Quickly.
* * * *
“So we’re going to be serving my family and our potential financial saviors dinner on charity shop plates,” Carrie said, her voice flat, as Cyb picked up more floral-patterned side plates and added them to the growing pile on the counter.
“I thought you said they liked them,” Cyb said, a puzzled look creasing her forehead. She held out a green and blue forest scene dinner plate for Carrie to see. “This one’s very pretty.”
“They’re all pretty,” Carrie admitted, adding the plate to the counter. “I just...”
“Well, where else would we have got so much china on short notice?” Cyb asked, her voice perfectly reasonable. “Really, we were lucky Stan was able to make a deal with the Hospice shop in Felinfach. That’s where most of it came from.”
Carrie hadn’t really thought very hard about where the china had appeared from. If she’d been pressed, she’d probably have guessed it was all cluttering up the cupboards of the Seniors and their friends. “What sort of a deal?”
“Oh, he traded in his old sideboard for all the cups and saucers the shop had, and a few other bits and bobs, like the vases.” Cyb selected another plate from the shelves, setting aside a few items of stoneware. She’d explained to Carrie earlier that only china would work. ‘It’s an issue of class perception,’ she’d told her, without further elaboration.
“His sideboard?” It seemed an unusual object to barter with.
“It was his grandmother’s,” Cyb said, still leafing through china plates. “Not in terribly good condition, but the hospice should be able to sell it for something, so everybody wins.”
“Except Stan, who’s out a sideboard.” Carrie moved over to look at the discard pile, wondering if she could ascertain what made them unsuitable for the Avalon Inn. She couldn’t.
Cyb shrugged. “He was never very fond of his grandmother, anyway.”
Which wasn’t really the point Carrie was trying to make, but it did lessen the guilt a little. “Still, it’s very generous. You’ve all been very kind. And helpful.”
Packing the last plate on top of the teetering To Buy pile, Cyb turned to Carrie and smiled. “Well, you’re Nancy’s granddaughter.”
Carrie tried to return the smile, rather than sighing. Part of her wished they were helping her for other reasons–believing in her plans, for example, or even because they liked or trusted her. But perhaps that would follow in time.
“And you think she’d approve of what I’m doing at the inn?” she asked instead, turning to lift the top half of the stack of plates down to the counter for extra stability. It was an offhand question, and until Cyb paused before answering, Carrie wasn’t really concerned about what she might say. Because of course Nancy would approve. She’d approve of anything that kept the Avalon alive and Carrie happy. They were the things she cared about most.
But apparently Cyb knew different. “Well...” she said, trailing off again, even after her long pause.
“Speak, Cyb,” Carrie said, losing patience.
Cyb shrugged. “It’s just not the way Nancy would have done it, that’s all.”
Blinking, hard, Carrie said, “Nancy would have done whatever was necessary to save the Avalon.”
“Maybe,” Cyb said with a smile and a shrug, and turned away again. “Shall we start in on soup bowls, now? I don’t think we’ll have so much to choose from, there.”
She was already moving across the charity shop, clearly on a mission, and Carrie could do nothing but follow her.
Carrie waited until they had four mismatched soup bowls before asking, “What do you think Nancy would have done?”
Cyb shrugged again. “What do I know?” she asked, diving into another basket of crockery.
“You knew my grandmother,” Carrie said. “You knew her well. So, what do you think she would have done?” Cyb might act dumb, Carrie had noticed, but she wasn’t as slow about people as she was about facts. And Nate said most of the help the Seniors had provided so far had been Cyb’s idea.
Cyb paused, soup bowl in hand, and sighed. Finally she turned to look at Carrie. “Nancy’s philosophy was If you don’t like it, tough. The Avalon was an extension of herself. She wanted people to love it because of what it was, not to try to change it to suit other people.”
Carrie put down the small pile of soup bowls before she dropped them. “You’re right,” she said, eventually. Because Nancy had never conformed, never changed a thing about herself to make people happy. It used to drive Carrie’s dad up the wall.
Putting her soup bowl on top of the pile, Cyb reached out and brushed her fingers against the sleeve of Carrie’s coat, an oddly comforting gesture. “But that doesn’t mean you’re doing the wrong thing.”
Carrie looked up, skeptical. Because wasn’t that exactly what Cyb had just said? That she wasn’t doing as Nancy had intended, when she left her the inn.
“Nancy was a force of nature,” Cyb went on. “People came to the inn for her personality more than anything else. But she’s gone on now and, sooner or later, the rest of us will be, too. You need to find out what the Avalon Inn will be without us. What you need it to be.”
With a small nod, Carrie returned her attention to the great china hunt. Apparently Cyb wasn’t nearly as daft as she looked. “Thanks.”
Cyb shrugged. “Now. Since we’ve got all that sorted out, I’ve got something to ask you.”
“Anything,” Carrie said, with a helpless gesture.
“What do you think about Stan?”
“Stan?” Carrie echoed, confused.
“Well, more precisely, Stan and me.”
Carrie blinked. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware there was a, well, a Stan and you.”
Cyb waved a hand vaguely, rather closer to the piles of crockery than Carrie was entirely comfortable with. “Oh, neither is he, yet. I’ll tell him when he’s ready.”
“He doesn’t know you’re…in a relationship?” Carrie didn’t really want to think about how that would even work, but morbid curiosity made her ask.
“Well, we’re not yet, of course. But I’ve decided, I think, that it’s a good idea. We’ve both been alone a long time and neither of us can really have all that much longer left. It’s important to make the most of the time we do have, don’t you think?”
“Well, yes,” Carrie said, thinking of Nancy.
“So you agree then? It’s a good idea?”
“I don’t think it’s really my approval you need, Cyb.”
“Oh, Stan’ll come round, when he’s ready.” Cyb stared off into the middle distance. “I wonder what he’s like in bed.”
And that, Carrie decided, was quite enough of that conversation. “Do we need soup bowls?”
Cyb ignored her. “In lots of ways, I suppose we’re just like Jacob and Izzie.”
Carrie blinked again. “Jacob and Izzie?”
“Yes. She’s been crazy about him for years, of course, which is rather different. But I rather think he might be coming around to her way of thinking now, if you know what I mean.”
“Really?” Carrie asked, still blinking in what appeared to be becoming an uncontrollable manner. “I hadn’t really noticed. Or, you know, thought about it.” Should she have? Surely part of being a good manager was thinking about her staff.
“Well, you’ve had a lot on your plate,” Cyb said, but her tone made it clear that only a blind man wouldn’t have thought there was something going on. “What about your cousin and her man, then? Stan said you had to change their visit date to suit him. Are they going to be happy together, do you think?”
“Of course they are,” Carrie said, before pausing and considering. She’d been so concerned with making sure Ruth actually got married this time, and at her inn, she’d forgotten to make sure that Ruth getting married was the right thing for Ruth. “I hope so,” she said, and swallowed hard. “I haven’t met him yet. I’ll have a better idea after their visit, probably.”
“I’m sure
we all will,” Cyb said. “Now, which do you prefer?” Cyb asked, and Carrie looked over to see the other woman holding up two different styles of soup bowl.
“Um, the bluey-green one,” she answered, still thinking about Ruth’s endless childhood practice weddings and the three broken engagements. How would she ever be sure she was doing the right thing?
* * * *
Nate had tried plotting out all his ideas and plans on paper, but they didn’t look real in two dimensions. And besides, he couldn’t get a proper feel for how something would work without standing right there in the middle of it and imagining. So instead, he’d got out his red garden twine, his seed markers, and some plastic windmills past guests had left behind several summers ago, and started work.
And now it was time for the grand unveiling.
“I don’t understand,” Jacob said, squinting at the empty bed planned out with twine, and with two foil windmills turning lazily in the breeze.
Nate sighed, and turned to his grandmother for better comprehension. Moira shrugged. “Why don’t you walk us through it,” she suggested.
“Okay.” Nate jumped out of the flowerbed and onto the grass between them, and wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders. “Imagine this.” He motioned to the bed before them. “Roses.” He spun them through ninety degrees and gestured to the next empty bed. “Lilies.” Another turn, another bed. “Chrysanthemums.” They spun again to the last bed. “Greenery.”
Nate glanced between the faces of his companions. They both still looked utterly baffled. Dropping his arms, he sighed. “It’s a cutting garden! Perfect for arrangements for the inn, of course, but also for wedding flowers, bouquets and buttonholes and stuff.”
Now they were starting to look interested. “And who’s going to put together all these bouquets and stuff,” Moira asked, eyebrows raised.
“Well, I’m sure Carrie could learn.”
Moira rolled her eyes. “Like she’ll have time. I’ll do it, of course.”
“Excellent.” Nate nudged them forward, out of the cutting garden and into the next area. “Jacob, this one’s for you.”
He watched as they gazed around the carefully laid out markers. On top of the moss-infested grass, rows of red twine were interspersed by seed markers. Jacob knelt down to read one, then looked up in amazement. “A vegetable garden?”
Nate nodded. “You tell me what you need me to grow, and I’ll grow it.”
The faraway look in Jacob’s eyes suggested he was already imagining a seasonal homegrown menu. Nate saw many more vegetarian options on the Avalon Inn specials board in the future.
“This looks great, Nate,” Moira said, but Nate could hear the ‘but’ coming next.
“But?” he prompted her.
“Did Carrie ask you to do this?”
“Not as such,” Nate hedged, unsure how many people knew about Anna’s garden-selling plans. “I just think it’s important the gardens earn their way around here.”
Jacob nodded. “Makes sense to me,” he said, but Nate knew he was just thinking about the fresh produce. “Might need to get a greenhouse, too,” he suggested. “Tomatoes and such.”
“Next on the list,” Nate promised him.
“When are you going to show her?” Moira pressed, and without really thinking, Nate answered, “As soon as she gets back.”
Moira nodded, but she still didn’t look entirely reassured. The sound of tires on the gravel drive distracted her, though. “That must be them. I’ll go and see.”
Nate watched Moira head back to the inn, thinking that if even his grandmother, who traditionally thought he hung the moon, wasn’t impressed, what hope did he have with Carrie?
Jacob’s voice jerked him out of his rather depressing musings. “What have you got planned for the lawn at the back?”
Nate shrugged. “Nothing, yet. Maybe some sort of display garden? Might be good for photos.”
Jacob shook his head. “I’ve got a much better idea. One Anna bloody Yardley will love. Bring your twine and pegs.”
* * * *
“Did you empty out every charity shop in North Wales?” Stan asked as he met them at the door on their return to the Avalon, eyeing the boxes of plates, bowls, and glassware.
“Near enough,” Carrie said, passing him a box, while concentrating very hard on forgetting her entire discussion with Cyb.
“China and glass only,” Cyb told him. “And a few more tablecloths.”
Moira came trudging up the path from the gardens. “Good grief. That should keep us going.”
“That’s the hope,” Carrie muttered, and Moira gave her a sympathetic smile.
“Where’s that grandson of yours, Moira?” Stan asked, his booming voice making Carrie jump. Just as well she was holding tablecloths, not wine glasses, at the time.
“He and Jacob are working on something in the garden,” Moira said. Carrie wanted to ask what, but Moira was already moving toward the inn with a hastily grabbed box of glasses. It made Carrie nervous. She knew Nate wasn’t happy about the possibility of selling some of the grounds. She just wasn’t sure how far he’d go to stop it.
“Maybe I should go and see what they’re up to,” Carrie said, edging over to the path down to the gardens.
Stan stopped her with a scathing glance. “You forgotten so soon, girl? You can’t go now. We’ve got an appointment to keep.”
It took her a moment, but then it clicked. Stan was taking her to meet his grandson, who happened to run a discount carpet store two towns over. And getting rid of the hideous purple and green paisley on the floor of the dining room trumped whatever Nate was plotting in the gardens.
“Carpets,” she said, resigned. “Of course.”
Stan nodded. “Just take the last of these boxes in and we’ll go.”
“Great.” Carrie went to get back in the car. Somehow, she’d thought the Seniors helping would mean less work for her. As it was, she barely remembered what her tiny attic room looked like. But it would all be worth it when she saw Graeme gaze lovingly across the Willow Room at Ruth on their wedding day.
Hopefully.
Carpet Madness specialized, it seemed, in exactly the sort of carpets Carrie was trying to get rid of. At least now she knew why they were so cheap.
“This one is very popular,” Stan’s grandson told them, pointing at a heavy roll of turquoise and purple paisley.
Carrie stared at it and tried to be tactful. “Actually, I’m looking for something a bit...plainer.”
Stan looked worryingly taken with the paisley. Carrie wondered if he’d somehow been involved in picking out the original. “Can’t go with anything too plain in a hotel,” he told her, stroking the roll of carpet. “Need something with pattern. Something with color. Something to hide the food stains and the spills and the baby vomit.”
Carrie wasn’t sure which of those was supposed to be turquoise, but she figured it might be safer not to ask. “Still, maybe something a little less bright would work.”
Stan’s grandson shrugged, then looked away as another customer came in. “Why don’t you take a wander around and see if anything catches your eye.” He was already halfway across the store before he finished speaking.
“I’m going to...” Carrie waved a hand over at the other side of the store, and at Stan’s nod, moved away, leaving her companion looking longingly at the turquoise paisley.
Somewhere amongst burgundy pile and cream shag, Carrie’s phone rang.
“Oh God, Carrie, I’m so sorry, but...” Ruth trailed off, and Carrie steeled herself before asking, “What?” Because, whatever it was, two phone calls in one day meant it clearly wasn’t going to be good.
“The parents have been reviewing the guest list again, and they think they’ve found a few more families that they need to invite.”
“How many?” Carrie asked, already doing the math in her head. They were already at full capacity with Selena’s existing list. Unless they wanted to put tables in the bar...
&
nbsp; “About another thirty people,” Ruth said, the words sounding like stones. “Give or take.”
“That’s three more tables!”
“I know!” Carrie would have been angrier if Ruth didn’t sound so upset. “And now Graeme’s saying maybe we should postpone until next year, if we can’t get this sorted out.”
“Maybe there’ll be an epidemic of chicken pox or something, and some will have to cancel.” It was only when she heard Ruth’s squeak on the other end of the line that Carrie realized she’d said the last bit out loud. Covering quickly, she added, “Okay, don’t worry. I’ll fix it. Somehow. Just...bring the revised list with you when you come up, and I’ll see what we can do.”
But even as she hung up, Carrie knew it was hopeless. If Aunt Selena was only finding additional friends and family to bulk up the list in order to rule out the Avalon Inn as a prospective venue, as she suspected, shoving a few extra tables in a side room wasn’t going to change her mind. She needed the inn at its best to even stand a chance. And now she needed it bigger, too.
She was still trying to figure out a solution when they left the carpet shop three quarters of an hour later, order placed for a chocolate and coffee swirly-patterned carpet that even Stan approved of. The mixture of browns were, he told her, the exact colors of Jacob’s beef and chicken gravies, respectively, so should work a treat for hiding stains.
Carrie was just glad it wasn’t paisley, or any shade of purple.
As they pulled into the drive of the Avalon Inn, the front door flew open, leaving Cyb and Moira peering out at them.
“Everything okay?” Carrie called out, slamming the car door behind her, and already mentally running through all the other things that could have gone wrong.
She’d reached Jacob’s burnt down the kitchen by the time Moira said, “Everything’s fine. It’s just...”
“Just what?” Carrie started the list going again.
Cyb grabbed her left arm and turned her away from the inn. “Did you get the carpet you wanted?”
“It’s very practical,” Stan said, but even he was looking at the two older women in confusion. “Won’t show a thing.”
Room for Love Page 13
