Chapter Twelve
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Is that a new sweater?” Beth turned at the sound of her daughter’s voice. Riley had just walked into the kitchen and was still in her pajamas. It was early. Beth woke early most days and today she’d felt up to experimenting and was trying a new breakfast casserole recipe. She was comfortable enough on her crutches now that she could maneuver around the kitchen and get everything she needed onto the counter. She’d just poured the mixture into a buttered glass casserole dish and was about to slide it into the oven.
“Sort of. I bought it a year ago and found it hanging in my closet with the tags still attached. I just stumbled across it this morning and decided to wear it.” It was a gorgeous cashmere sweater, a little dressier than Beth usually wore, which is why it was still hanging in her closet. But it was a bright, cheery red and it matched her festive mood. And when she tried it on, she remembered why she’d fallen in love with it—the color and the cut were very flattering.
“Cool. It’s a pretty color. What are you making?”
“A sausage and cheese strata. It has eggs and buttery brioche bread. I found a loaf in the freezer yesterday and thawed it out. Bread freezes beautifully and I thought it might be fun to try this recipe.”
“It sounds delicious. Not exactly low-cal,” Riley said.
Beth laughed. “Not at all. But that’s part of the fun of going on vacation and staying in a bed-and-breakfast—indulging a bit.”
“True. Plus, there’s always fruit and cereal if people want healthier options.”
Riley headed off to shower and change and by the time she returned to the kitchen Beth was just taking the strata out of the oven. It was golden brown and bubbling a bit. She set it on the counter to cool and fifteen minutes later, she and Riley were headed out the door. Beth had covered the casserole with foil to keep it warm and Riley carried it carefully as they walked to the car.
While Riley went to the kitchen to start getting breakfast out, Beth went to check on the progress of the two rooms Sean was working on. She was pleasantly surprised to see that it looked like most of the carpentry work was completed and now he just had to finish up and then paint. She breathed a sigh of relief. It would definitely be done on time. Which was a good thing, because while the strata baked, Beth had checked her email and overnight both rooms had been booked. The inn was now completely full for the Christmas Stroll weekend.
By eight, everything was set up in the dining room and both Beth and Riley helped themselves to the sausage strata. It smelled amazing and tasted even better. Beth looked up each time they heard footsteps. They hadn’t discussed it, but she was hopeful that Sean would come early again and join them for a few minutes, at least for coffee. She’d made the strata with him in mind.
Franny was the first one down. She was an early riser, too. She excitedly helped herself to some of the strata and a few pieces of melon and coffee.
“This looks wonderful. I’ve always loved a good strata. I used to make it on Christmas Day.” She grinned as she speared a cube of melon. “The fruit cancels out the calories, right?”
Riley and Beth looked at their own plates and laughed, as they’d thought the same. “It’s like getting a popcorn with extra butter and a Diet Coke,” Riley agreed.
A few minutes later another older couple, Rita and Tom Smith, joined them. They were from Connecticut, a suburb near New York City, and they were in town for an early Christmas visit with their daughter and her family. They loaded up their plates with strata and joined them.
“My daughter invited us to stay with her, but they don’t really have the room. She offered to clear out their office so we can use the pull-out sofa there, but if I know Abbie, she has stuff piled on that sofa and it would be a project to clear it out. This way, we have a nice quiet room and they’re just a few miles away. It works out better for everyone.”
“She has two children now, a year apart,” Tom added.
“How old are they?” Beth asked.
“One and three. So she really has her hands full. We’ll head over there from here. I told Abbie we’d watch the kids all day to give her a break. She booked a hair appointment and a pedicure in Hyannis.”
“I bet she appreciates that,” Beth said.
“She does. She deserves it,” Rita added as she cut into her strata and took a bite. “Oh my goodness, this is so good. I’m going to need the recipe, if you don’t mind sharing?”
Beth smiled. “Of course. I’ll email it to you.”
At that moment, she heard heavier footsteps as Sean walked in. He waved hello and went to pour himself a coffee.
“Please help yourself to the strata. It’s a new recipe and I’d love your opinion,” Beth said.
Sean grinned. “Happy to help.” He filled his plate with a big slab, skipped the fruit, and joined them at the table, sitting next to Franny.
Beth introduced him to everyone. “Sean is helping us with some repair work.” She glanced his way. “It looks like you got most of it done yesterday, other than the painting?”
He nodded. “I have a few more touch-ups, but after that it’s just painting that wall so it all blends in. I should be done by midday.”
“Really? That’s great news!” Riley said.
Sean ate quickly, drained his cup of coffee, and stood. “Thanks for breakfast. Whatever that was, it was delicious. I’m going to get started. I’ll give you a call when I finish up.”
“Thank you.” Beth watched him go, noticing how his red plaid work shirt contrasted with his dark hair, and how his well-worn jeans emphasized his lean physique. She brought her attention back to her breakfast and saw Riley watching her with an amused smile. Beth ignored it and asked Franny what she had planned for the day.
“I’m going to get my morning walk in, and around eleven I’m heading to the library for a local author event about a nonfiction book on the history of the lobster. There may be a recipe or two as well.”
Beth smiled. “That sounds fun.”
Once everyone finished breakfast and went on their way, Beth helped Riley to clean up. She didn’t trust herself to carry dishes and maneuver the crutches, but she was able to stay by the sink and rinse everything off as Riley brought it to her, and load it all into the dishwasher.
“Are you ready to go?” Riley asked when everything was finished.
Beth shook her head. “I think I’m going to stay here. Sean will likely finish around lunchtime and it seems silly to go home and then have to come back so soon. I have my laptop and can keep myself busy until then.”
Riley smiled and Beth knew her daughter was aware of her attraction to Sean. The new sweater was a dead giveaway. It was also the second day in a row she’d taken the time to blow her hair dry so it looked smoother and had more style. Normally she let it air dry and then pulled it into a messy knot.
“Okay. I told Amy I’d swing by for coffee this morning, so I’m going to head there now.”
“Tell her I said hi, honey. I’ll call you when everything is done.”