Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
“Where are those shoes? Didn’t I just—am I crazy?”
Michelle laughed as she watched her mother turn around in a circle, looking around for the pair of red heels that she’d decided to pack for her trip.
“They’re over here on Grandma’s bed,” Michelle said, going over to the glossy shoes and handing them to her mother. “You moved them when you were showing us your navy blazer, so I think you got distracted and forgot about them.”
“Quite possibly.” Audrey took the shoes and laughed. “Thanks.”
Audrey and Elaine were making the final preparations for their trip to Boston.
They were due to leave the following morning, and they were moving about in a flurry, making sure they had everything they needed.
Since Audrey was mostly packed, they were all in Elaine’s room, where Elaine was packing her suitcase and Audrey was reorganizing and double-checking hers.
“At least one of us has her head on her shoulders,” Elaine said with a laugh. “That’s why I feel so comfortable leaving the hotel in your hands, Michelle. You’re always so responsible and on top of things.”
Michelle smiled weakly. The truth was that she was feeling increasingly nervous about running the hotel by herself, but she didn’t want her mother or grandmother to know.
She wanted them to simply enjoy their trip and not fret about how things were going back at home, but she couldn’t ignore the feelings of trepidation that were growing inside her.
It’s okay, I can do it, she told herself firmly. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that everything runs smoothly while Mom and Grandma are away on their trip.
She took her job at The Birchwood House seriously, and she’d already done as much as she could to prepare for taking care of everything by herself.
She’d washed every sheet and towel they owned, wanting to have plenty of backup for every room so that she didn’t fall behind on the laundry.
She’d even gone out and bought a dozen white towels, to use in case of emergency.
Michelle had been adamant that every room’s towels follow the room’s color scheme since the early days of planning The Birchwood House, and she hated the idea of having to cave and use white towels instead, but she knew that it was best to be prepared.
She’d also double-stocked the pantry with backup breakfast food items. She planned on making pancakes from scratch for the hotel’s breakfasts, but she’d bought a few boxes of pancake mix just in case.
She’d double-checked every appliance in the mansion, making sure that everything was working perfectly, and she’d been doing a lot of extra cleaning, trying to make sure that she wouldn’t have to clean as much while Elaine and Audrey were away.
Although she felt a flurry of excitement at the prospect of running the hotel by herself, she couldn’t deny that it was an intimidating prospect. She was so deep in her own thoughts that for a moment she didn’t even notice that Audrey had said something to her.
“Michelle?”
“Huh? Sorry Mom. Got distracted there.”
“No worries.” Audrey chuckled. “I was just thinking, we should bring gum for the flight. To chew in case our ears pop. I think there’s some in the welcome tray on the snack table in the kitchen. Could you grab a couple packs for us?”
“Sure. Good thinking.” Michelle smiled and slipped out of Elaine’s room. She made her way downstairs to the kitchen and had just grabbed a couple of packs of gum when her foot collided with something soft and fluffy.
“Puddle!” Michelle laughed. “Watch where you’re going, little lady.”
Puddle, who didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact that she’d just been accidentally knocked by Michelle’s shin, wagged her tail and snuffled her nose underneath Michelle’s pant leg, giving Michelle’s ankle a big, slobbery lick.
Michelle slipped the packs of gum into her pocket and scooped the puppy up into her arms. “Come on, you adorable tripping hazard. Let’s go upstairs to Grandma’s room.”
Puddle wriggled a little as they made their way upstairs, but for the most part, she behaved like an angel, blinking at the house around them as if she was fascinated to see everything from such a great height.
“Here’s the gum and a furry baby,” Michelle said cheerfully as she returned to Elaine’s bedroom. “How’s everything going in here?”
“Aww, look at that sweet face.” Elaine gazed adoringly at Puddle. “Oh, it’s going fine. Thanks for grabbing that gum.”
“Sure thing.” Michelle set Puddle down in the middle of Elaine’s bed, next to Audrey’s suitcase, and handed the packs of gum to her mother and grandmother.
“Ah, I’ve got to get these shoes to fit,” Audrey said with a laugh, trying to wiggle the red heels into the side pocket of her suitcase. “I’m determined to wear them on this trip at least once.”
“Are you sure you want to bring those?” Elaine asked. “I think your sneakers would be better for sight-seeing. Your feet might get tired in those, that’s a pretty fancy heel.”
Audrey looked up with surprise. “Oh, I’m not wearing these for sightseeing. These are for my business outfits. Like see—I’m going to wear the red heels with these dark jeans and the navy blazer. I was thinking I could also wear them with my black maxi dress and that white leather jacket.”
“Oh.” Elaine paused, and her eyebrows lifted. Michelle knew that look well—it meant that her grandmother was wondering how to say something negative in a kind manner.
“What is it?” Audrey protested, clearly recognizing the look as well.
“Well, it’s just that I think jeans and red shoes might be a little too informal for something like this. We want to try to look as professional as possible, don’t we?”
Audrey shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like the jeans are faded overalls. They’re nice pants. I was thinking more business casual for this whole thing. Elegant, but casual. I don’t think we want to look too formal.”
Elaine froze in the middle of pulling a three-piece white suit out of her wardrobe.
“I do,” she said. “I was planning on wearing things like this.” She held up the suit, which was gorgeous.
The buttons of the vest were gold and cut in a stunning square design.
“I mean, I think we should put our best foot forward and dress to impress.”
“I mean, I want to dress to impress too.” Audrey looked down at her suitcase.
“I’ve also got that emerald green blazer and then I was going to wear a black turtleneck sweater with those pink dress pants I have.
You know, the comfy ones that look like dress pants but feel like yoga pants?
I think that will look great—super fashionable and fun. ”
“But won’t it seem too informal, wearing so many bright colors?”
Michelle laughed. “Chill, you two. You both look so nervous. I’m sure everyone there will be wearing all different kinds of business clothes. You may even see someone in a hoodie. You both should wear whatever you want—just bring the clothes that will make you feel like a million bucks.”
Elaine chuckled and Audrey grinned.
“You’re right, Michelle,” Audrey said. “We should both just choose whatever we—oh no!”
Michelle’s eyes darted to where Audrey was looking, and she gasped as well when she saw that Puddle had started gnawing on her mother’s hairbrush.
“No, buddy,” Michelle said, scooping the puppy up into her arms again. “That’s not for you. Sorry, Mom.”
Audrey laughed. “No worries. I’m just glad it was the hairbrush and not another one of my shoes.”
“You’re a little devil, aren’t you, Puddle?” Elaine said, in a tone that sounded like she was telling Puddle that she was the most perfect dog on the planet.
“Theo called her a killer the other day,” Michelle said, laughing at the memory. “I thought it was funny. She’s such a roly poly little fluff ball.”
“When were you hanging out with Theo?” Audrey asked slyly.
Michelle felt herself coloring. “I wasn’t. I just ran into him at the store the other day. Puddle was chewing on a mat there.”
“Oh, okay.” Audrey smiled, and Michelle noted that her eyes still looked impish.
“Do you really feel like you’re up for handling this furry little rascal on your own?” Elaine asked. “You can say no if this is all too much for you, Michelle. I can definitely stay home from the trip and help you out if need be.”
Michelle shook her head, smiling, and Puddle licked her face. “I’m more than capable of handling everything by myself, don’t you worry. I want you two to go and have the best time. I’ve definitely got this. Don’t I, Puddle?”
Puddle wriggled so hard that Michelle had to let her drop to the floor. Audrey and Elaine laughed and returned to their packing. Michelle sat down in the armchair next to the window and let Puddle lie on her feet.
Besides, even if I don’t think I can handle this, I have to, she thought. I already boasted to Theo that I’m going to have everything well under control. There’s absolutely no way I’m going to admit defeat.