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ChapterThirteen
Andrea opened her eyes to total darkness. Looking over at the digital clock on the bedside table, she realized it was four in the morning. It was still early, but it was Saturday, the first weekend since her return to Oak Harbor.
She remained in bed, enjoying the stillness of the morning. She usually savored these early hours on the weekends as it was her time to go through all that had happened throughout the week, those things that went well, those that went bad, and those that she had no control over. She used these times to reset and recalibrate.
Since coming back to Oak Harbor, she’d reconnected with her uncle and aunts and her cousins. She’d learned that her friend Shelby was married to one of her schoolmates she least expected to return to Oak Harbor. She’d forgiven her mother for her perceived abandonment. Cora had become her tower of strength and her sounding board. Rory’s father died and, in death, was threatening their relationship, and she had two accidents with the same gentleman with who she would have to be working closely to create a website for the fire department. It was funny how the universe made everything come full circle sometimes.
She spent half an hour going over it all, and when it became evident that she could not go back to sleep, she decided to head downstairs. Going into the refrigerator, she took out the ingredients needed to make her mother’s special homemade cinnamon rolls. She figured her family would be up by the time the cinnamon rolls were done.
After combining the ingredients and ensuring the dough was soft and slightly sticky, she dusted the counter with flour before putting it down and using the rolling pin to flatten it. She then spread the cinnamon-flavored filling over the dough before rolling it and cutting it up. After placing them on the baking tray, she coated them with heavy cream and then placed them into the preheated oven to bake for the next half hour.
She then prepared boiled eggs, waffles, bacon, Italian sausage, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
“Mmm… it smells like heaven in here,” Cora said as soon as she stepped through the entryway.
“I thought it would be nice to cook for a change,” Andrea threw over her shoulder.
“I’m not complaining, and judging by how my stomach has been rumbling since I came in here, it’s not complaining either. Well, other than wanting to eat now, but you understand,” Cora remarked, then let out a little yawn.
Andrea laughed at her sister’s rambling. “Everything will be ready in five minutes, tops. I’m just waiting for the rolls to finish, then we can eat.”
“How long have you been down here?” Cora asked.
“Close to three hours,” she confessed.
“Good morning, my beautiful daughters,” Becky greeted as she waltzed into the room, cutting off whatever Cora had been prepared to say.
“Good morning, Mom. Are you hungry?”
“Well, if I wasn’t, I don’t think I would be able to resist a bite of all this.” Becky gestured to the presentation before her.
“I made your cinnamon rolls recipe too,” Andrea revealed just as the oven timer went off.
“You girls are spoiling me too much,” their mother spoke with so much feeling.
“You deserve it, Mom. We’re making up for lost times,” Cora replied while pulling out a stool for her mother to sit by the island.
As soon as the food was scooped onto their plates and they had recited grace, the women dug into the delicious food before them.
“So, where are you girls heading this evening?” Andrea heard her mother ask.
Cora was the one to answer her questions.
“We’re going to The Anchor,” Cora informed Becky.
“Oh, that’s a lovely place. I’m sure you’ll all enjoy yourselves. Have fun but be safe.”
Both Andrea and Cora acknowledged their mother’s warning. They knew it came from a place of motherly care but also that it was linked to the anxiety she had after losing her husband. After Becky finished her breakfast, she left to go visit Marg at the inn while the two sisters fell into their routine of washing and drying the dishes.
“I was thinking that we should renovate the inn,” Andrea suggested.
At her statement, Cora looked over at her. “Renovate how?”
“Nothing major, maybe just switch out the furniture in the lobby area for some more modern pieces and probably a few art pieces. But what I really think we should do is repaint it. All of it.” Andrea looked from the corner of her eye, waiting for her sister to comment.
Cora stopped drying the dish in her hand as she contemplated Andrea’s suggestions. “That’s not such a bad idea,” she finally agreed. “When you said repaint, though, did you mean the outside of the inn?”
“And inside too. I looked in a few of the unoccupied guestrooms, and I thought they looked dull. I mean, they’ve been sporting the same wallpaper from when we were kids, and while I’m not too fond of the old furniture either, I’m thinking of tearing off that drab wallpaper and applying a fresh coat of paint. It could really do wonders,” she returned.
