you to qualify for a small business administration loan?”
Like most government programs, the SBA moved with leaden slowness. Nina had been told that the process could take months, even a year. “Mr. Bailey would have waited. I’m sure he assumed his successor would have, as well. Her name’s Brooke Harlow and I think Greg’s dating her. Cozy, huh?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. This is a safer bet for you, anyway,” Jenny said reasonably. “Maybe you’ll hate it and want to get out. Maybe Greg will hate it, and he’ll be the one to get out.”
“Suppose it turns out to be perfect for both of us? Then we’d end up plotting to kill each other.”
“Or making a permanent merger.” Jenny wriggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t even.”
“Why not? Olivia filled me in on him. He’s her youngest uncle—twelve years younger than Philip, so that makes him…thirty-eight. He’s single. He’s a Bellamy. He’s a catch.”
“He’s got a half-grown boy and a grandbaby on the way.” Not that Nina had anything against pregnant teenagers. She herself was a member of that club.
“A big family is a blessing,” Jenny pointed out. “You of all people know that, Miss middle-child-of-nine.”
Nina didn’t contradict her, even though she could’ve come up with a thousand objections. She understood that Jenny had endured a particularly lonely childhood. Her father had been a mystery. Her mother had simply taken off, leaving Jenny to be raised by her grandparents in the quiet, neat-as-a-pin house on Maple Street.
“Maybe so,” Nina said. “But then again, there’s something to be said for being completely on my own. I’ve never done it before. I need to be on my own for the first time in my life. I want to figure out who I am when I’m not somebody’s daughter or Sonnet’s mom.”
“I understand. You deserve a chance to do that. I’m sure Greg will understand, too. He made you a business proposition, not a marriage proposal.”
“Yeah, heaven forbid I should get one of those.”
“Hey, you’re the one who said she wants a single life.” Jenny smiled and said, “Come on, Nina. This could be a great opportunity for you.”
“Oh, man, you’re doing it.”
“Doing what?”
“That mysterious wisdom-of-the-married thing. I can’t stand that.”
“I’m not doing anything of the sort.”
“You are, too. Look at you. You’re so…so happy. ”
“And your point is?”
“That just because being married makes you happy doesn’t mean it’s what I need.”
“I know. What you need is to be running the Inn at Willow Lake. That’s what this whole discussion is about.”
“Fine. You know what? Maybe you’re right. Greg has no idea what he’s taking on. I do. He won’t last the summer—you mark my words.”
“You’re not thinking of scheming against him, are you?” asked Jenny.
“I won’t need to. He’ll fail on his own.”
“With you in charge?” Jenny eyed her skeptically.
“See, that’s the dilemma.” Nina finished her wine and poured another glass. “It’s crazy. One way or another, Greg Bellamy has been a thorn in my side ever since we were kids.”
Part Two
Then
The Galahad Chamber is named for Sir Galahad of legend, known for his purity and gallantry. Located high in the main lodge, the room pays tribute to the natural surroundings of the inn, appointed with a hand-crafted birchwood bed frame—topped by birdhouses—antler lamps and antique prints by pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Fresh flowers are provided in every room. A penny and an aspirin tablet dropped in the water will keep the flowers fresh longer. The copper acts as a fungicide and aspirin provides acidic properties to the water. Noted florist, author and social reformer Constance Spry reminds us, “When creating a floral arrangement, always allow some space between the flowers to prevent a crowded effect. One should leave room for the butterflies.”
Four
N ina blamed all her
Like most government programs, the SBA moved with leaden slowness. Nina had been told that the process could take months, even a year. “Mr. Bailey would have waited. I’m sure he assumed his successor would have, as well. Her name’s Brooke Harlow and I think Greg’s dating her. Cozy, huh?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. This is a safer bet for you, anyway,” Jenny said reasonably. “Maybe you’ll hate it and want to get out. Maybe Greg will hate it, and he’ll be the one to get out.”
“Suppose it turns out to be perfect for both of us? Then we’d end up plotting to kill each other.”
“Or making a permanent merger.” Jenny wriggled her eyebrows.
“Don’t even.”
“Why not? Olivia filled me in on him. He’s her youngest uncle—twelve years younger than Philip, so that makes him…thirty-eight. He’s single. He’s a Bellamy. He’s a catch.”
“He’s got a half-grown boy and a grandbaby on the way.” Not that Nina had anything against pregnant teenagers. She herself was a member of that club.
“A big family is a blessing,” Jenny pointed out. “You of all people know that, Miss middle-child-of-nine.”
Nina didn’t contradict her, even though she could’ve come up with a thousand objections. She understood that Jenny had endured a particularly lonely childhood. Her father had been a mystery. Her mother had simply taken off, leaving Jenny to be raised by her grandparents in the quiet, neat-as-a-pin house on Maple Street.
“Maybe so,” Nina said. “But then again, there’s something to be said for being completely on my own. I’ve never done it before. I need to be on my own for the first time in my life. I want to figure out who I am when I’m not somebody’s daughter or Sonnet’s mom.”
“I understand. You deserve a chance to do that. I’m sure Greg will understand, too. He made you a business proposition, not a marriage proposal.”
“Yeah, heaven forbid I should get one of those.”
“Hey, you’re the one who said she wants a single life.” Jenny smiled and said, “Come on, Nina. This could be a great opportunity for you.”
“Oh, man, you’re doing it.”
“Doing what?”
“That mysterious wisdom-of-the-married thing. I can’t stand that.”
“I’m not doing anything of the sort.”
“You are, too. Look at you. You’re so…so happy. ”
“And your point is?”
“That just because being married makes you happy doesn’t mean it’s what I need.”
“I know. What you need is to be running the Inn at Willow Lake. That’s what this whole discussion is about.”
“Fine. You know what? Maybe you’re right. Greg has no idea what he’s taking on. I do. He won’t last the summer—you mark my words.”
“You’re not thinking of scheming against him, are you?” asked Jenny.
“I won’t need to. He’ll fail on his own.”
“With you in charge?” Jenny eyed her skeptically.
“See, that’s the dilemma.” Nina finished her wine and poured another glass. “It’s crazy. One way or another, Greg Bellamy has been a thorn in my side ever since we were kids.”
Part Two
Then
The Galahad Chamber is named for Sir Galahad of legend, known for his purity and gallantry. Located high in the main lodge, the room pays tribute to the natural surroundings of the inn, appointed with a hand-crafted birchwood bed frame—topped by birdhouses—antler lamps and antique prints by pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Fresh flowers are provided in every room. A penny and an aspirin tablet dropped in the water will keep the flowers fresh longer. The copper acts as a fungicide and aspirin provides acidic properties to the water. Noted florist, author and social reformer Constance Spry reminds us, “When creating a floral arrangement, always allow some space between the flowers to prevent a crowded effect. One should leave room for the butterflies.”
Four
N ina blamed all her
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