Page 35 of Made for You

“Am I going to get more than short answers?” She looks at me out of the corner of her eye.

“It looks good. I will tell Violet. Promise. Continue.” I hold up my fingers in the old boy scout’s honor.

“Okay, moving on. We’ve seen a huge bump in bookings with the Valentine’s Day packages, for the whole month. What do you think about creating packages for the other months? We could create a family package for school breaks, a St. Patrick's Day thing maybe with Rebels? Micro-wedding packages?” She talks a mile a minute. I love that my sister has the passion for business and growing the inn with me. But I won’t tell her that.

“What the hell is a Micro-wedding?” I raise an eyebrow.

“It’s the new trend. Basically just the couple and max ten people. They could book the rooms at the inn, or some of the cabins, a lot less work than a whole big wedding, so less hands needed on deck. Violet said she could bake cakes for the wedding packages, and I’m going to talk to Roman about doing something with a bar for the few guests if you like the idea.”

I love everything she’s saying. This could really make us a true destination that could keep people coming back year after year, or even for different packages throughout the year for a weekend.

“Everything sounds great, Em. I love the idea of the micro-wedding. Talk to Roman and let me know what he says.”

I pick up my veiner again and go back to work.

“Really?” She sounds distrusting of the fact that I like her ideas.

“Yeah. I’m not Pops. I want new things to draw in new customers.”

Pops was not receptive to my ideas. Partly why the inn went to shit.

She runs her fingers over the design I’m working on.

“You know, we could sell your furniture. I’ve seen Bed and Breakfasts do it before. They use local artisan’s items for decor or furniture, and put price tags with the artisan’s name. If people like it, they can buy it. And your stuff is so beautiful.” She wanders over to some of the other furniture I’m working on for the dining room.

“You keep saying.” I don’t think I want to put myself out there yet. “You think people would actually buy it?”

“Of course. Think about it. And about Violet. You know I’m right.” She hugs me around my shoulders and walks away leaving me with just my thoughts.

I finally finish the design on the drawer and slide it into place. Next is the staining process. I stare at the choices I have lined up on my shelf, and the stack of design notes from Scarlett. This room faces the water so we decided to go with a light blue, seafoam green color palette.

All of these are words I never thought I’d use in my day to day running of the inn.

I choose a whitewashed light gray stain for the nightstand and grab a rag from my workbench.

I no sooner pour the stain on before one of the stray cats that live in our barn hops up for some love.

I have a soft spot for these furry creatures. Midnight, the black cat that is currently creating pawprints on my work, is one of my favorites. She came last winter, and always stickswith me while I work in the barn. She’s been missing for a bit though, I thought maybe someone had taken her in.

I move her off the nightstand and bring her over to my workbench where I keep some food and bowls.

“You’re getting a little chunky there girl. Too many visits to Esther? I know she likes to give you the good cream.”

She only meows in response.

I scratch the top of her head only three times as she likes and then I go back to work while she eats her food and curls up on the blankets I leave out.

My mind keeps wandering back to Violet and Emma.

Emma is right. She would never let anyone talk bad about her brothers in any way. Once in high school, Cooper had a bad football game after a tough break up, and a lot of kids were talking shit about him. Emma heard some of them and decked two kids, breaking one nose.

I want to believe that’s not what Violet would think of me, but it’s been so long. What if I don’t really know her anymore? What if after her time in New York she wants a guy more like my brothers?

Maybe I overreacted. I might just have to suck up my pride and apologize to Violet, but I should probably hear her out first. I don’t want to lose her as a friend, or more. And I need to talk to her to get the truth like an adult.

Being an adult is easier when you’re the recluse.

This morning’s breakfast rush was everything I hoped it would be. Everyone was raving about the pancakes and all the women thought the heart shaped bacon was such a cute touch. I added a fruit bowl with cantaloupe cut with small heart shaped cutters.

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