Page 9 of Lakehouse Mistletoe
Helen tided up the room and removed the old trash bag before placing a new one in the garbage can. She knew Jackie didn’t request a full room clean, but Helen couldn’t let the room be as it was. She quickly picked up the clothes on the floor and neatly folded them before placing them on the bed. Once the room was clean, she grabbed her supplies and headed to the next room.
The Hills’s room was much tidier. After she replenished the towels and wiped down the surfaces, she went to Mrs. Lewis’s room to leave fresh towels, as she requested, at her door.
Helen put all the dirty towels into the house cleaning caddy and headed downstairs. As she reached the last step, the phone rang.
She set her caddy on the floor and hurried to the kitchen to answer the call.
“Laurel Cove Bed and Breakfast. How may I help you?”
There was a bit of hesitancy before the caller spoke. “Yes, this is Anne Wells. I have a reservation for tonight. My flight arrived early, and I was hoping I could check in early.”
Helen blinked and glanced up the stairs. She had not had a chance to go to the fourth room. She wasn’t sure what kind of condition the room would be in.
She glanced at the time on her phone. Ten thirty. Check in was after three.
“Check in is after three …” she said carefully.
“I understand, but I really don’t want to drag my luggage all across town in an Uber until three,” the woman pleaded.
Helen frowned as she spotted a car coming up the driveway. “How far away are you?”
She watched as a woman got out of an Uber with the phone pressed to her ear.
“I’m actually just pulling up.” She ended the call.
Helen’s heart sped up. There was no way she could turn her away now.
The woman walked up to the door and knocked.
Helen’s heart jumped in her throat.
She quickly stuck the caddy stuffed with dirty towels in a nearby closet. She glanced down, realizing she was still wearing the apron, and quickly tugged it off before throwing it into the closet as well.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to the front and opened the door.
The woman’s eyes lit up when she saw Helen. She was in her mid-thirties with short jet black hair and bright blue eyes. She smiled. “I’m sorry that I’m so early. Like I said, my flight got in earlier than planned.” She waved her hand at the porch. “This really is a very charming bed and breakfast. I love the autumn décor.”
Helen smiled. “Welcome to Laurel Cove B&B. My name is Helen.”
The woman stuck out her hand. “I’m Anne Wells.”
Helen shook her hand. “You are a bit early, Ms. Wells. I think we can store your bags while I get the room ready for you. Would you like some help with your bags?” She glanced over the woman’s shoulder at the two large bags.
“That would be lovely.” She grabbed one bag while Helen grabbed the other. They stepped into the foyer of the house.
“If you will just follow me into the office, I can get your check-in information.” Helen walked down the hallway to the room designated as the office. There was a bookshelf and large desk. There was also a small fireplace that didn’t work. Kacey had said repairing it was on her list of things to do.
“If you’ll just have a seat.” Helen nodded to a chair on the other side of the desk while she sat at the computer. “May I have your driver’s license—or picture ID—and credit card, please?”
Ms. Wells reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. She slid over two plastic cards to Helen.
Helen had only been introduced once to the computer system that morning. She had planned on familiarizing herself with the system after cleaning the rooms.
She quickly opened the reservations tabs on the computer and confirmed her as a guest and her credit card information. The system was surprisingly user friendly.
Thank God for small favors.
Helen smiled and glanced up. “Ms. Wells …”
