Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
L auren saw Lisa at breakfast on Friday. But she was by herself. For the first time, Rhett wasn’t with her drinking his black coffee.
Lisa smiled when she saw her and explained. “Rhett had to go into the restaurant early to meet with an electrician.” Lisa took a bite of scrambled eggs, then added a splash of hot sauce to them.
Lauren had added a generous scoop to her plate, along with some honeydew melon and a slice of buttered sourdough toast. The eggs were mixed with diced ham, onions and peppers and they were delicious.
Lisa didn’t seem as relaxed as usual. She glanced at her watch, checking the time as she attacked the mound of eggs on her plate.
“Are you excited about tomorrow?” Lauren asked.
Lisa put down her fork and sighed. “Yes, but I’m also a nervous wreck. Rhett is lending me a warming station for the quiches, so I can have a half dozen or so ready to cut and serve. He hasn’t used it in ages, so checked it a few days ago to make sure it was ready to go…and it’s not working at all. He thinks it might be a faulty cord. It looks like mice may have chewed through it.”
“Mice?” That didn’t sound good.
Lisa nodded. “He has kept it in the restaurant basement, stuffed in a corner where it collects dust. Every restaurant has mice. He gets it exterminated regularly, but still they sometimes get into things.”
Lauren could tell Lisa was stressing about it. “I’m sure he’ll find a way to get it working for you.”
Lisa sighed. “He probably will. I’ve been making lobster quiches for the past week and freezing them to make sure I have enough on hand. Once I finish here, I’ll be heading to the kitchen to make more.”
“We’re going to be heading to the festival early, before it gets too crowded. We’ll make sure to stop by your booth and have the cast try the quiche,” Lauren said. She was excited to give Lisa some publicity—being shown on the show could give a significant boost to both the inn and Lisa’s online sales of the quiches.
“Thank you. I really do appreciate that.” She chewed her lower lip for a moment. “I just hope everything goes smoothly.”
“It will. I’m sure of it.” Lauren tried to calm Lisa’s fears and hoped that Rhett would get the warmer going. The quiches were probably delicious cold, but it wouldn’t be the same.
Lisa smiled. “I’m not going to stress about it. You’re right. I’m sure it will all be fine and I’m just being silly. Enough about me. Your parents are checking in later today. I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
“They are. I talk to my mother almost every day, but I haven’t seen them since the holidays. That’s one of the things I hate about living on opposite coasts.”
Lisa looked sympathetic. “I’m lucky that my kids are all here now. They weren’t always, though. Kate worked at a fashion magazine for a few years in Boston. Even though that’s relatively close, we mostly saw her on holidays. When you’re young, you have to go where the opportunities are.”
“Is that when she shifted into writing books?” Lauren asked.
“Yes. She was laid off unexpectedly, went home early and found her photographer boyfriend—the one that was always too busy to come to Nantucket and meet us—in bed with one of his models.” Lisa’s tone was bitter as she spoke about Kate’s ex. “She was devastated, of course. I told her to come home for as long as she needed. And I was thrilled when she decided to stay. She met her now-husband Jack and did a little freelance editing work while starting to do what she’d always dreamed of doing—writing a book.”
“I’m so glad it worked out for her. And I love her mysteries.”
“Things do have a way of working out if you are open to new opportunities and just follow your heart.” Lisa laughed. “I know that sounds kind of woo-woo, but I’ve seen it with my children, and also with myself. It was a leap to turn my home into an inn. My son Chase helped me with that. He’s a builder. And then to get the online business going has been quite the adventure.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke, and it was obvious how much Lisa loved how her life had evolved.
“I think there is a lot of truth to that. My mother told me years ago to ‘Do what you love, and the money will follow.’ She worked in human resources and said the people who were most passionate about the careers were the ones that were the happiest and usually the ones that were the most successful. I don’t think she was thrilled when I wanted to get into TV production, as it meant I’d need to head out to the West Coast where the work was. But she understood.”
Lisa nodded. “So, what is next for you? Will you be heading back to California? Do you have a new show lined up after this one?”
Lauren hated to think of leaving Nantucket and going back to the real world—and LA. “Yes, I’ll be heading back there. I’m not sure yet what will be next. My manager is feeling out a few things. And of course we are hoping that the show will do well. If it does, we’ll be back next summer.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice? I have a feeling it will do well. People are always curious about Nantucket. And a show about young people staying at a gorgeous waterfront home with possible romance and drama. What’s not to like?”
Lauren laughed. “I hope you’re right.”