“That’s for right now, though. Right?” Cassie said.
“Absolutely. It’ll happen some day, and when it does, I’ll know what to do.” Jamie sighed. “Okay, guys, enough of this serious stuff. Let’s shop!”
The trio exited and walked across the road to Peddler’s Village.
“What do you think, guys?” Gabi asked, when the sun started to descend. “Have you had enough yet?”
“One last store before we leave,” Cassie begged.
“Okay, but hurry. It’s getting a lot colder,” Jamie complained. “I’m ready for some downtime. We can come back here tomorrow, can’t we?” she asked, looking at Gabi.
“Sure. And it might even be warmer, although I have my doubts.”
“Okay, Cass,” Gabi said, “we’re heading to the car. Give me your bags, and I’ll heat up the car while you’re taking that last, exhausting walk through the shop.”
“Thank you. I just want to get something for my mother in the potpourri place.”
Hunching their shoulders, Jamie and Gabi held the bags close to their bodies and made a beeline across the road and into the parking lot. Unlocking the doors, Gabi slid behind the wheel and started the engine. An immediate surge of cold air blew out from the vents. She closed them to stop her teeth from chattering while they waited for the heat to warm up the car.
“Brr, it’s really cold here, Gab.”
“I know it. My fingertips are frozen, and I’m not sure they’ll ever be the same again.”
“It sounds like we’re tapping out a Morse code with our teeth.” Jamie chuckled in between teeth chatters.
“We are. We’re sending a message to Cassie to hurry.” Gabi finished by blowing hot breath down the inside of her coat. “Are you getting hungry?” Jamie nodded. “I figure by the time we get to our room and change, it’ll be time for dinner.”
By the time Cassie returned, the heat was on full force. Cassie opened the door and scooted inside.
“Ooh, it’s so nice and warm in here.”
“Yeah, it is now. You can thank us later for freezing our butts off while you shopped.”
“Thank you for such loyalty,” Cassie mocked.
“Nothing but the best for you, Cass,” Gabi said. She backed the car out of the space and eased onto the road. “I can’t wait for you guys to see this place.” Driving down the road, Gabi glanced at Cassie in the rearview mirror and noticed she was asleep. “Well, how do you like that? We froze our butts off, Jamie, and she’s sleeping.” Jamie reached back and poked Cassie until she opened her eyes.
“Sorry, guys. The car was so warm, it felt like I was snuggled up in a blanket, and I dozed.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry. We’re here now,” Gabi said, slowing down in front of the inn. “Ta-da! May I present the Inn at Carters’ Mill.”
“Oh, wow,” Cassie said. “Will you look at this place?”
The front of the inn was positioned close to the edge of the road, with only a narrow driveway on the side.
“Holy schmoly, this is some place.” Cassie’s eyes widened. “I wonder what the heck they do for parking when the restaurant is busy.”
“There’s an overflow area across the street.” Gabi pointed it out as she pulled into the small space. “I think this was most likely used during the inn’s heyday to accommodate the horse-drawn buggies chauffeuring the patrons.” Gabi cut the engine and stared at the front of the inn, excited to be back. English ivy extended over the facade of the fieldstone building, leaving only a few bare spots where the vines hadn’t encroached.
The trio walked toward the front door while inhaling the smell of burning wood that filled the crisp, chilly air.
Jamie shivered and swung her scarf around her neck a second time. “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” she teased. “Geez, it’s not this cold in New York.” They laughed and quickened their step to open the light blue door, accented with a dried flower wreath. A quick turn of the knob and they rushed inside, dancing in place to warm up.
The wide antique floorboards creaked as the trio walked down the long hallway to the reception area. The olive green fleur-de-lis wallpaper and thick distressed beams gave a cozy feeling. An elderly woman stood behind a mahogany desk, the gold embossing on its leather top faded from use. No doubt the reception desk, it was positioned next to the stairway that led up to the guest rooms.
“Are you checking in?” she asked.
“Yes,” Gabi said. “The name is Johnson.”
“Welcome to our humble abode. I’m the owner, Nell Carter. We’re happy to have you here.”
“And we’re happy to be here.” Gabi handed her a credit card and filled out the registration card.
“Were you thinking about having dinner with us tonight?”
“Absolutely. We have no plans to go back outside, certainly not when it’s toasty warm and smells so good in here.”
“Did you have a nice day?”
“We did,” Gabi piped up. “We went over to Peddler’s Village and spent more money than we’d intended!”
The woman nodded. “Isn’t that always the way?” She gestured to a young man with sandy-colored hair. “Brian, will you help our guests with their luggage?” He nodded. “I have them in the Sunflower Suite.”
Gabi shivered. “It’s so cold here.”
“Yes, it does get pretty cold up here. No tall buildings to block the wind like you gals have in New York. That’s where you said you were from when you made the reservation, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I’m sure you picked up on my New York accent, too.”
“Well, I did, but I didn’t want to be rude.” She grinned. “What time did you want to have dinner?”
“I actually think we’re hungry now.” She turned to Cassie and Jamie and gave a questioning nod. “Aren’t we?” They agreed. “Okay, we’re going to go up to the room and get settled, and we’ll be down in about thirty minutes. Is that okay?”
“That will be fine.”
Mounting the stairs, they followed the young man. He unlocked their door and showed them the room, which had two double beds and a pullout sofa bed. After he left, Jamie was the first to kick off her shoes. She flopped down on one of the beds, seemingly testing it out while the others admired the Victorian decor. A tall mahogany dresser stood in one corner of the room, with a small television sitting on top, and the beds had brass headboards with what appeared to be handmade quilts folded at the foot of each. The small bathroom at the other end offered minimal accommodations and style.
“This suite is exactly what I expected after seeing the decor downstairs. I feel like I’m in the olden days,” said Jamie. She picked up a tabletop book of things to do around the area. “I’m sure this place is great during the summer months, but what is there to do during the winter?” Jamie leafed through the booklet, only stopping to listen to Gabi.
“Plenty. There’s antiquing, wine tours, galleries, a symphony hall, and of course the historical Washington Crossing. Did you know it’s the site of General Washington’s 1776 surprise Christmas crossing of the Delaware during the American Revolutionary War? They even have a re-enactment of the occasion with local actors every year. People come from all over.”
“Geez, Gab, you sound like a docent in a museum,” Cassie teased while Jamie giggled.
Gabi’s face turned crimson. “Well, I thought I should study up a little bit. Besides, I thought you guys might be interested in knowing.” She brushed off their teasing and continued while the girls grinned at each other. “You know, there’s also a place called Lambertville across the river that’s very close to here with lots of things to do. Maybe we’ll take a ride there tomorrow.” Gabi tucked in her blouse and added a swipe of gloss to her lips. She pressed in on her stomach. “Are you guys ready to go downstairs? I’m suddenly starving.”
“It’s a yes for me,” Cassie piped up. “And if I don’t get a hot chocolate soon, I’m afraid my toes and fingers are going to fall off.”
�
��Okay, then let’s hustle,” Jamie said, unpacking her clothes and shoving things in a drawer.
Mrs. Carter turned when she heard their heavy footsteps coming down the creaky stairs behind her, just twenty minutes after they’d gone up to their room. “That was fast,” she said. “Brian, please walk our guests to table twelve by the fireplace.”
“Oh, thank you, ma’am,” Jamie said.
Only two other people, a couple, sat at a table in one of the dining rooms. It gave Gabi a better perspective of the inn’s size and attributes. Through candlelit windows, she spied another fieldstone wall in the distance. “A perfect setting for a romantic evening with someone special,” she thought. The tables were covered with white tablecloths and set to perfection with glasses, silverware, and yellow bread plates. A large candle glittered inside a glass table sconce. Gabi smiled as she watched the facial expressions of Jamie and Cassie when they walked the length of the dining room.
“Oh, Gabi,” Cassie said when she returned to the table. “This place is magnificent.”
She nodded with excitement. “I think I should go over to talk to Mrs. Carter while she’s not busy. Maybe she can squeeze in an appointment to talk to me,” she said, trying to curb her enthusiasm. “Order me another hot chocolate, and I’ll be back shortly.”
“Will do,” Jamie said, giving her a thumbs-up. “Good luck.”
“Is there something wrong?” Mrs. Carter asked when Gabi approached.
“No, not at all. Do you have a minute to talk about your inn?”
“Absolutely. What would you like to know?”
“I was here about two weeks ago and learned from one of your servers that you’re interested in selling.”
The woman’s face cracked into a smile. “I don’t have a lot of time to talk right now, but since you’re rooming here, we can schedule an appointment for tomorrow between breakfast and lunch, say around ten thirty. Will that work for you?”
“That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.” A few customers approached behind Gabi, and she turned to leave, feeling as though she was floating back across the dining room.
“Ooh, that grin tells me your conversation went well,” Cassie said, handing her the menu.
“I have an appointment for ten thirty tomorrow morning.” Gabi grinned like the Cheshire Cat and opened the menu.
Cassie checked the time. “Gabi’s been talking to the Carters for over two hours already. I wonder how she’s making out.”
“I know,” Jamie said rolling her eyes. “I was just thinking the same thing. She’s going to be so disappointed if they don’t go for the idea.”
“For sure,” Cassie said in a low voice. “We’ll just have to—” She stopped talking when she heard Gabi’s laughter. “Ooh, at least she sounds happy.”
“I hope it’s not a front for how she really feels.”
Gabi glanced their way with surprise when she passed by the dining room and saw them. “Are you two still down here?”
“Yeah, we were waiting for you.” Jamie gave her a quizzical look, and Gabi read it.
“Great, guys,” she said, beaming. “Just great! I’ll tell you about it in the car.”
Pushing their chairs under the table, they put on their coats and headed out to the parking lot to the car. By now, Gabi was doing a jig, she was so excited. When she got that out of her system, she began to talk. “Here’s the deal. They’ve been trying to sell the place for two years now. Her husband really wants to retire, because he’s been in this business most of his life and he’s tired. Plus, he’s had some health issues, so the push to sell is even greater.” Gabi rubbed her jaws. “My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.” Gabi squeezed Cassie’s hand. “The Carters have agreed to hold the loan so long as it doesn’t put a hitch in their retirement cash flow, if I have collateral and agree to the terms of the contract.” Gabi picked up her pace to get out of the cold. “I want this so bad. I hope Dad and our family attorney can figure something out.”
“Wow!” the girls said simultaneously, but Cassie was the next to speak. “I’m sure things will all work out just fine. So how soon does all this happen?”
“The attorney will start the paperwork right away. As for moving here, the lease on my apartment is up in February. That gives you a month to find someone to replace me at the Kitchen Widget and my parents time to do whatever they’re going to do. I called them while I was talking with the Carters, and they’ve agreed to help me any way they can. They’ll be coming up to see the place next week with their attorney. Obviously, this isn’t going to happen overnight, but I’m hoping to be up here by the end of March and working at the restaurant. Does that work for you?” she said, unlocking the car and rushing to let them inside.
“Holy cow! So you’re really going to do this, huh?”
“I am. Oh my God, I’m ecstatic.” Gabi rubbed her hands together to warm them. “We have a lot of paperwork to send to them. Nell said once the paperwork is in the closing process and the inspections are being done, she’ll introduce me as the potential new owner.”
“But what if it falls through?” Jamie asked.
“Well, I’ll leave then. But if she doesn’t introduce me that way, how much respect do you think the staff will give me when they find out the person they thought was a worker like them is now their boss? This gives me the respect right off the bat.”
“You’re right.” Jamie nodded. “That absolutely makes sense.”
“The one thing she did tell me was that the sous-chef has been wanting to buy the place, but they’d decided they didn’t want to sell it to him.”
“Uh-oh, that sets the stage for some interesting conflict. Does he have collateral?”
“She said he did not. He was basically in the same boat as me. It was too risky for some reason.” Gabi held up her hand. “I know. I didn’t ask, and she didn’t offer.”
“These Carters certainly sound like nice people.”
“They seemed very nice. They told me this was how they got their start at the inn, and it would be their way of returning the favor.” She blew out a steamy breath in the cold. “Okay, enough of that. It’s party time.”
Gabi sealed the box and watched Josh carry out the last of her things to the small U-Haul truck she’d rented. Nervous about the change and uncertain about the outcome, she tried to convince herself that everything happens for a reason and finding Carters was the beginning of something special. Nevertheless, she couldn’t shake the fear of possibly failing, especially now that her parents had agreed to put their home up as collateral after the Carters agreed to hold the loan. One step at a time, she told herself. Leaving her best friends behind was going to be the hardest part. When she saw Cassie standing by the window looking outside, presumably watching Josh stack boxes in the truck, she snuck up behind her. Gabi turned her around and noticed she was crying.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Cassie blubbered. “It won’t be the same without you.”
“I know. I’m going to miss you guys too.” She wiped away Cassie’s tears. “Don’t cry. I’m not that far away. You guys can come with your men and stay at the inn free of charge.”
“You can’t be giving those rooms to your friends, Gab. Wait until you know what kind of money you’re going to have first. Maybe a discount, but certainly not for free.”
“I guess I need to take a step back from my generosity.”
“Yes, you do. But it was a nice thought, sweetie, and so like you.”
Jamie rushed into the apartment, out of breath from running up the stairs. “Cripes, I was afraid I was going to miss you. I couldn’t get away from Mama Carlucci. The woman was stuck on a high note and singing the daughter-in-law blues.” Jamie gave a long look at Gabi and blew out a breath of air. Jamie wrapped her arms around Gabi. “Aww, I don’t want you to go. We’ve been like the Three Musketeers ever since I joined the group. You and Cassie welcomed me with open arms, and seeing you leave… it just doesn’t feel right.”
Gabi’s
mouth pulled into a pout. “I know,” Gabi said, and kissed Jamie’s cheek. “This is hard for me too.” She returned the tight hug. “So where’s Bailey? Isn’t she with you?”
“She saw Josh and Matt loading the truck and that was all it took. Bailey said she’s with her favorite ‘unkes.’” That brought a smile to Cassie’s face. “She thought she could help him.” Jamie turned to Cassie. “Your husband is going to make a wonderful dad.”
“He certainly is,” Gabi chimed in, “but I won’t harp on you, Cass. You’ve got your mother to do that.”
“Right, ad nauseam, I might add.”
“Yeah, ain’t that the truth.”
“But seeing her hang out with the guys is so cute. Is she missing Chase?”
“Well, she doesn’t really know we didn’t work out. She thinks he moved back to his temporary home. I don’t really talk about him anymore, because I don’t want to add more to what she’s been through.” Jamie stopped and looked around at the empty apartment. “Wow, you’re actually going to do this, huh?”
“I am… but you guys will all come and visit me, won’t you?”
“Of course we will,” Cassie said. Her cell phone rang. She placed the phone to her ear and listened. “Okay, Josh, we’re coming right down.” She made a face. “The cops are threatening to tow the U-Haul truck if you don’t move it now,” she announced.
“Okay,” Gabi huffed, “I guess I’ve prolonged this for as long as I can.” She curled her arms around her two friends, took one last look at the apartment, and locked the door, handing the keys to Jamie. “Would you give these to my landlord in apartment 1A?”
“Sure.”
The three friends made their way down the stairs single file until they walked outside and saw the flashing red light. “Hey, lady, get this truck outta of here… now!” the cop demanded.
“Okay, okay, I’m leaving right now. Sorry, officer.” Gabi gave everyone a last hug, kissed Bailey and positioned herself in the driver’s seat with the aid of two bed pillows, one behind her and one under. Being only five feet two inches had its disadvantages. She adjusted herself until she was comfortable and had her foot firmly on the pedal. Shoving the gear selector into drive, she pulled away from the curb, waving and throwing kisses as she eased into the traffic. Leaving so abruptly seemed unfair, but it did make her exit easier. She blew out an anxious breath, then shouted out the window when she saw their sad expressions, “Call me!”
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