“You can just quit your job and move here,” Nikki teased.
“After you.” Ava laughed, reminding her that she didn’t live there either. “But you’re in good hands. I see I have nothing to worry about with Paul around.”
“Not really,” Nikki said wistfully. “He’s been a real angel. I don’t know how I’d have managed all along if he wasn’t around.”
“I still think there’s a future for the two of you,” Ava added playfully as she zipped up her carry-on.
“Not going there with you.” Nikki walked off to the kitchen, where she poured a cup of coffee. “Paul and I are just friends, and that’s the way it’s going to be. Now, how about we have brunch before you leave?”
“You’re always so good at changing the subject.” Ava shook her head.
“That’s why I’m a journalist.” Nikki grinned.
Ava rolled her eyes. “I’m going to wash up.”
“Okay,” she said.
The two lounged around the house all morning until it was time for brunch. “I can’t tell you how I’m going to miss the food here,” Ava said as they left the house and walked over to the Nestled Inn.
They ran into Dorothy as she wheeled the cart toward the elevator. “Hi, Dorothy.”
“Hello, ma’am.” She smiled and wiped her hand down the front of her apron. “I was just heading over to see if you needed any help with the housekeeping. Is now a good time?”
“Yes, Dorothy. We were just heading to brunch,” Nikki replied.
“Very well.” She smiled. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks, Dor,” Nikki said affectionately. Although she was just a staff member, Dorothy had been more like family to her since she’d been there.
The women entered the restaurant attached to the inn and found two other couples. She smiled and waved at them as she tried to maintain the family ambience Trish had obviously cultivated.
“I’m going to miss it here.” Ava sighed. “It really feels like a slice of heaven.”
“And here’s to your send-off,” Nikki said as Justin, one of the servers, brought a bottle of wine over to them.
Nikki had barely inherited the place, but it already felt like home to her. Not long after the wine, they enjoyed french onion soup with baguettes, followed by a rack of lamb with braised asparagus and squid-ink rice.
“I’ve never had this,” Ava said of the rice. “It’s very delicious.”
“Me neither, and so many other things Paul has introduced me to since I’ve been there. I can’t say my budget has ever allowed for frequent visits to Michelin-starred restaurants.”
“You can say that again,” Ava said as she cut into her lamb. “This is so juicy and tender it just melts in your mouth. How do they get it so soft?”
“Well, you’re not going to understand because you’re no cook,” Nikki teased.
“Hey, I cook,” Ava replied, feigning insult. “I cook a mean omelet, and my baked mac and cheese is to die for.”
“Ava, making it from the box and sticking it into the oven isn’t baked mac and cheese.” Nikki laughed.
“Fine!” Ava pouted. “But that’s why I’m friends with you. And now Paul.”
Nikki laughed. “Yep. Give me a second, will you? Do you need more wine?”
“No, I’m good with this,” Ava replied.
Nikki had to do some last-minute checks as she entered the kitchen to take stock of her inventory. Luckily, she was a foodie, so she knew about food pairings and how to sanitize a workstation.
“All good in here?” she asked Doug, the head chef.
