She nods and leaves to get our orders.
Joining the guys, I nod to the waitress. “She’s not really in the right profession if she isn’t comfortable around strangers, huh?”
All three men get a sad look on their face. “Bob takes pity on her. She’s a good worker, but shy as hell. She’s had it rough. Worked here since she was fifteen, and Bob views her as the daughter he never had.”
I look over at the two interacting to confirm what Kane is telling me. You can see the fatherly love shining in his eyes as he looks at the waitress, loading her tray with our drinks.
“So, Coop, you gonna bring more people to my town and help these businesses?” Evander asks.
“That’s the hope, man. Hemlock Cove is a hidden gem, you guys just need some help out here.”
“Your lips to God’s ears. I know Nora is struggling at the coffee shop and people come from all over for her, especially on the weekends,” Granger says.
“Cooper is going to end all that. His blog looks amazing, and I should know because I designed it.” Kane laughs.
I laugh too, but the pressure is mounting to make my first article on the blog a hit.
“Can I take your orders?” the waitress asks.
We place our dinner orders and then I get to spend the night hanging out with some friends and enjoying the traveling.
Something I’ve never been able to do.
Published.
Hitting that small button feels a lot larger than the act itself. I just published my first travel article on my own without the large name of my old magazine behind me.
Refreshing the analytics on the post will be my life for the next few days. The photos came out stunning, showcasing all the best parts of Hemlock Cove that I love so much.
Closing my laptop, I gear up to leave my warm cabin and head over to the inn for some lunch before my meeting with Tommy about Easter and spring planting. I enjoy working the farm with him much more than I do working the inn. I just need to tell Liam that, a conversation I’m willing to continue putting off.
Walking through the front door I’m met with Ma at the check-in. “Hey, Ma. What are you doing here?”
“Oh you know, Liam has Hunter doing another new job. Violet is baking, and Emma is at home with Olivia because she’s running a fever. So they had to call in the old broad who can’t figure out the new system.” She walks out from behind the counter and pulls me in for a tight hug.
“My girl is sick?”
“Just a little fever. I think it’s those darn one year old molars.” She shrugs and goes back to the computer. I know she’s just leaving it open to make Liam feel better that she’s using his new system.
“Maybe I need to pay her a visit with some popsicles then. And probably a toy.” My niece has me wrapped around her finger, along with all her other uncles.
“Don’t you dare. You know Emma is trying to keep her away from sugar.” She smiles at me. “But if you do, grab some of those colored marshmallows she loves so much from Mimi K.”
“You got it, Ma.” I wink at her. She likes to pretend in front of Emma, but behind her back she’s as bad as all of us.
“What are you doing today?”
“Just grabbing some lunch before I head over to Tommy’s.”
She levels me with a stare as I walk over to the kitchen and disappear to find some lunch. When I return, she’s sitting at the table waiting for me.
“When are you going to tell your brother that you don’t like working here?” she asks.
“What?”
“Don’t lie to me about this inn to save my feelings. You know I just want to see my babies happy. And I know you published your first blog without telling a soul in this family.” She turns her phone, showing me my first article.
“You know for someone who claims to not know anything about technology, you sure seem pretty savvy.” I chuckle, digging into my sandwich.
