The Inn at Misty Lake: Book Two in the Misty Lake Series

by Margaret Standafer

  Susan ached for her friend so had to tamp down her joy. Stephen must have done something especially stupid to finally convince Cassie it was time to leave and since she was calling, Susan was praying that meant she was headed to Misty Lake to get a look at the inn.

  “What did he do?”

  “He fired Jamie, that’s what he did, the idiot.”

  “No. Even he’s not that dumb.”

  “Oh, he is. Fired him yesterday in the middle of the dinner rush. He stormed into the kitchen, started pitching a fit about portion sizes, and fired him. Just like that.”

  “But Jamie’s the best chef the Billingsley has ever had, he’s got to know that.”

  “He doesn’t think things through. When Billingsley Senior found out, he stomped into Stephen’s office and slammed the door. Didn’t matter, I could still hear the yelling. He demanded Stephen get Jamie back. Stephen tried, but Jamie told him to take a hike.”

  “Good for Jamie. He’s not going to have any trouble finding another position, he’s one of the best chefs in the city.”

  “Susan, I don’t know how much more I can take. He’s running this place into the ground and I don’t want to be around to see it happen. So…I’m thinking about paying you a visit next week.”

  “Oh, Cassie, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Things are moving so quickly here, I’ve already booked a few reservations and I’m still months away from opening. I can’t wait for you to see the place, you’re going to love it. But no pressure or anything…”

  “Sure,” Cassie laughed. Then, growing more serious said, “I need to make a change. I almost gave my notice yesterday when he fired Jamie, but I need to have something lined up first. It’s just depressing going into work, everyone is unhappy and on edge and the place is going downhill fast. I think Senior is starting to realize it and I get the feeling he’s going to try to do something about it, but I’m afraid it’s going to be hard to repair the damage that’s already been done.”

  “You know, for as much as I couldn’t stand Stephen, I feel sorry for Senior. He put his heart and soul into that place and it must be killing him to see his son run it into the ground. Too bad he doesn’t have another son with a little more sense.”

  “He’s been mentioning a niece to me lately. I wouldn’t be surprised if he brings her in before long.”

  “A woman? Priceless. That will really send Stephen over the edge.”

  “So, are you available to give me the grand tour next week?”

  “Sweetie, you just tell me when.”

  Susan had been working tirelessly trying to get the inn looking its best before Cassie arrived. Foolish, she told herself, as it was obviously still under construction and she couldn’t possibly clear out all the mess, but she couldn’t help herself. She was sweeping and straightening inside and doing what she could to clean up the yard outside. April had arrived and while there were still some piles of snow, grass was showing through in most of the yard. She picked up sticks and cleaned up after Gusto. As she stepped around the rotted boards on the porch, she wished Riley had gotten to it last fall as it definitely didn’t make a very good first impression, but she knew the majority of the outside work would be tackled over the spring and summer.

  Riley and his crew would also be shifting a lot of their focus to the barn soon. As with the outside work, most of the barn renovations were waiting until the weather warmed and there was more daylight to work with. Riley had made arrangements with Jeremiah to continue on a consulting basis and he assured Susan—every time she asked—that it would be ready for the wedding with plenty of time to spare. Susan would never admit it to Sam, but she was starting to worry.

  As she finished sweeping out the last bedroom, Gusto wandered in and nudged her hand until she finally sat down on the floor with him.

  “I’m sorry, boy, you’ve been neglected these past few days, haven’t you?”

  In response, the dog climbed into her lap as he had done when he’d been just a puppy. The fact that he now weighed nearly sixty pounds and he couldn’t get much more than his head and shoulders in her lap didn’t deter him in the least. They sat for a few minutes enjoying the sun shining through the window and warming them.

  “I think I’ll just rest for a minute before I get back at it,” Susan mumbled as she leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes.

  They were driving along a curvy, country road in a fire red convertible, the top down and her hair billowing in the wind. Riley reached over and took her hand. Lifting it to his lips, he pressed a kiss in her palm. They drove on and the road started to climb as they made their way up a mountain, past cows and wildflowers. Somehow Susan knew they were in Switzerland. She asked Riley how he had known to bring her there, but he just squeezed her hand and watched the road.

  They stopped in front of a darling chalet complete with a balcony wrapping around the front and sides and with flower boxes beneath every window spilling over with brilliant red and yellow flowers. The grass was bright green and was dotted with cows as far as she could see. Susan could hear the lazy clanging of their bells as they meandered through the fields.

  She wanted to go inside, but Riley took her hand and led her along a path made by countless hikers before them. She asked him where they were headed, but he just smiled. Susan longed to stop and look around, it had been so long since she’d seen the mountains, but Riley coaxed her on. Again she asked where they were going and why they had to hurry, but with a gentle tug on her hand, he urged her to keep moving.

  The climb got steeper and Susan’s legs began to burn. She looked at Riley and his eyes seemed to tell her to hold on, they were almost there. After a few more minutes, Riley stopped. Susan looked around her and felt as if she were on top of the world. She could see mountaintops and valleys. Tiny villages punctuated the landscape…clusters of houses and farms with nothing but green separating them. She spotted a waterfall and followed it with her eyes to a stream that flowed down the side of the mountain.

  She could hardly tear her eyes away but needed to ask Riley why they were there. She was supposed to be meeting Cassie and she needed to get back. When she turned to look at him he was down on one knee holding a ring resting in a black, velvet box and he was asking her to marry him. Of course, she’d marry him, it was all she really wanted. She tried to tell him, but the cowbells were clanging loudly now and he couldn’t hear her. Frustrated, she tried shouting but her words were drowned out by the bells that were getting louder and louder. The sound seemed to envelope her. She repeated herself over and over but he didn’t hear her. Riley’s eyes grew sad and he started to turn away from her.

  Susan jerked and her eyes flew open. Gusto was on his feet licking her cheek and her phone was ringing. She took a deep breath and tried to gather her wits.

  “Hello?” she managed.

  “Hi, Susan. I’m almost to Misty Lake. Where should I meet you?”

  Susan rubbed her eyes and tried to focus. Switzerland? Weird. But, she and Sam had just been looking at old photos. A red convertible? Maybe Riley had one hidden away somewhere. Eventually, she got her brain working and made plans with Cassie.

  Struggling to her feet, she tried to shake off the feelings that she couldn’t even really define. Part of her was deliriously happy with the idea of Riley asking her to marry him, but the fact that something got in the way of her answering him nagged at her. She couldn’t get the sight of him turning away from her out of her mind.

  Taking another deep breath, she ordered herself to shake it off. It was just a dream, it didn’t mean anything.

  Then she realized it did mean one thing…she had a name for the last room. Sweet Dreams. Because, she told herself, that’s what it had been. If the dream had lasted just a little longer, she would have gotten through to Riley, he would have slipped the ring on her finger, and they would have planned their happily ever after. Satisfied, she headed out to meet Cassie.

  “Now, keep in mind there’s a lot of work yet
to do and the place is a mess. The porch is in pretty rough shape, but it will be fixed up as soon as the weather gets a little warmer. I have sketches inside, I can show you what it will look like when it’s done. And you’ll have to imagine what it will look like inside once the tiling and woodwork is all done. It’s going to be beautiful.”

  The words spilled out and Susan seemed unable to stop them. She was so certain Cassie was the perfect person for the job, her nerves and her desire to have Cassie love the place as much as she did had her babbling. She didn’t slow down as she stepped carefully over the rotted boards on the porch and opened the front door.

  “This is the parlor, one of my favorite spots. The fireplace is original and during restoration Riley uncovered this brick wall hidden behind the plaster. Isn’t it gorgeous? I’m thinking I’ll—”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Susan, take a breath!”

  Susan did just that and as she blew the hair out of her face said, “I just want you to love it, Cassie, but I’m going to shut up now and let you look around. I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but you need to make your own judgments. I don’t want to pressure you. Really,” she added when Cassie gave her a skeptical look.

  They walked through every room with Susan explaining her plans in as much detail as Cassie seemed to want, but trying to keep her emotions in check. Cassie asked question after question and offered ideas and suggestions. The longer they spent talking and exploring, the more excited Susan became.

  “I love the room names and the ideas you have for themes and décor. What about either stenciling ‘Sweet Dreams’ on the wall in here or…I saw something not long ago, it was oversized scrabble letters spelling out messages on the wall. You could write ‘Sweet’ horizontally and ‘Dreams’ vertically so they share an e. And maybe some star and moon shaped throw pillows. I bet you could find a comforter or quilt following the theme if you’re going that direction.”

  Susan had to pinch herself in order to wipe the goofy smile off her face. “No, strictly duvets with white covers. I’ve spent enough time in the hotel biz to know I don’t want to deal with spreads or quilts. Nasty.”

  “Good choice, I was going to suggest that but didn’t want to step on your toes. What about the floors? The hardwood is gorgeous, you’re not going to cover it with carpet, are you?”

  “Absolutely not, maybe just a rug or two.”

  “Perfect. And window treatments? The same throughout or different for each room.”

  Cassie, whether she realized it or not, had slipped into work mode. Susan crossed her fingers…it had to be a good sign. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll need something to block the light so maybe room-darkening shades with curtains that could vary from room to room fitting with the colors and themes.”

  “I have a few ideas, I’ll show you later when we look at your website. Speaking of which, I assume you’ve already published prices? How did you determine them?”

  “I did a little research, compared prices at nearby hotels and resorts. There aren’t any other B&Bs in town, but I found some not too far away so used that data. Then there’s always that fine line…don’t go too high or you run the risk of scaring people away, but don’t go too low that people think it’s a dump.”

  “Okay, good. We can go over the pricing later, too, and I’ll let you know what I think but since I don’t know much about going rates in the area, I probably won’t be much help without a little more research. Maybe we can look at offering different rates for peak season and off-season if you haven’t already done that. Menu?”

  “I have a few ideas. I may have borrowed a secret or two from the Billingsley’s brunch menu but I’ll put enough spin on them that they’re my own.”

  “Hey, I’ll never tell,” Cassie laughed.

  “I’ll have one breakfast item a day—pancakes, waffles, French toast, quiche, whatever—with fruit, coffee, and juice, but I’m planning on having an alternate lighter option available every day, as well. It will be simple like fruit and oatmeal, but it will give people a choice in case of dietary concerns or restrictions.”

  “If you don’t already, it might be a good idea to have a comment spot on the reservation page where guests can inform you ahead of time of allergies. That way, it will give you some advance notice and you can plan the menu accordingly.”

  “Good idea, I’ll add it.”

  “Kids?”

  Susan outlined the policy she had in place and got Cassie’s approval.

  “Now, tell me about the event center. I’ll admit I’m intrigued but a little concerned at the same time. Usually at a B&B you’re not responsible for your guests’ entertainment during the day and you get some downtime between breakfast and check-in and then again later at night. It’s what makes the whole thing doable. If you have people using the event center, won’t you be on duty all day? Can you handle that?”

  “Fair question. Yes, it will be more hours, but the fee I charge will allow me to bring in help if I feel I need it. In the case of a big event like a wedding reception, the group will be responsible for hiring their own caterer who will bring help for setup, serving, and cleanup. Of course, someone from the inn will need to be around to oversee things and handle any problems if they arise, but it’s not going to be an every weekend kind of thing. I can handle it.”

  Cassie seemed a little skeptical but nodded. “Maybe we can talk more about it over dinner. I still have a million questions, but I’ve love to see the barn and then I need to get something to eat. I’m starving.”

  “Perfect, I have it covered. Riley is meeting us in town so you can meet him and ask him any questions you have. Sam and Jake are joining us and I think Riley’s brother might be there, too. He wanted to talk to me more about taking some publicity photos and then maybe using them…well, it’s a long story but you might meet him, too. And, you’ll get to see Misty Lake in all its glory.”

  “Misty Lake sounds fascinating from what you’ve told me, but mostly I can’t wait to meet Riley,” Cassie said wiggling her eyebrows. “I’ve never heard you talk about a guy the way you talk about him. He’s got to be pretty special.”

  “He is, Cassie, he is.”

  Susan had chosen For Heaven’s Steak, her attempt to show Cassie that she could get an excellent dinner in Misty Lake. She figured if something was going to keep Cassie from taking the job it was likely to be the fact that Misty Lake was a far cry from Chicago. They pulled into the parking lot just as Riley did.

  “There he is, that’s Riley,” Susan said and realized she sounded like a teenager.

  “I…oh, um, okay,” Cassie answered.

  Susan studied Cassie, alarmed at the way she stammered and she seemed frozen in place, but before Susan could ask questions, Riley was at their car and she found herself making introductions.

  “It’s good to meet you, Cassie. Susan has been talking about you for months with nothing but good things to say. Welcome to Misty Lake.”

  Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Cassie as she lifted her hand to shake Riley’s. She barely mumbled a hello as she stared. Then, as if his hand burned hers, she dropped it and started for the restaurant.

  Susan looked between the two but could do nothing except follow when Cassie darted away.

  Sam and Jake were already seated. They joined them and Susan began making more introductions.

  “It’s not quite Chicago, but what you do think of Misty Lake so far?” Jake asked Cassie.

  “Well, I haven’t seen much so it’s a little early to say, but I’d like to think I’m open minded.”

  Jake laughed. “Ah, nicely played.”

  Cassie was looking at Riley again as Sam asked her about her trip. It took Cassie a minute to realize Sam was talking to her. Shaking her head and turning her attention to Sam, she said, “I’m sorry, I guess I’m a little out of it.”

  “No worries, I was just asking about your trip.”

  They chatted for a few minutes until Riley saw Frank come in and waved him
over. Cassie turned to greet the newest arrival as he came up behind her. When she saw him, the color drained from her face and she gave a little gasp.

  “Hey, Jake, before I forget, I have a box in the car Mom wanted me to—” As Frank glanced around the table and he caught sight of Cassie, the words died on his lips.

  The two stared at each other, neither moving nor speaking. There were curious glances from everyone, but Frank and Cassie never noticed. Finally, Frank gathered his wits and whispered, “Cassandra?”

  Cassie felt like she’d been slugged in the gut. She hadn’t laid eyes on Frank McCabe in six years and thought she never would again. All at once the memories came flooding back, but she quickly shut them down as she managed to mutter, “It’s Cassie. Just Cassie.”

  Susan was looking back and forth between the two. “You guys know each other? How?”

  Jolted from their memories, both Cassie and Frank looked around the table then at one another as if wondering how to answer…and hoping the other one would answer first.

  Cassie finally said, “It was a long time ago. We met back when I used to do some modeling, wasn’t that it?” She remembered it as if it were yesterday.

  “Yeah, when I was interning with Keith and I went along on that shoot in Chicago…” Frank added as if that would explain everything.

  Sam broke the tension. “Small world. The waitress is giving us the eye. Should we take a look at the menu and give her our order?”

  Once they were all seated and had placed their order, curiosity got the better of Susan. “I still don’t get it. You two met in Chicago? Frank, you were working a shoot Cassie did?”

  “Um…yeah. Keith had a few clients in Chicago, one was putting together some promotional material for a new line of outdoor furniture, wasn’t that it?” he asked Cassie. She nodded but didn’t say anything. “There were a few models there, Cassandra—Cassie, I guess—was one of them. We all got to know each other.”

  “And you haven’t seen each other since?” Susan asked.