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CHAPTERTWENTY
After breakfast, Jane went to visit her mother at Tall Pines, and Andie went to relieve Brenda from duty at Tides. Even though she was eager to get to Arundel and see what the Civil War archives had, that would have to wait. Ideally, they’d find someone to work at Tides soon, maybe even the person who had emailed Jane at breakfast.
When she arrived at the inn, Brenda and Liz were chatting it up with a middle-aged couple in the foyer. The woman, who wore a soft blue sweater and jeans and had a designer suitcase beside her, was laughing. The husband, wearing a sky-blue golf shirt and chinos, was enjoying one of Brenda’s cookies.
“This is such a lovely inn. I know our stay will be so much fun. Will you be here for breakfast tomorrow, Liz?”
Liz smiled. “You bet. Brenda makes the best breakfasts. Eggs, bacon. Sometimes there’s homemade bread. You’ll love it.”
Brenda handed over the key, and the woman turned to Liz. “And thank you for advice on our daughters. You made me see things a different way.”
Liz beamed, and Andie waited for the couple to go upstairs. When they did, she asked, “What was that about?”
Liz shrugged. “They used to bring their kids here when they were little and seemed a bit sad about how their daughters don’t have time for them. I gave them a way to see it from the daughters’ side.”
“People seem to really open up when they are booking a room.” Brenda glanced up the stairs. The look on her face indicated she wasn’t on board with people blurting out problems to strangers.
Andie was glad they had another guest, and she supposed it was true that people did seem to open up when booking a room. “You can say that again. But you didn’t have to feel like you had to give them advice, Liz.”
“Oh, no problem. I just blurted it out. Hope you don’t mind. Must be my guidance counselor background.”
“I’m glad she was here.” Brenda came out from behind the desk and took off her apron. “They needed someone to talk to, and I’m better at cooking than talking. Speaking of which, I gotta run. I’m baking cookies with my granddaughter today and need to get to the store.”
Andie gave her a hug. “Thanks for watching the front desk.”
“I’m happy to do it.”
“I better get going too,” Liz said. “Are you going to stop by later? I’ve set some items aside for you.”
“Yes, I can’t wait.” Andie figured she could go after her trip out to Arundel.
Liz gave her the address and left. Liz seemed a lot happier than she had before. Cleaning out her parents’ house must not be as bad as she’d expected it to be.
The couple upstairs was getting settled in their room. The place was quiet. Andie went into the front parlor and picked a chocolate kiss out of Grandma’s cut glass bowl. She unwrapped the chocolate and popped it into her mouth. The steady tick of the grandfather clock marked the slowly passing time. Only two hours until Jane would be back to relieve her, and she could head out to Arundel and continue her search for her Civil War soldier’s family.
