Donna satout on the point that evening, sipping a glass of wine, and watching the sunset slowly slip away. She’d briefly thought of asking Barry to join her but didn’t want to seem…
Seem what? She wasn’t sure. Plus, he probably had things to do after they’d kept him busy all afternoon exploring the hotel. And she still was uncertain on whether he’d asked her on a date on The Destiny or maybe just meant going as neighbors.
She turned her thoughts back to the hotel. The ballroom had taken her breath away. It was stunning, even though ladders and scaffolding still lined the walls. It looked like something out of a movie set that begged for fancy dresses and orchestra music and…
She sighed. There she was getting all romantic about a room. It had been a wonderful afternoon though. She and Barry had walked home together, stopping for ice cream at Parker’s on the way. Just for ice cream. Not because she was checking up on the store for the second time today.
The stars flickered above her and peace settled over the lake. Across the distance, she could hear muted laughter. A pair of pelicans swooped through the sky above her, silhouetted momentarily in the moonlight.
On a night like this, everything seemed right in her world. These moments were the ones she loved to just sit and enjoy. Wrap around her like a favorite blanket.
And yet…tonight she wished she were sharing this moment with someone else.
Her sister Evelyn.
Or Olivia and Emily.
Or…Barry.
Chapter 10
Olivia chased Emily out the door to school the next morning, then hurried off to Brewster’s to meet Heather. They’d pretty much fallen into a routine to meet there for coffee in the mornings ever since Heather had returned. Besides, she really,reallywanted to run something by her cousin this morning.
She had this idea. An idea that had been growing as she turned it over and over in her mind. Her logical cousin could shoot it down if it was just too crazy of an idea…
As she got to the pier, she noticed Jackie and Jillian Jenkins standing near the entrance. She quickly ducked along a side path that would take her down outside the back of the shops instead of down the wide center walkway. She found it just good, sensible practice to avoid the sisters whenever possible. Helped keep gossip to a minimum. It was amazing how they could twist the most innocent thing a person said.
Heather was already at a table and waved. She walked to the waterside table as Heather slid a cup of coffee in front of the extra seat.
“Sorry, I’m late. Had to take the back walkway.”
Heather laughed.“I did too. Avoiding Jackie and Jillian.”
“Exactly.”She rolled her eyes as she sank into the chair beside Heather.
“They caught me when I was leaving the other day. Made remarks on how Father and I were abandoning my—what did they call her—oh—poormother.”
“As if your mother couldn’t take care of herself.”
“Right?”Heather nodded, then frowned.“So…what is it you want to talk about?”
“How did you know I wanted to talk about something?”
“You’ve got that look.”
“You know me too well.”She set down her cup.“I have some news. Something I want to talk over with you. You know the cafe next to Parker’s?”
“Of course.”
“Well…the owner is selling the building. He and his wife are moving out of town. Something about moving near their grandkids.”She paused and gathered her thoughts.“And I was thinking…I was going to suggest…”
“Spill it.”
“I was thinking we could expand Parker’s into that building. Then there would be lots of room to expand the malt shop into more of a gathering area. A coffee bar for the morning crowd. More tables. And that would also give us lots of room in the back of the building, behind the kitchen, to expand Parker’s General Store area. Mom is always saying there’s more she wants to carry, but there’s no more space for it. You know how we have everything so crammed in there. Imagine if we could spread out more and make it look…I don’t know…nicer? You know, more like an old-fashioned general store. I think that would attract tourists. Plus, their whole second floor could be used for storage and free more downstairs space for us.”
“I think that sounds like a smart business decision.”
“I’ve run some numbers. I don’t think it would take long for us to make it a profitable venture. Even with the cost of opening up and connecting the two buildings.”
