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Millie's brows furrowed. "What? What's missing?"
April was glad that it wasn't just her thinking that the couple didn't seem the type to steal. It felt out of place not just for her. "This little jewelry box we thrifted. It was so cute. It fit the room perfectly and now it's just gone."
"Oh my gosh. That's so strange that they would take something like that. Are you sure you checked everywhere? Maybe it just fell behind something."
She thought back to the room and how thoroughly she checked as she cleaned every nook and cranny. "I'm almost positive that it's not in that room anymore."
"That sucks," Millie said, a hand on her chin in thought.
"What do I do now? Am I supposed to report it stolen or something?"
She really didn't have a protocol for this. It was her first week having real guests stay at the bed and breakfast. There weren't any rules in the manual. They would have to figure this out on their own.
"No!" Millie cried out. "You can't report them. What if they didn't take it, or it was just an accident? They'll give you the worst review ever. I've seen it before."
April would do anything to avoid a bad review. It could take down businesses. Especially small ones like hers.
She’d seen it firsthand as a new lawyer. Some people wrote bad reviews, and it ruined young law students who were looking for a way into the industry.
Sure, bed and breakfasts were different. April thought they probably hinged more on reviews due to their hand in the service industry. Which meant she had to be even more careful.
"I don't have any reviews yet. That would ruin me. You really think they would do that?"
She shrugged in response. Millie's expression softened with understanding. "I'll make a note of it in the system, and we'll keep an eye out for it. Hopefully, it's just a misunderstanding and it will turn up soon."
"What would I do without you," April said with a smile.
Still, it annoyed April that something mysteriously went missing. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. What if it wasn't just a simple misunderstanding? What if it was stolen?
She finished up her tasks for the morning, but found herself stealing glances at the room with the missing jewelry box every so often. It was a reminder of all the unanswered questions.
She wanted to believe that it was just a mistake but deep down she knew better.
CHAPTER TEN
With the addition of Millie, the bed and breakfast was running low on funds. It was just breaking even with the amount of current reservations and the renovation budget she set aside to continue her endeavors.
Who knew when she would be able to replenish the reno budget? April decided she needed to save as much as possible. Which meant doing any renovations and repairs herself.
She grabbed a few supplies from the hardware store and returned to the bed and breakfast. She started with the bathroom in the corner, the one that still needed to be finished. The first step was new tile flooring, and she was determined to do it herself.
April laid out all her materials in the bathroom, carefully planning what she would use and for what. She began chipping away at the old tile with a hammer and chisel.
As she worked, she hummed along to herself, lost in her own little world of creation.
"Hey, honey?" her father said as he stepped into the bathroom doorway.
A sweaty April stood straighter. "What's up dad?"
"Are you getting rid of the floors in here? I liked that pattern."
Of course he did. And he was going to voice his opinion on the new, plainer pattern she picked out. "Well, I'm putting this new one in."
"Want some help?" he asked with a hopeful smile.
April considered his offer. It would be nice to have an extra hand at cracking open the floor. The work itself was more physically difficult than she anticipated. Her forearms ached.
Not to mention, he wanted to reconnect with her. This could be one of those great father/daughter moments they'd been waiting for. She wanted to give him a chance. Now she needed to put the time in, just like he was offering to do.
