But how was she going to get Jules and Gina to work together? She’d already sensed the tension between them. She’d hoped they would have some cousin bonding time the night before, after the welcome-wagon ladies left, but both Jules and Gina had said they were too tired and hurried off to their rooms without even saying good night to each other.
No worries; Maddie could work on that. At least they were talking to each other. Well, not actually talking, but at least they weren’t fighting.
Looking down at the calendar, she felt a thrill of excitement. There was nothing Maddie liked more than to plan things, and soon all the empty squares would be filled in with tasks that would take them one step closer to a profitable motel. It gave her a sense of purpose, and crossing them off would give her a sense of accomplishment.
“I don’t smell any coffee.” Gina appeared in the doorway, yawning. Her brown hair was tussled, and she had a look of severe caffeine deprivation in her eyes.
Maddie gestured toward the Mr. Coffee, who seemed to mock her with his gleaming glass coffeepot and cheery yellow decor. “I couldn’t figure out how to work that thing.”
Gina raised a brow at her. “Seriously?”
Maddie shrugged. “Well, you know me. I’m not good with these things.”
Gina shuffled over to the machine and inspected it. “I think the lid that goes over the pot is missing.” She rummaged around in the drawers, pulling out various utensils, the last being an old wooden rolling pin with a design embedded in it.
Gina turned and held it out. “Do you remember that from Gram? She used to make those fancy pies with it. Tried to teach me a few times.”
Memories of Gram made Maddie smile. Gram always tried to spend a lot of time with them. Since Gina was older, they hadn’t done much together with their grandmother. Apparently Gina remembered the rolling pin, but with Maddie, it was cookies. She’d loved Gram’s shortbread cookies. “She always had the best way of making the simplest things so enjoyable and important.”
Gina’s gaze flicked to Maddie, a look of surprise and longing in her eyes that put Maddie off-balance.
“Is something wrong?” Maddie asked.
Gina’s expression went back to its previous one of annoyance. “No. You’re right. Gram was great. Now go back to your planning, and leave me alone so I can figure out how to get this coffee going.”
* * *
Gina putthe lid on the coffeepot and poured water into the machine. Her gaze drifted to the rolling pin, her mind swirling with memories of her grandmother. Gram had tried to teach her to make pies with that very pin. She’d treasured those times alone with Gram.
Gram had made her promise to enjoy the simple things, but surely she didn’t mean pies.
Maddie had mentioned that Gram made the simplest things seem important, and Gram knew that Gina hadn’t done any of her own cooking, cleaning, or much of anything else in the past several years. She’d had people to do all those things for her. Of course, now she would have to learn to do them for herself.
She tapped the counter, impatient for the coffee to brew, while Maddie twittered away about the various projects they would need to consider if they wanted the motel to be successful.
Gina tried to keep from strangling her. If the girl would just wait until she had some caffeine, she might be better able to withstand the chattering.
Finally, the coffee was done, and Gina poured a mug for both of them. She put Maddie’s on the table and leaned against the counter, closing her eyes as she took the first delicious sip.
Gina opened her eyes just in time to see Jules walk in. Great. Now she would have to deal with both of them. She moved away from the coffee machine and let Jules pour her own.
“Did you both sleep well? The rooms are actually very cozy.” Maddie looked as bright as a bunny sitting at the table. How could the girl be so put together first thing in the morning? But then she’d always been like that, much to Gina’s annoyance.
“I did.” Jules pulled the milk out of the fridge and poured a generous amount into her coffee. It was practically a milkshake. Gina liked hers black. They couldn’t even agree on how to drink coffee. “I was afraid they’d need all kinds of repairs, but mine was okay. What about you guys?”
Jules glanced at Gina out of the corner of her eye, looking away quickly when their eyes met. So Jules didn’t even want to look her in the eye? That figured. It would be just like Jules to still hold a grudge. Oh well, hopefully she wouldn’t be there long enough to let that old wound fester.
“Mine was adequate. I mean, it’s not the Taj Mahal, but it’s okay for a beach motel. A little outdated.” Gina sipped her coffee.
“But serviceable,” Maddie said. “And if we get a loan, then we can update them.”
“We’ll know about that today.” Jules glanced out the window. “The welcome-wagon ladies should be here any minute.”
“I bet it won’t cost much to spruce up the rooms,” Gina ventured.
“I agree. I was picturing maybe some sea-themed comforters and throw pillows. You know, like seahorses in one room, shells in another, starfish in another.”
Jules’s excitement grated on Gina’s nerves. Maybe she needed more coffee, or maybe it was because Jules always plowed over Gina’s ideas with her own.
