“You are the epitome of graciousness. Now, are you hungry? You’ve missed breakfast but I’ve just finished lunch. It’ll be light because dinner will not be. We’re expecting guests.”
“Paying guests?” Lauren asked, perking up.
“Oh no, just a few locals. It’s my turn to host our monthly Women of the Shroud meeting. You’re welcome to attend.”
“Join a bunch of witches? Oh, I think not. Where do I put this?” she asked, indicating the folded blanket.
Lina laughed. “Just leave it on the couch, I’ll put it away later.”
Following Lina into the kitchen, she washed her hands and sat at the island as Lina filled the bottom of the plate with shredded cabbage, followed by rice, then not one but two ladles of black beans. She smashed tortilla chips on top and followed it up with guacamole and pico de gallo.
“I’m going to need you to reevaluate your definition of a light lunch,” she said as
she reached for the plate. It was a simple meal, yet bursting with so much flavor.
“Homemade?”
Lina nodded.
“So freaking good.” She frowned as a thought occurred to her. “I hope you’re charging a premium price for your meals.”
Lina shook her head. “I have to eat, Lauren. And Santi and Audrey, they also come for meals often. If I have a guest, I freely share what’s prepared as an extension of my hospitality.”
“That’s admirable, but I think the hell not. Not for the piddly amount you charge. I know I gave you a long list of things to prepare, but start with this one; go back and breakdown the cost of meals with your last residents, including the price of the food, the amount of time it takes to prepare the meals, and how much you would reasonably pay yourself as a cook.”
Lina looked uncertain.
“I promise, when you see the numbers, you’ll either increase your nightly rate or meals will have to be an extra fee. Actually, I’m leaning toward the later. Meals can be a separate source of income. Your dining room sits what, ten people?”
“Twelve.”
“So up to twelve people can come and dine here for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner when you don’t have rooms booked.”
“I can only charge what people in the area can afford, which isn’t a lot. No one is going to paypremiumwhen they can barely afford groceries.”
That was true, but Lauren knew if she could work with the city controller around the revitalization plan, the whole town would benefit.
“Bump that, we’ll get people here at a rate that makes sense, trust me.”
Lina rested her palm against the side of Lauren’s face. “You are a good woman, Lauren, and though I do not regret giving you myspecial tea.” She smiled sadly. “I regret whatever happened that caused you to need it.”
The familiar threat of tears rose up, but they didn’t overwhelm her. Her emotions were still tender but no longer like some wounded thing ripping her apart from the inside to end its suffering.
The tea had given her more than a good night’s rest. It had made a space for something other than pain. Gave her a safe space within herself that she could shelter in when shame and betrayal came knocking. She was grateful for that but there was no way she was letting Lina off the hook for drugging an innocent, vulnerable, unsuspecting woman.
Her inner jade scoffed at the characterization.
Well, I could’ve been.
“Claws off, old woman,” she said, pretending to bite at Lina’s hand.
Lina laughed and pulled away, walking over to the stove. “I’m grateful for your help, mija. And I trust you. I dare say the way you speak of building Shrouded Lake, you may be here a while.”
Just long enough to get my lick back, she thought. “What time is it anyway?”
“Nearly one in the afternoon.”
“You have lost the plot. I haven’t slept over eight hours straight in my life.”
