“Your father sounds like he was a man who recognized what was important.”
Relief cooled the heat in my cheeks. “Yeah. Yeah, he saw past all the bullshit. He thought my mom … he thought there was no one else in the world like her. He would have done anything for her.” Like uncover a dark secret, even if it meant ruining his family’s legacy. “Anyway. Sorry … I, uh, I’m feeling a little nostalgic today. We should get moving.” I marched toward the house.
This time Ramsay didn’t respond. He followed me into the B and B … and then went his own way.
10.Tierney
Afew days after Perri’s update, I was in the B and B and finally able to see my future business coming together. Before everyone arrived, I’d taken some progress videos for socials. Now Cammie stood at my side with Quinn and a representative from the independent kitchen designer we’d selected. Arthur worked for the small, family-run business based in Fort William and had come all the way from the mainland with samples.
This was the exciting part. Choosing all the design elements.
Arthur had his laptop open and was leaning on a makeshift table Quinn had put together. He had a design app open and was adjusting the layout as we all discussed what would work most practically for a B and B kitchen.
“The range looks great and would be perfect for this Victorian building,” Cammie mused as we looked at a brochure of range ovens.
“I think four fitted ovens on this wall”—I pointed to the back of the room—“would be more practical.”
“Agreed.” Quinn nodded.
Cammie glared at her brother and then turned to me. “What about a compromise? Two ovens on the wall and then a range oven center here.” She gestured to the middle of the back wall. “It will give you your hob top, two more ovens, and a proving drawer if you want to make your own bread.”
“Do you make your own bread?” Quinn asked.
I grinned cockily. “I do, actually.”
“You know, I never even thought to ask if you can cook and you’re opening a B and B.” He chuckled.
I arched an eyebrow. “I like to bake and I’m all right in the kitchen. My best friend is a chef and she’s given me some pointers over the years.” Speaking of London reminded me that my best friend hadn’t replied to the text I sent a week ago. I’d been so caught up in island life. I made a mental note to call her later. “But I will be hiring a chef to do all the breakfasts.”
“So shouldn’t the chef be here?” Arthur asked from behind us.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Oh, I haven’t hired one yet.”
“You do realize it might be hard to get a chef,” Quinn told me. “Not everyone wants to live on an island.”
I shrugged. “People are always looking for work, even if it’s just seasonal. And like I said, I can cook, if I need to.”
“So … range or fitted?” Quinn pushed, sounding a bit impatient. Most likely because we’d been in what would become the kitchen for an hour already. “Gas or electric? I need to know if we need to run a new gas line in here.”
“I think a chef would say gas,” Cammie opined.
I could hear London disagreeing vehemently in my head. “Actually, my friend prefers induction. They have induction stovetops in the kitchen she works in, and she says they cook faster, you can better control the heat, and they’re easier to clean. Not to mention better for your health.”
“I stand corrected.” Cammie chuckled. “I’m going to lose this one, aren’t I?”
“Actually. No. I like the idea of having the proving drawer. I think two fitted ovens on the wall and an induction top range cooker in the middle is a good compromise.” I glanced back at Arthur with a grin. “Did you get that?”
He chuckled. “I’ve got it.” He picked up the laptop and brought it over. “What do you think?”
I studied the digital image of the kitchen we’d designed together in the last hour and grinned. “This is perfect.” There was an island but no seats since the kitchen wouldn’t be used for guests. The island had the sink and was all extra countertop and storage. There was a microwave drawer on it, a wine cooler, and cupboards on the back for whatever we needed.
“That color is going to look amazing.”
We’d gone for a pale blue shaker-style cabinet. Cammie and I already selected the perfect tile for the kitchen wall and a Victorian wallpaper to really give the kitchen impact. Even if the guests wouldn’t be in this room, I wanted it to match the feel of the rest of the renovation.
One of Quinn’s men, a younger boy on his team, walked into the room, eyes to me. “Sorry to interrupt, but we found this package at the front door. It’s not addressed to anyone.”
“Oh. I’ll take it, thanks.” I took the package and wrinkled my nose because there was a rank smell emanating from it. It was a brown envelope that bulged in the middle with something that felt roundish and hard. There was nothing on it.
