New Quarters

by Tey Holden

  “I was afraid you’d be heartbroken.”

  “I am Ker, but we are not rolling over to allow them to step all over us. I was waiting for you too. I didn’t know how I was going to tell you this, but look what came in the mail today.” She handed over a letter from the town’s Chamber of Commerce.

  The letter stated that the local inn raised a claim under a town regulation, which did not allow the opening of a similar establishment within the perimeters of the town. Although the Chamber had initially approved the permit, it was now revoking it. The letter noted that they had overlooked a town regulation concerning how many establishments of the same category could be within a certain area of the town. They knew that the head of the Chamber of Commerce was Mrs. Laura McKenzie whom they also knew happened to be Mrs. Sarah Foster’s best friend.

  “I don’t know who these people think they are, but this is no way to do business! Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Karen paced up and down the room waving the letter in the air. She was livid, threatening to sue the town, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Carriage House Inn to take the shirts off their backs, and pulverize them. Addy watched, with raised eyebrows and pursed lips, as Karen paced and vented. When she finished ranting she looked at Addy, who was quietly sitting on the sofa waiting for Karen to finish venting.

  Addy always waited until Karen got all ‘her poison’ out of her system, and then when she was her usual calm self, Addy would speak. Karen looked at her and pursed her lips. Addy usually smiled by the time Karen was done with her ranting because she thought the cursing sounded cute in her Scottish accent, but not today. Today, the matter was very serious and there was plenty of reason to vent. When Karen quieted down, Addy kissed her.

  Normally, when Karen was done, she also knew what the smile was about, and had no alternative but to smile at the adorable face looking at her. Sometime she was also a little embarrassed to have shown that ugly side of her, but since Addy had told her that she even loved that side of her, it didn’t matter anymore. Today she worried because she didn’t see the usual smile on Addy’s face.

  “You are not smiling.” Karen’s statement made her smile. “That’s more like it.”

  “So what’s the plan?” Addy asked knowing that Karen already had some sort of strategy in mind. Karen was quick and to the point, that is why she was so effective in her career.

  “We go to battle!”

  Addy smiled, kissed her and grabbed her hand. “That’s my girl! Come on, let’s get a glass of wine to calm down and plan our attack strategy. These people don’t know who they are messing with!” Once they got their wine, they walked over to the breakfast nook area.

  Karen started the conversation. “I was thinking of calling Phillip in London and let him handle the matter. We are too vested in this and we can’t see clear. I think we need a clear head. What do you think?”

  “Agreed. When are we going to call him?”

  “This evening. We need to get the wheels moving quickly. I don’t want to stop the construction. It’s already slow enough. We are opening as planned and that’s that!”

  “Okay, so it will be. See? You already had a plan. I knew it, Ker. You don’t take defeat easily. Neither do I. We battle and we fight to win.”

  That evening they talked to Phillip Tidwell. He was a senior partner at Sparrow and Finch office in London, and a good friend from their many business dealings. He knew them both well and knew the caliber of individuals they were. He did not hesitate for a second to take the matter into his own hands, even though he would normally hand over trivial matters to less senior attorneys. He would have some information to them as soon as possible, as well as a course of action to follow.

  They thanked him and were satisfied to have done everything possible for the time being. “Let’s make some dinner and watch a movie, baby.” Addy suggested grabbing Karen by the hand, and pulling her into the kitchen. Between cooking and later watching the movie, they forgot about their troubles. There was not much else they could do. After the movie was over, they went upstairs, showered, and got in bed.

  “It’s cold today, brrrr. I don’t know why sometimes it feels colder when the house is at the same temperature.” Addy spoke as she got under the covers.

  “I think it has to do with the humidity levels. Do you want to raise the thermostat?”

  “No, my throat dries up when the temperature is too high, and then I feel sick.”

  “Then, come here, let me keep you warm.”

  “I’ll never understand how you can sleep nude when it’s so cold, Ker.” Addy thought that come winter, Karen might wear some pajamas. This was their first winter together.

  “It’s warm once you are under the covers, and if you get close, body heat is better than any pajama. It’s like having your own personal blankie. Come here, let me show you.” She took Addy’s T-shirt off and Addy cuddle to her. “Ker! I’m cold!”

  “Give it a few minutes, you’ll see. Here, let me rub your back.” Addy snuggled to her, as Karen rubbed her back vigorously.

  After a few minutes of silence and shivering, Addy spoke. “Ker?”

  “Yes?”

  “I think you can stop the back rubbing thing. I think I’m getting too warm now, if you know what I mean.”

  Karen smiled in the dark. “Yes, I can feel your warmth. I kind of like it.”

  “You were right, about body heat.”

  Karen held her contently. There was a bit of silence before Addy began to talk.

  “Ker, would you do something for me?”

  Karen smiled. “Should I increase the body heat? Are we getting creative? How may I pleasure you tonight, Ms. Addy?”

  Addy smirked. “I’m not talking about that.” She pinched Karen’s butt.

  “Ouch!”

  “Get serious for a minute. Look at me. I want you to stop thinking, remove everything from your mind and just look at me.” They looked at each other in the dim light.

  Karen was sort of serious now, or at least she was trying considering the circumstances under which this ‘serious’ talk was being conducted. “What is it?”

  “Ker, no matter what happens with the inn, we’ll make it through. We have each other and that is the only thing that matters. Everything else, we’ll fight together.” Karen smiled and held her tight. “We are all that matters, Ker.”

  “Addy?”

  “What, baby?”

  “This is the best moment of my day. When I get in bed with you and hug you, even when you are wearing your jammies.” Addy chuckled. “By the way, it’s okay if you want to keep your jammies on in the winter. I don’t want you to be cold.”

  “It’s okay, the human blanket thing works for me just as well.” Karen grinned when Addy snuggled to her.

  ***

  Two days later Phillip Tidwell called.

  “Hi Phillip.”

  “Hello Karen.”

  “Phillip, I’m putting you on the speakerphone, Addy is right here with me.”

  “Hi Phillip.”

  “Hi Addy. Listen, I’ve done some preliminaries. You were right. It’s the local town inn that wants you out of the picture. The woman has an attorney and if you authorized me, I will be in touch with him to see if we can settle this matter. As far as her wanting to stop the competition, she is going by town ordinances and that is why the court issued the order and why the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society backed out of the project. So inasmuch as that, it looks like she has the upper hand. However, Karen, the truth is that you are really the one who has the winning card. One word from you and the whole town can go broke. You do know about your right to claim rent for the use of land, don’t you?”

  “Yes, Phillip, I know. Can you use that card as leverage for a settlement?”

  “Most certainly. The problem is what happens if they don’t agree to settle. You’ll have to follow through with the threat. Are you prepared to do it? If they are hit heavily with fees they cannot pay, you can evict and they lose their property.”r />
  Addy was not following. She was missing some information that apparently Karen had.

  “Phillip, use the card to negotiate. Let me think about the subsequent move. I do want our inn to open, that’s for sure. I will play the last ugly card if they force me, but that would be a measure of last resort. Make sure her attorney understands that and that he explains it to her.”

  “Will do. Karen, Addy have a good day.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Ker? What’s going on here? I’m missing some information. What don’t I know that you do?”

  “Please, sit down.” Addy sat in one of the kitchen stools.

  “This property was in the custody of Aunt Charlotte, as the eldest in line in the family, because I didn’t want to assume my responsibility. The truth is that this property belongs to me by birthright. I’m the only child of the rightful heir, which would have been my mother. Sounds kind of phony, but it’s the truth. We are talking real old English law here, okay? The land where this estate sits was land granted to my mother’s family from, believe it or not, the King of England himself. He granted the land to one of my ancestors, and declared that this property should always belong to the eldest daughter of the rightful heir. That’s me now. Aunt Charlotte was just temporarily filling the spot for me, and that is why she wanted me here. She wanted me to assume my responsibility.”

  Karen paused to give a very astonished Addy a moment. “Wow.”

  “So, the town of Altee grew around this estate, and on the land of the estate. That means that the town of Altee sits on my property. All those little town assessments they’ve been paying just to suffice the need to maintain roads and other community needs, are self-imposed. However, I, as the owner of the land can charge rent for their businesses and properties because they are on my land. If they don’t pay or are unable to pay, I have the right to evict and confiscate their property.”

  “Oh my God!”

  “That’s how it was in the old days, and how it will be now if those sons of bitches don’t remove their cease and desist order. I will show them nasty, if that’s what they want.”

  “Ker, can we think about this? Usually two wrongs don’t make a right.”

  “Addy, if it comes down to our inn or sucking them dry with rent charges, the choice is clear to me.” Karen seemed mad and determined to make them pay with their last drop of blood for their audacity of trying to stop them from building the inn.

  “Yeah, Ker, but let’s think about this. I don’t want people to step all over us, but I certainly don’t want to step all over them either, or for them to hate us. There’s got to be a middle ground.”

  “Yes, there is. If they are smart they will negotiate terms with Phillip.”

  Addy was worried. This was not what she envisioned when she had the idea of the inn. This was Karen’s hometown, and she didn’t want people to hate her. All of a sudden she was having second thoughts about having started the project, but who would have thought that they’d find themselves in such a situation?

  ***

  That night, at around three in the morning, the phone rang, startling both women. Karen picked it up, while Addy listened. “Who is it? Mr. Kimbell? What?”

  “For what? Her kid? Oh God! Yes, Mr. Kimbell, no problem. If you want to borrow the car, you are welcome to it. Yes, it is. You can’t? Well, let me see, can I call you back?” Karen hung up.

  “What’s going on?”

  Karen took a deep breath before speaking. “You are not going to believe this shit!”

  “What?”

  “The town doctor diagnosed Sarah’s kid with appendicitis. They need to take him to the hospital in Edinburgh for surgery, but they can’t because of the snow that’s fallen and because no one in this shitty town has an adequate car to drive in the snow. So, because we have a Range Rover, they are asking us to come to the rescue of the bitch that wants to close us down and take her kid to the hospital. Unbelievable!”

  “Oh Ker, we must help. A child’s life is at stake. Forget the inn and the quarrel. Who’s coming to get the car?”

  “Nobody. That’s the worst part! There isn’t a fucking person in this town that’s willing to drive in this snow. If we help, we are going to have to take the kid in ourselves.”

  “Oh, shit! I don’t drive in the snow, and I’m not going to ask you to, if you don’t want to.”

  “I’ll do it. It’s the right thing to do. It’s for the kid, not his mother. I’m going to have a word with her afterwards though.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “No, you are not. It’s dangerous out there, and I’m not putting you at risk.” The minute she said this, she knew it was the wrong thing to say and knew that she was in trouble.

  Addy gave her the look and Karen was petrified. “I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear that, and I will let it pass. I don’t think I need to open my mouth to let you know what I’m thinking right now, Larsen, but if you are the smart woman that I think you are, you are going to take advantage of this opportunity and you are going to call Mr. Kimbell and tell him that we will be on our way shortly and you will go out there and get the car ready while I pick up a few things and join you in the garage. I’m going and that’s that! I’m not leaving you alone on this one, or ever for that matter. Remember in good times and bad times. Larsen, this is another one you lose.”

  Karen, a little contrite, tried to gain some sympathy. “It seems like I never win anymore.”

  Addy looked at her narrowing her eyes. “You win all the time, and you know it! Go! I’m going to get some supplies, just in case. Get the car ready.”

  Karen really wasn’t sure about whether she actually won all the time, as Addy had just said, but she remembered having said some time ago that when it came to Addy, the fun was not a matter of winning or losing, but in playing the game. So she resigned herself to her fate and once again followed the instructions given. She went to the garage to get the Rover ready. Still, she was concerned about going out under such bad weather conditions. She didn’t want to put Addy at risk. But who would stop such a stubborn woman? Obviously not her.

  Just getting to town from the cottage was an awful trip. In truth, the road was not all that great even under good conditions, but the ice and the snow covering it were not helping. Also, there was that bridge over the creek, which was the first thing that iced every time the weather was half as bad as it was today. “Let’s just go slow about it, Ker. Take it easy. We’ll make it.” Karen looked at her with incredulous eyes. Addy was a number one cheerleader for sure. Still, her calm guidance was sufficient to keep Karen cool headed.

  The Range Rover had snow tires, but knowing that it was going to be really bad, Karen put chains on the tires also. It was fortunate that she knew how to do that kind of thing. Sometimes Addy marveled at Karen’s skills and resourcefulness and wondered where and when she had learned all those things? One thing that Addy always appreciated about Karen was that she was very thorough. Karen never left anything to chance, a characteristic that always made Addy feel safe.

  It was fortunate that Karen put the chains on the tires because the roads weren’t just bad they were terrible. In the rural areas there was no snow removal, so everyone had to fend for themselves. Those who didn’t have the equipment to dig themselves out were snowbound until the snow melted. Karen knew how the situation could be, and she was more than prepared. Addy was also good at preparedness. She brought water bottles, food, and blankets just in case they got stuck somewhere. They made sure to wear their snow boots and their heaviest winter gear.

  It took them twice as long to get to town. The Range Rover kept sliding, forcing Karen to go very slow. One sudden step on the breaks would have surely sent them to the ditch, so it was all a matter of driving very slow, not steering the wheel in any direction but straight, and remaining focused on the road ahead. Karen was a good driver, and she had experienced driving in the snow.

  When they arrived at the Carriage House In
n, they found both the doctor and Mr. Kimbell there. “Sorry for taking so long, the roads are in very bad shape.” Karen took the doctor aside and spoke to him so that only he could hear. “Dr. Naylor, in a worst case scenario, are you prepared to do whatever needs to be done?” When Addy overheard the question, she opened her eyes and looked at Karen in shock, and then she waited for Dr. Naylor’s response. In her haste to help, she had not thought of the possible and maybe negative scenarios as Karen had.

  “Ms. Larsen what needs to be done has to be done in an operating room. There’s no way it can be done on the side of the road.” In truth, the boy was in a very serious condition, and if they couldn’t get him to the hospital on time, he could die if the appendix ruptured and infection spread.

  Addy could see Karen’s clenched jaw, a sign of deep concern on her. She glanced at Addy pursing her lips. Addy gave her the best comforting smile she could, considering the circumstances, and squeezed her hand. Sarah and the doctor brought the child, and they got into the back seat of the car.

  From the start, the road was bad, but it gradually went from terrible to treacherous. The icy mixture kept falling. On the way to the city, the car got stuck a couple of times and they had to get out to push it. Addy and the doctor pushed as Karen tried to steer the car out of the snow embankment, but still the car wouldn’t move. The situation was desperate. Karen came around and opened the door. “Sarah, I’m sorry, we are going to need your help too.”

  Sarah protested. “I can’t leave my son alone.”

  In desperation, Karen spoke loudly. “Sarah, if you don’t get out and push, the car is not moving and your kid is going to die here! So what is it going to be?” Karen had a stern look on her face. Addy froze when she heard Karen use that tone with Sarah, but she had told nothing but the truth. When Sarah began to cry, Karen realized she had been too severe. “Sarah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Karen was really troubled. Addy had never seen her like that. “I want to get your son to the hospital, but I need your help with the car.” Karen’s face showed true concern and desperation.