“We don’t have an actual restaurant,” Levi said. “And again, we can’t afford one.”
“Well, I think we should at least extend the breakfast menu, Levi. I’m tired of hearing about—”
“If you’d just wait a minute, Molly, I have an idea that will increase our profits and maybe take care of all our problems.”Please, God. Why did his sisters have to be so difficult?
Molly crossed her arms. “Fine. I’m listening.”
“I’ve been doing some research, and I think we should increase our rates.”
“What?” Molly said. “No. That doesn’t make sense.”
“We’re already pretty empty through the week,” Grace said. “Isn’t raising the rates just going to scare people away?”
“Not at all. We’re the only inn in town, and we’re almost full up on the weekends. That’s where our rates could go up. By my calculations we can increase the price by 8 percent and still remain competitive.”
“I don’t like it,” Molly said.
“That’s not really a valid argument,” Levi said. “And we need to do something to increase our bottom line. I think this would go a long way toward growing the business.”
“I thought that’s what your marketing plan was for,” Grace said.
“Yes, but that costs money, and those dollars come straight out of our bottom line. Unless you want to charge for the extras like internet and breakfast, we’re going to have to raise our rates.”
“We’re not nickeling and diming our guests to death,” Molly said. “Inns are supposed to have extra amenities. This is not a Motel Six.”
“Then we need to raise the rates. You’re just going to have to trust me on this. I know what I’m doing. We’ll honor the prices for those who’ve already booked, of course. But new bookings get charged our increased rate.”
“Repeat customers are going to love that,” Grace said.
“We’ve been open a year. How many repeat customers could we have? They probably won’t even notice, and if they do, we could give them a one-time reduced rate to mollify them. Agreed?”
Grace and Molly looked at each other, then back to him. “Fine,” they said simultaneously.
“Great,” he said on a sigh. That had been easier than he’d anticipated. And he wasn’t nearly as certain as he’d made it sound that the risk would actually pay off. “Now let’s go over last month’s numbers.”
He talked them through the income and expenditures listed on the Excel spreadsheet. As usual he hoped his sisters wouldn’t notice that the numbers didn’t quite add up. The spreadsheet didn’t account for the fact that all the marketing dollars had gone onto Levi’s personal credit card.
No worries, though. As usual their eyes remained good and glazed over throughout the meeting. Forty minutes later he was finished.
Levi closed the folder. “And that’s about it for this month.”
“Thank God,” Grace muttered, pushing up. “It’s been real.”
“Wait up,” Levi said. “Before you go there’s one more matter I want to discuss with you guys.”
The girls groaned as they sank back into their seats.
There it was—the reason he personally referred to the meetings as the monthly Moan and Groan.
“Before you slip off into dreamland again, this isn’t regarding business per se. It’s about Mia.”
“I just love that girl,” Molly said. “I’m so glad she’s staying on a while.”
“Me too,” Grace said. “I never dreamed she’d be so down-to-earth.”
“Right? She’s so considerate. And she plays a mean game of five-card draw.”
“Anyway,” Levi continued, “it seems that when she and I slipped out last night the press took some photos and posted them online.”
