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“An old Bob Dylan song,” I answered. “It was a song my mom liked. I used to sing to her when she wasn’t feeling well.”
“She isn’t with you anymore?”
“She died a few years back. I haven’t sang to anyone else in a long time.” I smiled but I’m sure it came across sad. My mother’s death is still, and will likely always be, a sore subject for me.
“You don’t have to talk about it, sorry if I’m being nosey.”
“Nah, it’s okay. I don’t mind. I like talking about her, honestly. I have a lot of good memories and I like to remember her when she was at her best.”
We chatted about some of my favorite memories for a while, and by the time Luis and Bennet walked back in, everyone was all smiles.
Before I knew it, it was time for us to head out and get prepared for tomorrow’s big plan.
I hope she’s not feeling too badly about us leaving. I don’t love leaving her, but I do have some things to get ready. I’m weirdly giddy about having her, and all the guys, at the B&B. It’s really a beautiful place that deserves to be enjoyed. I’ve always wanted to do something meaningful with it, something to honor my mother’s memory. This feels right.
My life has been a little aimless since I returned to Barnaby Falls. I haven’t actually been back to the B&B yet, despite having been back in town for over a week now. I’m a little anxious about going to the property today, but getting it ready for this particular adventure is helping overshadow my feelings about being there.
Micah pulls me out of my thoughts. “You alright?”
I’m sitting between Micah and Lukas in the back of the town car that Bennet hired to take us back to our vehicles.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just ready to get moving. I’m all jazzed up.” I tend to cover my anxiety or restlessness with humor. A byproduct of my childhood, I suppose.
“So, you’re just… all in?” I feel bad that Lukas is struggling so hard with his own indecision.
This is not something I feel anxious or worried about, so I answer truthfully. “Yeah, man… I mean, this feels - right. I can’t explain it... plus, you have to admit it’s kinda exciting.” I flash Lukas a huge grin, laughing out loud at his expression.
“We don’t know where she came from or who she is. She doesn’t even have a name. We keep calling her ‘her’ or ‘she’. When the adrenaline wears off, you could be saddled with all this responsibility and an awkward connection to a complete stranger.”
We all let him rant, it’s obvious he needs to talk this out. His anxiety is palpable. I bet he hates change and wears days-of-the-week underwear. The thought makes me grin.
“I’m more concerned about Bennet than I am the girl.” Luis shifts to talk to us from the front seat. “He seems a little tightly wound. Like if we don’t all follow his instructions to a T he’ll blow.”
“You gotta admit he’s pulled together a pretty solid plan though,” points out Micah.
Luis gives a begrudging shrug. What exactly is his beef with Bennet?
I’m not sure how to reassure Lukas. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, and if the plan does work, I don’t know what to expect afterwards. All I know is it feels like I’m in the right place. I trust my gut.”
Lukas isn’t looking at me to respond, instead he’s locking eyes with Micah. The tension in the back seat is thick, if you know what I mean. Sitting between them is a little awkward and it’s starting to get warm. I lean forward slightly to adjust a vent, cutting my eyes to Luis, who lifts an eyebrow knowingly. There is definitely something going down between those two, and I’m not sure if I should be worried or turned on. Right now, I’m feeling a little of both.
The car pulls into the square and the driver, who has been unsettlingly silent this entire time, asks if we’re all stopping here or if anyone needs a ride anywhere else. We all thank him for the ride and assure him we’re good with being dropped here. Luis is already gone, headed down the sidewalk, but I give the other guys a quick handshake before I head to my truck.
“See you tomorrow,” I say to Micah. “You too, maybe?” I give Lukas a wink and walk off through the middle of the park.
I reach my old grey Bronco, cranking on the engine and heading off. A few miles down the road, I swing into the parking lot of an old, cheap motel to grab my stuff and check out for good. Walking out with my duffel and old guitar case, I turn to give the old, sad building a little salute as I toss my things into the back and drive away. The B&B is only another 15 minutes out of town, so I don’t have too much time to overthink.
My first thought as I pull off the road and onto the long tree lined drive, is that I really missed this place. I’ve been all over the country and plenty of places overseas, but I have yet to see a place as beautiful. The gravel driveway is lined with huge, magnificent live oak trees that reach over the road in a tunnel, the dappled light making it feel like you’re driving into some kind of fairy tale. The drive opens up into a great lawn, un-mowed and absolutely blooming with colorful wildflowers. One side of the lawn extends into the distance where you can see the popular lakefront beach. Behind the huge building, and circling around the right side of the lawn is thick, lush forest. The driveway curves up to the front of the estate and circles back around to the entrance. There is a small parking area to the side of the building, which is where I pull in next to an unfamiliar work van.
The side door flies open and Mrs. Coolson comes out. A huge grin spreads across my face and I jump out quickly to meet her with a big hug. Her excitement is infectious, and I know it isn’t all because of me. She is overjoyed to have the B&B up and running again.
“Thanks for helping my friends and me with this little adventure. I hope you weren’t too bothered by the paperwork and such, I know my friend Bennet can be a bit much.”
“Are you kidding me? To have this place open, and with guests? To have you back here again? The paycheck isn’t anything to scoff at either, I’d do this for a whole lot less and you know it.” She is absolutely beaming, and if anything else, this whole experience is worth it to see her so happy.
“I’m glad he’s able to make it more than worth your time. I’m a little worried he’ll be high maintenance.”
“Oh, psshhh. There’s nothing he can throw at me that I can’t handle. And honestly, he’s sent so much help that I’ve barely had to do anything!”
