“Please. You’re the coolest mom I know. That little man adores you.”
“Most of the time. But enough about me. We were talking about you and the parents.” Mari leaned on the railing.
“It makes sense for me to be here too if I’m going to be anywhere.” She didn’t need to talk herself into it but saying the words out loud made it seem all the more real.
“Of course it does. Family sticks together.” With a flourish of her cloth, Mari moved down the stairs and into the small lounge off the foyer. “Did you tell Dad that I lent you the money and the shop ‘close’ to the hotel is actually part of my building? I think he’s going to be a little bit suspicious when he finds out I’m your landlord.”
April followed her in. “No. I didn’t think it was my place to tell him that part of it. If you want to tell him about your business affairs, that’s up to you. He asked where the money came from though and then got sidetracked onto something else thankfully. I didn’t really want to tell him. Not yet anyway. And since the whole deal is going through an agent, do we have to tell him or anyone about the finer details of it?”
“I guess not. I haven’t actually gone around shouting out that the building is mine yet and, to be honest, I’m not sure I want to. Rake bought it under a company name and we use Tommy Clements to look after things, so it’s not like everyone will know I’ve done you a favor by leasing it to you. I don’t think anyone else in town knows I own it and I don’t want to suddenly become the wealthy widow that everyone wants to marry for her money. I much prefer for things to go along as they are now.”
“Of course you don’t. I doubt your accountant would like the idea of you giving away profit to family when you have your own future to deal with either. And I’m not saying anything to Dad until I can show him I’m on a winner here.” Not until she had some sales figures she could throw at them to prove she was doing the right thing. “Are you sure you didn’t mind lending me the start up cash? That was life insurance money for you and Noah, to set you guys up for the future.”
“True but it’s not like we don’t have enough. We do. I’ve put what I need for the renovations aside, and start-up money in case I have bad month, and don’t forget I sold my business, too, for a tidy sum. But honestly, I want to see you succeed. You’ve hovered around success for long enough. Time to make the commitment that will give you the push you need to stay in one place long enough to prove to everyone you aren’t as flighty as they think.”
“So long as you’re sure. I’d never forgive myself if you needed it and I couldn’t give it back in a hurry.” She perched on the arm of an old leather button chair and watched her sister polish the furniture. Mari certainly had some beautiful pieces in the hotel. Warm and inviting rooms along with enough antiques to sink a ship to make the inner geek in April swoon. From what she’d seen upstairs, things were only going to get better. “Are you sure you don’t mind me raiding your attic as well? Seems to me that I’m the one getting the better end of this deal.”
“Nope, not at all. There’s so much junk up there it’s ridiculous. The poor inspector couldn’t even get in there to do the building inspection when Rake bought the place. I’ll never use it all but, in payment, once you get settled, you can do some decorating here for me if you like. I have more than enough to do running this place, plus with trying to sort out the designs for my upcoming renovations, I’m run off my feet. The builder wants me to settle on the plans so he can finalize the quote.” She stood up, flicked her hair back from her face. “I love your style, April. I doubt you’ll have any problems settling into town and making a niche market for yourself. You can even leave a little card with your name on it with the displays you make for me if it will help.”
“Sure thing. And I really do appreciate you lending me the money for the lease on the shop, Mari. I promise you won’t regret it.” She never could have done it without her big sister stepping in and making the offer. And April wouldn’t have considered taking money from her until Mari had made it clear that her husband had left her well provided for when he died.
“I know you won’t, honey. I have faith in you.” She rubbed at a spot on the side table to move the dull patch, bringing it back to a high shine.
“Which is more than Dad has.” Unfair but she couldn’t hold back the words.
Mari stood up, hands on hips. “Come on, April. You can’t really blame him. How many jobs have you had in the last five years?”
“Don’t you start in on me.” She huffed out a sigh. “I know it’s my own fault. All the classes I did that really amounted to nothing.”
“Is any education a waste?” Mari buffed the rest of the old side table.
“I suppose not, but college was more fun than I thought it’d be so I’m not sure learned a lot there. Too many parties and not enough days in the week. I’m surprised I passed all my exams.”
“I’m not. You have a great head on your shoulders and even I could see the way your style became more centered and focused. An arts degree
