“I figured you guys might need some. Are your cousins around? I got one for everyone.”
“Maddie is in the kitchen wrestling with our coffee maker right now. I’m sure she’ll be delighted to give up on it and drink this.”
She led him into the kitchen, where Maddie was standing at the counter. She had a pitcher of water in her hand and was muttering at the coffee maker, which sat with its lid up, as if sassing her back.
“I can’t get this—” She turned, stopping midsentence when she saw Dex with the coffees. “Oh, hi.”
“I picked these up on my way.” Dex held the tray out to her, and Maddie selected a cup. “I didn’t know what everyone preferred to drink, so I just got regular coffee.”
“That’s good. Better than this thing.” Maddie gestured toward the coffee machine on the counter, which gave a gurgle as if resenting it was the subject of their conversation.
“You guys might want to invest in a K-Cup machine.” Dex laid the tray on the table and picked out two coffees, holding one up. “This is for my helper, Riley, the one left is for Gina.”
“That was really nice of you to bring those.” Jules looked at Maddie to see if her attitude toward Dex had softened. She thought Maddie was a little overly critical with her assessment of him, and she could tell Dex was attracted. It was none of her business, but they would make a cute couple. Maybe Maddie’s overdeveloped organizational skills could help him, and his apparent spontaneity could help her.
“Yeah. Thanks.” Maddie gave him a quick look then turned to Jules. “I have to run into town and pick up the plants, but I was hoping you could help me uncover the wicker furniture in the lobby and put it out on the porch real quick. Gina isn’t up yet.”
“I can help,” Dex volunteered.
Maddie looked like that was the last thing she wanted. “Umm oh, isn’t that your helper?” She nodded toward the window, where they could see a tan truck pull into the parking lot.
“Oh yeah, he can help too.” Dex looked at Maddie over the rim of his cup, apparently determined to help them.
“Fine. I mean we can do it on our own, but I suppose it will go faster if you help.”
They rounded up Riley, and the four of them took the tarps off the wicker and hauled it out to the porch. Jules was pleased to discover that the furniture was in fine condition. It gave the porch an old-fashioned Victorian vibe—very cottage chic. The plants would add a nice finishing touch.
When they were just about done, the delivery of bedding and accessories came, and Jules felt her excitement ramping up. They were one step further to actually having paying guests. Sure, the motel still needed some things, but it was in decent shape. Her excitement was tinged with nervousness. Would the guests like it?
Jules started opening the boxes while Maddie fussed with the pillows, and Dex and Riley got started with the painting.
“He’s not so bad.” Jules nodded toward Dex, who was piling brushes, ladders, crumpled-up tarps, and cans of paint outside one of the motel rooms.
Maddie barely glanced over. “I guess.”
Jules inspected the items. The comforters were good quality, very puffy, and looked comfortable in soft colors of white with aqua and orange. The artwork of seashells, starfish, and crabs matched perfectly. The throw pillows were a nice touch, and the color-coordinated hand towels would give a pop to the bathrooms.
Jules organized them by theme. Starfish motif in one pile, shell motif in another, seahorses in a third. She made piles on the porch, already picturing how they would look in the rooms.
Gina appeared in the doorway, the coffee they’d left on the kitchen table in her hand. Steam wafted out of the lid. She must have microwaved it.
“This is the bedding?” Gina inspected one of the comforters.
“Yeah, it’s pretty nice.”
“Good. I was worried.” Gina’s attention turned to Maddie, who was moving a wicker rocker from one side of the porch to the other. “I think maybe it will look best in the corner here.” She pointed to a corner next to the house, and Maddie placed it there, then stood back.
“You’re right. You’re so much better at placement than I am.” Maddie brushed her hands together. “Speaking of which, you two should get started on the rooms. I have to get into town.”
Maddie bounced off, leaving Jules and Gina on the porch alone.
Jules was suddenly wary at the thought of working alone with Gina without Maddie as the buffer. But she took a deep breath and grabbed an armful of items for the first room. “Well, I guess we better get started.”
Not even Gina could put a damper on her good mood that day.
* * *
Maddie peekedaround the corner of the porch, watching Jules and Gina as they worked on the rooms. They seemed to be communicating, and neither of them had stormed off in a huff. So far, so good.
