Page 40 of Making Home with You
“Whatever, Erin,” Kelsey comments back, shaking her head.“I was going over some new marketing material for the inn and the time got away from me.Erin was helping me go through some mockups…” She trails off, grabbing a few things from her desk and setting them down in front of me.“Maybe you can help us.Something about these just doesn’t feel right to us.”
I take a quick look and immediately see what she’s talking about.The placement of the inn’s name is off, the font is too small.The business cards are missing the website and email address.
“Who does your marketing?”I ask immediately knowing that even in the small amount of spare time I have I can do better than this.
“I don’t have a huge budget.Mostly just word of mouth and tourists who visit regularly for a city break, but I just hired someone I found on the Internet.The prices were cheap.”
I flip through some of the ideas that she’s been given for Internet marketing and social media, and I’m wondering if I should offer to take this on for her.
“You don’t have any social media pages?”I ask, but my question comes out higher and more shocked than I plan.
Kelsey looks away from me and says, “Nope, nothing.Just a website for booking.”
“I know you paid this person already, but would you mind if I took a look at this stuff and came up with something for you?I think I can help you out.Marketing is kinda my thing.”
“Oh my god, seriously?Why didn’t you ever say anything?Please do.I need all the help I can get.”She then piles everything into a file folder and hands it to me, and I agree to get some stuff back to her in the next few days.
As we finish up eating, Erin tosses a few boxes of chocolates onto the table and Kelsey lets out a loud laugh and scowls at Erin.
“Sarah and I don’t want your leftover shitty candy you got as Christmas gifts from your students.”
“I’m going to throw it out then,” Erin says, like this is a threat.She’s been pawning this stuff off on anyone within a ten-mile radius.“You sure you don’t want these?”She picks up a box of chocolate scotch shots and Kelsey shakes her head.
“Fuck no.You know I don’t like it when things squirt into my mouth.”Her nose is crinkled up and she shakes her head quickly, but Erin doesn’t let her off the hook that easily.
“Oh really?I’m pretty sure Beck would disagree with that comment.”
“Erin!”Kelsey screams, but we’re all laughing so loudly I’m certain her guests can hear us.
“Speaking of Beck, you guys ready for the party tomorrow?”Erin asks, wiping the tears from laughing that streak her cheeks.
“Yeah, I think so.I’m a little worried people won’t come dressed up, but I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate.”
“I think the famous TV and movie couples thing is super fun.I’m totally in,” I say, but both Erin and Kelsey give me a look that says they’re a little confused.
“You and Finn are dressing up?”Erin asks, but it’s like she knows something I don’t.“Finn doesn’t dress up for anything.Every year Kelsey throws a Halloween party and he never comes.”
“I got us costumes and he didn’t say anything otherwise,” I tell them, but now I’m concerned that he’s just placating me, that I’m forcing him into doing something he doesn’t want to do.
“I’d be surprised if he came too,” Kelsey adds.“Rumor around town is that he’s dealing with some shit at work.Carla’s been giving him a run for his money.”
“What?”I ask, now completely confused.He hasn’t mentioned a word to me about any of this.“Who’s Carla?”
“Oh, one of those twats who thinks Finn should’ve married her,” Erin says, flicking her hand around.“She owns that little fish restaurant down by the water, the one that someone painted a giant cock on the side of.Fucking priceless.”
I miss most of what Erin says, too preoccupied by the fact that Finn hasn’t shared any of this with me.I know I’ve been busy with work, but I thought this would’ve been something he would’ve told me about.
“Don’t worry about it, Sarah,” Kelsey says reassuringly.“Finn can be pretty private, but it’s just gossip.I’m sure he’d have said something to you if he thought it was a big deal.”
As I’m leaving the inn, I text Finn and ask him if he wants me to stay the night and he replies immediately.
Finn: Yes, but I’m still at the station.Not sure how long I’ll be here.
Me: That’s ok.I can stay at E&R’s if you’d rather.
Finn: Sarah, I said yes, so go to my house.
Me: Ok, bossy.
