Joy in the Journey
Page 28
"We should build a child care center. Julie Shaffer could run it. She's such a nice person. They don't have a home big enough for her to start her child care business yet, but we're starting to have enough employees with young children, it might make sense. And some of the younger families are going to start having babies any day now. Wouldn't it be nice to know there was a safe place for the kids to be cared for while their parents worked?"
"We could renovate an existing home."
Polly was surprised he didn’t laugh at her idea. He was thinking about it. "Like the one next to your parent's house?"
Henry blinked. "That's interesting."
"Might be a Sycamore Foundation investment down the road."
"You never stop thinking, do you?"
"You should stop the half-baked reno they're going to do on that house next week if this is something we’re really talking about. If we bought the house, we could do it right." She chuckled. "Hayden could have another summer project."
"That poor boy will be desperate to find a job in his field just to get away from you and your projects," Henry said. "Do you want to bring this up today with the foundation members?"
She shook her head. "No. I want today to be a celebration. I have that money from the diamonds and don't forget that money from those gold coins. Rather than it being part of the foundation, it feels like it should be something Sycamore Enterprises does."
"I'll call about the house on Monday," he said. "Just to see if it’s even possible. Mom would love having a child care center next door. She loves children, and it would be easier on her if Molly had a place to go. That would give her freedom again. Not that she's ever complained, but she's tied to Molly and that isn't fair."
"Jessie would hate thinking she was a hardship on Marie."
"Yeah. Mom wouldn't like having Jessie think that either, but it's time for change. When I get a few more people hired at the shop, Mom and Dad could visit Lonnie more often and maybe do other things they like to do together. They're supposed to be retired, you know."
"Life is so funny," Polly said.
~~~
It was fun to hear the excited buzz in the foyer. The presentation had gone well and people were enthusiastic about the progress made on the bed and breakfast. Jeff had been elected as the president of the board of directors, with Sal as president-elect. Simon Gardner, Sylvie Donovan, Polly and Henry, Nate Mikkels, Dylan Foster, Ken Conyers, Jen Dykstra, Reuben Greene, and Betty Mercer were the initial members of the board. She was thrilled that the board consisted of long-time Bellingwood residents as well as relative newcomers.
Jeff had introduced Edna Dahlman to the group. The woman was going to be busy this next year as she helped them move forward, not only with major projects like the bed and breakfast, but with other, smaller projects as the group dreamed big. There was so much potential in Bellingwood and now there was a way for people to be involved.
Sal smiled when Polly sat down beside her. "Can you believe that Mina had a murderer working for her?"
"Not really," Polly said. "Can you believe that you are going to be president of this board of directors next year?"
"Who'd have thought?"
"You'll be great."
"Jeff and I were talking about some things we want to do these next two years."
"Yeah?"
"We want to hire an executive director."
Polly raised her eyebrows. "Okay. That's interesting."
"We can't expect Jeff to do the work that needs to be done. It should be centered in a person who is responsible to the board and is paid to do the dirty work."
"And just who should we hire?"
"Well, me."
Polly burst out with a laugh and then she realized Sal was serious. "You want the job? It will be a lot of work."
"Who better?"
"I don't know. I don't even know what the position would require."
"That's why Jeff and I are going to work together for at least a year. We'll travel to other communities and see how they're organizing groups like this. We will design a job description and bring it to the board. I'm not in any hurry to be employed. If, at the end of my term, the board doesn't see a benefit to hiring me, then fine, we'll keep going as we have been. But I think I can bring a wealth of experience to Bellingwood."
"You certainly could," Polly said. "You don't have to sell me on how brilliant and talented you are. I'm surprised that you want to invest that much time."
"This is something I can do well. I have a great life, I have good children and a wonderful husband, but I want to be more useful. Right now, I can ease into it. The foundation is small, and my responsibilities would be minimal. I can be the one who builds this and make it a force for change."
"You are amazing. You know I'll be there for you."
"Jeff and I were surprised you wanted nothing to do with leadership. This is your baby."
"That’s funny. Because it’s not mine at all. It was your idea. My joy doesn't come from leading, it comes from offering opportunities to people and then supporting them so they are successful. Like you with this. If this is where you find what makes you thrive, I will be the happiest person in the world."
Sal nodded. "Mark and I talked about you and your businesses the other night when I told him I was interested in being part of the foundation. We hadn’t put it all together until I was laying out the organizational chart of Sycamore Enterprises. You are happiest when other people are doing what they love. You set Sylvie up, you gave Jeff control, you put Eliseo in a safe place, you allowed Rachel to grow, you’ve given Reuben and Judy a new future, you showed Stephanie that it was safe to be completely whole and then brought Skylar back from a horrible future to something he would never have imagined. You showed Grey that he could do anything, even find his way back to his old career and be happy." Sal shook her head. "We all know this, but it's never been so clear to me as it is right now. And me. You let me find my own way. When I wanted to own a business, you not only supported me, but you put yourself and your own money in with mine so that it was more than just a little coffee shop."
"She gave my life to me, too. Not just my marriage, but my business."
Polly turned and looked up as Henry put his hand on her shoulder.
He squeezed her and smiled. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been eavesdropping. But Sal is right. You make success possible for us."
"I do nothing of the sort," Polly protested. "You've all made your own success. The only thing I will admit to is seeing more in you than you see in yourselves. Because you are nothing short of amazing. The rest? You've set your path, you've created your own successes, and now look where you are. You are opening doors for others."
Sal leaned forward and hugged Polly. "Say what you will. You started this journey and invited all of us to join you. I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
~~~
(Turn the page for links and more information.
You know you want to.)
Meet Polly before she arrives in Bellingwood.
FREE novella.
Click on the image or go to
http://nammynools.com/bellingwood-prequel/
(Keep going, there’s more.)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It appears that I like feisty female characters. I can't wait for you to meet Agnes Hill.
I was always the good girl. I got good grades, I excelled in my activities, I respected adults, I … well, I was a good girl. When I talked back, I got in terrible trouble and felt guilt like you can't believe. See, good girl. It was disgusting. I love my younger self, but she could have been a bit feistier and still been a good girl.
My sister asked if I modeled Agnes after someone we knew well. Maybe a little, but not completely. It is fun to build characters from those people I've known and loved. My Agnes is a bigger personality suited to the role she plays in Polly's life, but the woman who inspired me was a character in and of herself.
Agnes Hill's last name is a quiet tribut
e to my elementary music teacher. She wasn't feisty, but a quiet and loving woman who saw a little girl's musical talent and gave her space to stand out. When the other girls in my class of twenty-three kids bullied me because I was different (the preacher's kid who hadn't grown up with them), she showed me how to be myself.
On International Women's Day I read tributes to brilliant, talented, compassionate, and exceptional women, and was once again reminded of how many amazing women have impacted me. Throughout my life, extraordinary women have given me a piece of themselves and I've become greater than just one girl on this earth. I am a composite of all of them. That's kind of a big deal!
The group that helps me with the Bellingwood series is filled with incredible and brilliant women. Thank you to: Diane Wendt, Carol Greenwood, Alice Stewart, Eileen Adickes, Fran Neff, Max Muir, Tracy Simpson, Linda Baker, Linda Watson, Nancy Quist, Rebecca Bauman, and Judy Tew.
Spend time with us at facebook.com/pollygiller.
(Still more!)
Don’t miss any books in Diane Greenwood Muir’s
Bellingwood Series
Diane publishes a new book in this series
on the 25th of March, June, September, and December.
Short stories are published in between those dates. vignettes are written and published each month in the newsletter.
The first nine books, plus short stories, are published
to Kindle in three boxed sets:
Bellingwood Boxed Set: Books 1-3
Bellingwood Boxed Set: Books 4-6
Bellingwood Boxed Set: Books 7-9
To ensure that you never miss anything,
sign up for the newsletter by clicking on this LINK.
You can find a list of all published works at nammynools.com
Journals
(Paperback only)
Find Joy – A Gratitude Journal
Books are Life – A Reading Journal
Capture Your Memories – A Journal
Abide With Me
(Kindle only)
Abiding Love - the story of Ruth
Abiding Grace - the story of the Prodigal Son
Abiding Hope – the story of the Good Samaritan
(Turn one more page!)
THANK YOU!
I’m so glad you enjoy these stories about Polly Giller and her friends. There are many ways to stay in touch with Diane and the Bellingwood community.
You can find more details about Sycamore House and Bellingwood at the website: http://nammynools.com/
Join the Bellingwood Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pollygiller
for news about upcoming books, conversations while I’m writing and you’re reading, and a continued look at life in a small town.
Diane Greenwood Muir’s Amazon Author Page is a great place to watch for new releases.
Follow Diane on Twitter at twitter.com/nammynools for regular updates and notifications.
Recipes and decorating ideas found in the books can often be found on Pinterest at: http://pinterest.com/nammynools/
And if you are looking for Sycamore House swag, check out Polly’s CafePress store: http://www.cafepress.com/sycamorehouse
Finis