Page 64 of Sandbar Storm
Siena wanted her mom to stay in this little town, but if her mom was healthy? Siena had decided she would stay no matter what her mom decided.
“Well, I can’t stay at a hotel the rest of my life.”
“True, but well, let’s just agree that we’re going to figure something out here.”
“Agree, now get to work. The Siena Blackwood home décor empire isn’t going to take over the world unless you’re there, giving world domination orders.”
“But does that mean you’re staying?” Siena confirmed. “We’re staying?!”
“That’s what I said, now get out of here, future CEO.”
Her mom thought she could be anything from a supermodel to the president of the United States. Cute but annoying. Siena was just trying to keep her store shelves stocked and figure out how to navigate her new romance with Cole.
“Mother,” Siena rolled her eyes at her mom.
“Mother,” Viv imitated Siena’s annoyed tone. It was good. It was how it used to be. No eggshells or fake positivity in sight. Her mom seemed like her old self.
Siena got to work at the shop and unpacked the boxes of new kaftans.
The day was going to be hot. That might mean that they were slow, as most people would be out on the water.
That might be a good thing. Siena had to do some work figuring out how to style the powder room vignette she’d arranged. It currently looked like a child’s bathroom and not a vacation retreat.
Maybe replace the lace-trimmed hand towels? Siena mulled it over and clicked open her laptop.
There were inquiries about hours.Michigan Lake Live Magazinewanted to do a story on the store. All good things.
Siena was excited to find a place here in Irish Hills. She had an idea of turning her living space into a lab, where she tested her ideas. Now that she was on this path, she wondered how it had taken her so long to realize it. It seemed so obvious.
A rattling noise outside interrupted her train of thought.
What was that?
She walked to the front window. Things were still outside.
What had made that noise?She looked up at the sky. The normal, impossible blue that had started her morning had turned yellow.
ChapterTwenty-Four
Viv
Goldie and Viv were in the kitchen. Joe, Goldie’s gorgeous contractor, filled a Yeti with coffee. The kitchen was not gorgeous, Viv realized.
It was a hub of staging activity for the buffet that the Two Lakes put out for breakfast and lunch. Goldie said the kitchen was the last on her reno list since it wasn’t for the guests. It was for serving the guests. Something about its summer camp vibe made Viv happy. It was the last vestige of kitsch left untouched by Goldie. Viv liked hanging in the kitchen.
“What’s on your agenda again?” Goldie asked Joe, who looked at Viv.
“She asked me this last night, and then she promptly got on a phone call.” He pretended to be irritated, but it was clear. He had more patience with Goldie than even her best friends did at times.
“I’m going to head out to Cedar Point Road. Tag’s hiring me for his place, thanks to Viv.”
Joe raised the Yeti to her in a toast.
“There’s so much potential, you’ll see. It’s a mid-mod gem. I have so many plans,” Viv said. She rubbed her hands together as though she was an evil Bond villain.
“And while I’m out there, there’s a lot that Viv wants me to look at,” Joe said.
“What now?” That got Goldie’s full attention.
