The discovery of the missing Nancy Drew book had created something of a turning point between Addie and Sadie. It seemed to have solidified a sort of truce between them, one that surprisingly held beyond the time it took to drive back to Tall Pines. They had even asked to be seated next to each other at mealtime, when Emily and Andie were trying to get them peacefully settled in, which they’d managed just in time for the elder ladies to have supper.
Now, Andie stood with Emily in the foyer, both of them staring in awe at the newly discovered staircase.
As soon as they’d returned from Tall Pines, Andie had gone up it, despite the cracks and creaks of the boards with every step she took, not to mention her slight feeling of claustrophobia. The thing was so narrow she’d had to turn sideways to climb it!
At the top, she’d pushed open a rough wood door and discovered a tiny room in the attic, just big enough to hold a few adults, or maybe a single family.
There were cobwebs everywhere, but no windows and no other doors. A single chair, with one leg broken so badly it listed sideways, held up more by the dust-covered webs than anything, had been tucked into a corner.
“I never suspected there could be something behind the chimney because the wall is so thick there to accommodate the brick work,” Emily admitted, apparently still amazed by their discovery. Or rather, Addie’s surprise disclosure.
“I think it’s pretty darn clever,” Andie told her. “Imagine how many people must have hidden in there. Brothers could have been there. Fathers and sons. Sisters, and mothers, and their babies. All quiet. All still. All desperately afraid for their lives while eagerly anticipating freedom...”
Andie felt the swell of emotion in her throat. Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked them back before Emily could see them.
Emily nodded. “It’s very humbling.”
Clearing her throat to rid it of the same emotion still tightening her own, Andie guessed, Emily changed the subject. “I’ve been doing some research since our talk the other day. I’ve discovered Underground Railroad inns are actually quite an attraction. There are already several of them out there. The Ashley Manor in Barnstable, Massachusetts. 1830 Hallauer House in Ohio.”
“Really?” Andie didn’t recognize the names, but she was excited to hear Emily’s research proved what she’d suspected from the beginning—this sort of themed place to visit and sleep was something people really wanted. Emily was going to do so well!
“That there are more like yours out there, already operating and making a profit, is great because it means we have proof of concept, Em. And you know what else?” She grinned and pointed at the stairway. “We now have our hook!”
“Yeah.” Emily returned her smile, then pressed her lips together as she glanced up into the stairs, her brow creased. “I’m just a bit worried, though. Do you think it could be dangerous for people to go up there? The stairs are pretty old and rickety. I don’t want to get sued.”
“You could put handrails on the stairs,” Sally suggested as she walked into the foyer and holstered her hammer.
“Or rope it off with a velvet rope and leave it open so your guests could just peek in,” Shane offered.
Finished with their work for the day, Sally had walked in to join the ladies in peering up the staircase. Shane had stopped behind Andie and was standing very close now, so close she could feel his breath as it rushed through her hair.
Warmth flooded through her, and gooseflesh rose up on her arms. In an effort to distract herself from his nearness and keep Sally and Emily from realizing how it had affected her, Andie crossed her arms one over the other and rubbed away the bumps. She also took one step to the side, toward the opening in the paneled wall, to put a bit of distance between them.
“Good idea. And we could put a plaque or something here,” she said, gesturing to the paneling, “to tell your guests all about the history of the house and what the stairs were used for.”
More hopeful now that they were certain there was a demand for this type of lodging, she told Emily, “I think this is going to work out very well.”
“Ayuh,” Sally said. “And we’re almost done with the first unit. Just waiting on the cabinets and countertops to be delivered. Plumber is coming tomorrow.”
“Wow.” Emily peeked into the unit. “So I guess that means I can start taking reservations? Any idea when they will both be done so I know what dates to set aside?”
“Should be done in three weeks with both,” Shane told her.
“And then we’ll need to set them up,” Andie said. “Get the furniture in. Decorate. Take pictures to put online.”
“Don’t forget, there’s one other really big step you have to take care of before you can rent anything. Maybe you need to wait for that,” Sally advised.
Emily looked confused. “What?”
“We’ve been renovating a house that’s more than a century old to bring it up to code, remember? Which means it has to—”
“Pass inspection,” Andie finished for her. She sighed.
“Ugh...” Emily muttered, sounding suddenly deflated. “I forgot about that. I hope the inspector’s not Damien Carruthers.”
At the mention of Damien, Andie’s enthusiasm waned.
“Don’t you girls worry about him,” Sally urged, her tone filled with encouragement and a hint of mischief. Her lips curved in a secretive half smile, she winked at Andie. “Mary down at Curlz is going to make sure he doesn’t mess things up for you.”