Jules exchanged a look with Maddie. Gina was the oldest, and Jules was five years younger, but she remembered the summer that Gina’s parents split up. It was hard on Gina, and it made sense that Gram would have taken her to the beach. Her heart softened toward her cousin for having to remember a sad time.
“I don’t remember ever coming here,” Maddie said. “I think Gram must have closed it right after that.”
“But why?” Jules asked.
“That summer was kind of a blur, but if I remember correctly, they had moved the main road the year before, and there weren’t many tourists coming to town.”
Jules’s optimism deflated. Even if they could spruce up the motel without spending a lot of money, the problem still remained that no one was coming to Shell Cove.
“That makes sense.” Maddie opened another cabinet to reveal stainless steel cookware. “Looks like Gram expected to come back someday, though. She left everything here.”
“All the better for us. We’re going to need it.” Jules opened the fridge and checked the burners on the gas stove. The appliances were older models but in good condition. Maybe Gram had bought them right before she closed the place. Hopefully they would last awhile. She straightened and looked at her cousins. “I’m worried about the situation in town. That might be off-putting to guests.”
Maddie wasn’t worried though. She was brimming with optimism, as usual. “I don’t think that’s a big problem. I mean look at the ocean and the beach.” She swept her hand toward the window. “All we need to do is push that. Besides, tons of people want relaxing beach vacations without a lot of stressful things pulling them in every direction. This is the perfect setting—nothing to do but sit on the beach and relax.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.” Gina didn’t sound convinced, and neither was Jules.
Maddie pulled out a chair and plunked herself down at the round maple kitchen table. Reaching into her tote bag, she pulled out a day planner. Jules almost laughed. She remembered that Maddie was hardly ever without her day planner when they’d managed the Surfstone. Apparently things hadn’t changed much.
Maddie flipped the day planner open. “I think we should make a to-do list and assign a time frame and a person to each task.” She looked up at Jules and Gina for approval.
“Things haven’t changed much with you, have they?” Gina asked.
During their tenure at the Surfstone, Maddie had driven them crazy with her excessive planning and task lists. But Jules had to admit, those things had kept them on track. Not that it had done a lot of good. They’d failed anyway.
Having had enough with the negativity, Jules decided to take a cue from Maddie and think positive. She just hoped Gina wasn’t going to drag them down. So far she seemed a lot less than enthusiastic and a little sad. But Maddie had enough optimism for all three of them.
“I suppose we could come up with a list. Then, we’d see what we’re up against,” Jules said.
Gina shrugged her agreement, and the three of them spent the next hour coming up with a task list. When they were done, Maddie shut the planner and stretched. “I think that’s good for now. We have a lot on the list, but I think it’s doable.”
“But some of this takes money,” Jules said.
“And skills. I can assure you I have no idea how to do any of this manual labor.” Gina’s snotty remark reminded Jules of why they’d grown apart. If she didn’t want to help, she didn’t have to. Jules and Maddie could do it on their own.
“At least we don’t have a mortgage to pay,” Jules said. “But there will be electric bills and property taxes. Maybe we can get a loan.”
“That’s a great idea.” Maddie practically squealed. “Why didn’t I think of that? The property must be worth a lot. It’s right on the ocean. We should be able to leverage that. Great thinking, Jules.”
“Thanks.” Jules smiled, a glimmer of hope that it might work flickering inside her chest.
Bells tinkled over the front door.
“Hellloooo. Anyone home?” A voice drifted in from the lobby.
The cousins exchanged quizzical looks. Who in the world could that be?
Chapter Four
Three senior citizens stood in the lobby wearing what looked like their Sunday best. One of them, a short lady with a white pixie cut, was holding an enormous basket.
Jules was unsure of what to do. Who were these ladies? Guests wanting to check in? They hadn’t even looked at the rooms yet and doubted any of them would be ready for people to stay in.
Maddie stepped forward to greet them. “Hi, welcome to the Beachcomber Motel. How can I help you?”
“You must be Maddie,” said the taller one with a halo of gray curly hair on top of her head and intelligent blue eyes that reminded her of Gram.
“I am.” Maddie looked bemused. “And you are?”
