Page 45 of Happy Harbor
“Okay.” If Josie was supposed to be impressed, it wasn’t happening.
Primmy looked at her for a long moment, obviously expecting a reaction. “Surely your grandmother has mentioned me over the years?”
“I don’t think so.”
“I won the Happy Harbor gardening award three years straight, and I win the Fourth of July bake-off every year.”
“Congrats. Listen, I’m tired, so I really need to go inside,” Josie said, trying to get past her. The woman had hips the size of a military warship, and there was no getting by her without a fight. Plus, she was wearing an enormous hat with a big yellow flower on the side that would surely put Josie’s eye out if she tried to go around it.
“Dear, I’m also the head of the Happy Harbor Historical Society.”
Frustrated, Josie sighed and looked at her. “Ma’am, did you come here to give me your list of accomplishments, or is there a point to all of this?”
Primmy pursed her lips so tight it looked like she’d sucked on a lemon. “Your manners aren’t like your grandmother’s. She was always so welcoming.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not.”
Now they were in what appeared to be a staring contest. The only problem was it seemed Primmy won everything, and Josie wanted to go to sleep, so she blinked first.
“What can I help you with, Primmy?”
“Tours begin again in two weeks.”
“Tours?”
Primmy sighed. “Surely, Joe Strand explained that part of getting this home after Adeline passed was that you would work closely with the local historical society?”
“He mentioned something.”
“It’s on the historical registry. It’s very important to this community.”
“Yes, I saw the plaque. Look, can you get to the point? I’m really trying hard not to be rude, but I need to wash this day off of me.”
Primmy scrunched her nose as if Josie had passed gas or something. “Part of our agreement with Adeline has been to allow tours twice a year. Our next tours start in two weeks. Here’s a packet of information for you to review. You’ll need to be here to open the home at eight each morning for that week.”
“Wait. What? An entire week of people tromping through my home? And I can’t be here every morning. I have to work. You know, at the restaurant my grandmother also left me?”
“You have two weeks to figure it out,” Primmy said sternly. The woman wasn’t budging.
“Fine. Whatever.” Josie snatched the packet from her hand. “But we’re not doing this again.”
“Dear, you must continue the tours. This is a historic home. There are rules. Do you want your grandmother’s work to be in vain?”
Josie pointed toward Primmy’s car. “Just go. Please. I’ll talk to her attorney about our options. I will not have my home open to the public for the next six months of my life.”
Primmy snickered and stepped aside. “Well, from what I’ve heard, you won’t be here long, anyway.”
Josie thought about saying something back, but for once she held her tongue. Prolonging this conversation just meant she couldn’t get to that nice hot bath.
* * *
Josie had spent the last two days interviewing potential servers and finally found one she liked enough to hire. Her name was Mona, and she’d been working as a server for most of her adult life, which sounded horrible to Josie. Mona had recently moved to Happy Harbor to take care of her great-aunt.
As Josie stood in front of her staff, she geared herself up for a fight. She had called them all together for what her nana would’ve referred to as a “come to Jesus” session.
“I appreciate everyone coming in this early, even those of you who usually work afternoons and weekends.” Nobody said a word. “Okay, then. I wanted to let you know about some changes we’re making at the restaurant.”
“Changes?” Bear said, as if he didn’t understand the word.
