“I’m on my way.”
Alyssa looked at her phone, realizing Hannah had ended the call. No matter. She had moved a little further away, but she was still within a two-minute drive.
Alyssa hurried into the bathroom and ran a brush through her hair. A night out with Hannah was just what she needed. “I’ll bring her back here right after supper,” Alyssa called to her sisters, feeling a little guilty for abandoning them on their first night.
“We’ll be here,” Taylor said. “I’m walking through the house and figuring out what needs to be updated first. We have a lot to do, and we don’t have much time to get it all done.”
The doorbell rang, and Alyssa ran for the door, throwing it open. “Hannah!”
The two friends embraced. “I missed you so much,” Hannah said, tears streaming. “I’m so sorry about your parents.”
“Me too.” Alyssa looked behind her and saw Lauren. “We’ll be back after supper, and we’ll all catch up.”
Lauren nodded and watched as the two friends hurried out the door.
Thirteen
Alyssa was so happy to have time to spend with Hannah that she could barely contain herself. She hurried out and got into the passenger seat of her friend’s old beat up pickup truck. If she remembered correctly, it was the same truck Hannah had driven when they were teens.
“Okay, so tell me all about where you are in the process of opening the bookstore.” Alyssa turned to her friend as much as she could while buckled.
“It’s slow going. I found a site, but we need to pour the concrete, and we can’t do that until the ground is unfrozen.” Hannah shrugged. “I have the money to do it all now—thanks to your parents—and I’m starting to work with an architect to draw out exactly what I’m looking for.”
“So . . . when do you think you’ll be able to open?” Alyssa hated that her friend was having to wait. It could be another six weeks before the snow was completely over for the year. Idaho was not known for early springs.
“It’s probably going to be at least December. More likely in the spring. It depends on weather and all that good stuff. It’s okay, though, because I’m no longer working a hundred hours a week to make it happen. Now we’re waiting on Mother Nature to smile at me.”
“That works, then. Where are we going for supper?” Alyssa asked.
“Oh, I’m taking you to Coopers. My treat! I want to sit and talk about nothing and everything.”
“Two subjects that suit me just fine.”
“So, tell me about the B&B. I love that you guys are doing it, but are all of you going to be part of running it?”
“Absolutely not. I’m still going to be a real estate agent. I love the work too much to give it up. I’m going to start studying for my test bright and early Wednesday morning.” Alyssa couldn’t imagine trying to make all the decisions that would need to be made if they all had to have a say in everything. “Taylor is going to manage the place, because she has the experience, and it was her idea. For now, I think Lauren is going to work with her, cleaning rooms and making breakfasts.”
“Sounds good . . .” Hannah turned off the main road, heading toward the restaurant.
“Kayla is going to do maintenance for the house and any renovations that need to be done, but she plans on continuing flipping houses. I wouldn’t be surprised if she quit selling them and started renting them out as Airbnbs, but she hasn’t said those are the plans. Amanda is going to work her magic on the house, but she’ll be hiring out for other jobs as well.” Alyssa shrugged. “We’ll all keep doing what we do best, but we’ll be living together. At least in the beginning.”
Hannah parked the truck, and they both hopped down. “I think that all makes a whole lot of sense. It would be hard for all of you to work together all the time as well as live together. I remember some major fights when you were up here every summer. It might be best to try to avoid those.”
“You mean like the time Kayla got mad at Amanda and cut her hair while she was sleeping?”
Hannah laughed. “Exactly like that. Might be best that you’re all going to have jobs outside of the B&B.”
“Probably. I’m looking forward to exploring the area as an adult. I want to go to the ghost town between Soda and Lava. Chesterfield, I think? I want to go to the Oregon Trail Museum in Montpelier. I’m so excited to be back here where I’ve always felt like I belong.”
“I’m just glad to have you back. It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve just hung out together.” Hannah looked as excited about their move as Alyssa felt.
“We were both working, and it’s harder when you’re an adult.”
“It is.” Hannah smiled at the hostess. “Two of us.”
“Sure, this way.” The girl led them to the back of the restaurant and around a corner. “This good?”
“Thanks, Maryann.”
“No problem.” Maryann hurried away, leaving them alone with their menus.
“I haven’t been here in forever. Is the food the same as it used to be?” Alyssa asked.
“Nothing in Bear Lake ever changes. You know that as well as I do.”
“Then I’m getting a bacon cheeseburger. I remember them from when I was a kid, and I loved them so much.” Alyssa closed her menu and looked at her friend. “So, I want to know all there is to know about Hannah. Are you seeing anyone?”
“No one. I haven’t really had time to date since high school. I was just working way too many hours to even think about it.”
“That makes sense, I guess. You don’t have your eye on anyone?” Alyssa hoped that having the money she needed would let Hannah slow down just a little. She hated to see her friend practically work herself to death.
Hannah laughed. “All I’ve had my eye on is the prize, and I’m so close to getting there now, I can taste it.” She took a sip of the water that had been placed in front of both of them. “So, I’m surprised Tim let you move away.”
Alyssa’s eyes widened. “I didn’t tell you? Tim and I broke up the day the will was read. Right after I talked to you on the phone actually. He came by, and I broke it off. And then he asked for money.” Alyssa shook her head. “Taylor walked up behind me and closed the door on his foot. It was awesome.”
Hannah grinned. “I so wish I’d been there to see that. I would have given his foot a good stomp. Would have gone well with the door closing on it.”
“You know, that was a thought. I wish I’d come up with it at the time.”
“And you haven’t heard from him since?” Hannah asked.
“Oh, he stopped by the house once, and he’s called a few times. I ignore it. I have nothing left to say to him. Nothing at all.” Alyssa knew it was such a change for her after she’d done everything she could to become the woman he wanted her to be.
“What made you change your mind?”
Alyssa sighed, noticing the waitress was there. After they’d given their orders, she answered her friend’s question. “When the police came and told me about Mom and Dad, I knew I needed to talk to someone right away. Someone who could be sympathetic without really knowing my parents. I needed an impartial person to just cry to.”
“Well, yeah. I get that.” Hannah took another sip of her water, wondering where this was all going.
“I called him, and he got onto me for calling so late, even though he was at a party. And he told me I should have called my sisters, like I was a stupid child. It still took my sisters ganging up on me and telling me to dump him to actually do it, but I did, and it’s all over now.” Alyssa leaned back in the hard, wooden chair. “I’m so glad I made the decision. Now I’m free to be here. Although . . . he probably would have liked it better if we’d stayed together, and I was here and he was there.”
“Oh, that’s awful. I hope you don’t really believe that. How on earth did you end up with a jerk like him anyway?”
“He was so nice at first. And complimentary. I truly thought he was the man of my dreams, but it’s obvious that I was
wrong. And now I’ve opened my eyes and broken things off.”
Hannah shook her head. “It’s about time.”
Alyssa wasn’t sure how to respond to that, but she did know that Hannah had her best interests at heart. “Oh, I just remembered that my sisters wanted me to ask you if you knew of anyone who could help us with some remodeling stuff. Kayla had to stay in Salt Lake to finish the house she was working on, and she probably won’t join us for at least another month. We would like to open on the first of June, so we have to move fast.”
“You know what? I think I do know someone. He was a couple grades ahead of us in school, and I went out with him a few times, but there was absolutely no spark between us. His name is Nick Peot.”
“Name doesn’t ring a bell with me.” Alyssa knew a lot of kids from the area simply because she’d spent so much time there. Not everyone, though.
“I’ll have him give you a call in the morning. I know you’ll be happy with his work, and he’s very reasonable. Works hard to make his clients happy.”
“Sounds like exactly what we’re looking for. I was going to post in the Bear Lake Classifieds on Facebook, but I wanted someone who came with a recommendation. So, thanks for that.”
After their meal, they went back to the lake house, and Hannah went in to see Alyssa’s sisters. She was invited to sit with them in the living room, and they all reminisced for hours.
Finally, Hannah got to her feet to leave. “I know I’m not really working in the morning, but I do need to go see my architect. I keep requesting changes to his drawings, and I think I’m slowly driving him insane. I need what I need, though.”
Alyssa walked her to the door, hugging her close. “Don’t be a stranger. I feel like I just got my best friend back after a long walk through the desert. Or is it a long swim through the lake? Either way, I’ve missed you, and I’m glad I have you back.”
“Welcome home, Alyssa. I hope you’re as happy here as you’ve always dreamed you would be.”
Alyssa smiled. “How could I not be with my best friend in the whole world right here with me?”
“You just remember that when you feel the need for a McDonald’s burger. Or Chick-fil-A. We’re sparse on places to eat out up here.”
“If I feel that strong an urge, I’ll put my butt in my car and drive to Logan. It’s not that far.”
“I hope you always feel that way.” Hannah winked at her. “See you very soon. Maybe this weekend?”
“Sounds great. We’ll grill out.”
“Just let me know when, and I’ll be here.”
“Will do!” Alyssa watched Hannah hurry to her car and drive away before joining her sisters in the living room. “Being back here feels so right.”
“That’s because we’re right back where we belong.” Taylor sighed, putting her feet up on an ottoman. “We’re living the lake life again.”
Fourteen
Nick decided to go see Ryan at the hardware store to see if he had heard of any jobs he could do. There had been a few little ones in the past few weeks, but he needed something big. A kitchen remodel—or better yet a whole house—to sink his teeth into.
In the weeks since he’d kicked Kami out, he only felt relief. She’d picked her things up from his front porch on the specified day, and he’d only gotten to burn the pictures of the two of them together. He would have preferred to burn everything she owned, but she’d taken that option away from him. She’d taken a lot of options away from him in their time together.
He hadn’t worked since the Friday before, and it was Tuesday. Sure, that was only a three-day weekend, but it was more time off than he’d had in a while, and he was desperate to get paint under his fingernails. For him, it wasn’t about the money—well, not all about the money anyway. The work revitalized him and kept him going.
He was halfway to the hardware store to talk to Ryan when a call came in. Pressing a button, he answered it hands-free in his truck. “Hello?”
“Hey, Nick. It’s Hannah. My dearest friend and her sisters just moved to the lake, and they want to fix up their house to turn it into a B&B. One of the younger sisters has the knowledge and ability, but she’s not going to join for a month or two. You interested?”
“Definitely. What’s the house?” He didn’t even have to hear where it was to get excited. He wanted to do this. It sounded like the kind of big project that would be good for him.
“The Romriell house. I’m sure you’ve heard talk of them. Summer people at the lake, and they want to make it into the best B&B in the area.”
Nick grinned. “I’ve never been on the inside, but that house is amazing. I saw that they poured concrete. Is that for a parking lot?”
“It is. You should head over there today. My friend and three of her sisters are there.”
“None of them are going to come onto me, are they?” he asked. He didn’t want to think about being in a house alone with four women. After his recent experience, the very idea turned his stomach.
Hannah laughed. “No, they won’t. Head on over, and see who’s there. My friend is Alyssa if you want someone to ask to talk to. Otherwise talk to whomever opens the door. They’re all part of this.”
“All right.” Nick made a three-point turn and headed back toward the Romriell house. His hands were already itching to get started. The house was amazing, and he was sure anything that he could do to make it better would thrill him and the women. “I’m on my way.”
“You want her cell number?” she asked.
“Nah, I’m driving. I’ll just stop in.” He didn’t have far to go, and within minutes he was parking in the driveway of the biggest house in Richland. A house that dreams were made of.
When he rang the bell, he had to wait for a minute before a young brunette came to the door. She stared at him for a moment, confusion on her face. “What can I help you with?”
“I hear you’re turning this place into a B&B. I was told to come talk to Alyssa.” Nick hoped she’d just let him in, because he was dying to see the house, but she stood there for a minute, just looking at him.
“Lauren, who’s here?” a voice from behind the young woman—Lauren—asked.
“Some guy who says he’s supposed to talk to you about turning the house into a B&B. I didn’t know we’d even contacted anyone!” Lauren said, still looking at him skeptically.
Nick smiled. “Hannah told me to come by.”
“Oh!” Lauren was gently pushed out of the way, and another brunette—older and prettier than the last—was looking at him. “Hannah told me she’d have someone call me. I wasn’t expecting you to just show up. I’m Alyssa.” She offered her hand to shake, and he noticed then she was in a robe that was tied tightly in front of her. “We just moved in yesterday, so it’s still a bit of a mess, but come in, and we’ll talk about what we want to do.” Alyssa looked over at Lauren, who was still standing there looking at him, a pancake turner in her hand. “I’ll get the others. You entertain him.”
Lauren frowned at him. “How do you want me to entertain you? I could do a little song and dance or something.”
Alyssa turned just before starting up a beautifully curved flight of stairs. “Lauren!”
“Fine.” Lauren pasted a smile on her face. “Come in. I’ll show you to the living room, and we’ll sit and chat about the weather, because I’m not sure what anyone wants done yet, and then when my sisters get here to talk to you, they can tell me to run along and play.”
Stepping into a huge foyer, Nick was amazed already. The tile and intricate woodwork fascinated him. He could put a counter along one wall to greet and check in guests, and it wouldn’t even begin to feel cramped. He wanted to start measuring immediately, but he wasn’t sure how Lauren would react, and she was obviously in charge of him for the next little bit.
Nick laughed. “You must be the youngest.”
“You got that right.” Lauren led him to a spacious living room with a large screen television against one wall and more seating t
han he would have thought necessary for a family. “Have a seat.”
He sat down, leaning back against the cushions for a moment. Whatever they were doing with the place, they needed to keep the couch. It was the most comfortable piece of furniture he’d been on in ages. “You don’t really have to entertain me. Finish making your breakfast. I’ll play with my phone.”
“That would be great. I don’t mean to be rude, but I was about to start making some scrambled eggs for my sisters and myself, and then the doorbell rang, completely throwing me off course. Sit here, and someone will be here soon.” Lauren rushed from the room, twirling the utensil in her hand.
Instead of sitting like a good boy, Nick wandered around the room, studying the walls and the structure of the building. He was even more excited to start now that he was inside. Hopefully he’d get the job, though he didn’t know exactly what the women were hoping for. If it meant working in that house, he wanted to do it.
He was looking at a built-in bookshelf when he heard someone clear their throat behind them. “I guess Lauren abandoned you?”
“I told her I was capable of taking care of myself, and that’s what I’m doing. This house is absolutely amazing.” Nick turned around to see Alyssa watching him.
She smiled. “I’ve always thought so. My sisters will be down in a minute.” She waved a hand toward the sofa again. “I’d love to start by telling you a little about what we’re wanting to do here, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all.” He sat down, smiling when she did the same. He was a little disappointed that she’d changed her robe for sweat pants and a t-shirt, but he’d have to adjust.
“This house was built by our parents shortly after I was born so they would have a place to escape Salt Lake City during summers. They made sure it was big enough for all of our aunts, uncles, and cousins. There are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms on each floor. We’re going to want each bedroom to have a lock installed on the door—to which we’ll retain a master key—and we want to make certain that each bathroom is in good working order. While the construction work is being done, my four sisters and I will be living in the house. Well, three sisters until we’re joined by Kayla, who is the only one of us who has any construction skills or experience. She is a house flipper, but she’s not finished with the house she’s working on, so she will be here when she is.”
Changing Dreams (Bear Lake Dreamers Book 1) Page 8
