“Whitmore Patio?” Tessa asked.
“Also in the black.”
“Really?” Sophie asked, surprised. “This is great news!”
Tessa pushed out of her chair and moved around the desk behind Cadence. “Show me.”
“Yep. Let me pull it up here on the computer.” Sophie listened to the rapid clicking of the mouse, but her thoughts drifted away, spinning around each other.That kiss. Caroline’s birthday party. Book club. That kiss . . .
“Sophie what do you—” The lodge phone rang, interrupting Cadence. One of only two landlines sat on the desk. “Let me grab this.”
Tessa nudged Cadence aside and studied the computer screen. Sophie didn’t want to see the numbers, though. She trusted her sisters but hated to see what her portion was taking away from the lodge. The three had agreed on equal salaries from the beginning, but Sophie considered herself overpaid for what little she contributed.Overpaid and still can’t afford to move out.
“I’m sorry, we’re completely booked next weekend,” Cadence said into the phone as Tessa abandoned the computer and dropped back onto the sofa.
Guilt twisted at Sophie as she recalled the number of guests who had to be turned away because there wasn’t a vacancy. If Sophie moved out of her lodge room, they could make a little more. Cadence could book the guest on the phone.
“What did you decide on that house?” Tessa asked, as if reading her mind while Cadence finished up her call.
Sophie shook her head. “Wasn’t the right one. I’ll keep looking.”
“Sorry, Soph. I know you were really excited about it.” Tessa reached for her hand and squeezed for a beat. “I’m sure something else will come up that’ll be even better.”
Sophie’s phone buzzed in her armband, but she ignored it. Though she had a meeting as an excuse, she suspected it was Denver. He’d been reaching out off and on since she ran off Saturday night, telling him the kiss was a big mistake. Sophie still didn’t know what to do about any of it, so she answered the texts about the book club and Caroline’s party and ignored the rest.
“So, that was an interesting call,” Cadence said. “We just received our first request to rent out a room for a bridal shower. In two weeks. I told her I’d call her back.”
“I thought they wanted a lodge room,” Tessa said.
“So did I at first. What do you think?” Cadence asked. “Should we do it?”
“Where exactly? We don’t want that happening in the main room, right?” Tessa countered. “The book club doesn’t seem to mind the light traffic, but surely they would want something more private for a bridal shower. A guest room is too small. And I don’t know that the dining room would be appropriate, either. My vote is no.”
“The den?” Sophie offered, feeling a small beat of excitement for the first time all week.
“The den?”
“Yes. We could convert the den into a venue space. We hardly use it, and it wouldn’t take much. You said we have plenty of reserve funds leftover, right? We update some of the furniture.”
“All for a bridal shower?” Tessa’s eyebrows drew in, thinking on that option.
“We shouldn’t spend reserve funds on one event,” Cadence agreed.
“But what if we turned that roomintoa venue space? Let people rent it out? Not just bridal showers. Birthday parties, anniversaries, reunions, you name it. We can charge for the room rental. Add revenue to the lodge.” Sophie was bursting with newfound excitement. If there was anything she knew a bit about, it was party planning. She’d hosted more dinner and cocktail parties than she cared to admit. She could use those skills to build something of her own.
Was this her thing? The dream she’d been searching for?
“Who’s going to manage all this?” Cadence asked. “I think we’re all a little tapped out.”
“Could we consider hiring a part-time housekeeper?” Sophie dared to ask, doing her best not to be deterred at the grim expressions on her sisters’ faces.
“Just because we have a solid cushion doesn’t mean we should spend it all,” Tessa countered. “I don’t mind renting out the den for this one party. But I’m not on board for updating the furniture or anything crazy. Can’t they rent their own tables and chairs?”
“In Sunset Ridge?” Sophie countered.
“I’m not okay with dumping a bunch of money into the idea. It has to be lowkey enough that we don’t need to add staff.”
“I’m afraid I agree,” said Cadence. “I don’t think now is the right time.”
