Page 9 of Tinsel & Tools
“Potential doesn’t pay for repairs,” I muttered as I climbed out of the car.
Before she could argue, the front door swung open, and a woman stepped onto the weathered porch. She had to be in her late sixties or early seventies and looked friendly, but tired. I instantly felt bad that she’d been left to take care of things on her own.
“You must be Gavin.” She smiled.
I smiled back. “Yes, ma’am, and this is my friend Allie.”
“I’m Jane Ross,” she introduced herself, and I took her hand gently. “You have perfect timing. I just pulled supper out of the oven. Thought you might be hungry after your long drive today.”
“That’s very kind of you,” I replied. “I know I could eat.”
“Me too,” Allie added.
“Well, let’s get you fed, then I can show you around a bit.”
We followed her into the house. The front room had been turned into a check-in area with a desk that was warped and faded. Past that, the dining room held a big table and enough chairs to accommodate a large gathering, as well as a long sideboard topped with chafing dishes. Everything was tidy and clean, but the wallpaper was dated, the carpet was thin and stained, and the ceiling lights covered everything in an unflattering yellow glow.
We continued into the kitchen, and whatever she had made for dinner filled the air with the scent of onion and thyme that had my mouth watering.
“Have a seat.” She gestured to the small kitchen table. “Hope you like chicken pot pie.”
“Judging by the way it smells, I already do,” I answered.
She chuckled. “What a charmer.”
I grinned. “Just speaking the truth.”
She served us each a plate with an individual pie, a green salad, and homemade cranberry sauce.
“This is absolutely delicious,” Allie moaned after she took her first bite.
Mrs. Ross beamed. “Thank you. I love to cook. When Harold offered me a job to cook and clean that also came with a place to stay, it was such a blessing.”
“Were you new to the area?” I asked, wondering why she needed a place to stay.
She shook her head. “Oh no. I’ve lived in Brookhaven all my life, but I lost my husband two years ago. The medical bills were more than we could ever hope to pay, and after Thomas passed, I had to sell our house to get out of debt. Your grandfather had been friendly with Thomas, and he knew we didn’t have any children, so he offered me a place when I needed it the most.”
I lowered my fork. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know just how difficult it can be to lose your family.”
She gave me a sad smile. “Yes, Norman mentioned your parents had passed, and that’s why this place was going to you. I’m sorry you had to endure that as well.”
“Thank you.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin and addressed an issue that had been bothering me since we pulled up. “I couldn’t help but notice the empty parking lot. Are there no guests tonight?”
She shook her head. “Summers aren’t so bad when tourists come to the lake. But as soon as the weather cools a bit, it gets awfully quiet around these parts.”
“Surely, people are in town visiting family for Thanksgiving?” I pressed.
“They are, but the locals don’t recommend this place anymore, seeing how outdated and rundown it is.”
The more we talked, the more worried I became that I’d inherited a money pit rather than an income-generating vacation spot.
We finished eating, and since it was dark outside, we decided to wait until morning to check out the property. Instead, I got our bags out of the car, and then Mrs. Ross led us to the staircase.
“Harold’s room was there.” She pointed to a closed door at the end of the hall on the first floor. “Some of his personal belongings are still inside since I didn’t know what you wanted to do with them.”
“Okay.” I hadn’t even thought about what he’d left behind besides what Mr. Glynn had mentioned, and I wasn’t sure I was interested in going through his stuff.
Upstairs, we came to a stop next to two doors open on either side of the hall. “I apologize if these rooms aren’t up to your standards. Harold knew the place needed to be updated, but he was hesitant to spend money beyond emergency repairs. I’ve tried to keep up on the cleaning, but a lot of projects require more than this old woman is capable of to get this place back to how it was when people actually wanted to stay here.”
