Chapter 23
BOONE
After Kennedy's presentation, she'd left the room so that we could discuss her suggestions. I'd already known what she was going to say, and I was okay with it. I thought it was the only solution that made sense, and I told my family that.
I thought they were expecting me to be upset that I wasn't supplying all the furniture, but I had a new plan for the business going forward. I would always stock rocking chairs, Adirondack chairs, and picnic tables. In fact, I was able to work a deal with the local hardware store to stock them.
Gina was already working on the website outlining the things that were always in stock and ready to order, along with custom items like dining room tables and bookshelves that required us to collect more information about the type of wood and measurements.
I was excited about the prospect of selling directly to people instead of relying on referrals. Not that word hadn't already gotten around. I'd been stopped in town and told how excited people were about the fact that certain items would be available for purchase year-round.
That was the biggest change for me. I only accepted custom orders when I had time to fulfill them. I'd been so busy with the brewery's items, I hadn't had time to take on many other ones. But now, I could focus on a different way to run the business that would sustain me year-round.
I was looking forward to spending the night with Kennedy, but my family decided to go to dinner at the restaurant and discuss the plan in more detail. Mom and Dad wanted to make their decisions before Kennedy left for her next project.
I needed to contact Kennedy to see when she was planning to leave town, but I couldn't walk away from my family when they were talking about the future of the inn.
"I love everything she suggested. The colors are warm and inviting, the furniture is a huge upgrade from what we currently have, and the scenery photography are in line with what we already did at the brewery," Clara said while we waited for our food.
Malcolm rested his elbows on the table. "Let's be honest. These upgrades are a long time coming.
But nothing is going to stand out except for the snow room.
By the time that room is open, the renovations in the rooms need to be underway.
We want to capitalize on the attention we're going to receive. "
"I think what Mac is saying is that we want these new guests to have an upgraded room when they visit," Cal added.
"You know I spend more time outside, so my opinion probably isn't as valuable, but I have to agree. We're going to want to get started on this renovation as soon as possible," Hunter said.
"I'm ready for the renovation. I don't have any vacation planned, and I can focus solely on the upgrades for the next few months. By next fall, everything should be complete," Cal added.
"We hired someone to manage the renovation for us, so that nothing falls through the cracks. We don't want to leave anything to chance. We'd like to take a step back from the inn, but we need to know that the updates are done right," Dad said.
"That's a good idea," Mac said, but Cal tensed.
He was conflicted because he was ready to take over now. But he had to be patient. It would happen eventually. Now that my life was more settled, I could see the future easily. The inn was going to undergo a necessary renovation, and the guests were going to love it.
"Are you sure you're okay with us purchasing mass-market furniture for the lower rooms?" Mom asked me.
I leaned back in my chair. "I'm excited to create the furniture in the more visible areas, the lobby, and the hallways. Then I can be creative in the suites where guests expect an upgrade. I think it's going to be great," I said easily.
Mom let out a breath. "If you're positive that you're okay with this? I don't want to do anything that will hurt your business."
"I'm glad you hired Kennedy. We needed a third party to come and render an opinion.
She helped me see that I could be doing so much more with my business.
I needed to stop waiting for something to happen to me and create the life I wanted.
" The more I thought about it, the more I was starting to see that philosophy also applied to our relationship.
If I wanted more, I needed to ask for it.
I just hoped she was in town for a few more days so that we could discuss how that would work.
Dad clasped my shoulder. "I'm proud of you, son. This is the right choice for you and the inn."
"I need to finish a few pieces for the outdoor area at the brewery, and then I can focus on the inn's furniture and the new products I'm offering." I hadn't been so excited about my business in forever. I usually enjoyed creating something new, but expanding my business felt even better.
Dad nodded, and his hand slipped away. "Everyone is in agreement then? We go forward with Kennedy's suggestions in their entirety? Is there anything that should wait or anything we don't agree on?"
"I'm happy with her suggestions. I think they're fairly conservative upgrades. Ones we planned to make, but I was stuck on the design since that's not my area of expertise," Mom said.
"I've already said that I'm in agreement," Clara said with a nod.
"Count me in," I added.
"I'm all for it," Hunter agreed.
"This is going to come as a surprise to everyone, but I'm on board," Mac said with a small smile, and everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
Mac tended to be the hardest sell on any new idea that wasn't his own.
Cal looked around the table. "I'm concerned about hiring someone to manage the renovation. Is that really necessary?"
"Your mother and I would like to take a step back from the everyday running of the inn, which means that you'll need to do more than you are right now."
"I can handle it," Cal said tightly.
"But we don't feel comfortable adding the renovation on top of your normal responsibilities. It's insurance that everything will be taken care of, and your mother and I can relax," Dad said with a smile at Mom.
"If this is what they need to feel better about the renovation, then let's do it," Mac said.
"Do we really want another stranger at the inn, giving his or her opinion?" Cal persisted.
"Isn't that what happened with Kennedy? And look how that turned out. She fit in nicely around here, and her ideas were spot-on," Clara said, and I nodded in agreement.
"I initially had reservations too, but it was fine." My worries were unfounded, and instead, I fell in love with Kennedy. I just needed to get through this dinner so I could tell her that.
Cal placed his elbows on the table and leaned forward. "Who did you have in mind for this?"
Mom's expression brightened. "You know her. You dated before you went to college. It's Amanda Rice."
I exchanged a look with Rowan because Cal dated her in high school, and it was a big deal when they broke up. Not that he would have discussed his relationship with Mom and Dad. I’d gotten the impression that he'd never truly gotten over her.
The server arrived with dinner, and the conversation paused for a few seconds while everyone got their plates.
I had my doubts that this thing with Kennedy would work out for the business or me, but it had gone better than I ever could have imagined.
I hadn't been looking for love or anything different in my life, but Kennedy made me see the possibilities.
And now I needed to talk to her before she left for good.
We ate dinner, and while we waited for our dishes to be cleared, I grew anxious. Surely, Kennedy was waiting for me in her room. It was just a matter of time before I could join her. I just hoped that she'd be willing to listen to what I had to say.
What Beck said to me was fresh in my mind.
Was I willing to move to Miami or even travel back and forth?
It would be difficult to maintain my current business if I moved or spent a good chunk of the year traveling, but surely there was a way it could work out.
I was confident that we could figure something out together, provided she felt the same way I did.
When dinner was finally cleared, we said our goodbyes, and I headed for the elevator in the lobby. I rode it upstairs to Kennedy's room, remembering the night we met, and how it felt to be with a woman I thought I'd never see again.
I knocked on her door, but she didn't answer. There was no sound on the other side of the wood. No footsteps or voice on the phone. Where was she?
I shot her a text.
Boone: I just finished dinner with my family, and I wanted to see you. Tell me where you are, and I'll come to you.
I jogged down the stairs, confident that she'd respond. She was probably working somewhere in the building.
When I passed the lobby counter, the clerk said," Ms. Barnes wanted me to let you know that she had to check out early."
I paused, my heart seemingly skipping a beat. "What did you say?"
"She said she had an offer for a job and needed to leave right away. It was urgent."
"She left," was all I managed to say.
"Yes, but she was very apologetic and said she'd be back for the snow-room reveal." He chuckled. "That's all anyone is talking about around here. I can't wait to see it."
"Yeah, they're excited about it," I said as I moved slowly away from the counter. What was I going to do? Kennedy left and didn't bother to text me or talk to me before she went.
Was this always her plan, or was it unexpected like she'd said? Why had she told the clerk but not anyone else?
I needed to talk to someone, so I got in my truck and drove to the brewery. I couldn't believe that Kennedy walked away, that she left without a word. Why would she do that?