Alice sighed. “Good question. For all I know they may be meeting with a realtor right now.”
“Not without your permission, they’d better not.”
Alice forced a smile. “I’m sure that they wouldn’t do that.”
“Good grief, you’d think those two would be more appreciative. After all you’ve done over the years, taking care of your father the way you have. Pastor Daniel was their dad too.”
Alice shook her head. “To be honest, there’s another thing that’s been nagging me lately, Vera. It seems sort of silly, but I keep thinking about how Father wanted to see all three of us together again. But Jane and Louise were always too busy. I realize they had their own lives and responsibilities and all, but it just bothers me.”
Vera patted her hand. “Don’t you think Pastor Daniel is looking down right now? Don’t you think he can see his three daughters together?”
Alice blinked as she set down her cup. “Goodness, that doesn’t make me feel much better … especially when I think of how frustrated all three of us have been with each other. Poor Father.”
“I have a feeling Pastor Daniel can handle it now.” Vera gave her a gentle smile. “Sometimes these family relationships just take a little time and patience to work out. It’s no secret that you three are just as different as can be. Only yesterday at the service I heard Ellen Moore comment on how she couldn’t believe you three were actually related, let alone flesh and blood sisters.”
“It is rather interesting, isn’t it?”
“Well, for some reason your father believed that leaving the house to the three of you would bring you together. Pastor Daniel was no fool, Alice. I expect it’s just a matter of time before you work this thing out.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Knowing you, I don’t know how I could be wrong. You have a gift when it comes to working things out.”
“I’m not so sure anymore, Vera. I was pretty fed up last night.”
“Did you tell your sisters how you felt?”
Alice looked down at her nearly empty cup but said nothing.
“Just as I thought.”
“I suppose I should get back now, Vera. They might be worried.”
“Might do them some good if they were worried. They should appreciate you a little more.”
“I’m sure they do, Vera.” Alice stood. “If I said anything wrong about my sisters, I hope you’ll forgive me and just take it with a grain of salt. You know that I love them.”
“I know, I know. Sometimes it’s good to vent these things, and your conversation is always safe with me. But, really, Alice, I don’t like to think of them taking advantage of you.”
“They’re my sisters, Vera. And despite everything, I know that they love me too. Besides that, remember what Jesus said: to be great in God’s kingdom, you must become a servant.”
“Servant maybe. But not a doormat.”
Alice smiled as she reached for the back door. “Thanks, Vera, for the tea and sympathy.”
“Anytime. Well, as long as it’s not a school day.” Vera patted her sponge rollers and laughed. “Good grief, I completely forgot how I look. By the way, you ready to start walking again? I think I’ve put five extra pounds onto these hips since we stopped.”
“I’m with you. How about if we get back on our old schedule starting on Monday.”
Chapter Seven
Jane was rinsing out a bowl in the kitchen sink when Alice slipped in the back door.
“Something smells good,” said Alice in a friendly voice.
Jane turned quickly. “Oh, Alice! There you are. I was so worried.” She dried off her hands on a towel and approached her sister. “I’m sorry about our stupidity last night.”
“Well, I’ll admit I was a little irked.”
“Irked? You should’ve told us both to take a hike. Here you’ve been taking such good care of everyone.” She shook her head. “I’m so sorry.”
Alice reached out her arms and hugged her little sister. “Oh, Jane, you know I couldn’t stay mad at you for very long.”
“How about me?” Louise stepped into the kitchen with a guilty expression. Her normally perfectly coiffed hair was tussled from sleep, and she wore a pale blue dressing gown. “I’m sorry, Alice.”
Alice hugged Louise too. “I think maybe we were all just feeling a little edgy yesterday,” she said. “It had been such a demanding day with the funeral and all. Let’s just chalk it up to stress.”
“And Aunt Ethel,” added Louise.
Alice smiled. “I don’t think any of us were really at our best.”
“I have a peace offering in the oven.” Jane bent down to peek inside. “Cinnamon rolls and they’re almost done.”
“Oh, I simply adore your cinnamon rolls, Jane,” said Louise. “I know you sent me your recipe, but honestly, no matter how hard I try, they never turn out as good as yours.”
Jane took a mock bow. “That’s why I get paid to do this.”
Soon they were all seated around the kitchen table pulling apart the sweet and sticky confections.
“These are magnificent,” said Alice. “Too bad you can’t open up a restaurant in Acorn Hill, Jane.”
Jane leaned back in the wooden chair and got a faraway look in her eye. “Who says I can’t?”
Louise sat up straighter and adjusted her dressing gown. “What do you mean, Jane?”
“Oh, I don’t know exactly. I guess I’m just thinking out loud. This past year has been so hard on me. Sometimes I want to just run away and leave everything behind. I used to love the city—the art, the culture, the music, even the fog, but more and more it’s just a big lonely place that’s too full of painful memories. I’m surprised to admit that Acorn Hill feels like a breath of fresh air to me right now.”
“Really?” Alice could feel her heart starting to pound with anticipation. “Would you seriously consider relocating here?”
Jane nodded. “The truth is I stayed awake until three this morning thinking about it, trying to figure out if it’s even plausible.”
“What did you come up with?” asked Louise.
Jane sighed. “I’m not sure. I’d love to be able to start up a little restaurant or something small right here in Acorn Hill, but I’m just not sure I’m up for that kind of undertaking just yet.”
“It would take quite a bit of effort to start up a restaurant,” agreed Alice. She paused for a moment, carefully considering her next words. Was she rushing things? Or was she simply taking the next step? She studied her sisters’ faces and thought how wonderful it was for the three of them to be together like this. So she continued. “What if there was some other option? Some enterprise that could possibly be a family business.”
“Like what?” Jane set down her coffee mug and leaned forward with interest.
“Yes,” said Louise eagerly. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
Alice felt a rush of hope. Could it be possible that Father’s last wishes might actually come true after all? “Well, I got to thinking this morning,” she began in a quiet but intense voice. “Actually, Vera and I were talking about something …”
“What is it?” Jane’s blue eyes grew brighter.
“Well, I know it might sound crazy.”
“Come on,” urged Louise. “Out with it.”
“Okay. As you may have guessed, I’ve been hoping we could avoid selling the family home. I know that it’s in need of repair. So Vera and I were talking about the whole thing … and suddenly I remembered this old dream of mine.” Alice looked around the spacious but cluttered and fairly rundown kitchen, and then continued. “I think, with a little work, okay, maybe a lot of work, I think that this old house would make a lovely bed and breakfast.”
“A bed and breakfast?” Louise seemed to chew on this.
“You know, an inn of sorts. A place where people could come to relax and unwind and—”
“Eat good food,” added Jane with a twinkle in her eye. “Oh, Al
ice, who would you get to cook for you?”
“A renowned chef?” asked Alice hopefully.
Jane nodded. “I think so.”
“Slow down, girls,” warned Louise. “This would be an enormous undertaking.”
“I know. I know.” Alice sighed. “But wouldn’t it be fun?”
“It doesn’t hurt to kick the idea around a bit,” said Jane.
“I guess not.” Louise smiled. “To be honest, Eliot and I used to talk about buying an old house in the country and trying something like this. We stayed at this lovely place in Connecticut one summer, and the couple running it seemed to be having such a good time.”
“There isn’t anything like that around here,” said Alice.
“We’d have to do some renovations on the house first,” said Jane. “Especially this kitchen.”
“It would be very expensive,” said Louise.
“An investment,” said Jane.
“I’ve got some money in my savings,” offered Alice.
“I have money from my half of the sale of the house,” said Jane. “It’s not much, but I’m willing to—”
“It’s a risky thing,” said Louise, “pouring all your savings into this old place. What if the bed and breakfast didn’t work out?”
“Well, we’d have a house that was more valuable than before,” said Jane. “Even if we decided to sell it, we’d probably make some money in the end.”
“I suppose,” said Louise.
Alice considered this. She didn’t like the idea of improving the house and being forced to sell. “Do you really think a bed and breakfast wouldn’t work, Louise?”
Louise waved her hand. “No, I’m not suggesting that. Actually I just read an article about how they are more popular than ever on the East Coast. They even have a B and B association that publishes a directory.”
“Okay, let’s get back to the finances,” said Jane. “Between Alice’s savings and my money from the house—”
“Now, wait just a minute!” Louise stood up and held up her hands. “Don’t you two go leaving me out of this whole thing. Remember I own one third of this house. I have a legitimate vote here.”
They both turned and looked at Louise.
“Not that we’re voting yet,” said Louise with a smile. “I just don’t want to be left out.”
Jane raised one eyebrow. “And if we were voting, what would your vote be, Louise?”
“Well, do you think I could teach piano lessons here without upsetting the guests too much?”
“I don’t see why not,” said Jane. “Maybe we could use Father’s den as a practice room.”
Alice grinned. “Perhaps you could play for the guests occasionally.”
“Do you really think they’d enjoy that?”
“Of course,” exclaimed Alice. “What would be more lovely than enjoying one of Jane’s delicious breakfasts while listening to a beautiful selection of classical piano played by one of Philadelphia’s finest?”
Louise blinked. “Perhaps you should write that down, Alice. It sounds like something we could use in a promotional brochure.”
“So, it sounds like you’re on board, Louise,” said Jane.
“I definitely think we should look into the possibilities,” said Louise. “If we’re really serious, that is.”
Jane reached over and grabbed both of their hands. “So, what do we really think, girls? Are we all in this venture together?”
“I am,” said Alice. “Even though it’s risky, I feel it’s worth it.”
“So do I,” said Jane. “I don’t know any other two people that I’d rather partner with.” She turned and looked at Louise. “Are you with us, big sister?”
Louise nodded with tears in her eyes. “We’ll be like the three musketeers,” she said happily. “All for one and one for all.”
Alice felt her eyes filling too. Only now they were tears of pure joy. “Oh, Father would be so proud of us!”
“I’m sure that he is, Alice,” said Louise. “He’s probably up there clapping his hands right now.”
Jane nodded. “And Mother too.”
“May we bow our heads for a moment,” suggested Alice. They agreed and she led her sisters in a short but heartfelt prayer, dedicating their home and future bed and breakfast to God and to serving others.
“What shall we call it?” asked Jane.
“Well, a lot of folks in town refer to this as the Grace Chapel house, since we’re right next to the chapel. What if we called it Grace Chapel Inn?”
“Grace Chapel Inn,” repeated Louise. “That has a nice ring to it.”
“I like it,” agreed Jane.
Alice sighed as she reached down to give the snoozing Wendell a pat. She could hardly believe that she and her sisters had decided to change their home as well as the course of their lives over cinnamon rolls. She still wasn’t sure how all the details would be worked out, and she knew there would be lots of decisions to make—from three very different women with three very differing sets of views. But she hoped that with God leading … they would find their way.
By mid-morning they had several well-developed to-do lists. And, to Alice’s amazement, with all three women’s financial contributions, it appeared that they might indeed be able to do a decent renovation of their home. As it turned out, Louise had managed to squirrel away quite a bit of money.
“Yes, at the time I thought that my poor Eliot might actually have turned over in his grave,” Louise laughed, “or perhaps shaken his fist down from heaven. I cashed out most of our stocks a few years ago and put the money into my savings account.”
“You’re kidding!” Jane looked astounded.
“It’s true. You see, I’d always been uncomfortable with the stock market. To me it was like purchasing a piece of air for a lot of money, but Eliot thought it was great fun and he was fairly successful. He was always investing in this or that. I had no idea of how much until after he’d passed away.”
“So you must’ve got out before—”
“Before everything started going downhill.”
“Lucky you,” said Jane.
“I recently considered other sorts of investments, but I’ve never been quite sure what would be best. But I do like the idea of investing in real estate. I’ve always believed in concrete things like bricks and plaster, and feel much better about putting money into something I can see and touch.”
“Like Grace Chapel Inn,” said Alice.
“Exactly.”
“Yoo-hoo,” called an all too familiar voice. “Anyone home?”
“We’re in the kitchen, Aunt Ethel,” called Alice.
“Oh, good.” Aunt Ethel clapped her hands. “It looks as if you’ve all made up. Now wouldn’t Daniel be pleased.”
Alice took in a deep breath.
“Yes, I think Father would be happy to see that we’ve all come to a good decision,” said Jane.
“A decision?”
“Shall we tell her?” asked Louise in a conspirator’s tone.
“I guess so,” said Jane, although she sounded a bit unsure. “Maybe Alice should do the telling, since it was really her idea.”
“Alice has an idea?” Aunt Ethel looked as if this were something unique.
Alice glanced at her sisters again, still not completely convinced that they had all agreed on this remarkable enterprise. They both nodded as if to encourage her. “Well, Aunt Ethel, we’ve decided to turn our house into an inn.”
Aunt Ethel’s eyes widened in horror. “An inn? What on earth for?”
“Because we think it would be fun,” said Alice.
“Fun?” Aunt Ethel looked aghast.
“Yes,” said Jane. “It’ll be a bed and breakfast. I’ll do the cooking. Louise will do an occasional bit of entertaining on the piano. Alice is great at organizing. Anyway, it’s all falling neatly into place.”
“Does this mean you and Louise plan to stay on in Acorn Hill for good?”
“For good or for bad,” sai
d Louise with a wry smile.
“For better or for worse,” added Jane.
“An inn?” repeated Aunt Ethel as if she were still recovering from some sort of horrific shock.
“That’s right.” Alice held up a notepad. “We’ve already begun to plan and it seems that it all will work out.”
“Tsk-tsk, that’s only on paper,” said Aunt Ethel.
“On paper is where we start,” said Jane.
“So you’re really not returning to San Francisco?” asked Aunt Ethel.
Jane shook her head in a firm “no.”
“And you’re not going back to Philadelphia, Louise?”
“Only to sell my house and take care of a few things.”
“Oh my.” Aunt Ethel sank into an empty chair and fanned herself with a napkin as if she were completely stunned or about to have a heart attack, although Alice knew from experience that it was only theatrics.
“Aren’t you happy to have your other two nieces so close by?” asked Alice.
“Well, of course, dear. It’s just that it’s all something of a shock.”
“We’re still surprised too,” said Louise. “But it feels right to me.”
“We think that Father would be happy too,” added Alice.
Now Aunt Ethel started to chuckle. “Well, this is something I will have to see with my own two eyes. The three Howard sisters all living and working together under one roof!”
Alice felt slightly defensive now, but at the same time knew that Aunt Ethel wasn’t completely off the mark. How would it work for the three sisters to be in business together?
“This place is in such disrepair,” said Aunt Ethel suddenly. “Have you even considered how much it will cost to fix it up or where you will get the money?”
“We all plan to contribute from our savings,” said Louise.
“From your savings?” Aunt Ethel shook her head. “That sounds very foolish to me. Good grief, ladies, have you really thought this through?”
“We’re still discussing a number of things,” said Jane.
“But to deplete your savings?” Aunt Ethel scowled at the three of them as if they were under her care. “It sounds very irresponsible to my way of thinking. It makes me wonder what Daniel would think of such an idea.”
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