Page 32 of Merry Mended Hearts

Junie’s back was arched behind the tablet serving as the register, and she shuffled through whatever was stored beneath the counter.

I wasn’t sure whether to interrupt her or wait until she sat up and realized I was here listening to her rant.

Interrupt. Definitely.

“Junie?”

Inching forward, Junie knocked her head on the underside of the desk and whipped her head up, rubbing the top of her scalp. Her blue eyes popped open in surprise.

“Grace! Hey. Sorry. I’m not usually this disorganized.”

“Are you looking for something?”

“Yeah. I can’t find my itinerary for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I had everything planned out to a T, from the last shipment the kitchens will be receiving to the product replacements for Tiffany in the spa, to the backup driver for the sleigh ride up the mountain. I’m feeling a little spastic, that’s all.”

After a quick though, she held out her hands as if to stop traffic. “But don’t worry! This will in no way reflect the quality of your stay.”

She added a little wince.

I chuckled. “I wasn’t worried in the slightest. You’ve been more than generous since I arrived. I only got here yesterday, and Harper’s Inn is already one of my favorite places.”

Relief swam across Junie’s face. “Oh, good. I’m so glad. It’s my favorite place in the whole world.”

I couldn’t help smiling around this woman. Junie was complete vitamin D. She’d risked the wrath of her cousin to help me out when I’d been stranded, and I found myself wanting to return the favor somehow.

My spa plans could wait. For a little while, at least.

“Can I help you with anything?”

Junie waved me off, making the little poms on her pink cat sweater dance. “Pfft. No, you’re a guest. Go be a guest. Do guestly things. Have you turned in your wish list for your stay here yet? There’s one in every room. See our activities, visit the spa, schedule a sleigh ride?—”

“I’m serious,” I said, ignoring the nagging thought that I didn’t have time for diversions.

I had a book to write, and only a short window in which to write it.

Still, I felt bad for Junie and couldn’t ignore this desire to help. I had five full days left here. That was plenty of time for writing.

Seeing the inner workings of an inn might also get my writing juices going the way meeting Boone had.

“I remember you said you were short-staffed,” I told her. “I was going to take a little break anyway. What can I do to help you?”

Junie’s shoulders wilted in relief. “Oh, you’re an angel. I need to get this shipment taken out to the guys in the barn. You’ll have to grab a coat—the only temperature his time of year is ten thousand degrees below frostbite.”

I laughed. “Sure, let me run up to my room and grab it. I’ll be right back down.”

“With any luck, I’ll have found my itinerary by the time you get back,” Junie said, ducking back down to search beneath the desk.

Moving swiftly, I dashed up to my room, snatched my coat, swapped out my slippers for the knee-high boots that zipped over my skinny jeans, and scurried back down. Motivation fueled me. For some reason, I felt more thrilled helping Junie than I would have had lazing out at the spa.

As relaxing as that would have been, I was glad to help the chipper receptionist.

“Got it!” Junie cried, lifting a paper into the air and waving it the instant I reappeared at the base of the stairs.

I beamed at her. “Excellent. I knew you would. You know, keeping that kind of thing on a digital planner might make things easier for you.”

Junie rolled her eyes with flare. “You’re so right, but I’m the least technological person there is. Blame it all on my back-country upbringing.”

She winked.

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