Saturday morning brought a flurry of activity. Hope kept busy from the time she rose until mid-afternoon. The guests in the Blue Room checked out, so she was able to move their things back into it, once she finished cleaning.
Jake’s patience was wearing thin. Hope promised to take him to town to watch the choral competition. The scavenger hunt involved visiting and shopping at the stores on Main Street. She explained they didn’t have extra money to spend while she was saving for the transmission repair.
Dottie did her best to appease him and told him he could get a treat from the bakery while he listened to the choirs sing. “It’s more fun than running around to stores. That’s boring.”
Hope zipped up Jake’s coat and made him put on his hat and gloves. “It’s cold, and we have a long walk.”
Dottie overheard her and said, “Just take my car. You’ll spend all your time walking, and you’ve worked nonstop today.” She explained her keys were hanging on the peg by the door in the mudroom. “Just click the button to open the garage door.”
“Oh, I hate to borrow your car. I don’t want to be responsible for it. We can walk or ride our bikes.”
Dottie waved her hand. “Don’t be silly. It’s just a car. Nothing’s going to happen. Just take it. Park in back of the bakery or at Drew’s veterinary office. There’s parking in the back of it, if it’s too busy on the street.”
Hope did her best to resist, but Dottie persevered and insisted she take the car. After buckling Jake in, she eased the car out of the garage and steered for town. She slipped into a spot behind the bakery.
She and Jake wandered down the street and heard the singing near the tree. Jake tugged on her coat and motioned to the bakery. She opened the door, and they waited in a long line. Grant looked up from the counter and gestured them to the end of the counter. He snagged a tray of cookies from the kitchen and presented it to them.
Jake’s eyes brightened, and he looked at his mother for permission. She nodded her head, and he took two cookies from the tray. She selected one for herself and thanked Grant.
“We’ve been swamped all day long. It’s been a zoo.” He looked back at the line.
“I promised Jake we’d come check out the activities. Your mom let us borrow her car.”
“Makes sense. She can’t use it, somebody might as well drive it. You can drive it down here in the evenings when you’re working.”
She shook her head. “Really, I can ride my bike.”
Jake was in a hurry to get outside, so she didn’t have time to argue the point. In the end, she agreed to consider the use of Dottie’s car. “I just don’t want Drew to get upset. I sense he doesn’t trust me.”
Grant laughed. “He doesn’t trust anyone. Don’t worry about him.” He promised to see her tonight for dinner and hurried to get back to work.
She and Jake found seats on a bench near the choir and helped themselves to free hot chocolates from a young man in an elf costume. They listened to several groups sing holiday tunes and ate their cookies.
As dusk settled in, the lights along the street became vibrant. When Hope gave Jake the eye and tapped her watch, he begged to listen to one more song. She agreed but made him traverse the sidewalk and head back toward the car as they listened to the end of the piece. He had his ballot ready with his favorite groups marked and dropped it in the collection bin before they rounded the corner.
They made it back to Dottie’s and found Drew in the kitchen. It was his night to be in charge of dinner. Dottie was stationed in the dining room, supervising the process of heating leftovers. Hope returned the keys to the peg in the mudroom and thanked her for the use of her car.
“You can use it when you go to work at the bakery. It’s too late at night to be riding your bike into town, not to mention the time it would take.”
Hope saw Drew’s brow furrow. He remained silent. He didn’t have to say anything. His disapproving look spoke for him.
Hope whisked Jake away to get him ready for bed and left Dottie alone with Drew. As she opened the door to the Blue Room, she heard their muffled conversation. She told Jake to get his pajamas out and head for the bathtub. She tiptoed back down the hallway and listened.
She heard Dottie’s loud whisper. “I told you, she’s perfectly trustworthy. She’s leaving her son with me for goodness sake, what do you think she’s going to do, run off in my car?”
In a gruff voice, Drew said, “There’s just something she’s hiding. I don’t want you to be taken advantage of by some stranger. I’m just trying to protect you, Mom.”
Hope stretched and bent as far as she dared, but couldn’t make out any more of the conversation. She scuttled back to the room and helped Jake. Grant joined them for an early dinner that was every bit as delicious as the original Thanksgiving meal they shared.
Jake was already in his pajamas at the dinner table, and the frown on his face advertised his displeasure. “As soon as we’re done with dinner, I’m going to get my pajamas on,” said Dottie. “We can sit by the fire, and you can read to me and Scout. Then we’ll have some popcorn.”
Jake’s frown disappeared, and he gave Dottie a sweet smile. Hope started to clear the dishes when Grant said, “You leave all this to us. Go ahead and get a start at the bakery.”
Hope gave Jake a kiss goodbye and promised to be home soon. She parked behind the bakery and used her key to access the back door. She went about her duties and listened to the singing still going on outside. She used the checklist Grant had left to make sure she had completed everything before shutting out the lights for the night.
She admired the soft glow of colored lights reflecting off the bakery window as she left for the evening. She arrived back at Dottie’s and found Jake snuggled in their bed, fast asleep. Grant had left, but Drew was still there visiting with Dottie.
She poked her head into the family room and wished them both a good night before heading to bed.
Sunday, Hope was up early getting things organized for breakfast when Grant arrived with the morning delivery. He put the box on the counter and said, “I’m usually closed on Sundays, but during the festival, we’re so busy it pays to stay open.”
They chatted while she finished the meal and put a casserole in the oven. “We don’t have any guests booked in for tomorrow or the next day, so I’ll have some extra time.”
“Come on down early, and you can help with some of the prep for baking. I can use all the help I can get, so feel free to come whenever it works.” He finished his coffee and headed back to work.
The guests were checking out today and were up early to eat and hit the road. As soon as they left, Hope looked in on Dottie and found Jake visiting with her in the family room. “Are you two ready for breakfast?”
Jake gave her an enthusiastic nod and hopped off the couch. Dottie smiled and said, “Drew is on his way.”
Hope stiffened her spine and made her way to the kitchen. She set the table and heard the scuffle of dogs and knew Drew had arrived. Having eaten with the guests, Hope excused herself to get started on their rooms while Dottie and Drew ate and watched over Jake.
By the time she was done with the rooms, Jake was outside with Drew and the dogs. She paused and took in the scene from the window. Drew’s relaxed smile and Jake’s constant laughter trumpeted their genuine happiness. The dogs ran circles around the two humans as they raced to fetch balls.
The sternness and doubt Drew displayed with Hope vanished when he was with Jake. She continued to watch as the man and boy bonded through their shared love of play and dogs.
The weekdays were calm and relaxed at the guest house. She and Jake spent time each day walking Scout and exploring the lake. With Dottie’s guidance, they baked cookies and brownies to restock the freezer.
Without many guests during the week, Hope was able to go to the bakery early and put in a few more hours. Friday morning dawned and with it came the realization of a busy weekend.
Hope got up early to organize the day, as four couples would be arriving to stay the weekend. She stoked the fire on her way to the kitchen. When she turned and looked out the window, she did a double take. The light from the porch illuminated gentle flakes of snow falling from the sky.
She smiled knowing how excited Jake would be to see the snow. Tomorrow was the torchlight parade on the ski mountain and Hope had promised Jake they would go. She went about her prep work, and when the household woke, she heard Jake thunder down the hall.
“It’s snowing. It’s snowing. I wanna go out and play. Can I, Mommy?”
Hope made sure he ate breakfast and helped him put on his hat and gloves before she released him to the outdoors. Scout followed, and the two of them romped in the snow for much of the day.
Once Hope had all the guests checked in Friday, she joined the others for dinner. Grant had made a hearty meatloaf with all the trimmings. The chatter around the table involved snow and the upcoming parade on the mountain.
As she listened to the excited voice of her son, Hope’s eyes began to close. She was jostled from her drowsy state with Drew’s voice. “Hope, are you okay?”
She focused her eyes and said, “I, uh, don’t feel so great.” She put her hand to her throat. “My throat really hurts.”
Drew stood and placed a hand on Hope’s forehead. “You’re pretty warm.” He felt her neck and added, “Swollen glands.”
Dottie flashed a look of concern. “Let’s get her to bed. She needs to rest.”
Drew helped Hope to her room. Grant followed with a tray of tea, juice, and water. “You get some sleep, and we’ll check on you later,” said Drew.
Dottie and Jake finished their dinner, and while they were chatting, Dottie suggested he have a camp out in her wing of the house. “You can build a blanket fort and sleep with Scout tonight.”
Jake fidgeted in his chair. His enthusiasm for the idea evident in his exaggerated nods and smiles. When Drew and Grant returned from getting Hope settled, she asked them to fetch extra sheets and blankets and show Jake how to construct a fort in her living room.
The brothers sported wide grins as they led Jake down the hallway. Over the next couple of hours, they worked and made a huge blanket fort, decorated with multi-colored twinkle lights. They found an old sleeping bag and stacked tons of pillows inside so Jake and Scout would be comfortable and warm.
Once they had Jake nestled inside and Dottie tucked into bed, Drew gave Grant a clap on the back. “I’ll stay tonight, just to make sure things are okay. I don’t have to work tomorrow.”
Grant yawned and said, “That would be great. I need to get in as early as possible. We’ll have a busy weekend.”
Drew’s two dogs were asleep in front of the fire. He cleaned up the dinner dishes and checked on Hope. He found her sleeping, still hot to the touch.
He grabbed a blanket and made for the recliner, turning on the television and lowering the volume for some company as he drifted to sleep.
Drew’s beeping cell phone woke him early Saturday morning. He cracked open his eye and saw his two dogs still sleeping. The television was still on, as was the Christmas tree. He lowered the footrest and crept into the mudroom for a quick shower. He checked his mom’s notes and saw the breakfast recipe for the day.
He went about gathering ingredients, and once he started his prep work, Dickens and Fletch found their way to the kitchen, noses in the air. He fed the dogs and went back to beating eggs. Grant arrived with fresh pastries.
“Wanna cup of coffee?” asked Drew.
“Nah, I’ve got to get back. I’ve got too much to do. How’s Hope this morning?”
Drew shrugged as he took a sip from his cup. “Haven’t checked.” He gestured to the casserole dish. “I need to get this baking, and then I’ll see how she is doing.”
Grant waved goodbye as he hurried to the van. Drew popped the dish in the oven and tiptoed down the hallway to the Blue Room. He tapped on the door before opening it.
Hope was still asleep. He saw the glasses of water and juice were still full, as was the cup of tea. He shook his head and tapped her shoulder. “Hope, I need you to wake up and drink something.”
Her eyes fluttered, and she squinted at the soft light from the lamp. She croaked and held her hand to her throat. “Your throat is worse?” he asked.
She nodded, and he handed her a glass of water. “Try to drink this. She took a sip and her brow furrowed as she swallowed.
“I think you need to see a doctor,” said Drew.
She shook her head several times and mouthed a negative response. Drew pursed his lips. “I’ll make you some hot tea, and then we’ll see how you’re doing.”
She rested back against the pillows, her face flush.
He returned a few minutes later with a steaming cup and a bottle of over the counter pain relievers. He poured two of them in her hand and told her to drink the whole glass of water.
She complied and winced when she forced the capsules down. She mouthed something and made a motion like skiing. Drew nodded and said, “We’ll make sure Jake goes to the parade, don’t worry.”
She gave him a weak smile and closed her eyes.
As soon as the commotion of breakfast was over and the guests were on their way to the festival downtown, Dottie shuffled into Hope’s room. “Hope, dear, are you any better?”
Hope gave her a shrug and grabbed a pen and paper from the bedside table. She jotted a note and turned the paper to Dottie. I’m so sorry.
Dottie patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, my dear. We’ll be fine. Drew can handle the weekend chores around here. You just rest and get better.” She paused and added, “How about some food? I’ve got some chicken soup in the freezer.”
Hope smiled and gestured with her fingers, indicating a tiny amount. Dottie and her walker clicked across the floor. “I’ll be back soon.” Hope nodded and sighed as she rested against the mound of pillows behind her.
Hope’s eyes went wide when she saw an unfamiliar man come through her door, followed by Drew. “Hope, this is Dr. Mills. He’s a friend of the family, and I called him to see if he could prescribe something. He offered to stop by and check on you.”
Fear flashed across Hope’s face. She shook her head. She hurried to write on her pad of paper. No insurance. I can’t afford a house call.
Dr. Mills shook his head. “Not to worry. I owe Drew much more than this. He’s been to our house dozens of times for animal emergencies. Just relax. No charge for today.”
Hope tried to clear her throat and flinched with pain. Dr. Mills opened his bag and turned to Drew. “We’ll be fine.”
The doctor checked Hope’s throat and did a thorough exam. He finished listening to her lungs and said, “As Drew suspected. I’m pretty sure you have strep throat. You also have a sinus infection. Your lungs are clear, so that’s a good thing. I’ll give you a course of antibiotics. You’ll need to take it easy for a few days and drink lots of liquids. We can recheck you in about ten days and make sure you’re well.”
He asked her questions about her history, allergies, and other antibiotics she had taken and she used the notepad to answer. He jotted down notes and rummaged in his bag.
Tears leaked out of Hope’s eyes. She tried to croak out her thanks but relented to the use of the notepad. Thank you, Dr. Mills. When can I get back to work here helping Dottie?
“You’ll need at least three days on the antibiotics before you’ll be able to work. If you’re not feeling better by then, I need to know.”
She nodded and mimed her gratitude again. He wrote her name on a bottle of pills and doled out one of them for her to take, handing her the glass of water. “If you don’t rest and heal, you’ll relapse, and it could be worse. Just take it easy, watch movies or something, okay?”
Hope lips turned upwards and she nodded as he bundled his things and waved goodbye. He found Drew and Dottie in the living room with the dogs and Jake. “She’s going to be fine. I’ve started her on antibiotics and told her she needs to rest for at least three days.”
Dottie smiled at Jake. “Your mommy just needs to stay in bed, and she’ll be better in no time. No need to worry.”
The doctor smiled at the boy. “Not at all. Just make sure you all wash your hands thoroughly. We don’t need anyone else getting sick.” The doctor gave them a wave as he left through the front door.
“Thanks again for the house call,” said Drew, following him out to the porch. He brought in some logs from the stack outside and fed the fire.
Breakfast had been served, and the guests had dispersed while Dr. Mills had been in with Hope. Drew fixed a tray of soup and beverages and disappeared down the hall to deliver it to his patient.
He coerced Hope into sitting up and resting against the large stack of pillows so he could position the tray over her lap. She took a few sips of the rich broth and smiled. She gestured a thumbs up sign and smiled as she continued to eat.
He nodded and said, “You eat the whole bowl, and I’m going to get the breakfast dishes done. I want to see the juice and tea gone when I return, got it?”
She bobbed her head in a meek nod and continued sipping the broth.
Dottie sat with Jake and the dogs in the living room while he returned the kitchen to order and took a look at his mother’s note for the breakfast plan for tomorrow. He drank another cup of coffee as he flipped through the book to get a feel for the workload in the coming days. Everyone was leaving on Monday, and they would have until Friday to get things ready again.
He tiptoed down the hallway and peeked through the doorway of the Blue Room. He saw the tray at the foot of the bed. The empty bowl, glass, and cup made him smile. Hope was fast asleep, her dark, tousled hair splayed across the pillow. He collected the tray and shut her door without making a sound.