She turned her search toward overcoming the problem. What did she have to do? She immediately discounted counseling. Been there, done that. Most of the advice was about changing the way you think. Okay, she could work on that. But it seemed so passive. She wanted todosomething. She wanted these feelings gone, and she sure didn’t want another panic attack in front of a handsome guest.
Finally, she stumbled upon an extensive article from a psychology site that recommended turning guilt into helping others. Guilt made a person feel helpless—this she knew—while action, specifically helping others, made a person feel useful and purposeful.
Okay. Here was a plan she could get behind. Maybe it was self-serving, helping others to help herself, but hey, two birds, one stone. She would try to be more outwardly focused, on the lookout for howshe could help others. That was really just the Christian way of life anyway, wasn’t it? Love God, love others, and all that.
Having a plan made her feel better. She set her laptop aside, suddenly weary, and turned off her lamp.
Her thoughts immediately turned toward the conversation she’d had with Wyatt as they walked into town this morning. She enjoyed talking to him, bantering with him. Grace had never been talkative like Molly, but she’d always been quick on her feet with conversation. With Wyatt she’d met her match. He didn’t say much, but what he said counted. He’d kind of flirted with her. And maybe she flirted back a little.
She hoped to see him the next day. And a few minutes later she drifted off with a smile.
Chapter Nine
Grace heard footsteps on the stairs, and from her position behind the front desk, she tensed in anticipation. But a moment later the small family who’d been staying in the room next to hers appeared.
“Good morning. Checking out?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the father said.
Grace made small talk as she completed the checkout process then handed them the receipt.
“Do you need directions, or are you all set?” she asked the father since their toddler was busy spilling juice on his mother’s shirt and wiggling to get down.
“I think we’re good to go.”
Remembering her pledge to be more helpful, she asked, “Can I get you some muffins or coffee to go? They’re orange spice today, and it’ll just take a minute.”
“No thanks. We’re running a little late as it is.”
“Well, let me get the door for you.” She scurried from behind the counter. “Have a safe flight. We hope to see you again soon.”
Once the family was out the door, Grace went back to the computer. She’d already bookmarked the top five commercial property sites at which to list the inn. She felt good about their chances ofselling the inn on their own. She just needed that listing from her sister.
She texted Molly, who was due at the inn soon to clean rooms.Do you have the listing written yet? I’d like to get it uploaded today.
A moment later Molly texted back.It’s finished. But I already left the house. I’m at the coffee shop. I’ll have Adam email it to you. Want a frappé?
I’ll wait to hear from him then. And no thanks.
She hoped managing the listing wasn’t too time-consuming. Potential buyers would have questions before they’d travel here to tour the inn. But presumably a lot of them would be financial questions she could turn over to Levi. Not that he didn’t have enough on his plate at the moment too.
With most of the guests checked out, she turned her attention to her own business. Several spaces were available downtown—that would be the ideal location. But all of them had been empty a long time, and there were good reasons for that. Renovations would be expensive.
There were also small homes on the outskirts of town that could work. But, again, converting them into retail space would be costly.
Levi had mentioned business grants. She did a little research to see what was available and found he was right. There were even grants specifically for the rehabilitation of old buildings. But upon reading further, she saw that many steps would have to be taken to have a chance at one of those grants. She read until she was completely overwhelmed and was glad for the distraction when Molly breezed in a while later, latte in hand.
“Good morning!”
“Morning. Adam hasn’t sent me that listing yet.”
“Oh! I forgot to ask.” She pulled out her phone, her face sinking. “It’s dead. I forgot to charge it last night.”
“You can use my charger upstairs. I’ll text him.”
“I need to call him anyway. I forgot to defrost the chicken—he’s grilling tonight. Are all the guests out for the moment?”
“All except Wyatt.”
