Chapter Six
Hope leaked into Joel, but he tried not to get too excited. He’d met with a contractor who might be willing to repair the ceilings of the remaining rooms on credit. It wasn’t his preferred method, but there wasn’t much difference between that and taking out a business loan with the bank. It all depended on the inspection scheduled for next week. If the quote came in under a certain amount, the contractor would take on the project.
The ceilings were his largest remaining expense, and he didn’t have the knowledge or skill to do them himself like he had with the painting and minor repairs. With the money he had left in savings, he could finish the motel with careful planning, while still holding enough back for emergencies.
“If this is your will, Lord, please let it be, and if not, please give me direction on where to go next.” He continued praying the rest of the way home from Flagstaff.
Until he reached the fifteen-minute mark, and then his concentration shifted to Cassidy. She’d unwittingly reached into him and captured his attention. He was glad she’d agreed to meet with him today for suggestions on the motel. Yes, he welcomed her advice, but that wasn’t his impetus for the invitation.
He wanted to spend time with her, have a chance to see her smile. It was foolish, he knew that, but he couldn’t ignore that nudge. Even if he only had a few days to spend with her, he wouldn’t regret that time. Cassidy’s lack of pretense spoke to him, and her vulnerability regarding her father awakened his protective mode. They shared a connection that he couldn’t yet explain.
Maybe the only reason for their intersection in life was to restore her faith in humanity. It didn’t take a genius to realize her father’s actions had obliterated her trust in people as a whole. From what she’d described, it sounded as though she’d dealt with a slew of betrayal from people she’d trusted, from her family, down to friends who had abandoned her in the aftermath. Thank goodness for the four friends she had. He barely knew them but respected them all the same for standing by Cassidy’s side.
He also respected Cassidy’s faith in God. Many people had lost theirs when confronted with trials, but she held onto hers with a steadfast determination.
When he stopped to think about it, he was amazed how much he’d learned about her in the forty-some hours since they’d met. How much more would he learn before she left? He glanced at the clock on the dash. Once he got back into Seligman, he’d have a half hour to grab a bite to eat and get ready before meeting with Cassidy.
Scores of people walked along the streets. It was odd to see so many people in his sleepy town, but he was glad for the boost it would bring the businesses. Too bad he hadn’t been able to get Route 66 Roadside Lodge up and running in time. The convention offered a prime opportunity for a grand opening event. What were the chances they’d return next year?
It took several minutes longer than normal to reach his house, due to the sheer volume of people crossing the street. He parked in the rear and went inside. Digging through his cabinets, he found a can of chicken corn chowder. Even though it sounded good, he returned it to the shelf, deciding it was entirely too hot outside today for soup.
A sandwich and chips it would be. He opened the fridge and grabbed the ham and cheese from the deli tray, along with a bottle of mustard and a jar of pickles. Reaching up, he grabbed the loaf of bread from the top of the fridge, then a bag of salt and vinegar chips from the cabinet.
He made the sandwich and wolfed it down between bites of chips. He chased the meal with a tall glass of water before going to the bedroom to change. After shedding his business casual attire, he pulled on a pair of shorts and a clean T-shirt. Checked his watch—he had two minutes to walk to the office before he’d be late.
Once he’d put on a pair of comfortable sneakers, he went to his desk and retrieved the ledger he’d sketched notes on last night and a list of questions for Cassidy. Where had he put his phone? He didn’t remember bringing it inside so he checked his truck and found it in a cup holder. A brief glance at the screen revealed no missed calls or messages.
His two minutes were up, and he jogged to the motel office. Cassidy waited in a chair wearing a pair of Bermuda-length denim shorts and an orange and blue ribbed tank top.Glad I changed into casual clothes.
She stood when he entered the door.
“Thanks for coming. Sorry, I’m late.” He swung an arm to the actual office room behind the lobby and front desk. “We can talk in there.”
Carrying a bottle of water, she followed him. “My friends left an hour ago for the afternoon convention meetings. I took that time to poke around, making some notes for you, just on basic things I noticed.”
“Great.” He pointed to a chair. “Have a seat, and we’ll discuss them.”
She sat down in the chair, a plastic relic of the eighties. Another thing he had to upgrade in time.
Sitting behind the desk, he placed the ledger in from of him and grabbed a pen from the cup. Offered one to Cassidy, but she had her own.
She crossed her legs, then leaned forward, ready to share notes and make some of her own. “Your choice of décor is on point. Will you continue with that theme in all the rooms?”
“That’s my plan, but I wanted to get your opinion.” He flipped to the page he’d written on. “As of now, the completed rooms have Route 66 memorabilia that is not location specific and relics of Seligman. Do you think I should use items from other towns?”
“If you spread out, I’d stick with this geographical area.” Tapping her pen against the table, she appeared deep in thought. “And it doesn’t have to be strictly related to the towns or Route 66. A few black and white or sepia photos of the landscape would be a great addition. Especially with the sagebrush and buttes. Maybe even an elk or antelope.”
He nodded slowly. “I like it.”
“Do you have a marketing plan?”
“I plan on launching a grand opening when it’s ready, and working with several companies and organizations to have the Roadside Lodge featured on their sites.”
“That’s a good start.”
The way she said it left him feeling inadequate though he was sure that wasn’t her intention. “But not enough?”
“You need a selling point to differentiate your motel from other accommodations available.” She circled her arms in a gesture to indicate she meant the entire building. “Why should someone stay here instead of going next door to The Desert Breeze or meandering further down the interstate?”
