The Perfect Hope Part 53

She laid it down again to go and begin the process of reordering her inn after the long weekend.

As she hauled bags of linens into the laundry room to store till pickup, Avery poked her head in.

"Take a break."

"I used to know what that meant. What are you doing in town?"

"Dragging you away. Come look at the new place. You haven't been in for more than a week."

"I wanted to, but-"

"I know. Now everybody's gone. Take a break."

"We have to turn all the rooms-and I have to order more supplies. We have a couple checking in later."

"That's later. Come on. Clare's coming. She just had to check something at the bookstore. You can take twenty minutes."

"You're right. And I could use it. Just let me tell Carolee."

"I already did." Avery grabbed her hand. "Come let me show off."

"I saw the sign. It's great. Charming and cute and fun."

"We're going to be full of charming and fun, and really good food." She pulled Hope along by the hand. "Owen says mid-August, and I'm so excited about that-but the way it's going, maybe sooner. I mean they'd be finished sooner and I'd have longer to set up and perfect."

"You'd have had sixteen people Sat.u.r.day night, I can tell you that. I'm plugging you big-time."

"Appreciated." As they crossed the street, Avery dug out her keys. "Prepare to be wowed."

"Prepared."

Avery threw open the door.

The old dark tile was gone. Hardwood replaced it, deep and rich and protected by tarps and cardboard sheets, but Hope saw enough to be wowed. Stamped copper gleamed from the ceiling, and the walls were smooth, primed and waiting for paint.

"Avery, it's going to be even better than I imagined."

"You ain't seen nothing yet. They tiled the bathrooms."

She kept dragging Hope, here, there-to see the tile, the fresh walls in the kitchen, through the now framed opening to the bar side.

"Oh, they've restored the siding. It's fabulous!"

"Isn't it?" Avery ran her fingers over the smooth wood. "This was the best surprise, and see my brick wall-it's just right. They're going to paint, and put in the lights, the bathroom fixtures, the kitchen ... then the bar goes in. I may cry when the bar goes in."

"I'll bring tissues. Oh, here's Clare. And look at the raised platform; the kids helped build it. I may cry now. Honey," she said when she got a good look at Clare, "are you okay? You're a little green."

"It's July," Clare reminded her, and took slow little sips from her water bottle. "And it's twins."

"There's a step stool in the kitchen. Stay right there."

"I'm fine," Clare began, but Avery was on the dash. "But I could sit."

"You shouldn't be out in this heat."

"I'm not going to be for long. But pregnant or not, I have to live. Beckett's dealing with the boys, the dogs, and the super-duper sprinkler."

"You hit the jackpot there."

"And I know it." She didn't argue when Avery came back with the stool, but sank onto it. "Thanks. It really looks good in here, Avery. Everything's coming together just the way you imagined it."

"Even better. There's a fan back there. I'm going to get it."

"Avery, stop. I'm fine. It's a lot cooler in here than it is out there. I just got a little queasy. It's pa.s.sed."

"I'm walking you to your car when you go, and if you're not a hundred percent, I'm driving you home."

"Deal. Now relax. There's a lot of summer yet to get through. And don't say anything to Beckett. I mean it." Clare added a pointed finger. "He hasn't been through this before. I have. I'd know if anything was off with myself or the twins. It's just normal pregnant in high summer."

"Times two," Hope added.

"Boy, tell me. I'm getting huge and I've got months yet. They're kicking," she announced, pressing a hand to one side, then the other. "I swear I think they're wrestling around already."

"I have to feel," Avery and Hope said together.

"Wow. b.u.mp, b.u.mp, b.u.mp," Hope said.

"It's great, isn't it? So lively. It's worth going a little green. So, mid-August for your first baby," she said to Avery.

"That's the word, currently. I'm going to throw the best friends and family night, probably closer to September when I have it all perfect. Just wait."

"Ryder sent me flowers."

Avery blinked. "Sorry?"

"No, I'm sorry." Surprised at herself, Hope tapped her temple. "Where did that come from? It's working on my head."

"Is there a problem with getting flowers from a man you're involved with?" Clare wondered.

"No. I love getting flowers. It was sweet. He's not usually sweet."

"He is, under it," Avery corrected.

"It was an apology, for the most part. Poking in about my work schedule."

"Ah. Men will do this when it interferes with their s.e.x."

"No." She shook her head at Avery, laughed a little. "It wasn't that, because it's really not. I guess I'm still making up for lost time, because I'm just fine for that even after a brutal day. Anyway, he sent me flowers. We didn't even have an argument, not really."