Despite Janie’s optimism, it was impossible to imagine that this sorry sight could ever be transformed into a happy place, a home that anyone (particularly Caroline) would willingly chose to reside in. Still, Caroline had always liked a challenge. Janie was right. If Caroline wanted to sell the place (and she was certain she did) she’d have to address some of these issues anyway. Plus there was the insurance money to help. And until Caroline’s California condo sold, she wasn’t exactly in a position to be choosy about where she lived. Also, she couldn’t take advantage of Abby’s hospitality in the bed-and-breakfast forever.
For that reason, Caroline, dressed in old jeans and a sweatshirt, purchased a sturdy pair of work boots and some work gloves, as well as a few tools, including a shovel and a wheelbarrow. She called the city garbage service and requested one of those big green Dumpsters, which had been delivered that morning, and now she was attempting to single-handedly empty the house of decades’ worth of hoarding. By noon she was overwhelmed.
“I can’t do this,” she told Janie on the phone. “It’s useless.” Caroline looked around at the mess that seemed to be growing instead of shrinking. “If I had a book of matches I’d—”
“Don’t even say that,” Janie exclaimed. “I’m your attorney, and we barely got you cleared of blame in the other fire.”
“Too bad the whole place didn’t burn, then.” Caroline sighed. “Well, not with Mom in it. I wouldn’t have wished that.”
“Any plans for lunch?”
Caroline looked down at her grimy clothes and laughed. “Yeah, you should see me right now. I doubt that I’d even be welcome at Burger Boy.”
“No, I meant I could bring you something. And maybe I could help—”
“No way. I mean lunch sounds good, but you can’t help me, Janie. I wouldn’t ask anyone I like to help with this. I don’t even like having Chuck in here. You wouldn’t believe the piles of rat droppings I’ve—”
“Okay, spare me the details. But I’ll bring lunch and some phone numbers.”
“Phone numbers?”
“Remember the guys who helped on your backyard, and Mario?”
“Huh?”
“Mario was the guy who helped with my tile projects. We hired some of his friends to landscape your yard. Remember?”
“Not really.” Caroline frowned at the mess in the living room. “Maybe I’m like Mom, getting early Alzheimer’s. They say it’s hereditary.”
“Well, we did try to keep the whole thing under wraps,” Janie said in a gentle tone. “And you were rather distracted at the time. Caring for your mom took a toll.”
“That’s true.”
“Anyway, I’m in my office but wanted to run out to get something for lunch. So I’ll grab you something too, and then I’ll come over there and you and I will brainstorm. Okay?”
“Okay.” Caroline felt doubtful. “You’re sure you want to come over here? I mean, it’s pretty bad.”
“It’ll be a working lunch.” Janie said good-bye, and Caroline looked around the filthy kitchen, where she’d been emptying cupboards, and wondered where they’d even have a clean spot to eat. Then she remembered the backyard, the one happy spot in this miserable place. The temperatures had been in the sixties, so it wouldn’t be too cold for a winter picnic if they kept their coats on.
She was just finishing wiping off the chairs and table when she heard Janie’s voice calling through the open windows of the house.
“Out here,” Caroline yelled back.
“There you are,” Janie said as she and Abby emerged from the house. “You weren’t kidding about how bad it is in there.”
Caroline nodded. “I thought we’d eat out here.”
“I insisted on coming too,” Abby told her. “Seeing your house makes me feel so much better about the progress I’ve made on the B and B.”
Caroline wrinkled her nose at her. “Thanks. It’s nice to be the poster child for Disgusting Homes and Gardens.”
Abby held up a notebook. “We’re going to help you get organized, Caroline. We know that’s not exactly your gift.”
Caroline sighed. “You got that right.”
So, as they ate, Janie and Abby helped Caroline to come up with a plan of sorts, writing down lists and phone numbers in Abby’s notebook.
“I don’t know why I thought I could do this all by myself,” Caroline admitted as they were finishing up. “My mother was such a hoarder. Even though I’d cleaned out a lot of stuff right after she died, I barely scratched the surface. Then my brother came in here and created even more chaos.” She shook her head. “I swear, the harder I work, the worse it seems to get. It just feels hopeless, not to mention depressing.”
“Trust me,” Abby assured her. “This is the easy part.”
“You’re kidding.” Caroline stared at her.
Abby gave her a knowing look. “I’m serious. Cleaning the junk out and demolition goes quickly. It’s putting the place back together—getting it right—that takes time.”
Caroline groaned. “Maybe I should give up.”
“No,” Janie insisted. “You can do this.”
“That’s right.” Abby handed her the notebook. “This is your brain.”
“Flat little brain, isn’t it?” Caroline said wryly.
“You know what I mean,” Abby scolded. “Follow these guidelines, and you could have this place nearly habitable by Christmas.”
Caroline laughed.
“The first thing you need to do is call Mario,” Janie commanded as she pointed at the phone number. “Don’t hesitate. Because I’m guessing that since it’s December, he and his buddies won’t be too busy. Those guys are amazing. They’ll get this place cleared out in no time. Seriously, your head will be spinning.”
“But what if they throw away something important?” Suddenly Caroline was worried. “What if there’s something valuable or there are mementos or—”
“Caroline,” Janie said kindly but firmly, “you don’t want to turn into your mother now, do you?”
“Well … no, not exactly.”
“You can oversee things,” Abby suggested, “to make sure nothing important is lost.”
“Just let it go,” Janie said with some impatience. “Honestly, what you don’t know won’t probably hurt you.”
Abby laughed. “Yes. Ignorance most likely is bliss.”
“Besides,” Janie added, “from what I could see, there was nothing but garbage in there.”
Caroline nodded. “You’re right. I’ll call those guys and let them shovel it all out. The sooner the better.”
“Wise woman.”
She smiled at Janie and Abby. “What would I do without my friends?”
As it turned out, her friends were right. Within the next three days, Mario and his guys had not only removed all the trash from the house, but they’d taken out all the cabinets and fixtures and flooring as well. A few things had been recycled, but most of it was just plain rubbish. By Thursday night, when Caroline walked through the strangely empty house, only the walls, some of the doors, most of the windows, and the subflooring remained.
“You were right,” Caroline told Abby on Friday. “Getting the place cleaned out went fairly fast.”
“Now things will slow down.” Abby wiped her forehead with a sweat towel as they headed for the locker room. They’d just finished circuit-training class—Abby’s third time this week!
“Do you think there’s even a slight chance Paul would consider acting as contractor for me?” Caroline asked hopefully.
“I doubt it. Paul really hates remodels.” Abby pursed her lips as if she was thinking, or else she was in pain from the workout. “Although he was just complaining that things are pretty slow. He always seems to be obsessing over finances. Who knows?”
“Will you ask him for me?”
“Sure.” Abby nodded. “Why not?”
“Thanks! I appreciate it.”
It wasn’t that Caroline was overly fond of Paul Franklin. Oh, he was a fairly nice guy, but sometimes he could be a bit of a chauvinist, especially when it came to his wife. Caroline wasn’t even sure how Abby put up with it most of the time, although he did seem to be changing some since his heart attack two months ago. Mostly Caroline wanted his help because he was a good contractor. He knew how to get things done. Whether it was realistic or not, Caroline wanted the house to be habitable by the New Year. Then she would list it to sell and hope that real estate up here in Oregon was moving faster than it was down in LA. Something had to sell, and soon. Otherwise, she would need to go get a job.
Caroline wasn’t afraid of work. Good grief, she’d worked most of her life—and in some pretty menial sorts of jobs, too. Waiting tables wasn’t exactly glamorous, although in a good restaurant the tips could be worthwhile. But caring for her mother had consumed several months, and Caroline was ready for a break. She hoped to avoid employment until after the cruise to Mexico.
“What’s Mitch up to these days?” Janie asked Caroline as they enjoyed their reward of smoothies after their showers. Abby had excused herself to get back to the B and B, where she was expecting her guests to arrive sometime today.
“He’s in Chile until mid-December,” Caroline explained. “Then he doesn’t have any traveling to do until after the New Year.”
“So what’s going on with you guys?” Janie pressed. “I know your relationship was kind of on hold while you were caring for your mom. But what now?”
Caroline shrugged. “I’m not sure. I mean, Mitch keeps asking me to travel with him, but I don’t know.”
“Has he ever talked of marriage?”
“Not specifically.” Caroline thought about this. “I guess I’m kind of relieved that he hasn’t. I honestly don’t think I’m ready for it yet.”
Janie just nodded.
“I haven’t told him this.” Caroline paused.
“What?” Janie looked curious.
“Well, I’m not sure he’d understand, but I just don’t think I’d want to travel with him if we weren’t married.”
“Why wouldn’t he understand?”
“Well, I think he might assume that I’m the same girl I used to be back in LA during the early eighties.”
“What kind of girl was that?”
“Oh, you know”—Caroline waved her hand—“fast and easy.”
Janie kind of laughed. “Yes, I can just imagine you with your big hair and glitzy clothes, clubbing and living the life. Meanwhile, my nose was to the grindstone, working long hours seven days a week, hoping to establish myself as a New York attorney.”
“Yeah, you always were the smart one, Janie.”
Janie just shook her head.
“Anyway, I guess it’s about time I tell Mitch that I’m not that kind of girl anymore.”
“Don’t you think he knows that, Caroline?”
“Maybe. But I think I’ll lay my cards on the table, and before Christmas.”
“What if he thinks you’re looking for some kind of a commitment from him? Fishing for a ring for Christmas?”
“Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that.” Caroline considered this. “I don’t want to give him the wrong idea. I’m serious, Janie—I’m not ready for that. I realize I’m not getting any younger, but marriage is, well, so permanent.”
“Not always.”
“No, not always. But you know what I mean. If I get married at this stage of the game, I want the commitment to last until the end of our lifetimes. That’s pretty permanent. I’ve always dreamed of being married to the right guy—I mean, a guy I really love, someone I can laugh with, grow old with, sit by the fire and walk on the beach with.”
“You mean someone besides Chuck,” Janie teased.
Caroline laughed. “Someone along with Chuck. You know what they say— love me, love my dog.”
“Do you think Mitch is that guy?”
“I think I’d like it to be Mitch. But I’m not sure he’s ready for that. He’s pretty committed to his business. It’s going strong and growing—and that means a lot of travel. I wouldn’t expect him to give that up for me.” Caroline pointed to Janie. “Enough about my stalled love life. How about you and Victor? Any word from his ex? Donna’s not planning any more surprise appearances, is she? Christmas?”
Janie frowned. “I don’t think so. Victor told me that she’s been back to her therapist, and she actually emailed him a short apology.” She chuckled. “Kind of a narcissistic apology, but at least she made the effort.”
“So?” Caroline studied Janie.
Janie shrugged. “We’re still together if that’s what you mean. But I’m not particularly interested in hearing wedding bells either. Not just yet anyway.”
“But sometime?”
Janie smiled. “Maybe. But, really, I’m kind of enjoying being single. It feels like I’ve barely gotten my feet under me—I mean after leaving New York, getting settled in Clifden—and I’ve only just started my own practice. I like this feeling of independence. I’m not ready to give that up yet. I think Victor understands.”
“Any word from Lisa since that last call?”
With a sad expression, Janie shook her head.
“Don’t worry,” Caroline assured her. “She’ll call.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Even in the most dysfunctional relationships—and you know I speak from experience—I truly believe a girl wants to connect with her mother. Don’t you?”
Janie nodded. “Yes, I think so.”
Caroline folded the paper napkin into a triangle. “As messed up as my poor mom was—you saw her, she was almost completely out of her head—I still miss her sometimes. I’m really glad I was able to spend the last few months of her life with her even though it was hard. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
As Caroline walked through the freshly gutted house that afternoon with her notebook in hand, trying to decide what kinds of things she wanted done with the place, she decided that she would complete this renovation in honor of her mother’s memory. Maybe it was silly or sentimental, but that’s what she planned to do. She would get the house back to its former self—and better. She would see that it became a place her mother would’ve been proud of. Perhaps someday her mom would take a sneak peek down from heaven and give the house—as well as Caroline—a nod of approval.
Chapter 5
Abby
It was the day Abby had been waiting for. Real guests—not her friend Caroline or Victor’s crazy ex-wife—real paying customers were coming to her bed-and-breakfast today. Sure, they’d been referrals from Jackie Day’s B and B down by the waterfront, but even so, they were honest-to-goodness guests. Even though the inn wasn’t 100 percent complete, it was good enough, and this week’s visitors would prove that. The question was, where were they?
At five o’clock, she called Jackie. “What time do guests usually check in?” she asked, although she already knew the answer.
“You never know,” Jackie said. “That’s one reason I find it easier to live at the inn.”
“Right.” Abby had considered this, but she knew Paul would throw a fit.
“You can always make a policy,” Jackie advised her. “No checking in past a certain hour—say nine o’clock.”
“Nine o’clock?”
“Well, for your guests’ sake, you have to be reasonable. You don’t want to limit yourself so much that your B and B goes empty most of the time.”
“It’s just that nine is so late. We sometimes go to bed around then.”
“Seriously?”
Abby chuckled. “Yes. Paul
and I are turning into regular old-timers, Jackie. We go to bed with the chickens.”
“Not me. I’m a night owl.”
“Then maybe we should have all the night owls stay at your inn and the early birds can stay at mine.”
Of course, Jackie didn’t like that idea much, but she told Abby to be patient and said that she’d actually directed some other guests Abby’s way during the holidays.
“But I won’t be open during the holidays,” Abby told her.
“Is this a business or a hobby?” Jackie demanded.
“Well, it’s a business, of course. But I’m still trying to figure things out. I’m starting out slowly until I get all the kinks out. I’m still in the experimental stage.”
“So you’re experimenting on the guests I sent your way?” Jackie said in a scolding tone. “You’d better treat these people right, or you won’t have much repeat traffic.”
“I am treating them right,” Abby defended. “You should see this place. I’ve pulled out all the stops. Fresh flowers in every room, great toiletries, the best linens, soothing classical music, and I’ve got a killer breakfast menu lined up for the next week.”
“Oh.” Jackie sounded concerned. “What’s the deal? Are you trying to run me out of business?”
“No, not at all, Jackie. I’m just trying to follow your fine example.” Abby glanced over to where she’d placed a china plate of freshly made snickerdoodle cookies by the sign-in book. Should she feel guilty for doing a little extra something to make her guests feel welcome? She wouldn’t tell Jackie about the special handmade chocolate mints she’d bought to put on the beds at night, or the elegant crystal goldfish bowls with live fish swimming happily about that she had placed in the bathrooms. Jackie didn’t have to know everything about this place. Hopefully the word would spread quickly enough.
Abby went into the laundry room, where she’d stashed a couple of crates of Christmas decorations, some extra things she’d borrowed from her own collection at home. Her plan had been to get them placed about the inn to give it a festive holiday atmosphere. Seeing she had time to spare, she decided to go ahead and get started.
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