Alice stopped by the cemetery after she finished her shift on Good Friday. She had considered inviting her sisters to join her but knew they were busy getting the inn ready to open the following day. She felt a tiny wave of guilt as she walked toward the family plot-perhaps she should be home helping them. Yet it seemed important to do this right now. Good Friday had always been one of Father’s favorite days. He had loved commemorating the significance of what Jesus had given on the cross-a gift of mercy and love and grace.
Alice set the bouquet of lilies, tulips and daffodils between the graves of her two parents and stepped back. “I realize that you’re both in heaven now,” she said in a quiet voice. “But somehow I feel I can think and even speak more clearly out here.” She leaned her head back and looked at the clear blue sky. “I hope that you both like what we’ve done with the family home. I think that you’ve both had a hand in it.”
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her uniform and sighed. “I mean, when I consider the amazing way that things have been working out for us … well, it just seems that someone must be putting in a good word for us up there. Anyway, I just want to thank you both for being such great parents and for giving me such wonderful sisters. I’ll bet you’ve been smiling up there, Father, to see your three girls finally working together like this. I think it’s what you were hoping for before you left us down here to carry on.” Then Alice bowed her head and thanked God for His perfect plan, for His impeccable timing and, of course, for His truly amazing grace. Satisfied, she climbed back into her car and drove home to Grace Chapel Inn.
The three sisters worked together all evening in preparation for the official inn-opening ceremonies scheduled for the following morning. Aunt Ethel stopped by and gave Louise a hand in frosting the dozens of hot cross buns that Jane had been baking for most of the day. Meanwhile, Jane was busily designing beautiful floral arrangements, one for every room. Craig Tracy had given her a generous discount on blooms with the expectation that she would pay him back in kind when her garden began to produce in abundance. Already many of the bulbs were blooming and the pruned rosebushes showed promise, and the grounds around the house looked almost as attractive as when Mother was alive. In time, Alice expected they would look even better. And that was okay.
“What do you think of this one?” asked Jane as she held up a lovely crystal vase filled with purple lilacs, baby’s breath, white roses and fresh sprigs of ivy.
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” said Louise as she paused from her frosting chore.
“I thought it should go in the parlor,” said Jane. “Perhaps on your piano, Louise?” She held up a lace doily with a grin.
“On a doily, Jane?” asked Louise with an expression of mock horror. “You would actually allow a lace doily in Grace Chapel Inn?”
Jane nodded. “Yes, I think it would go well in the parlor.”
Alice giggled as she polished Mother’s old silver coffee set. “Times, they are a-changing, Louise.”
Jane laughed. “We’ve come a long way, baby.”
“What do you mean?” asked Aunt Ethel, unsure of the context of the joke.
“Just that change is good,” said Jane.
Aunt Ethel’s chins jiggled as she nodded vigorously. “I couldn’t agree more. When I think of all the wonderful changes that have come around this old house during the past year … well, it just makes me so proud of you three girls.”
Alice smiled to remember how resistant Aunt Ethel had been to their plans only six months ago. But like the weather she too had changed.
“It’s so thoughtful of you girls to invite the whole town to your grand opening tomorrow,” she continued, in happy oblivion to the glances that Jane and Alice were exchanging just now.
“It’s the least we can do to say thank you,” said Louise as she carefully applied another confectionary cross to a currant bun.
“Yes,” said Jane as she began artfully to arrange some yellow rosebuds and blue hyacinths together in a smaller vase. Alice was guessing that this cheerful little bouquet might be for the Sunrise Room. “We wouldn’t be having a grand opening without the town’s generous help.”
“And it was so nice of you to invite Lloyd to give a little speech,” said Aunt Ethel.
Alice chuckled. “Can you imagine having an event like this without a few words from our beloved mayor?”
“Well, no. That wouldn’t be very kind, now would it?”
“When is Cynthia coming?” asked Alice.
“She said she’ll be here in time for the ceremony tomorrow,” said Louise. “I told her that she’s staying in the Sunrise Room.”
“Did she mind?” asked Alice. “I know how she loved the Sunset Room, but it was already booked.”
“Not all,” said Louise. “She said she needed some cheering up.”
“Why’s that?” asked Aunt Ethel. “Something wrong with our girl?”
“I’m afraid it has to do with her love life,” said Louise. “Naturally, she wouldn’t tell me a thing. Although I’m hoping that Jane might get her to talk.”
“I think the Sunrise Room is just what Cynthia needs,” said Jane as she held up the finished bouquet. “This is going to go on the dresser up there.”
“You’re making this into such a lovely place,” said Aunt Ethel. “What if people never want to go home?”
Louise laughed. “Well, then I guess we’ll never have to worry about booking rooms, will we?”
“Not that it’s been much of a problem,” said Jane. “We’re starting to get requests for next fall already.”
“Amazing.” Aunt Ethel shook her head. “You girls may have really stumbled onto something with this inn business.”