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“We’re going to buy the cookies from the bakery down the street.” Dough Re Mi hadn’t been in existence when he’d lived here before, but he’d stopped by to try a few of their baked goods on the way home from the meeting at the church and knew they were exceptional.

“Tara’s going to love that,” she said.

“I hope so, because in exchange for our business, I’m going to ask her to put out a free postcard that will have a cool picture of the only retro motel in town—”

“Ours…”

“Yes. And on the back, the postcard will have a trivia game about the history of this town that people can bring to us here at the office to be entered to win a free night’s stay.”

She blinked several times. “How many free stays will we be giving away?”

“Maybe one a week. Does it really matter? We’re not using all the rooms. Might as well fill this place up, treat our guests right and get some word of mouth going. Our only cost will be Claudia’s time to clean the rooms, and until we start making more money you and I can even take turns doing that.”

“You’re going to help clean?”

“If it’s necessary to be successful.”

“It’s a new and clever approach,” she allowed. “I’m willing to give it a try.”

“Great. I’m glad you’re on board. But I’m not done yet.”

Her eyebrows slid up. “What else do you have planned?”

“I’d like to create a similar partnership with the coffee shop. We don’t have the space or facilities to offer breakfast the way some motels do, but I think we should offer our guests a free latte—one that’s exceptional—along with a big, delicious muffin.”

She shoved her tangled hair out of her face. “Wait…we’re going to pay Demin for coffee and muffins to give away? That will cost even more money.”

“We’ll get a special price because we’ll be ordering so many, and we’ll only do it if Demin will support us in return.”

“By handing out those postcards.”

“Yes. If the other businesses are directing traffic our way, and we’re directing traffic theirs, we can all win.”

“Like what Patience is trying to do with the festival.”

He lifted his hands. “Modern day marketing at its finest.”

She still seemed hesitant. “But…you said yourself we don’t have room for breakfast. Where will we serve coffee and muffins?”

He gestured around them. “I’d like to expand the office. We have room to do it.”

Her eyes widened. “Won’t that be expensive?”

“It won’t be cheap, but I’ve got some money tucked away.”

“Money you’d be willing to spend on the motor inn?” she blurted out. “Why?”

“Because it’s an investment.”

“But—” she bit her lip, looking worried “—I can’t pay my half.”

“I know,” he said.

“And you’re still going to do it?”

“Your mother didn’t have to give me part of this place, but she did. That couldn’t have been good news to you, and yet you’ve been very kind about it all. I’ll do what I can to put a new shine on things and hope that’ll get us moving in a more positive direction. If we do all we can, the rest is up to luck.”

“That’s really nice,” she said. “But this town is named Hard Luck for a reason.”