Chapter Thirty-Six #2
Beth leaned back against the counter. “That was before I started reading. Before I knew what a web spinner this man was.”
“Did you just compare my grandfather to a spider, Aunt Beth?” Abby’s eyebrows knitted together.
“No. I meant a word spinner. A tale spinner.”
Abby laughed. “So now he’s a dog?”
“No. He was a storyteller.” Beth laughed and rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“And that reminds me. I had a call from the librarian in town this morning. It seems that word of Miles’s association with the camp, and therefore the town, has become the topic of much conversation.
‘Everyone’s talking about it,’ Nancy said.
” Kit looked across the table at Beth. “She’s the librarian, Nancy Patton.
Anyway, she thought it would be amazing to have a book club meet there at the library to read and discuss Miles’s books, starting with the first one. She wanted to know my thoughts.”
“What did you tell her?” Abby asked.
“I said I thought it sounded like fun, and I’d talk to you two about it and get back to her.”
Abby made a face. “Why didn’t you just say yes?”
“I wanted your opinion.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Beth said.
“Abby?”
“Yeah, well, sure. But why ask?”
“Because we’re in this business together, and anything that affects the business affects us all. And because she was hoping we’d join the club.”
“Oh, then yeah.” Abby gave Kit a thumbs-up. “Book club it is.”
Beth nodded in agreement. “I belonged to a book club before I got sick and I loved it, so sure. Count me in.”
“I’ll let her know. Thanks.”
“Maybe we could do a movie night there one night, show one of Miles’s movies. They could charge for it, the proceeds going to the library.”
“I do love that idea. Maxine was a member of the library board at one time, as was her mother and her mother before her.”
“Maybe you could make a nice donation to establish a reading room,” Beth suggested.
“I’ll add that to my list.” Kit smiled. “I hope all our decisions are made as smoothly and with as much discussion.”
“Probably not gonna happen,” Abby said. “These were easy. Wait till something’s on the table that’s going to cost a lot of money that one of us wants and maybe the other two don’t. Or we can’t agree on how to outfit the cabins. Furnishings. Fireplace or no fireplace? Air-conditioning or no?”
“We’ll deal with it when it happens,” Kit told her.
“It will happen,” Abby said. “Are we going to be mature enough to discuss things without getting angry? Without holding a grudge if we don’t get our way?”
Beth nodded. “I’m sure we are.”
“We’ll see. But in the meantime, I suggest we all turn in early tonight. Tomorrow will be a very long day.”
Kit’s alarm went off at six the next morning. She showered, dressed in old jeans and an old sweatshirt, and went downstairs, where she found her daughter, grandson, and sister standing by the front door.
“What’s going on?” Kit asked.
“We’re waiting for you. We’re ready for breakfast,” Abby told her.
“Then why aren’t you in the kitchen? That’s where breakfast is made.” Kit turned to head toward the back of the house.
“We’re going to Ruthie’s.” Beth pulled Benny’s hat down over his ears.
“Why?” Kit asked.
“Because if we are going to work like lumberjacks, we are going to fuel up like lumberjacks. Bacon. Eggs. Pancakes.” Beth looked as if she were ready to fight for the cause.
“Pana-cakes!” Benny clapped happily, his joy at the prospect evident in his broad grin.
“You realize this will delay the start of the job,” Kit pointed out.
“It will save time. We’re not going to be bumbling around in the kitchen with who wants what, getting in each other’s way, taking turns at the stove because we only have two live burners and one is behind the other, which means someone will have to wait their turn.
You may, of course, stay here and eat cereal or scramble yourself an egg.
” Beth smiled sweetly. “Or you can follow us out to the car.”
“Okay, then. Ruthie’s it is. But you know they don’t open until seven.”
“Yes, but we also know that you have been invited to knock on their door anytime. So we’re a half hour early, and you’ll knock.”
“Fine. Head out.” Kit stopped in the doorway. “Wait. Wally . . .”
“Has been fed and walked. Let’s go.” Abby opened the door and held it. “Mother of a two-year-old here. Used to waking up early.”
“Fine. I’ll drive.” Kit searched her bag for her keys.
“Nope. She who has the car seat for the little guy drives.” Abby jangled her keys and headed out.
“Good point.” Kit locked the door behind Beth, who held Benny’s hand.
The curb in front of Ruthie’s had three cars parked between the faded lines that had been painted years before. Abby eased into an empty spot, and immediately they opened their car doors as if they were either starving or in a ridiculous hurry.
“Like rats deserting a sinking ship,” Kit mused as she followed her sister up the walkway to the restaurant, where Mary Gail was opening the door.
“Well, you gals are up and out early today,” she exclaimed as she pulled the door open.
“It’s going to be a long, busy day, and we need fortification,” Beth said. She stripped off her jacket and hung it on a wall hook. “But it looks like we aren’t the first ones.”
“You have your choice of tables this morning.” Mary Gail grabbed a bunch of menus from the counter as Abby and Benny trailed in. “I bet I know what this little guy wants.”
“Pana-cakes!” he exclaimed.
“Linda will make special ones for you, Benny,” she said as she picked up a booster seat and added another chair to the table in the back where Kit and Beth had already seated themselves.
“Coffee, girls?” Mary Gail asked.
“Yes, please,” three voices responded.
“I’m going to bring a pot over for the table.
Save me some time this morning.” A minute later she returned with a pot of steaming coffee in one hand and three mugs in the other.
“This should keep your eyes open until your breakfast is ready.” She looked around the table at the expectant faces.
“The breakfast special for you this morning?”
“Yes, please,” they all replied.
“Scrambled eggs all right today?”
Abby and Beth nodded and watched as Kit poured their coffee. “Scrambled is perfect.”
“Coming right up.” Mary Gail went off to the kitchen with their orders, then was back in a flash with a pitcher of cream.
The door opened and several people entered at the same time. Two went to a table across from Kit’s, three to the front window. Within ten minutes the room was filled with chatter.
“I didn’t realize how close to seven it was when we arrived,” Kit said.
“It was ten of, Mom. Apparently you aren’t the only person in town who has special early-morning privileges.” Abby adjusted Benny in his seat and removed the knife and fork from his place setting, leaving him with the spoon.
“I think Mary Gail just opens the door whenever she feels like it. This morning there were others ahead of us and the door was already unlocked,” Beth pointed out.
At the sound of her name, Mary Gail swept past them with a tray of coffee and juices for the front table, pausing just long enough to place a sippy cup in front of Benny.
“Thank you,” Abby called to the woman’s back as she continued on by.
“Had she even taken their orders?” Beth whispered.
Kit laughed. “I think she knows what everyone in this town eats and drinks and at which meals.”
“She sure does know her clientele, but then again, it’s a pretty small town,” Abby noted.
“Okay, so what’s the order of attack this morning?” Kit added cream to her coffee, looking forward to the day’s first jolt of caffeine.
“I have it all figured out,” Abby spoke up. “We start with cabin number one. We take out all the furniture, then we clean. Sweep the floors really good, then we mop them down.”
“Remind me again why we’re not just vacuuming?” Beth rested her arms on the table in front of her.
“Because the electricity can’t be turned back on until we have each cabin checked by an electrician.
Besides, I’m certain we’re going to have to have them all rewired, and that will necessitate us going to the town hall and seeing if we need permits.
I’m still looking into that. And the plumbing’s all going to have to be updated as well.
Not to mention the septic system. Who knows when that was last cleaned out? ”
“Wait, if we need permits, that’s going to slow down the work on our end.” Beth frowned, clearly not having thought the entire process through until that very minute. “That could mean we don’t get to rent out any of the cabins until . . . well, God knows when.”
“Girls, did I hear you’re going to reopen the camp?” Without waiting for a reply, Mary Gail crowed, “Hallelujah!”
Every head in the place turned to the sound.
“Um, Mary Gail.” Kit lowered her voice. “We’re just starting to figure out if we can reopen. The cabins need a lot of work, and we need to replace all the furniture and fixtures, and we don’t know if they’d even pass code yet, so—”
“This is the best news I’ve heard in a long time.” Mary Gail ignored Kit’s concerns and proceeded to serve their breakfasts. “Look here, Benny. What did Miss Linda make for you today?”
Benny stared at his plate of pancakes, then his face lit up. “Snowman!”
“That’s right, clever boy.” Mary Gail patted him on the head. “Now when are you getting started out there?”
“Today is day one,” Kit told her. “We’re just going to be emptying out the cabins. Pull out the furniture and everything.”
Mary Gail whistled. “That sounds like a lot of work. Who all is working with you girls out there today?”
“It’s just us, but—”
“Just the three of you?” Mary Gail frowned.
“How are you going to manage to clean out all those cabins by yourselves? I know it used to take Maxine a couple of days to get them aired out, and that was with some help. And you’re talking about taking everything out and checking the electrical and plumbing? ”
“We’re pretty sure we can do it.” Abby flexed her right arm. “We’re strong. Fearless. Determined. And there are three of us, so we’re our own help.”
“I get all that, honey, but you need a little more muscle with all that you’re going to have to do. And did I hear you say you need permits? What is it you need permits for?”
“The electricity and plumbing all need to be updated.” Abby poured syrup on Benny’s pancakes before pouring some on her own.
“Got it. Okay. Well—”
A call came from the kitchen. “Mary Gail, there are three orders in here waiting for pickup.”
“All right now.” Mary Gail turned toward the kitchen, muttering, “I gotta think on this . . .”