“And us mere mortals will just sit around?” asked Meg.
“Meg, you’ll get to meet most of the wives and kids as well as some you already know. I think that there are five or six pregnant, so you’ll feel right at home. Don’t worry about it,” said Ginny knowing that Meg was nervous. It was the first really big celebration she’d been at since meeting Luc.
“I’ve been trying not to worry. Will Angie and George be there?” Meg asked.
“No. They have their hands full up at the B&B, and to be honest, I don’t know if they will come home,” said Ginny.
“You think they’ll stay?” asked Meg.
“Yeah, I do. George has never been comfortable in the city. And you tell me, have you ever seen or heard Angie happier?” asked Ginny.
“No. Even with the house sold and money in the bank, they haven’t moved.,” said Meg.
Ginny nodded and finished up the salad they’d been making. She put the lid on the big plastic bowl and then stuck it in the fridge. Ginny quickly wiped down the counters and got them both a glass of iced tea. They had almost finished when Luc bounced into the kitchen. He was dressed in old jeans, flip flops and a worn teeshirt.
“You ladies ready to go?” he asked.
“No, but lets do it anyway,” said Meg.
They packed up the car and headed for Jeff’s.
*
Angie and George stood back and looked at the small landscape they had created. Two maple trees, shrubs, bark mulch, flowers and a couple of rocks. Last of all, a small plaque. It read:
This garden is in honor of Brian Davy and Buster.
Sam’s Best Friends
“I think it’s time we let her come out and look before she explodes,” said Angie.
“I agree. Plus we all need to talk,” said George.
Angie nodded and George went off to get Sam. He came back a moment later and Sam took a good look at the garden she had only seen from the window. It was full of local flowers and shrubs. The two trees which would flame red in the autumn were the only foreigners. Then she saw the plaque and the tears began to run down her face.
“Oh you two,” she said.
Angie wrapped her arms around the older woman and held her while they both cried. George stood behind the two of them with an arm around each. After a moment, Sam looked up at George.
“Thank you George. Thank you for everything,” she said. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re welcome,” said George.
“And I take it you two will be off back to the city in the morning?” said Sam.
“Well, that’s up to you,” said Angie.
“What in the hell kinda answer is that?” asked Sam sounding more like herself.
“When we went to the city the other day, we had a good look around. Did some shopping and a lot of thinking. We decided that we really didn’t want to be city dwellers anymore. So, Will you let us partner with you on the B&B?” asked George.
Sam looked up at George and blinked. It was the last thing she had expected to hear out of those two. “Um…” she stuttered. She sat down on one of the benches in the garden.
“Why George, I think you rendered her speechless,” said Angie. “Sam, I’ve got $150, 000 in the bank from the sale of my house. We are willing to invest $75, 000 in the B&B. We’d like to help run it just as we have been doing and most of all, we want to give you a vacation. You need a break too.”
Sam blinked again. “Angie, I don’t know what to say,” she finally said.
“It’s simple. Yes, you want two crazy people as partners, or no, you don’t,” said George.
Sam thought for a moment, started to speak, and stopped. She looked from Angie to George and back to Angie. “You mean this don’t you,” she said.
“Yes, we do Sam. I bet you haven’t left this place other than to shop in twenty years,” said Angie.
“Thirty-seven to be exact. Are you sure? Are you damned sure you want to do this?” asked Sam.
George knelt down next to Sam. “Yes. We’ve been talking about it and checked with our banker and lawyer too, before you ask. We’ve looked at your books while we were doing up the monthly bills. You own everything free and clear, there are no hidden debts, and you actually make a profit. It is a good investment for us and we like it up here,” said George.
“If, just if I took you on as partners, what kind of changes would you make?” asked Sam.
“To be honest, add an elevator to the top floor. Mainly for ease of cleaning, but also for the occasional guest. I’d strengthen the floor in the back bedroom and add a better bed. Other than that, maybe build a small cabin at the back of the property,” said Angie.
“And who’d that be for?” asked Sam even though she knew it would be for them.
“For you Sam. So you could have a bit of privacy,” said Angie.
Sam’s jaw dropped. “You’d wha?”
“We’d build you your own cabin so that you could have some privacy while we could live in that back bedroom and keep an eye on the daily business. You’d have your choice of whether to work or not and if you didn’t want to, you could sit and read your westerns to your hearts content. Or, you could invite that dear gentleman who keeps showing up at dinnertime for dinner,” said George with a smile.
“I… I um. Well um,” said Sam totally flustered. She hadn’t thought of having her own place. She’d thought they’d want one. “Are you damn sure you want to do this?” she asked again.
“Yes!” said Angie and George together.
“Fine. It’s a deal,” said Sam and held out her hand. “And how soon are you two kicking me out?” asked Sam.