Is everything ok?
I’m fine, she lied.
When the wedding invitation came six months later, Holly RSVP’d her regrets to be polite and promptly buried it in the back of the recycling bin. But she could still feel it, burning a hole in the painfully constructed layer oflife after Benshe’d worked so hard to fabricate. So she took the trash outside. Even there, it tapped at the window of her thoughts, surfaced in her dreams at night.
Now, these four Ben-free years later, Holly knew better. Sitting on the dock as the sun moved across the water in that late-afternoon shade of gold she loved best, she glanced back up the hill at the inn. Here, she was staking out her own life and her own career doing something she felt passionate about. The Cranberry House took all she had to give and would for some time, if she was to make it a success. There were running costs and marketing goals and guests to take care of. There was a developer who Holly knew still called her grandmother, even though Francine never let on. And back up inside that inn was a magical chef and a snarky manager and a whole family of staff she counted on. Ben Walters, whether here or there, was not one of them.
There was no time to think about Ben. Holly had more present problems, and one was walking through the door. Francine had behaved herself by staying away from the inn all week, so of course it would be the afternoon of the Suttons’ arrival that she chose not to.
“I used the front door this time,” she said cheekily. “And I dressed up to blend in with the guests. You won’t even knowI’m here.” Doubtful, Holly watched as her grandmother twirled twice in the center of the lobby. Her friend Bee was in tow.
“Sorry, honey. Try as I might, I couldn’t keep her away.” Bee shrugged. “Figured the next best thing was to join her.”
“Right.” Holly regarded them both. Neither one looked very sorry.
Busybody that he was, Linus had already sniffed out Francine’s arrival and sailed into the lobby. “Ah! We have missed you.” He glanced sideways at Holly. “Though she’s doing fine, of course.”
“Of course.” Francine glanced around the foyer, hands clasped expectantly. “So?”
Holly knew what her grandmother was asking, and she had no time for it. “I’m expecting guests for a tasting at any moment.”
“A tasting! Would that be your wedding family?”
Holly really did not want to divulge. It would only lead to Francine inquiring about the menu, which would lead to snooping in Greta’s kitchen, and ultimately sticking around to spy.
Linus, however, had no such reservations. “We’re expecting the Suttons and their daughter, Sissy, at one o’clock,” he reported happily. “She’s the bride-to-beanda popular social media influencer. We’ve planned a four-course tasting with dessert. Not so sure about thekey lime pie, but…”
Holly threw him a look. “Aren’t you supposed to be prepping the welcome drinks?”
The reminder only served to spur Linus into spilling more details. “Ooh! I’m doing a lemongrass mojito called In the Weeds and a honeyed gin with grapefruit called Bitter Truth.”
“Craft cocktails with unique names,” Francine said approvingly.
“Hang on,” Holly said, eyes narrowing. “Didn’t Greta insist on wedding-friendly names?Bitter Truthdoesn’t exactly scream romance for Sissy.”
Linus rolled his eyes. “The girl’s getting married. We shouldn’t sugarcoat.”
“How is our dear Greta?” Francine went on, milking her stay. Holly wasn’t having it.
“Busy,” Holly huffed. “Like me. I will call you later, Franny. At Bee’s house.” She glanced warily toward the staircase from which the Henderson family were now noisily descending with all their luggage.
Just then one Henderson twin rolled into the lobby dragging an unwieldy bag at full tilt. Holly turned in time to witness it glance the tall chinoiserie vase by her desk. The vase wobbled, and Holly lurched to right it. In the pandemonium, her grandmother and Bee had strayed swiftly into the bar area and pulled up chairs to watch Linus mix Sissy’s welcome cocktails. He shrugged at Holly as both women held out empty glasses for a taste.
“Thank you for a wonderful stay,” Mia Henderson said, strolling up to the front desk. The young mother was tanned, her hair released from its slick bun and falling about her shoulders in soft waves. The Cranberry had worked its magic.
“How was your stay?” Holly asked.
Mia handed her a credit card. “Too short. We will be back, sans children!”
As much as Holly enjoyed the Hendersons, she was relieved when they loaded their kids into their oversized SUV and swung out of the drive. The Shore Birds followed shortly after, each one, even Mary, raving about her stay. Predictably, Francine wasstill at the bar with Bee, and out of earshot for the compliments. There would be no getting them out of there before the Suttons arrived.
In the kitchen, Greta had everything running on time. Back at the desk, Linus was waiting for her. “Cocktail prep is done. Your grandmother and Bee voted for the Bitter Truth.”
“Of course they did. Where are they?”
“You’ll be pleased to know Francine found her visit satisfactory and has left us to the tasting.”
“Thank God for small favors.” Holly nodded to the front, where the crunch of tires on gravel sounded. “And look who just rolled in.”
