown. Recommending Theo’s shop to our guests is a great idea.”
“Amazing.” Audrey turned to Michelle with a gleeful glint in her eyes. “You could probably approach him about that, Michelle.”
“What?” Michelle squeaked, looking appalled. “Why me? Why should I be the one to handle this?”
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” Elaine said, laughing. “Come on, surely by now you’ve realized the way Theo is noticing you.”
“Noticing me? How?” Michelle asked warily.
“You know,” Audrey said. “I think he has a crush on you.”
“What? No he doesn’t!” Michelle said, suddenly talking at twice her usual speed. “That is so far from the truth. We can barely speak without arguing. It’s always been that way. There’s absolutely no way he has a… yeah, definitely not.”
Elaine and Audrey exchanged a private look of amusement.
I think she might like him too, Elaine thought, feeling pleased. Theo’s a wonderful young man.
“I know that’s how things were when you were kids,” she said, trying not to smile too widely, “but I’ve definitely noticed a shift in the way he treats you ever since you came back to Coral Sands.
He still teases you, yes, but he’s also done some very kind things, like driving you back to the mansion when you had your arms full of bags after that impromptu shopping trip when you didn’t have your car. ”
“I agree,” Audrey said. “Didn’t you say he keeps showing up in random places when you’re there too? Like the animal shelter?”
“No, he… I mean, I’m sure that’s all coincidence,” Michelle protested. “I mean, he did—oh, never mind.”
“What?” Elaine and Audrey asked together, both of them leaning forward in their seats a little.
“Well, he did arrive at the auto shop right when I was picking up my car from an oil change,” Michelle admitted reluctantly. “I thought it was weird because he wasn’t working that day. Then Hayden said it was weird too.”
“Yeah?” Audrey cocked a brow. “What did Hayden say?”
“Well, he said that I was the only pickup scheduled that day,” Michelle said, her cheeks reddening until they were the shade of tomatoes. “He said that Theo must have shown up right when he did because he wanted to see me, because he would have known that I was picking my car up then.”
“Oh, did he now?” Audrey crowed with laughter. “Wow, that definitely seems suspicious.”
Michelle coughed. “Well, Theo said he was there to drop off some work shoes.”
“But why not just wear the shoes into work?” Elaine pointed out, amused and delighted.
“Yeah, that’s what Hayden said,” Michelle said, still blushing. “And then Theo turned around and left the shop again with his shoes, so it sure did seem like a flimsy excuse for being there.”
Audrey and Elaine burst into a fit of laughter. Theo was a great comedian, and he seemed to have comic timing even when he wasn’t trying to be funny. Elaine could just picture him cheerfully exiting the auto shop with the very shoes he was claiming he needed to drop off there.
“He likes you, for sure,” Audrey said, looking thrilled.
“Mom, please no,” Michelle said. “He’s my arch nemesis.”
“But he’s a very handsome, fun arch nemesis,” Audrey countered.
Audrey and Elaine continued to speculate about Theo’s admiration of Michelle, and Elaine could tell that Michelle was enjoying the conversation despite her protests. There was a look of excitement in her granddaughter’s eyes that Elaine had never seen before.
My heart is so full, Elaine thought, shutting her eyes for a moment to give thanks for all of the blessings that were surrounding her. The future couldn’t look brighter. We’re opening the hotel, Michelle might start a romance with Theo, and Audrey’s romance with Evan is in full swing.
And, although she hardly admitted it to herself, she was excited to have more excuses to interact with the grumpy and yet wonderful Shep Townsend.