Page 11 of Easton Island: Old-Fashioned Christmas
“I have.” Tina rattled off the dishes. “It’s not fancy food, more of comfort food. Locke Pointe B&B is all about comfort.”
“Which is what David and Harlow are expecting. If they wanted Michelin-level food or fine dining, they would have booked a stay somewhere else. Harlow doesn’t strike me assnooty, and of course, David…Mr. Wynn is about as down-to-earth as they come. We’ll treat them like we do any other guest.”
“Okay,” Tina said in a small voice. “You’re right. I guess I just freaked out for a second.”
Ronni appeared in the doorway. “David is in the living room, waiting for you and Harlow.”
“I’ll go keep him company. C’mon, Chester.” Morgan, with her pup by her side, breezed down the hall. She reached the formal living room and found her guest standing in front of the Christmas tree.
Chester sprinted across the room and pawed at David’s pant leg.
“There’s your little pup.” He reached down to fluff his ears. “What’s his name again?”
“Chester.”
“Hello, fella.” Wynn slowly stood. “You’ve dressed Locke Pointe up for the holidays. Harlow is right. This place is charming, classy, the whole shebang.”
“Thanks. I hadn’t done much until Greg, your driver, who is also my handyman, found boxes of decorations belonging to my grandparents. We put them up only hours ago.”
“Harlow and I have started decorating,” David said. “It’s the first Christmas in a long time I’m actually looking forward to the holidays.”
“Same for me.”
Wynn’s expression sobered. “I bet last year was tough on you.”
“Very,” Morgan said. “It was exciting finding my grandmother and brother but sad because it was my first Christmas without my mom.”
“I would like to tell you it gets easier, but from my experience, it merely becomes more bearable.” He thumped his chest. “The pain never goes away. The memories live on.”
“And cherishing those who are still here with us.” Morgan lowered her voice. “Your daughter is beautiful. She strikes me as a woman who knows what she wants and can hold her own.”
“Thank you.” David’s eyes shone with pride. “Harlow takes after both me and her mother as far as holding her own.”
“You must be very proud of her.”
“I am.”
Morgan glimpsed movement out of the corner of her eye. Harlow glided into the room. “And I am proud of my dad. He’s a great person, and I’m blessed to have him as a father.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” Morgan said. “I never knew my father. My mother left Easton Island when I was young and never returned.”
“I’m sorry.” Harlow offered her a small smile. “I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”
“You didn’t. This house. Looking Glass Cottage, the home I inherited from Mom. The memories are all around me.” Morgan motioned to the tree. “Even the ornaments, along with almost every stick of furniture you see, are reminders of my parents and grandparents.”
Chester ran over to greet her.
Harlow knelt on the floor and patted his head. “What an adorable pup,” she cooed.
“Chester. He’s my rescue pup. My best friend Quinn and I found him on Chester Court, which is how he got his name.”
“I bet he and Mort would like each other,” she said. “I can’t wait for the tour. I’m sure you already know Dad has decided to rebuild our inn on a smaller scale, similar to what you have here.”
“It works for me.” Morgan gave them a brief rundown of what she’d experienced since welcoming visitors to her bed-and-breakfast. “I’m sure you know the drill, the ins and outs of hosting guests, but on a much larger scale.”
“Which is why I’ve decided to downsize,” David said. “The goal is to make it a little more manageable, but large enough for me to pay you and your brother back on your investment.”
“It sounds like an excellent plan.” Morgan led the way through the rest of the living room, pointing out various works of art, including her mother’s painting of Locke Pointe. She started to move on when Harlow stopped her. “Is this the painting?”
