Good question. “I guess we would sell it off if they defaulted, but I have a good feeling about this. I don’t think they will default. And it could really help the town.”
“The town?” Henry gestured toward the sad-looking Main Street beyond the window. “No one comes here anymore. There’s no one to rent rooms in the motel. Therefore, the motel won’t make an income. Therefore, they won’t be able to pay back the loan, and therefore, the bank won’t be able to sell it. We’ll be stuck.”
Nick remained silent. He had a million arguments running around in his head, but he could tell Gramps wouldn’t listen to any of them.
Gramps’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, son. It’s too risky. Take my advice, and don’t let a pretty face sway you.”
Gramps turned away and went into his office. “We’re not approving the loan, and that’s final.”
Nick stood in the doorway and watched his grandfather plop into the chair behind his desk. He never went against Gramps’s wishes. Ever. But his heart was telling him that Gramps was wrong. And it wasn’t just because he didn’t want to disappoint Jules. He loved his town and wanted do whatever he could to help it prosper. The Beachcomber Motel could change everything for Shell Cove. There had to be a way to get that loan without Gramps’s approval, and Nick was going to find it.
Chapter Eleven
That night in the kitchen, Gina lifted the rolling pin, her fingertips tracing the smooth wood worn from decades of use. Gram had a few of these, each with different patterns that she would use for crusts and cookies.
Memories surfaced of Gram bent over the counter as she meticulously cut designs out of the dough, little leaves or flowers that she would use to decorate the tops of the pies. Pie making was an art for her grandmother, but Gina doubted she would ever have the skill or patience for it. She certainly wouldn’t be whipping up a pie for the town meeting.
She wished she didn’t have to go to the town meeting; it was pointless because she wasn’t staying there. It was a waste of energy to get to know any of the townspeople, and she had little interest in their plan to revitalize Shell Cove. But she couldn’t very well refuse to go. Best to just play along.
She was dismayed to discover that a little part of her didn’t want to disappoint Maddie. Her cousins were so enthusiastic about the meeting, and Gina could tell Maddie was pinning her hopes on it all working out. Gina didn’t wish a disappointment on her, but the odds were about as slim as Gina getting her money back from Hugh.
Her phone pinged, and she picked it up from the counter. An email from Mel keeping her up-to-date with things back home. Back home. But it wasn’t really home anymore. She probably wouldn’t be able to afford to go back, even though she’d told Mel to look for a condo for her. Everyone thought she was at the beach on vacation and was expecting her to return in a few weeks.
“Are you thinking of making a pie for the meeting?” Maddie’s expression was doubtful.
Gina laughed and put the rolling pin down. “No way. I can barely fry an egg. I was just thinking about Gram.”
“Yeah, me either. I’m still trying to figure out what to bring.” Maddie sat at the table. Her hair was disheveled, and she had a smudge of dust on her nose.
“Where have you been?” Gina asked.
“The storage room. It’s over behind the lobby. Turns out there are a lot of things we can use in there—extra lamps, wall art, even a few bureaus. But the best part is there was a ladder and paint supplies. Now we won’t have to buy them and can get started right away.” Maddie beamed with excitement, and Gina pretended to be excited too.
“What’s all the stuff out on the lawn?” Jules came in from the lobby.
Maddie didn’t look up from her computer. “Painting supplies I found in the storage room. I’m making a list of tasks we can start on tomorrow and what we need to buy.”
“Oh, right. I guess the sooner we start the better, but maybe we should wait until we find out about the loan?” Jules asked.
“We really only need some paint to start sprucing up the exterior. Paint isn’t expensive, so I can spring for that, and we do need to get started,” Maddie said.
Ugh… Gina hated the idea of scraping and painting. She wasn’t used to manual labor, since she and Hugh always hired it out. But it might be a good opportunity to learn. It didn’t appear as if she was going to have the money to hire things out anymore, and she might need those skills. Maybe she could buy a fixer-upper. Perhaps her stint at the Beachcomber would be useful after all.
“I’ve been thinking about getting started.” Jules whipped out her phone, excitement lighting her eyes. “I’ve researched some items we need for the rooms to make them more appealing and modern.”
She put her phone down on the table and started to scroll through listings of comforters, lamps, and knickknacks so Maddie could see. Gina’s curiosity got the better of her, and she moved closer to look over Maddie’s shoulder.
“I was thinking we could paint the furniture we already have white. That always goes nice at the beach. Then we get new comforters and throw pillows and accessories.” She scrolled through comforters with beach themes and pillows in beach tones of blues and tans with a pop of color like orange, pink, and turquoise.
Gina started to feel excited. She could already envision how to decorate the rooms. “I don’t know if the rooms are all the same, but I think we could move the beds to one wall and paint something behind it… sort of like an artsy headboard. Then maybe pick up some bookshelves at a yard sale and load it with shells and maybe even used books.”
“That’s a great idea,” Maddie said. “People love to read at the beach. It will help make us unique. I was planning on checking out the rest of the rooms today.”
“I also think we could bring the theme into the bathrooms. You know, maybe some matching colors and artwork. New shower curtains for sure,” Gina suggested.
Jules smiled at Gina over her shoulder. “Great idea.”
“Thanks!” Gina beamed. For the first time in a long time, she actually felt useful. Instead of just throwing money at a project and hiring others to do the thinking, she was coming up with ideas on her own. And the look in Jules’s eyes said she really thought her idea had value.
