Page 68 of The Sweet Part
Despite the pain in my body and heart, I smile a little. He hopes I’ll be family one day. Now to get May on board. I need to find the perfect gift and the perfect words. How hard can it be?
* * *
May
I flop down on the sofa. It’s Valentine’s Day, and the guests should be arriving soon for their four p.m. check-in time. I’m wearing a floral dress with a cardigan that I hope says professional. Sophie’s in an outfit she put together herself that actually works. Okay, yes, she’s wearing a rhinestone tiara, but the pink dress, white tights, and black patent leather shoes pull it all together. It could’ve been much worse, and I wasn’t up to a big fight over it.
I spent all week making sure every last detail is perfect. There’s nothing more to do but wait for our guests to arrive, and spring into action as the supreme hostess. It’s so exciting. When I got the idea to turn my inheritance into an inn last summer, it seemed so far away. And now it’s finally happening!
Sophie twirls around the living room, full of energy, even after full-day kindergarten. She throws her arms in the air. “I’m so excited.”
“Me too.” I consider telling her to save some energy for the guests, but on second thought, it would be good for her to be tired. “Remember, I deal with the guests, and your job is to…”
“Say welcome to the Serenity Inn.” She grabs an inn brochure from the plastic holder on the table. “And give them a brochure.” She giggles.
“What’s so funny?”
She gives me a secret smile that means she’s hiding something. Oh no. What if she does something inappropriate with the guests?
“Sophie?”
“I need a juice box!” She runs to the kitchen.
The bell rings, and I jackknife upright. They’re half an hour early. I suppose I could let them check in now. Everything’s ready. I practice a welcoming smile as I hurry to the door, nearly colliding with Sophie.
“Answer it!” she exclaims. In her excitement, her juice box tips, and juice leaks out on her hand.
“Quick, lick your hand. I don’t want juice spilling on the floor.”
I pull open the door. Adrenaline fires through me. Mason! He’s dressed nice and holding a black plastic case with a red bow on it. Tools?
Sophie claps. “Is that for me?”
“No, it’s for your mom. Go get your top three stuffed animals from upstairs to join us, okay?”
She giggles. “Okay.”
A trickle of worry seeps in. Does Mason have something to do with her secret smile?
“Did you arrange something with Sophie behind my back?” I demand.
“No, but she knows I have a plan because I told your dad.”
My eyes widen. “My dad?”
“Yeah.”
I stare at the toolbox and then at him. “What in the world are you talking about? I’ve got guests coming in half an hour. A full house. Whatever your plan is with that toolbox—”
“May,Ibooked the inn for the weekend. Every room.”
“What! Wait, you have an assistant?”
“That was my cousin acting as my assistant.”
I stare at him blankly. “Why?”
The corner of his mouth turns up. “It’s part of my grand gesture. You get to start your inn with a bang, and we get to have the whole place to ourselves.”
