“Look how that turned out,” Kate snapped.
The women gasped collectively. Donna's face flushed. “Well. I see Whitfield money comes with Whitfield manners.”
They swept out, leaving Kate shaking with anger and regret. She'd just alienated customers they couldn't afford to lose, but she was so tired of everyone having an opinion about her choices.
“Katie!” Pop's voice, panicked from upstairs. “Katie, where are you?”
She ran, finding him in the hallway with Amy, who looked apologetic.
“He woke from his nap confused,” Amy explained. “He's been asking for you.”
Pop grabbed Kate's hands. “They're changing everything. The furniture, the walls. Soon they'll change us too.”
“No, Pop. No one's changing us.”
“Promise?”
Kate looked at his frightened eyes. “I promise.”
She got Pop settled, then escaped to the kitchen, where Marcy was prepping dinner.
“Heard you sent the book club running,” Marcy said.
“You heard already?”
“Marie Brennan called her sister, who called me. Said you've gotten too big for your britches now that you have Whitfield money.”
“Great.” Kate slumped in a chair. “Just great.”
Her phone buzzed. Ben:Everything okay? You left in a hurry.
Kate stared at the text. Everything was not okay. Everything was falling apart. And the last thing she needed was some contractor who'd known her for five minutes acting like he understood her.
She didn't respond.
Another text:Would you like to have dinner? Tomorrow night? Just us?
Kate's first instinct was to say no. She didn't need this complication. She didn't need Ben Calloway thinking he could fix her with dinner and sympathy. But then she thought about how the whole town was watching, judging. Maybe being seen with someone respectable, someone local, would help.
Fine,she typed.
Great! How about seven?
Okay.
She immediately regretted it. Now she'd have to sit through dinner with a man who thought he knew her because he'd seen her cry once over some chairs. He probably thought she was fragile, needed protecting. The strong, silent type who would save the struggling innkeeper.
I don't need saving,she thought.I don't need anyone.
That evening, Dani returned from Portland with catalogues and samples, excited about new linens and amenities. She spread everything across the dining room table.
“We could offer spa services,” she said. “Partner with local massage therapists. Maybe yoga on the lawn in summer.”
“This isn't a spa.”
“It could be more than just rooms, Katie. It could be an experience.”
Kate noticed Dani had a new ring, expensive-looking. “Where did that come from?”
