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.
George laughed. “Sam, we aren’t kicking you out. You can go on vacation anytime you want. Bigger decision is where do you want to go?” he said.
“Aw hell! I don’t know. Where would you go?” asked Sam.
“I don’t know, but we got you a bunch of brochures while we were out,” said Angie.
“You were damn sure I’d go for this cockamamie idea,” said Sam.
“No, but we figured if you wouldn’t let us buy into the B&B, that we could at least get you to go for a vacation,” admitted Angie.
“Alright. Let’s go get some papers signed,” said Sam.
Two hours later, Angie and George were partners in the business with Sam. Sam had tickets to Fiji and New Zealand for a three week vacation and a rush order in on a passport. While George went to the lumber yard to order supplies for the construction work, Angie and Sam headed back to the B&B to make a list of what Sam would need for the trip. Sam wasn’t due to leave for three weeks, but Angie knew they’d be heading to the city to get Sam something other than cowboy boots, jeans and flannel shirts.
*
Ginny sat the salad and bread down on the table and helped Meg find a seat. The picnic area had twenty tables with lots of people milling around. Luc brought Meg a glass of iced tea and then started bringing people over to introduce them to Meg. The smell of steaks, hot dogs and sausages floated in the breeze.
Another very pregnant woman came over and sat down next to Meg. “Hi, I’m Gina, my mate is Dave over there cooking at the barbecue,” she said.
“I’m Meg, Luc’s mate,” said Meg.
“When are you due?” Gina asked.
“Not soon enough. I’m having twins,” Meg said.
“I’m due next week. I’m so tired,” Gina said.
“Me too. Is this your first?” Meg asked.
“Nope. Third. Or, I should say second pregnancy, third child. I did the twins thing first time around. They’re over with the rest of the kids,” Gina said pointing to a large play area with probably sixty kids and fifteen adults watching them.
“Oh god. Did you deliver early or on time?” Meg asked.
“Late. Three days, but it felt like three months,” said Gina. “What I’m really looking forward to is shifting.”
“Oh… that’s right. You shouldn’t when you’re pregnant. I’m not a shifter,” said Meg.
“I know. I can smell the difference, but it doesn’t matter to me. I’m just hoping that they cook enough food before they all shift and go for a run. It’s been so hectic that even those of us not involved in that court case have been wary,” said Gina.
“And we’ve been at the center of it,” said Meg quietly.
“Oh Meg! I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” said Gina quickly.
“No, but … does this sound dumb, I miss Luc’s wolfish side. I miss the furry warmth and even the sex,” said Meg thinking that she sounded really dumb. Sex should be sex, but sex with Luc shifted was different.
“That’s what my girlfriend says. She’s married to a shifter but is like you. I like sex, but furry or not, it seems the same to me,” said Gina.
They chatted for a few more minutes when Luc came up with a plate of food for both ladies. “Here you go,” he said with a smile and walked away.