“Early?” Lucy repeated, frowning. “You knew they were coming?”
“Of course! Kitty has the website going, and they are our first booking,” Helen announced proudly.
“You’re open for business?” I felt my brows lift. I looked at Braxton with something akin to horror. “Booking? We booked a stay here?”
Braxton had the good grace to look guilty. “I thought it would be fun. Besides, the weather was forecast to be bad and you insisted on coming.”
“Technically it’s a soft-open,” Helen said cheerfully, ignoring my glaring daggers at my supposed friend. “It’s good practice for us.”
“We don’t have any rooms ready! The renovations have barely started. Why would Kitty think it was appropriate to book guests?” Lucy asked, panic entering her voice as she pressed a hand to her forehead.
“I am very interested to see the renovation work you have planned,” Braxton offered diplomatically. He studied the section of ceiling that William was still dismantling. “Is that Greek Revival?”
William brightened with enthusiasm. “Excellent eye! Yes, you can see the details here. Someone hid this gorgeous molding behind the tiles. Look at the craftsmanship!”
He tugged another piece free, revealing an elegant plaster curve dusted in gray.
Despite myself, I stepped closer. The molding was genuine, a fine relief work that had been hand-tooled. “They don’t build them like this anymore. You will want to patch with lime plaster, not gypsum, or the moisture will—”
Something cracked above us.
I looked up just as the rest of the drop ceiling let go.
The world went white with dust. Metal track and old tiles rained down in a spectacular collapse. I covered my head with one arm, coughing as grit filled my throat from the decades of dust that had settled on top of the tiles. When the noise finally subsided, I straightened, blinking through the haze. A jagged piece of tile slid off my shoulder and clattered to the floor.
Braxton’s laughter broke through first. “Well, Dex, I think you found your flaw in the structural integrity.”
“Very observant,” I muttered, brushing debris from my coat. My once-immaculate suit now looked like it had fought a bag of flour and lost.
Lucy rushed forward, wide-eyed. “Oh no. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I believe your drop ceiling, however, is beyond saving,” I dryly observed. My pride had suffered more damage than my skull.
Her father climbed down from the ladder, patting a rung with satisfaction. “Worth it. Look at those lines. I bet there are more hidden gems behind the paneling on the walls.”
Helen appeared in the doorway again, hands on her hips. “William Bennet, you’re banned from ladders until further notice.”
“Yes, dear,” he replied easily. Clearly he had no intention of following his wife’s orders.
I turned to Lucy. “You might consider professional assistance before attempting further demolition.”
“I will take it under advisement,” she answered stiffly, brushing plaster from her sleeve. Her tone managed to make the words sound like ‘go away’.
Helen broke the moment with a clap of her hands. “Well, no point standing around in the cold. Let’s show you to your rooms so you can get cleaned up.”
Lucy spun toward her. “Mom, we don’t have any rooms ready. There’s dust everywhere.”
“Nonsense. All we need is some clean sheets and towels." Helen turned to me, unbothered by logic. “You’ll stay, won’t you? We can give you a discount since the ceiling did drop on you.”
Braxton smiled instantly. “We would be delighted to stay, no discount necessary.”
I opened my mouth to refuse, but Lucy’s expression which was equal parts horror and disbelief was perversely worth staying for. Perhaps she would see the errors of her ways and be begging to return as my assistant as this house kept falling down around her.
“Fine,” I heard myself say. “A night or two.”
“Splendid! I’ll tell Jane to put coffee on. Lucy, show them to the parlor while I find fresh linens." Helen beamed.
As Helen and William departed in a flurry of enthusiasm, I surveyed the chaos. Dust coated every surface. The chandelier above us swayed gently, shedding the occasional puff of dust like snow. Lucy looked ready to sink through the floor.
