Page 43 of Through the Dark Night
“I guess that’s the other thing I learned, especially with Carol, and Katie too. I can’t control everything. I can only control me. And I know that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
Seventeen
For the next several weeks, Shannon threw herself into planning for the inn, eventually landing on a soft opening scheduled for the beginning of November. The project was a welcome distraction from her internal turmoil, and it allowed her to focus on the future rather than dwelling on the past.
She had several planning sessions with Marina, where they worked on menu planning, room layouts, and service procedures. Marina was amazing as she suggested seasonal menus and presentation items that could put them on northern Michigan’s culinary map.
Shannon had to admit that she had put a wall up between Lance and her, but they still worked together, and they did discuss several times how amazing Marina was and how blessed Shannon was to have her there. There had to be something in her past that gave a clue as to why she was so amazing, but Shannon did not try to probe, and Lance supported that decision. He was naturally included in all the planning, even going with her to different discussions that she had with the community members.
Lauren from the bakery offered to provide breakfast pastries every day, even volunteering to deliver them. She gave them a huge discount inreturn for having a sign that directed guests to her business on Main Street for more information and for orders, along with her website and contact info. Shannon was more than happy to agree to that. She loved being able to support the local businesses. That was part of her dream when she wanted to open the inn to begin with.
Becky and Rodney were going to advertise their horse and carriage tours and have special tours just for guests, along with a special rate and discount. They also would be advertised in the lobby, as well as each room.
Hobart and his wife were offering fishing excursions on a limited basis. The idea of having a chartered fishing business was something that both of them had been tossing around for a while, and after their meeting with Shannon, they had decided to open that business.
It seemed like the whole town was investing in Shannon’s success. With her advertising and everyone else’s advertising bringing people into their businesses and having them stay at the inn, it was a win-win situation for everyone.
Grace Gillette, who had been friends with Yolanda, had been helping her with an online presence and the booking systems that she needed. Shannon had had a wonderful conversation with Grace about how she and Trevor had built their woodworking business from nothing, and after speaking with Grace, Shannon’s entrepreneurial dreams had soared. It felt like anything was possible. And then came the day she had been waiting for.
She was working with Lance upstairs in the rooms they had rewired just weeks before. Almost everything else was done. There were still a few odds and ends that needed to be finished, but things were coming together beautifully.
She and Lance had developed a rapport between them. It wasn’t exactly romantic, but it was a little more than friendship. He had respected what she had said about needing time and not being sure of what she was doing, and he had backed off and given her the space that she needed in order to come to grips with herself.
She didn’t know whether she was any closer to that happening or not, but she appreciated him not withdrawing his presence andfriendship from her. It was something that she’d leaned on during these difficult days—difficult but exciting days—as she threw herself into the inn project.
“One more room completely ready with drywall and ready for the last coat of paint. Then we can put the appliances in and you’re going to have another floor that’s ready for guests.”
She was just about ready to open her mouth and say that she didn’t have any guests booked, when her phone dinged.
It was an odd sound, one she hadn’t heard before, and she tried to remember why it sounded familiar. And then as she brought the phone up to look at it, she knew.
“Someone booked!” she said, jumping up and swiping quickly on her phone.
“It’s a couple! They booked the whole weekend, both Friday and Saturday nights!” She gasped, putting her hand over her mouth and looking at Lance, who looked almost as excited as she felt.
“It started! We did it! Our first guests!” She jumped up and down, putting her arms up and then grabbing Lance and swinging around.
He put his arms around her and lifted her up, smiling up into her beaming face. “That’s awesome. I am so thrilled for you. What date?”
“Opening weekend!” she said, glancing at her phone again. “I can’t believe it!” In her excitement, she barely realized that he was holding her tight against him, her feet off the floor, their bodies pressed together.
Then, as he stopped spinning her and slowly allowed her to slide back down to the floor, her hands just naturally came to rest on his shoulders, and the smile that had been on her face froze as she stared into his eyes.
“This is a dream come true,” she said as she looked up at him.
He nodded. “It sure is. And you’re beautiful when you see your dreams come true.”
She wasn’t sure whether he lowered his head or whether she stood up on tiptoe, but whatever it was, they started moving toward each other until a sound in the hall made her jerk back.
“Did I hear that we have our first guests?” Dominic said before he appeared in theroom.
She’d already jerked back, and if he noticed the awkward feeling between Lance and her, he didn’t let on. He was followed into the room by several other workers whom she’d gotten to know by name over the time that they’d spent at the inn, and pretty soon, everyone was high-fiving everyone else, and the moment between Lance and her was just a memory.
A sweet, beautiful, warm memory that she would cherish forever. Even if they hadn’t kissed, it was a celebration between the two of them. He had supported her every step of the way, and she had leaned on him, and they had gotten the news together. It couldn’t have panned out more beautifully if she had planned it.
There was excitement in the air the rest of the afternoon, and several people from town were so thrilled they stopped in. The whole town was buzzing about their first booking, and Marina even made a cake in celebration, so they had refreshments to offer their guests as well as excitement.
By the time everyone left, and it was just Lance and her standing on the freshly built and beautifully restored front porch, it felt perfectly natural for them to hold hands as they watched the sunset.
