AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHARLOTTE
Charlotte worked the morning shift with a feeling of contentment she’d never known. Though Shane had only proposed dating exclusively, she knew enough about him to realize the greater commitment behind it. She’d decided not to rush anything and see how their relationship played out.
She liked that Shane was both strong and vulnerable. It gave her the courage to share her demons, allowing their relationship to grow much deeper, much faster than most.
She greeted two newcomers to the breakfast table, made introductions to the others, and went into the kitchen to give Billy Bob their orders. He no longer scared her as he had initially. She respected his role at the Inn and treated him accordingly.
After Billy Bob had grumbled about all the women trying to boss him around, she and her cousins had developed a friendly working relationship with him. Beryl already treated them like family and was a joy to work with. In New York, people weren’t as quick to form a connection with others. It brought out a different side of her and Charlotte liked the idea.
One of the guests, a single older woman who’d brought a sulky teenage girl with her, wondered where they could shop for souvenirs. Charlotte directed them to St. John’s Pass.
“You’ll find all kinds of stores and restaurants there. You can even sign up for fishing trips or excursions there, too,” said Charlotte, trying to bring a smile to the teenager’s face.
She and the grandmother exchanged hopeless looks when the teenager didn’t respond.
After they left, Charlotte carried the last of the breakfast dishes into the kitchen, then went into the office to do some research on teen-oriented activities to add to the website.
Thinking of the meal that had just been served, she decided to add a special section on the food available for guests. She’d list nearby restaurants, of course, but she wanted each guest to be assured of the high-quality of food at the Inn. When they took pictures of the dining room after its renovation was finished, she’d be sure to include displays of food on the table.
She was about to call Dylan when he walked into the office. “I’m available to work on the interior if you’re interested. I’ve got some time this morning.”
“That would be great,” she said. “The dining room is ready with new white paint on the walls. Amby and his nephew did a fantastic job of it.”
“I saw,” he took a seat in a chair by the desk. “Heard you and Shane are exclusive now.”
“Yes,” Charlotte said. “But I can’t thank you enough for the trip to the Dali Museum. It was a wonderful day.”
He gave her a look of resignation. “If you and Shane ever change your minds, let me know. I really like you, Charlie.”
“Thanks. That means a lot,” she said, surprised. “It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
“I know. Let’s get to work,” said Dylan.
They were hanging paintings in the meeting room when Austin joined them.
“Hey, what are you doing?” he asked, leaning against the door jamb watching them.
“Rearranging some paintings,” said Dylan, tape measure in his hand.
“You still up for drinks tonight, Dylan?” asked Austin. “A couple of friends of mine want to meet us at the Pink Pelican.”
“Sure. I’m available.”
“Okay, I’m going to have lunch with a friend, and I’ll meet up with you later.” Austin signaled to Charlotte to follow him. “I need your assistant for a few minutes,” he told Dylan.
Charlotte left the meeting room and went into the office with Austin.
“What’s up?”
He shuffled his feet. “Shane told me how awkward lunch was with my mother, and I wanted to apologize for her. She loves to strike out at Shane. It’s painful to see. On the other hand, I’m glad you and Shane have come together. I’ve never seen him this happy.”
“Thanks. That means a lot to me.” She sighed and then blurted, “Your mother is very cruel. Oh, it’s all spoken in a soft voice, but that makes it even worse. Is she on drugs? I noticed her eyes looked glassy.”
Austin shook his head. “She has what she calls ‘nerve pills’ for when she gets overly excited or depressed. But she’s done that for years. Sophia keeps a close eye on that situation.”
“Just so you know, the next time I see your mother, I’m going to speak up. The idea of hurting Shane because he looks like his father is so wrong that I don’t even know where to begin.”
