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“But you’re willing to accept a credit card?”
“Do you want a room or not?”
“Yes.”
“Then run your card through the reader at the bottom.”
Beyond frustrated, Birdie forced yet another smile, looking constipated rather than pleasant, and fished the credit card Angus had insisted she take with her. For emergencies.
“Your room is at the end of the hall and on the left.”
Erma handed her the receipt.
Birdie glanced at the total.
“Um, you overcharged me.”
“Late fee,” Erma said, pounding away at her keyboard.
“Late fee? Why are you charging me a late fee?”
Erma glared at her over her bifocals. “You showed up late. So you’re getting charged a fee.”
Birdie glanced at the antique clock with the weighted pulls behind where Erma was standing. “It’s only one minute after 9:00 p.m.”
“That’s right. Anyone coming in after nine gets charged a late fee.”
Standoff. They both stared at one another, neither budging.
Birdie was the first to cave. The reality was she was exhausted and unwilling to fight this battle. She had a war to win.
“Well, Mrs. Jeffries, it’s been a pleasure.”
“Wish I could say the same.”
Birdie grabbed the suitcase and began lugging it up the staircase.
“By the way. I’ve got cameras, so don’t go thinking you can steal any of the fine decor in your room.”
Birdie mumbled, “I’m sure that’s a violation of a number of laws, but whatever.”
“What was that?”
“I said,” Birdie raised her voice. “I’ll do my best to avoid temptation.”
* * *
The following morning,Birdie woke to the sun hitting her square in the eyes. Lifting the phone on the bedside table, she checked the time.
11:00 a.m.
Sitting up, she pushed the hair out of her face and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Her olfactory system performed a rowdy burlesque at the scent of dark roast coffee and bacon wafting from the first floor of the house.
Forcing her body to leave the warm cocoon of butter-soft cotton sheets, likely older than Mia, she opened her suitcase and pulled out a clean pair of jean shorts and a white T-shirt.
Nothing the least bit risqué if she decided to venture outside of the B&B for a look-see. Her number one priority, while in this god-forsaken town, literally, was to ensure Mia didn’t get a single whiff of the town’s fanatical dislike of her mother.
