Maddie mulled it over. She did still have the Beachcomber to think about, but she had all the renovation projects mapped out and organized. Running the motel wasn’t that hard, and Jules and Gina would help. She would have some extra time, and the truth was she had to come up with ways to bring people to Shell Cove anyway. That would make it easier.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” she said.
“Great!” Rose clapped. “I’ll set up a meeting for next month, and you can present your ideas.”
Maddie panicked. “Wait. Next month? That’s kind of soon. Isn’t it?”
Rose fixed her with a serious look. “We need to keep the tourists flowing. If we don’t, the shop owners are going to get discouraged, and things will go back to the way they were. You don’t want that, do you?”
“No, of course not. I’m sure I can come up with something by then.” Maddie wasn’t at all sure, but at least she could try. But since it seemed like she would be staying in Shell Cove, she had something else on her mind. “There is one thing that might help me.”
“What is it?”
“That cottage on the beach, Starfish Cottage? Do you think you could help persuade the bank to sell it to me and give me a loan?”
The three ladies smiled at each other. “I think we can. It just so happens we have an old friend in high places over there.”
* * *
After Ginaand Maddie left to window-shop, Rose, Pearl, and Leena stayed on the bench enjoying the activity on the street. It was still early summer, but the day had been a scorcher. The cool ocean breeze made it pleasant.
“It’s so nice to have people here again!” Rose took a deep breath and committed the feelings, sights, and sounds to memory. She wanted to relive it just in case tourists dried up and they couldn’t bring them back. It wasn’t that she didn’t have confidence in Maddie. She did, but at her age, she knew better than to count her chickens before they hatched.
“Get your wallet out, Leena. It looks like Rose and I are going to win the Nules bet,” Pearl said.
Leena frowned. “Nules?”
“Yeah, Nick and Jules.” Pearl nodded toward Ocean Brew, where Jules and Nick were seated at a table by the window and looking very chummy.
Leena made a show of craning her neck to assess the situation. “They’re just having coffee. I don’t think it’s a date. They have paperwork in front of them.”
“Maybe it’s the loan,” Rose said. “I was hoping Henry would see the light on that.”
“Never mind Henry. I think that Nick did that on his own,” Pearl said.
“Even better.” Rose turned to Leena. “Maybe it is too soon, but judging by the way those two are looking at each other, you’re going to lose this bet.”
“I don’t think you’ll win the Chukeena bet either.” Pearl nodded toward Saltwater Sweets.
“Let me guess. That’s Chuck and Deena?” Leena said.
“Yep. They look very lovey-dovey in there.”
Leena made a sour face. “Who has time for that at her age?”
“What? You don’t think about getting married again?” Rose asked.
Leena was divorced. Rose and Pearl were widows. Rose had never heard either of her friends voice any desire to be married, but they were quite a bit older than Deena.
“No. Why would I? I love being independent and not having to compromise. What about you?” Leena asked Rose.
Rose contemplated the idea. She never felt lonely, mostly because her grandson, Dex, doted on her. She didn’t think she would have room for a man in her life. “I don’t think so. I like things the way they are.”
“Well, I would,” Pearl said.
Rose and Leena looked at her in surprise.
“You would?” Leena asked. “Huh, maybe we should think of someone to fix you up with. How about Henry? He’s being so nice to us now, and he really is a good guy.”
