The rehearsal dinner had been a dream compared to the unfoldings of today. “Franny, don’t be silly.” How on earth was Holly going to tell her grandmother the latest? The apology only made her feel worse.
Francine shook her head. “No, I’ve been in this business so long, I should’ve known better than to take things so personally. No matter how prepared you try to be, guests come through your front door with their own baggage—and I don’t mean suitcases.” She smiled ruefully. “I just don’t like seeing Greta upset or Oliver in over his head or you… working yourself to the bone like this.”
Holly needed to set the record straight. “Let’s remember I wanted this, Franny.”
“Still. As someone who loves you, it can be hard to sit back and watch you run yourself ragged, and then for things to not go as planned.”
Holly exhaled. Was that what she was doing, running herself ragged for naught? “I still believe we can make the inn work,” she said, hoping to offer some reassurance before she dropped the runaway bride bomb.
Francine didn’t say anything. The weight of the business and its financial troubles were taking a toll on her grandmother that Holly had hoped would level off when she went to stay with Bee. “I don’t want you to worry so much,” Holly added.
Her grandmother laughed. “That’s life, kid. You love someone, and your heart can’t help itself.”
Holly knew exactly how that felt. About her grandmother, and the inn, and their staff.
“I may not have been entirely honest with you,” Francine admitted, turning to look at her granddaughter. “We agreedyou’d have a trial-run summer as the new innkeeper, but I wasn’t exactly forthcoming about the offer from the developer before you arrived.”
“Mr. Sullio?”
Francine nodded. “As you know, I turned him down. But—I know he’s still interested. If running Cranberry House ends up being too much, or if you’re having second thoughts, we can always fall back on that.” She paused. “I have faith in you. But I also see how hard this is.”
Holly swallowed hard.
Here Francine was, still believing in Holly. Still holding out hope this summer would work out for all of them. “So,” Francine said. “Your turn. Looks like you were able to warm up the bride’s cold feet?”
Holly couldn’t speak. She couldn’t bear to admit the truth, but she couldn’t hide it, either. That was the trouble with a family business. Everything was personal.
Looking at her now, the woman who had gently rubbed Noxzema across her sunburned nose, who had tucked her in at night and taught her how to dig for clams and catch a wave and ride it in to shore, brought Holly right back to the little girl she used to be. The girl who needed her grandmother when everything went wrong.
“So?” Francine pressed, her expression filling with false hope. “Are we moving into the wedding business, or what?”
She couldn’t hold it in anymore. Holly burst into tears.
Ben
Despite Jonah’s claim that he would be the brains behind the business end of things, Ben knew his brother too well. He’d be getting wet and dirty at some point. Today was one of those days.
It was all hands on deck for harvesting, bagging, and tagging. The old adage of eating oysters only during months with anRin them was dated, thanks to new farming techniques and strict handling regulations, but once they were out of the water the clock was ticking. Quickly Ben and Amy went through each and every one, rinsing and inspecting. Any found with damaged shells or gaping mouths were tossed. Oysters ready for market were bagged and tagged and placed immediately on ice before going out for delivery.
He was standing at a table sorting through a two-foot pile of oysters when his phone rang. Ben glanced at the screen, too busy to answer it.Holly. He slid his gloves off.
“Holls. What’s up?” He felt Jonah’s eyes on him but ignored it.
“I’ve thought about your offer, and I was hoping we could talk.”
“Great! When?” Behind him Amy dumped a bucket of ice loudly into a cooler.
There was a pause. “Sorry, it’s hard to hear you. Sounds like your hands are full.”
“Of bivalves.”
“What?”
“Oysters. My hands are literally full of them. Actually, do you have a minute now?”
“After the weekend I had, I’ve taken the whole day off. My first one all summer.”
“Well, this isn’t exactly day-off kind of stuff, but if you’re feeling game, throw on some old clothes and come by. I’m here all afternoon.”
