Jules took a deep breath and knocked on her Aunt Mary’s front door, ignoring the dread she felt over the news she had to deliver. She loved working with Mary and appreciated everything her aunt had done for her. But if she was going to give a real effort to bring back the motel in Shell Cove, she’d have to quit the hair salon. She just hoped her aunt didn’t see it as a slap in the face after all Mary had done for her.
Carolyn answered the door, her face breaking into a smile when she saw who was there. “Jules! It’s so nice to see you again.”
Jules hugged her, feeling a little relief knowing Carolyn was here. She was happy Mary and her daughter had reconnected, and it looked like Carolyn was taking very good care of her mother. Maybe her news wouldn’t be quite so difficult to deliver with Carolyn here.
Mary came out into the hallway and noticed Jules. She, too, hurried over for a hug. “Hey, look who’s here!”
“How are you doing?” Jules asked, pushing back slightly to assess her aunt. She looked good, with nice rosy cheeks, and it looked like she was getting around well enough too. There had been no hint of painful hesitation in her steps.
“Fantastic!” Mary pulled her inside and sat her at the kitchen table, where the two apparently had been having tea. Carolyn poured Jules a cup, and Mary slid a plate of cookies in front of her. “I got the all clear from my doctor today, so I’m opening the salon on Monday. I’m anxious to get back to work, and I’ll bet you are too.”
Jules felt a big whoosh of anxiety in the pit of her stomach but somehow managed to say what she needed to say. “Actually, that’s one of the reasons I came. I got a letter from Gram’s lawyer, and it appears I’ve inherited a motel.”
Mary’s eyes widened. “A motel?”
“Yes. She owned several, actually. Aunt Mary, I think I’m going to try to make a go of it.”
Quietly, Jules waited for the meaning behind her words to sink in. “I hope you don’t mind. I really don’t want to leave you shorthanded…”
Understanding dawned, and Mary waved away her worries. “Mind? Not at all. You’ve been a great help with the salon, but I’d be mad if you didn’t jump on the chance to take this opportunity.”
Relieved, Jules nodded. “I was worried...”
“Nonsense.” Again, Mary waved away her concern. Then her eyes misted. “I will miss you, though.”
Mary leaped up to hug her, and Jules fought back her own rush of tears, sad to think that soon she wouldn’t be able to see Mary every day. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure at first, but now, I think it’s the right move.”
“Where is it?” Carolyn asked.
Jules leaned to the side to answer her. “Shell Cove.”
“Shell Cove,” Mary repeated. She went back to the table and sat. Reaching for a cookie, she looked up at Jules. “Isn’t that the cute little picturesque town tucked into a curve of the coast up north about three hours from here?”
Jules nodded.
“Yeah, that’s it. The motel looks a little run-down, but it’s in a great location—up on a cliff with its own beach below.” Jules took out the picture the lawyer had sent and handed it to Mary. “Despite the obvious deterioration, the motel has a great retro-seventies look, and I’m a little excited about bringing that back. I’ll be decorating it in 1970s fashion.”
“I remember Shell Cove was really hopping years ago.” Carolyn dunked a cookie in her tea, took a bite, and then pressed her lips together. “Then they built a new main road inland, farther from the coast. The one through Shell Cove is a lot less traveled now.”
Jules hesitated. She hoped “less traveled” didn’t mean Shell Cove had become a ghost town.
Mary must have seen her hesitation because she quickly added, “But everyone loves the coast no matter where the main roads are, and look at that view!”
She handed the picture to Carolyn.
“With its own beach to boast about and a little sprucing up, you’ll have yourself a winner in no time.”
Of course Mary was right, Jules thought. People always flocked to the coast, no matter what. “Thanks, Aunt Mary. Your confidence means a lot to me.”
Mary flushed but then waved the compliment away. “Looks like a big job, though. What about your cousins? What are they going to do?”
Jules straightened at the mention of Gina and Maddie. The lawyer hadn’t said anything about either of them, and honestly, she’d been glad. This was her chance to make up for the failure of her past venture, and she didn’t need them showing up to screw things up like before. “The letter didn’t say anything about them. I’m meeting the lawyer next week, and we’ll see the property.”
“I’m sure you can handle it,” Mary reaffirmed. “I can’t wait to see what you do with the place.”
Of course she could handle it, Jules thought. Without her cousins in the mix, all the decisions would be hers… and this time, she was determined to make it a huge success.