Then she put a truly amazing pastry in front of his father. Apple filling spilled out the side, and he suddenly wanted that pastry more than he’d ever wanted any other pastry in the world.
“Surely that’s cheating.” Somehow. It had to be.
He’d brought spreadsheets to a pastry fight.
* * *
ELAINE TOOK A deep breath and motioned to the seat at the end of the table. “Mark, would you like to sit?”
“Nah, I’ll stand. Get some action shots for the story. If that’s all right?”
Elaine clasped her hands in front of her. “Fine. If Dean has no objection, I’ll go first. Then after we both present, we can take questions before you decide.” She glanced at Dean to see him perch on the edge of a chair and wave at Edna, who gave him a wink.
Elaine realized she’d been staring when her mother motioned with her head in the direction of all Elaine’s hard work. “Right. In front of you are the highlights of my plan. As you can see, renovation efforts have already begun with fresh paint on the outside. I’ve cleared the garden in preparation for some nice fall planting. The road is in good working order.” Thanks to Dean... “As soon as I’m given the go-ahead and the purchase is completed, Nick Robertson and I will address the interior renovation. The first priority is a modernized kitchen.”
Her mother murmured, “Oh, yes it is.” She pulled out a poster that showed the paint colors and cabinets Elaine had chosen. The revised layout would allow plenty of room for high-end appliances and a long bar for seating.
“The new Bluebird will focus on a full family experience. I’ll offer fun classes for kids and families. Cooking, knitting, photography...” She glanced at Dean and then looked away. “Guests will be taught by local professionals. We might even have some fishing guides come in to work with the kids. This would be a real bonus for some families.” Because not everyone was lucky enough to have a father to teach them how to bait a hook or find their way out of the woods. The Bluebird could be a real benefit to single parents, something she’d just realized as she was talking.
“I believe we could open the inn in three months. And of course, the tearoom will reopen as soon as possible after that. My mother has agreed to take the day-to-day oversight of the hotel because I intend to keep my practice.” Elaine motioned at the amazing pastries in front of them and desperately hoped her mother had held a few back. If she didn’t get one, she might be more disappointed than if she lost the Bluebird. “And she’ll bake.”
She folded her hands together and waited for them to try the apple dumpling. “Mom, Dean doesn’t have one. Would you...” She watched her mother slide a plate in front of him and nearly smiled at his suspicious look.
She wanted him to comprehend how hard this victory was going to be.
Everyone took a bite. No one said a thing until Jackie jumped up and said, “I’ll pay you twice what she’s paying to supply the Country Kitchen.” He frowned at Elaine as if he was seeing her in a brand-new light. “Mona’s pies got nothing on these.” Then he said, pointing around the room, “And if any of you tell her I said that, I’ll sue.” Jackie sat and finished his pastry with another glare in her direction.
Somehow she’d managed to lose her own judge.
Her mother stood behind the judges and urged her to continue.
“Finally, here are some shots of the Bluebird where I’ve tried to capture what it means to me. Most of you know that my family visited Tall Pines when I was a girl. I remember these rocking chairs and that view and so many afternoons when Martha Collins would include me and my mom in whatever she was doing around the house.” She waved her arms, happy with the memory of the freedom she’d had here. “This was a place where I could be anything. I could be a scientist in the morning, a grand lady in the afternoon and a screaming kid flying from a rope swing after dinner. That’s what I want to rebuild. If you give me this chance, the Bluebird Bed-and-Breakfast can be that kind of place again, one where families get stronger and kids have a chance to explore.”
Dean’s expression was hard to read. Robert Collins was smiling, and Ray Evans was studying the figures in the packet. Edna had her arms crossed over her chest and a teacup in one hand.
Jackie was craning his neck to see if there were any more pastries.
Without another word, Elaine sat.
“My turn?” Dean asked as he pulled his laptop out. Not sure she wanted to stay for this, she nodded.
No, Elaine. You stay. Listen. Whatever points he makes, you come up with reasonable alternatives. That’s how you win this. You can’t quit now.
“Well, my presentation is a little less...polished, but you’ll see I’ve done some careful research on things Tall Pines and Spring Lake might need.” He started his slideshow. A photo of the view in front of the Bluebird came up, with a computer-generated drawing of a boxy building standing roughly where the dock was now.
Elaine was no designer, but if she was going to ruin the view, she’d demand something better than a big wooden box.
“First thing we’ll do is build a small marina, right here in front of the inn. Fishermen want a handy space to store the boat, and we can sell gas and bait.”
Dean walked toward Elaine and paused in front of her while he made his next point. “You may have heard a rumor that I was planning a restaurant. A better alternative would be a small grill or snack shop run right out of the marina, a place where boats can stop for a quick bite. The only other store like that is in Lawrence. A snack shop would expand the Bluebird’s reach, require more employees and bring in more taxes.”
Edna’s lips moved along with every word Dean spoke. They’d rehearsed this presentation well. He clicked the slideshow and a hand-drawn map of the cove came up. “Once the marina is completed and the docks are repaired, I’ll begin to offer day tours and fishing packages while a small line of cabins is built along the shoreline here.” He pointed to the trail he and Elaine had jogged along. The view from those cabins would be amazing. “We’ll outfit them with kitchenettes, but everyone will need to come to town for full meals.” Elaine watched Jackie nod in satisfaction.
“As far as the inn goes, we’re going to modernize with a view to comfortable function.”
Comfortable function...did that mean something other than new furniture?
He pulled up a spreadsheet. “I don’t expect you can read this, but I’ve outlined a budget for renovation and new builds, possible five-year income and a timeline for each phase.” His voice faded as Ray Evans picked up the laptop and hauled it closer. Robert Collins looked over his shoulder and Dean slumped in his chair.
“Have we reached the question-and-answer part yet, Miss Bossy?” Edna asked with a sniff.
Wishing she could say no, Elaine bared her teeth in a smile. “Go ahead.”
“What about families?” Edna sipped her tea and looked serenely at Dean. “Where do they fit in your plan?”
Dean seemed as shocked as Elaine felt. Edna was his judge. She should be attacking Elaine, right?
He shrugged awkwardly. “Well, they would be drawn to the marina. Of course.” Then he frowned. “And I guess kids and spouses would be welcome. But my proposal was to create a camp for...serious fishermen.”
Ray and Jackie sent uncomfortable peeks toward Edna.
They both had had wives.
And they probably had an idea how well a serious fishing retreat would go over.
“If you’ll recall, I did mention that many men enjoy spending vacations with their families, teaching their children about the things they love,” Edna said. She scanned down the table, and Robert and Ray nodded. “We talked about making the inn family friendly. What happened to that, Dean?” She said the last while gritting her teeth, and Elaine felt a surge of hope that Dean might have managed to lose his own judge as easily as she’d flipped Jackie to the other si
de with a beautiful dessert.
“I thought about it. I decided against it.” The flush on his cheeks matched the hesitation in his words. “I want a place that fits my style. This adventure focus is me.”
“And what about women who love to fish or hike or climb mountains? Are they welcome?” Edna smiled. “I don’t know any but I imagine they exist.”
“Of course they’re welcome.” Dean tugged on the neck of his T-shirt. “Just, they’ll have to...you know...”
“Leave their hair dryers at home?” Edna dared him to agree.
Dean wisely kept his mouth shut.
“And you. Didn’t I tell you not to forget the dads?” Edna asked with a sniff. People who rejected her advice were going to get no mercy.
“I didn’t. I have a list of fishing guides, two of whom I’ve already talked to about running special tours through the fall. We can advertise together, and I’ll make sure anyone who wants to fish finds a guide.”
Edna pursed her lips.
“This grill. Lunch only?” Jackie asked.
“That’s where we’ll start. Lunch only. Summer only. But if demand is big enough, we’ll expand the hours.” Dean looked sorry to add the last part, and she admired him for telling the truth.
“What do you think, Ray?” Robert asked, a concerned frown on his face.
The sheriff stretched in his chair and pondered the question for a long second. Then he looked at Elaine and Dean. “Well, now... Both plans have merit.”
Everyone at the table swapped glances as if they were making sure everyone else expected more, too.
Ray sighed. “Gotta say, though, if we’re looking at what’s best for the town, it’s going to be families, not a bunch of wild men looking to cut up on the weekend. Families will support the shops in town, the restaurants will do a bigger business and the crowd will be completely different, meaning fewer late-night calls when some idiot drinks too many beers and decides to give night fishing a try.” He tapped his finger on his knee and frowned. “I’m only saying that because of conversations I’ve had with Murphy in Lawrence. He gets a call every weekend for some thing or another happening at the Spring Lake Oasis.”
The surprise on the faces around the table suggested no one had considered the differences in the kind of tourists the new inn would bring. Just like that, Elaine felt a glimmer of hope.
“Of course, this new marina would be a boost to our side of Spring Lake. We could draw in a fishing tournament, maybe, or even sponsor one. The thing about fishermen is that if they find a spot they love, they come back. If the fish are biting, they’ll plan more than one vacation a year. We could be looking at a much bigger percentage of return visits.” Ray pointed at the laptop screen. “Which Dean has taken into account. That could mean big things for Tall Pines.”
He picked up his teacup and sipped calmly as though he hadn’t thrown a big question mark over the conversation.
“Well, now...” Robert rubbed his forehead. “We’ve got some talking to do. Maybe you could wait outside?”
Dean nodded. “Sure.” He motioned for Elaine to walk in front of him, and Mark followed them out.
“Are you up for a picture together?” Mark asked and trotted down the front steps.
Elaine glanced at Dean and saw him shrug. “Sure. Where do you want us?”
Mark looked up and down the porch. “How about this corner? I can get the fresh paint and the bluebird boxes in the background.”
Elaine followed Dean and stood stiffly next to him, thinking they probably looked like an updated version of Grant Wood’s American Gothic.
“Too bad I left my pitchfork in the garage,” Dean muttered.
Elaine smiled as Mark snapped the shot.
“Good. Now I’ll head to the dock. Grab some landscape photos.” She and Dean watched him trot down the hill.
“So what should we pretend to talk about?” Dean asked. He motioned to her usual rocking chair before dropping down into the one beside it.
“You did a good job,” she said grudgingly as she eased down to sit beside him. Dean laughed.
“Why do you sound so surprised? I’m a professional photographer, and I’ve worked with some of the finest news agencies in the world. Did you think I was nothing more than a pretty face?”
Elaine smiled and took a moment to study Dean. Sleeping through the night had softened the harsh lines around his eyes.
And she was in serious trouble.
“How does it feel to lose to a girl?” She crossed her arms tightly over her chest.
“You know, life goes on. If you win, I’ll...” He stared at the lake. “Well, I’ll figure out what comes next.”
“Sure. There’s no need to worry about me, either.” She crossed one leg over the other and kicked one foot in a quick pattern. “There’s plenty of work to keep me busy in Tall Pines.”
Pride was a dangerous thing, but she didn’t want pity from Dean. He thought she was strong. That’s the way she wanted everyone to see her.
He also knew about her hidden wounds and had enough of his own to be compassionate. And funny and strong and smart, but those qualities really had nothing to do with the situation and everything to do with the man.
Right now, they were both in the same spot: they had everything to lose and no control over the outcome. Even if she lost, Elaine wanted to remember finally understanding someone else this well.
* * *
DEAN WATCHED MARK walk along the shoreline and wondered if putting up a marina was worth losing the serenity of this view. He’d been so certain before because it was the least expensive spot and the fastest way to get the biggest return on his money, but it might be the point that lost him the whole thing.
To distract himself, he watched Elaine’s bouncing foot, the only real sign of her nerves.
“I’m not sure how to thank you for bringing my mother. You were scared for a second when the apple dumplings came out. Admit it.” The satisfaction in her voice was cute, even if she was right.
“Just like you didn’t expect your judge to flip to my side after one bite. Admit it.”
She straightened the folds of her sundress. “Possible miscalculation.”
“Well, if you lose, you can blame that.” Dean shook his head. It had been a smart move. The problem was that people were unpredictable.
“All right. We’re ready.” His dad held the door open.
Elaine’s mother was packing up all the remaining pastries. Jackie, Edna and Ray were gathered around the table. Once Elaine and Dean had stepped into the room, everyone turned to look at them.
“All right, tell us,” Elaine said from her spot in the doorway. Her hands were clenched into tight fists and her chin raised. She was preparing for the worst. He wanted to rest his hands on her shoulders, ease them back down and tell her it would all be fine. No matter what, she’d be fine.
He also understood her well enough to know she wouldn’t appreciate anything that looked like pity.
“Both of you have impressive plans,” Robert said. “And I can tell from all the improvements you’ve already made that Martha’s inn will be in capable hands no matter who I choose. The problem is, neither one of you is going to accept anything less than a clear win so...” Robert scratched his chin. “The judges have decided Elaine’s plan is best. I raised a family here. The Bluebird should be about family.”
The worry was clear on his father’s face, but if he said anything else, Dean couldn’t hear it over the static in his ears. When Elaine rested her hand on his chest and leaned forward, he could hear, “Are you okay? Here. Sit down.”
Her concern rattled him, brought him back to reality. He cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah. Caught off guard is all.” He forced a smile and surveyed the room without meeting anyone’s eyes. “Guess I should have spent some
time packing.” Not that it would take long to shove all his clothes in the backpack.
“There’s no rush,” Elaine said. “We’ll be renovating and there’s so much space. Just...stay. Please.”
“We’re about to hit the road. Father-son excursion. We’ll go see how the West was won.” Despite his father’s cheerful answer, everyone in the room studied Dean closely, sympathy easy to read in their expressions.
The way the judges watched him, small frowns of concern on their faces and their hands stretched out as though they were half a second away from patting him on the shoulder, reminded him of the days right after his mother’s funeral. His father had done the same thing then, too, pretended everything was going to be fine when the whole world was changing.
Losing his mother had been a blow.
He’d honestly never thought he could lose.
And he had to get out.
“First, I think I’ll...” His shoulders slumped. He couldn’t even come up with anywhere to escape to. This had been his retreat.
When it looked as if his father was about to try to comfort him, Dean turned and went up the stairs, taking them two at a time. In the bedroom he’d desperately planned to escape—until he’d needed it just as desperately to recover—he jammed all his ragged clothes into his backpack and carefully packed his cameras and equipment. Then he sat on the bed and braced his hands on his knees.
He could stay. Elaine’s offer had been sincere. There was no need to rush off.
Except staying here would hurt. Every person he met would console him or try to cheer him up with hollow words, but they’d only be reminding him of what a huge loss this was. Delaying the inevitable made no sense.
He had to go.
Quickly. With as little fuss as possible.
When he was sure he could pull off a convincing “no worries” expression, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and picked up his equipment bag. Then he carefully navigated the stairs, unsurprised to see everyone hovering at the bottom.
The Bluebird Bet Page 18
