Back Home Again (21 page)

“Goodness, that seems a lot,” said Alice.

“I guess it’s so we don’t have to do laundry every day,” suggested Jane.

“I don’t mind doing laundry,” said Louise. “In fact, it’s always been one of my favorite household chores. Something about the smell of freshly laundered linens always puts me in a good state of mind.”

“I’ve been wondering about a few things,” said Jane as she pulled out her little notebook. “I thought I could make special French chocolate mints to put on the pillows each day.”

“Sounds delightful,” said Alice. “Do we get them too?”

Jane grinned. “And what about putting a basket of goodies in the rooms? Or do you think that’s too extravagant?”

“According to my book,” said Louise, “each B and B should have its own signature. For instance, Jane’s specialty mints and fresh flower arrangements might be ours. I think perhaps we should hold off on the goody baskets to start with. It could become expensive.”

“Right,” agreed Jane. “We wouldn’t want to start a precedent that we couldn’t maintain, but maybe we could offer something like that as an extra.”

“Yes,” said Alice. “That’s a good idea. Make baskets available on an individual basis, like for anniversaries or birthdays.”

They went through a second pot of tea and several pages of notes before they finally called it a night. As Alice prepared for bed, it occurred to her that what was once only a dream for their bed and breakfast was steadily becoming a reality.

During the following week, Fred was kept busy with his hardware store, but Clark and a smaller crew of Craig Tracy and Wilhelm Wood popped in sporadically to repair a hand railing or work on the fire escape. Wilhelm’s area of expertise was electrical and he managed to get everything up and running on the second floor. And always these willing workers were treated with the specialty of the day from Jane’s cheerful kitchen.

“I think I should order some of your currant scones for my shop,” said Wilhelm as he picked up his second one of the morning. “These are quite remarkable. I think they’d be a hit in Time for Tea.”

“I’ll hand deliver them to you for two weeks, on the house, of course,” offered Jane as she refilled his cup. “As a thank you for your electrical help.”

“Have you started working that garden yet, Jane?” asked Craig as he finished up a large cinnamon roll.

“You should see what she’s done,” bragged Alice as she began making a fresh pot of coffee. “She cleaned out all the
weeds and overgrowth and has some raised beds all ready for planting now.”

“It’s about that time,” said Craig. “Come by the shop next week and I’ll give you some of those new seeds I told you about.”

“Great.” Jane smiled. “The ones I started are already doing quite well. I set up a couple of racks in the sunroom and started some vegetable seedlings too. Besides the flowers, I want to have a salad and herb garden too.”

“By the way, Alice,” said Fred, “Vera said to tell you, that factory outlet outside of Philly is having some fantastic sale on sheets and towels this weekend. She thought you still needed a few things for the inn.”

“Yes, there are still a few missing items, but Jane made a list I could give to Vera. Louise says that we’ve already got rooms booked for Easter week, and even afterward. It’s so exciting.”

“Well, give Vera a call. She said she was thinking about driving over there this afternoon.”

“Thanks, Fred. I will.”

“
Yoo-hoo
,” called Aunt Ethel from the back porch.

“We’re in here,” Alice called back. “You’re just in time for morning break.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” said Aunt Ethel as she spied the scones. Then she handed Alice a small flat box.

“What’s this?”

“Oh, just a little something I picked up for the inn last week.” She went to the coffee pot and helped herself to a fresh cup.

Alice opened the box to see a leather bound guest book, soft white with gold letters. “Oh, thank you, Aunt Ethel. We hadn’t even thought about this yet.”

“Well, I figured you’d need it to keep track of all your guests.” Aunt Ethel sat down next to Fred at the table and picked up a scone. “It might come in handy for Louise to make some sort of mailing list.”

“So you’re not worried about all that traffic coming and going in the neighborhood these days?” teased Fred.

Aunt Ethel waved her hand. “Goodness, no. How much traffic could there be with only four guest rooms? It’s not as if they’ll all be full seven days a week.”

“I hope not,” said Alice. “That might wear us out. Our goal is just to stay busy enough to keep the place going.”

“Besides,” said Aunt Ethel. “It’ll be fun meeting some new folks. Might even liven things up around this old one-horse town.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A
lice stopped by the cemetery after she finished her shift on Good Friday. She had considered inviting her sisters to join her but knew they were busy getting the inn ready to open the following day. She felt a tiny wave of guilt as she walked toward the family plot-perhaps she should be home helping them. Yet it seemed important to do this right now. Good Friday had always been one of Father’s favorite days. He had loved commemorating the significance of what Jesus had given on the cross-a gift of mercy and love and grace.

Alice set the bouquet of lilies, tulips and daffodils between the graves of her two parents and stepped back. “I realize that you’re both in heaven now,” she said in a quiet voice. “But somehow I feel I can think and even speak more clearly out here.” She leaned her head back and looked at the clear blue sky. “I hope that you both like what we’ve done with the family home. I think that you’ve both had a hand in it.”

She shoved her hands into the pockets of her uniform and sighed. “I mean, when I consider the amazing way that
things have been working out for us … well, it just seems that someone must be putting in a good word for us up there. Anyway, I just want to thank you both for being such great parents and for giving me such wonderful sisters. I’ll bet you’ve been smiling up there, Father, to see your three girls finally working together like this. I think it’s what you were hoping for before you left us down here to carry on.” Then Alice bowed her head and thanked God for His perfect plan, for His impeccable timing and, of course, for His truly amazing grace. Satisfied, she climbed back into her car and drove home to Grace Chapel Inn.

The three sisters worked together all evening in preparation for the official inn-opening ceremonies scheduled for the following morning. Aunt Ethel stopped by and gave Louise a hand in frosting the dozens of hot cross buns that Jane had been baking for most of the day. Meanwhile, Jane was busily designing beautiful floral arrangements, one for every room. Craig Tracy had given her a generous discount on blooms with the expectation that she would pay him back in kind when her garden began to produce in abundance. Already many of the bulbs were blooming and the pruned rosebushes showed promise, and the grounds around the house looked almost as attractive as when Mother was alive. In time, Alice expected they would look even better. And that was okay.

“What do you think of this one?” asked Jane as she held up a lovely crystal vase filled with purple lilacs, baby’s breath, white roses and fresh sprigs of ivy.

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” said Louise as she paused from her frosting chore.

“I thought it should go in the parlor,” said Jane. “Perhaps on your piano, Louise?” She held up a lace doily with a grin.

“On a doily, Jane?” asked Louise with an expression of mock horror. “You would actually allow a lace doily in Grace Chapel Inn?”

Jane nodded. “Yes, I think it would go well in the parlor.”

Alice giggled as she polished Mother’s old silver coffee set. “Times, they are a-changing, Louise.”

Jane laughed. “We’ve come a long way, baby.”

“What do you mean?” asked Aunt Ethel, unsure of the context of the joke.

“Just that change is good,” said Jane.

Aunt Ethel’s chins jiggled as she nodded vigorously. “I couldn’t agree more. When I think of all the wonderful changes that have come around this old house during the past year … well, it just makes me so proud of you three girls.”

Alice smiled to remember how resistant Aunt Ethel had been to their plans only six months ago. But like the weather she too had changed.

“It’s so thoughtful of you girls to invite the whole town to your grand opening tomorrow,” she continued, in happy oblivion to the glances that Jane and Alice were exchanging just now.

“It’s the least we can do to say thank you,” said Louise as she carefully applied another confectionary cross to a currant bun.

“Yes,” said Jane as she began artfully to arrange some yellow rosebuds and blue hyacinths together in a smaller vase. Alice was guessing that this cheerful little bouquet might be for the Sunrise Room. “We wouldn’t be having a grand opening without the town’s generous help.”

“And it was so nice of you to invite Lloyd to give a little speech,” said Aunt Ethel.

Alice chuckled. “Can you imagine having an event like this without a few words from our beloved mayor?”

“Well, no. That wouldn’t be very kind, now would it?”

“When is Cynthia coming?” asked Alice.

“She said she’ll be here in time for the ceremony tomorrow,” said Louise. “I told her that she’s staying in the Sunrise Room.”

“Did she mind?” asked Alice. “I know how she loved the Sunset Room, but it was already booked.”

“Not all,” said Louise. “She said she needed some cheering up.”

“Why’s that?” asked Aunt Ethel. “Something wrong with our girl?”

“I’m afraid it has to do with her love life,” said Louise. “Naturally, she wouldn’t tell me a thing. Although I’m hoping that Jane might get her to talk.”

“I think the Sunrise Room is just what Cynthia needs,” said Jane as she held up the finished bouquet. “This is going to go on the dresser up there.”

“You’re making this into such a lovely place,” said Aunt Ethel. “What if people never want to go home?”

Louise laughed. “Well, then I guess we’ll never have to worry about booking rooms, will we?”

“Not that it’s been much of a problem,” said Jane. “We’re starting to get requests for next fall already.”

“Amazing.” Aunt Ethel shook her head. “You girls may have really stumbled onto something with this inn business.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A
crowd of nearly a hundred people gathered outside of Grace Chapel Inn the following morning. Earlier, Jane had tied a large purple ribbon across the front of the porch, and Aunt Ethel was equipped with a giant pair of scissors that had been borrowed from City Hall the previous day.

Lloyd Tynan opened the ceremony with an eloquent speech about how important it was for the community to support local businesses. “Our local businessmen and women are the backbone of Acorn Hill,” he continued as he drew his oration to an end. “We can all understand and appreciate how well-managed establishments like Grace Chapel Inn will benefit the entire town. It is with great pride and pleasure that I welcome this fine business to our fair city today. But before I cut the ribbon, the owners of the inn have invited Pastor Ley to ask a special blessing. I give you Pastor Ley.”

Pastor Ley made his way to the top of the porch steps and adjusted his collar and then cleared his throat. “Uh, if we could all … just b-bow our heads.”

Alice breathed a silent prayer that Pastor Ley would not stammer too badly this morning.

“Dear heavenly Father, we honor You t-today with the opening of this inn. We ask that You b-bless every room with Your presence, that You give strength and w-wisdom to the owners, that You pour out refreshment and rest upon each guest, and that You b-bless the entire place with Your unconditional love and m-merciful grace. Amen.”

Lloyd echoed a hearty amen, then held up the oversized sheers. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Grace Chapel Inn.” Then he sliced through the ribbon, and Alice, Louise and Jane greeted their well-wishers and welcomed them into the inn.

“There are refreshments in the dining room,” said Aunt Ethel with a big smile. “I helped make them myself.”

Soon the inn was full of people wandering from room to room,
oohing
and
aahing
and making positive comments.

“I can’t wait to have my daughter and son-in-law visit again,” said Ellen Moore. “I’ll put them up here. So much better than having to move all of my sewing things out of the guest room.”

Even Florence and Clara showed up, and fortunately Alice didn’t overhear them making any slanderous comments this time. In fact, she actually heard Clara telling Viola Reed that she thought Jane should consider going
into full-time interior design. “I hear they did this whole inn on a shoestring,” said Clara in a hushed voice.

Alice had to suppress her laughter as she exited into the kitchen to remind one of her ANGELs, on hand to help out, to remember to refill the coffee pot.

“Is Mrs. Smith going to play piano today?” asked Sarah Roberts.

“She is,” promised Alice. “Make sure you get a chance to go listen when she does. I hear that your lessons are going well, Sarah.”

Sarah’s eyes shone. “Really? Did Mrs. Smith really say that?”

Alice smiled as she refilled the silver tray with more hot cross buns. “Don’t say that you heard it from me though.”

“May I help you, Aunt Alice?” asked Cynthia as she poked her head in the kitchen.

“No, I’m just bringing this out,” said Alice. “I think the ANGELs have it pretty much under control.”

“I love the Sunrise Room,” she whispered.

Alice’s eyes lit up. “Really? I know it isn’t nearly as beautiful as the Sunset Room that Jane designed, but you probably already heard that your mother had booked it with the Ashton couple from Maine.”

Cynthia shook her head. “You shouldn’t compare the rooms, Aunt Alice. It’s like comparing oranges and apples—or
aunts for that matter. Each is lovely in a special way. When I took my bags up there earlier, before the ceremony began, I immediately began to feel happier.”

Alice gave her niece a sideways hug. “Oh, I’m so glad. I wanted it to be a happy room, to cheer people up.”

Cynthia laughed. “Just like you do!”

The grand opening ceremony ended at eleven, giving everyone—including the ANGELs, Aunt Ethel and Cynthia—a chance to get things tidied up before the first guests began to arrive. Even Vera stuck around to help.

“Thought you could use a hand,” she said as she took the broom from Alice and started sweeping the foyer.

“Thanks, Vera.” Alice bent over to pick up a piece of pastry that was stuck to the floor. “I just hope none of the guests shows up early.”

“If they come early, just hand them a mop.”

Alice laughed. “Yeah, that’s a sure way to guarantee return guests.”

“Or guarantee that they don’t show up early.”

But everything was back in its place by noon, and the first guests didn’t even arrive until nearly one—a young couple from Pittsburgh. All four rooms would be booked on their first official night of business, and three of them with paying guests. And the Ashtons from Maine planned to stay on for the entire week!

“I feel like I’m playing house,” said Louise as the three sisters gathered in the kitchen to discuss the day’s events.

“What do you think of the Grants?” asked Jane as she poured a cup of tea.

“They seem very sweet,” said Alice. “Did you know the wife is expecting?”

“Really? I thought they were newlyweds,” said Louise.

“No, she said they’d been married a few years now. But this is their first child and she’s feeling a little nervous.” Alice helped herself to a leftover hot cross bun.

“I’m curious about the Ashtons,” said Jane. “They’re staying here all week. Is it just for a rest?”

“Her grandparents used to live in Acorn Hill,” said Louise. “I went to school with her mother—Susanna Webb—do you remember her, Alice?”

“Just vaguely.”

“Apparently she passed away last year, and the daughter is taking a sentimental journey to help her through it.”

“That’s sweet,” said Jane. “It must be hard not to know where your parents came from. I guess we’re fortunate to have all our family history right here at our fingertips.”

“What happened to Cynthia?” asked Alice. “I haven’t seen her all afternoon.”

“Didn’t you know?” said Jane with a twinkle in her eye.
“She’s in the parlor chatting with the nice young man who booked the Garden Room.”

“That’s Thomas Moore,” said Louise. “Nice looking fellow.”

“I must admit that I wondered why you gave him that room,” said Alice. “I figured you would save the largest room for couples.”

“Well, he was the first one to call and make a reservation,” explained Louise. “And he did ask for our best room.”

“He seems nice,” said Jane. “He has his own business and can take it on the road wherever he goes. Apparently he doesn’t have much family to spend holidays with though. He said he felt right at home here.”

“I think he’s helping Cynthia to forget about whatever it was that was troubling her before she got here,” added Louise.

“So all is well at Grace Chapel Inn.” Alice sighed with contentment.

“The fun has just begun,” said Jane with a twinkle in her eye.

“Not to mention the work,” said Louise. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. Nothing wrong with an honest day’s work.”

Alice looked around the cozy kitchen and smiled at her little family. “And God is at home here.”