Darlin’, I can’t believe it’s only been two weeks since you’ve come back. I feel like I’ve known you for years.”
Casey smiled a genuine smile. “I feel the same way.” Since she had returned to the bed and breakfast, she and Fiona had become close friends. In the evenings, after dinner when the other guests had gone to bed, they would sit in the parlor. Fiona would knit while Casey went over the designs for the renovations asking Fiona’s opinion on colors and patterns for the furnishings, as well as paint schemes for each room. Fiona took on the role of surrogate mother and Casey basked in feeling a mother’s love once again.
The dreams of Glendara made the exterior color clear as Casey handed a stack of paint samples in various shades of blue …show more content…
Ms. Emily, a woman in her sixties who had lived in Madison her entire life worked forty hours a week. She was often crotchety but had a good heart. Her duties included cleaning the guest rooms and cooking meals. In exchange, she received a fair wage and free room and board. The second was a young woman working her way through college. She worked a few days a week and when the bed and breakfast had special events.
Casey finished putting the paint chips and design sketches back in the folder kept for the renovation ideas. Fiona had become an important part of Casey’s life and knew how much Fiona missed her children. “Do you think your kids will ever come here to live?”
“I’m optimistic. I hope one day they will get tired of the cold weather and shoveling snow every winter like I did.” Fiona’s son was an engineer, and her daughter was a veterinarian. As they had established careers, they decided to stay in Ohio instead of moving south with their mother. “I do miss them. Every time they come to visit I make sure to point out all the benefits of living here. I send pictures of available houses every so often hoping they will see one that grabs their attention.” Fiona’s laughter was infectious, and Casey icy heart melted further.
Fiona turned serious, “Is your husband still planning to spend the …show more content…
She wasn’t ready to date or to have a steady boyfriend. Men demanded too much time and attention. She didn’t have the desire or the energy to pursue a relationship. That was until Ray Culpepper walked into the pub that night.
“My guess is he showed up there as well.”
“Yes, he did.”
“Was it, love at first sight?” Fiona asked.
Casey never believed in such things until that night. Ray was ten years older, but that didn’t matter to her. He was intelligent, successful, handsome, kind, and amusing. Ray Culpepper didn’t lack much from her perspective. “I don’t know if I’d call it that. He does have this way of making you feel like you’re the only one in the room. I think it’s his eyes. When he talks, he looks at you and no one else.” She remembered the first time she heard his voice, hypnotic, sonorous and caressing like a slow country ballad. Just thinking of it caused a shiver to run up her spine.
Fiona gave a hefty sigh, “How romantic. He is romantic, right?”
“I would have to say yes,” as she recalled the time when Ray had gone out of town on business. The day after he left, she had unrolled the toilet paper in the bathroom to find “I love you” written in red ink. Yes, she would have to say he was romantic.
“How long did you date before he