CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
As Jane hung up the phone, her smile remained. Picking up a duster, she gently swept it across the antique buffet table in the living room. It used to bother her that her mother sometimes thought it was still the past, but she had learned to roll with it. After all, her mom still knew who she was, and that was no small blessing.
She moved on to dust a side table. It hadn’t been an easy decision to put Addie in Tall Pines, but it had been the right one. Addie was thriving there. Once she’d settled into Tall Pines and started her new medications, her dementia had miraculously halted its progression.
It was funny how what you thought you wanted wasn’t really what you needed. Just a few years ago, Jane had wanted nothing more than to retire. Then her mother’s memory issues had escalated. Jane had resisted taking over Tides Inn, the family business. But now, she found she loved it—loved being the keeper of her family’s legacy. Life’s unexpected turns had led her exactly where she needed to be.
As Jane made her way into the foyer, Susan, Betty, Carol, and Margie came down the stairs.
“Oh, Jane, our stay here has been absolutely wonderful!” Susan exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with genuine happiness.
“Please extend our warmest thanks to Brenda; her breakfasts have been the highlight of our mornings,” Betty chimed in.
“You’re all too kind.” Jane beamed. The four women had been great guests, and she wished they weren’t checking out today. “If you’d like, you’re welcome to extend your stay. We don’t have any other bookings coming up soon. And the art gallery is having its grand opening tonight. Plus the Prelude festival is just kicking off!”
The women exchanged glances, apparently weighing their commitments against the pull of yet another evening in the idyllic town. Carol’s eyes had a far-off look as she pondered. “I have my grandson’s football game this weekend, and I’ve promised to be there. And we already dropped off the rental car so we could just uber back to the airport.”
“We really should get back to our dogs.” Susan glanced at Betty, who nodded.
“But that art gallery opening,” Margie mused, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “The paper they’ve put up on the windows has us all guessing. What a clever marketing strategy that was.”
Internally, Jane chuckled. If only they knew that Maxi’s “brilliant marketing move” had been born more out of desperation than strategy. But if the mystery drew people in, then who was Jane to correct their assumptions?
“Maxi does have a way of getting people talking,” Jane said diplomatically, her lips curling into a sly smile. “It’s going to be quite the event. But of course, I understand if you have other commitments.”
The women looked at one another, the temptation clear in their eyes but reality pulling them in another direction. .
Finally, Carol said, “I guess we’ll have to think about it and discuss it, so don’t hold the rooms for us if you get other reservations.”
“I am curious about the art gallery, though, Do you have any insider info on what the showing will actually feature?” Betty asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
Jane leaned against the check-in desk, enjoying the moment of speculation. “To be honest, even I don’t know what’s going to be displayed. Maxi has been incredibly tight-lipped about it. It’s as much a mystery to me as it is to the rest of the town.”
“Oh, how intriguing!” Betty exclaimed. “What do you think it could be, Jane?”
Jane considered the possibilities. “Well, Maxi has eclectic taste. It could range from traditional landscapes to avant-garde installations. She’s been so secretive, it really could be anything.”
“What about a series of paintings focused on the beauty of Prelude?” suggested Margie, her eyes lighting up at the thought.
“Or maybe something provocative that challenges the norms?” Carol proposed, wiggling her eyebrows for added effect.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s something abstract,” said Susan. “You know, something that makes you tilt your head and squint, wondering what on earth you’re looking at.”
Betty laughed. “Or perhaps it’s a mixture of all those things.”
Jane nodded, entertained by their guesses. “All very plausible. I guess we’ll find out soon enough. I must admit, the suspense is part of the fun.”
“Yes, we may have to delay leaving until later tonight just so we can see,” Carol added, clearly more tempted than ever to stay.
Margie sighed. “Changing flights could be problematic, though.”
“If you guys don’t make it to the gallery, I’ll let you all know what Maxi unveils tonight,” Jane promised.
“Please do,” they all echoed.
Betty added, “And now, we’re off to walk downtown for some last-minute shopping. See you later.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
