Catering to Love (2 page)

“I think you definitely owe it to yourself to check it out. Maybe your idea of having the owner float a loan would work. Maybe you could work there first, with the understanding that you’re interested in buying the place.”

“Yeah… that is a good idea,” Gabi bounced back in response to Cassie’s suggestion.

“And I don’t think we should wait too long to see this place,” Cassie continued. “How about this weekend? Josh is going deep-sea fishing with my dad, so I’m free to hang out
with you. How about we call Jamie and see if she can get away from Carlucci’s?”

“Oh my God, that would be wonderful,” Gabi exclaimed, and rushed off the chair to hug her. “I wonder if we’d be able to get a room at this late date.” Gabi began dancing around the room.

“You’re a nutcase.” Cassie poured water from the pitcher on the table into two glasses and handed one to Gabi as she settled back in her chair.

“Maybe Chase will watch Bailey so Jamie can come!” Cassie said. “But if he can’t, I know Mom would be happy to play nonna for the weekend.” She snickered. “Actually, Mom would like to keep Bailey forever.”

“Yeah, Lucy is in love with that little girl. On the Chase front, hmm, I’m not so sure about him anymore. Jamie hasn’t said much about him lately, but then she’s always so busy. But I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if him doing his sportscasting in Baltimore and her working here in the city hasn’t caused a major strain in their relationship.”

“I’ve sensed that too. But you know how independent Jamie is,” she said, chuckling. “Even now that she has her niece full-time.”

“Either way, my mother will relish the opportunity to smother that cute little munchkin’s face with kisses and spoil her rotten for the weekend.”

“This is really beautiful out here,” Jamie said, driving down River Road along the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. “Look at all this greenery.” She pointed to a cluster of pine trees. “But are you sure you’re going to be able to live out here?”
she asked Gabi. “It’s beautiful and all, but you’re a city girl, and it’s going to be a lot different than living in New York.” Jamie viewed Gabi’s reaction in the rearview mirror, waiting for a response.

“Geez, I hope so. But that all hinges on whether the owner even likes my idea of working for her with the intent of eventually buying the inn.”

“Yeah, that certainly will give you a taste of what it’s like to live on
Green Acres
,” Jamie teased.

Gabi rolled her eyes and looked at Cassie for support.

Cassie widened her eyes. “Hey, I’m staying outta this one.”

“Oh, stop,” Jamie defended. “She knows I’m only teasing. But it
is
kind of desolate out here, City Girl.” Gabi gave Jamie a raspberry. She laughed and slowly pulled over to the side of the road and shoved the gear selector into park. “Okay, you. Now it’s your turn to drive. Besides,” she said, “I think it’s best for you to drive since you’re a little more familiar with the roads around here than I am.”

“Sure.” Gabi checked the clock on the dashboard. “Hey, you guys want to go to Peddler’s Village first, have some lunch there and then shop for a while? Our check-in isn’t until four o’clock, so we have all afternoon to look around,” she said, before exiting the car to exchange seats with Jamie.

“Ooh, how fun,” Cassie said, squeezing her friends’ shoulders. “This feels like old times having the three of us together.” They each gave a satisfied nod of their head. “So Jamie, what’s happening with you and Chase?” Cassie asked.

Jamie gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Things are a bit rocky! He’s not happy about my work hours.” She sighed. “He wants me to quit my job and pack up Bailey and move
in with him, so we can travel wherever he’s sportscasting. When I told him I wasn’t about to do that to suit his needs, he suddenly became ‘unsure of our relationship.’ Hey,” she said, “first and foremost, I have to think of Bailey. Her dad died right after she was born, and then her mother was killed in an automobile accident—I can’t risk taking something else away from her if it doesn’t work out between us. Besides all that, I’ve worked too hard to restore Carlucci’s business to quit now. There’s no way. And right now, things are especially good. Once Mama Carlucci gave up on the squinty, evil eye thing because I wouldn’t marry Vito, her fifty-year-old son, things got better. Maybe it’s because I did bring the business back, and they’re making a lot of money again.”

“You’re her insurance, and maybe she’s afraid you’ll leave and the business will go downhill again,” Cassie said. “Is she still lighting those freakin’ votive candles and placing them at saint what’s-his-name’s feet?” she asked with a laugh.

“No, Saint Raphael, the patron saint of love and marriage, is no longer within her reach. I encased the statue in acrylic and shoved it on the top shelf—one she can’t reach, and she’s too old to get on a ladder. Maybe she figured her son put it away.” Jamie grabbed the Italian horn charm on her necklace. “Or maybe this is what’s stopping her. She still hints about me marrying her Vito, but I pretend I don’t hear, and I’m sure at her age, she’s forgotten what she’s said by the time the words are out of her mouth.”

“Hey, did you ever wonder if Mama Carlucci was praying to the wrong saint?” Gabi quipped.

“I wondered,” Cassie said, “but did you know that squinty eye thing is called
malocchio
in Italian? Just ask my mother. She’s real good at that stuff too. Those two women are like two peas in a pod.” Cassie giggled. “But hey, if Mama Carlucci is anything like Lucy Pirelli, she has her own personal directory of saints and what they represent. These ladies are no slouches when it comes to that stuff.”

Jamie groaned. “I don’t know if she was praying to the wrong saint or not, and I really don’t care if she misdirected her prayers. All I can say is, thank God she did. Vito’s old enough to be my father. I guess they married very young in her day.” She pointed her finger toward her chest. “But not in this chick’s day.”

“What will you do if Chase asks you to marry him?” Gabi inquired.

“He has asked—”

“Whoa! You’ve obviously said no.”

“I did. Quite honestly, I’d rather have a man in my life who wants to support my goals—not one who tries to ruin them. He stormed out after our last heated argument, so I’ve considered our relationship a moot issue.” She tilted her head to the side. “And if you’re wondering why I haven’t said anything to you guys, it’s because I’ve been too busy, and frankly, not bothered by the way things stand between us. It’s time to move on.”

Gabi and Cassie looked at one another and shrugged. Gabi eased the car into a parking space and cut the engine. “Jamie, you’re the only one who can decide that,” she commented. “I agree that at times I was surprised by Chase’s selfishness. But then, he is older than you and apparently knows what he wants.”

“I agree,” Jamie admitted. “What he doesn’t seem to understand is that taking guardianship of Bailey changed my life dramatically. Not that I’m complaining. I love her like she was my daughter, but for me to give up my career too, would only have me resenting him and her down the road. And I know my deceased sister, Missy, would never have made me guardian of her daughter if she thought I was giving up my career because of it. Bailey and I are doing just fine without a man in our lives.”

“That’s for right now, though. Right?” Cassie said.

“Absolutely. It’ll happen some day, and when it does, I’ll know what to do.” Jamie sighed. “Okay, guys, enough of this serious stuff. Let’s shop!”

The trio exited and walked across the road to Peddler’s Village.

“What do you think, guys?” Gabi asked, when the sun started to descend. “Have you had enough yet?”

“One last store before we leave,” Cassie begged.

“Okay, but hurry. It’s getting a lot colder,” Jamie complained. “I’m ready for some downtime. We can come back here tomorrow, can’t we?” she asked, looking at Gabi.

“Sure. And it might even be warmer, although I have my doubts.”

“Okay, Cass,” Gabi said, “we’re heading to the car. Give me your bags, and I’ll heat up the car while you’re taking that last, exhausting walk through the shop.”

“Thank you. I just want to get something for my mother in the potpourri place.”

Hunching their shoulders, Jamie and Gabi held the bags close to their bodies and made a beeline across the road and into the parking lot. Unlocking the doors, Gabi slid behind the wheel and started the engine. An immediate surge of cold air blew out from the vents. She closed them to stop her teeth from chattering while they waited for the heat to warm up the car.

“Brr, it’s really cold here, Gab.”

“I know it. My fingertips are frozen, and I’m not sure they’ll ever be the same again.”

“It sounds like we’re tapping out a Morse code with our teeth.” Jamie chuckled in between teeth chatters.

“We are. We’re sending a message to Cassie to hurry.” Gabi finished by blowing hot breath down the inside of her coat. “Are you getting hungry?” Jamie nodded. “I figure by the time we get to our room and change, it’ll be time for dinner.”

By the time Cassie returned, the heat was on full force. Cassie opened the door and scooted inside.

“Ooh, it’s so nice and warm in here.”

“Yeah, it is now. You can thank us later for freezing our butts off while you shopped.”

“Thank you for such loyalty,” Cassie mocked.

“Nothing but the best for you, Cass,” Gabi said. She backed the car out of the space and eased onto the road. “I can’t wait for you guys to see this place.” Driving down the road, Gabi glanced at Cassie in the rearview mirror and noticed she was asleep. “Well, how do you like that? We froze our butts off, Jamie, and she’s sleeping.” Jamie reached back and poked Cassie until she opened her eyes.

“Sorry, guys. The car was so warm, it felt like I was snuggled up in a blanket, and I dozed.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry. We’re here now,” Gabi said, slowing down in front of the inn. “Ta-da! May I present the Inn at Carters’ Mill.”

“Oh, wow,” Cassie said. “Will you look at this place?”

The front of the inn was positioned close to the edge of the road, with only a narrow driveway on the side.

“Holy schmoly, this is some place.” Cassie’s eyes widened. “I wonder what the heck they do for parking when the restaurant is busy.”

“There’s an overflow area across the street.” Gabi pointed it out as she pulled into the small space. “I think this was most likely used during the inn’s heyday to accommodate the horse-drawn buggies chauffeuring the patrons.” Gabi cut the engine and stared at the front of the inn, excited to be back. English ivy extended over the facade of the fieldstone building, leaving only a few bare spots where the vines hadn’t encroached.

The trio walked toward the front door while inhaling the smell of burning wood that filled the crisp, chilly air.

Jamie shivered and swung her scarf around her neck a second time. “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” she teased. “Geez, it’s not this cold in New York.” They laughed and quickened their step to open the light blue door, accented with a dried flower wreath. A quick turn of the knob and they rushed inside, dancing in place to warm up.

The wide antique floorboards creaked as the trio walked down the long hallway to the reception area. The olive green fleur-de-lis wallpaper and thick distressed beams gave a cozy feeling. An elderly woman stood behind a mahogany
desk, the gold embossing on its leather top faded from use. No doubt the reception desk, it was positioned next to the stairway that led up to the guest rooms.

“Are you checking in?” she asked.

“Yes,” Gabi said. “The name is Johnson.”

“Welcome to our humble abode. I’m the owner, Nell Carter. We’re happy to have you here.”

“And we’re happy to be here.” Gabi handed her a credit card and filled out the registration card.

“Were you thinking about having dinner with us tonight?”

“Absolutely. We have no plans to go back outside, certainly not when it’s toasty warm and smells so good in here.”

“Did you have a nice day?”

“We did,” Gabi piped up. “We went over to Peddler’s Village and spent more money than we’d intended!”

The woman nodded. “Isn’t that always the way?” She gestured to a young man with sandy-colored hair. “Brian, will you help our guests with their luggage?” He nodded. “I have them in the Sunflower Suite.”

Gabi shivered. “It’s so cold here.”

“Yes, it does get pretty cold up here. No tall buildings to block the wind like you gals have in New York. That’s where you said you were from when you made the reservation, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but I’m sure you picked up on my New York accent, too.”

“Well, I did, but I didn’t want to be rude.” She grinned. “What time did you want to have dinner?”

“I actually think we’re hungry now.” She turned to Cassie and Jamie and gave a questioning nod. “Aren’t we?”
They agreed. “Okay, we’re going to go up to the room and get settled, and we’ll be down in about thirty minutes. Is that okay?”

“That will be fine.”

Mounting the stairs, they followed the young man. He unlocked their door and showed them the room, which had two double beds and a pullout sofa bed. After he left, Jamie was the first to kick off her shoes. She flopped down on one of the beds, seemingly testing it out while the others admired the Victorian decor. A tall mahogany dresser stood in one corner of the room, with a small television sitting on top, and the beds had brass headboards with what appeared to be handmade quilts folded at the foot of each. The small bathroom at the other end offered minimal accommodations and style.

“This suite is exactly what I expected after seeing the decor downstairs. I feel like I’m in the olden days,” said Jamie. She picked up a tabletop book of things to do around the area. “I’m sure this place is great during the summer months, but what is there to do during the winter?” Jamie leafed through the booklet, only stopping to listen to Gabi.

“Plenty. There’s antiquing, wine tours, galleries, a symphony hall, and of course the historical Washington Crossing. Did you know it’s the site of General Washington’s 1776 surprise Christmas crossing of the Delaware during the American Revolutionary War? They even have a re-enactment of the occasion with local actors every year. People come from all over.”