Page 77 of Rebuilding Friendship Inn

Kristen glanced over to Jean. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Come sit down, Lena,” Jean said. She led the girl over to the table. “Did you help Grandma with lunch?”

“I made the pasta salad,” Lena said.

Kristen couldn’t escape Robin’s glare, and her eyes returned to her. “Come sit, dear. Let’s at least get something to eat before you start telling me what’s wrong.”

Thankfully, Robin held her tongue until they all sat at the table. Kristen took a hot ham-and-cheese sandwich and passed the platter to Lena. She planned to take the leftovers to AJ and Matt, so she’d made extra. Having Robin here wasn’t an issue at all.

“How is Mandie doing in the city?” she asked, spooning pasta salad onto her plate.

“Good,” Robin said. “She survived the first week, and she said she likes her psychology class.” She flashed a tight smile, and Kristen thought it would take a lot more than food and a listening ear to get Robin to relax.

Jean chatted about her new Seafaring Girls, saying, “Billie is seriously the cutest one. She doesn’t say much, but she’s clearly a leader.”

Kristen nodded and smiled, glad Jean had something to give her purpose and enjoyment. “What are you going to do when the baby comes?”

“Oh.” Jean reached for a napkin and wiped her face quickly. “I didn’t tell you. The city got me an assistant, so I can have some time off with the baby.”

Kristen looked over to Jean. “Oh? That’s great. Who is it?”

Jean grinned and looked over to Lena. “Well, I got two of them, actually. They both already have part-time jobs in the morning, so they have some free time in the afternoons.”

Kristen thought she was being a bit vague, and instead of asking again, she waited for Jean to spill her secrets. She looked over to Robin, but she didn’t even seem to know another conversation had started at the table.

“Did you tell her?” Jean asked Lena.

The girl shook her head.

Jean grinned at her with clear pride in her eyes. “Good girl, Lena.” She looked over to Kristen. “It’s Lena and then Tessa.”

Kristen had just taken a bite of her sandwich, and she very nearly choked on it. “Lena?” she said around the hot bread, ham, and melty cheese.

Lena giggled with Jean, and Kristen was so, so grateful the girl had her for an aunt. “I kept a secret, Grandma.”

“I’ll say,” Kristen said.

“Good for you, Lena,” Robin said, and Kristen glanced over to her too. “That’s great. What are you doing in the morning?”

“I’m back at the grocery store,” she said.

“Not the one in Vermont,” Kristen clarified.

“It’s just a couple of blocks from my house,” Lena said. “I ride my bike after Mom goes on the ferry.”

Robin nodded, and Kristen swallowed her food and reached for her glass of water. “Start at the beginning, Robin.”

Tears filled her eyes. Actually tears, and Kristen knew how much it took to make the woman cry. So much, Kristen had wondered at times if she didn’t bottle everything too tightly.

“My mother,” she said. “I think she offered to invest in Friendship Inn.”

This was news to Kristen, and her eyes widened. She tried to recover quickly, but Robin was an observant woman. “Clara has…” She looked over to Jean, who also wore wide eyes on her face.

“She quit Friendship Inn,” Jean blurted out. “She and Scott are going to sell it.”

Robin swung her attention to Jean in an instant. “What?”

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