She didn’t answer. Peter brushed past her and headed up the stairs. “Good night, Liza. Tomorrow is a big day. You ought to get some sleep yourself.”
Liza didn’t answer. Tomorrow would be a big day. A sad day, she expected. She wished it would never come.
Chapter Fourteen
LIZA woke up slowly, a few minutes before her alarm clock sounded. She felt as if something had woken her, but as she opened her eyes, all she could see was early morning light sifting through the sheer curtains. The blue ceramic flower pot on the windowsill was just as she left it yesterday. The windows were open a little, and a cool ocean breeze filled the room.
She had slept well and felt full of energy, ready to tackle whatever dirty job the day tossed her way.
Then she remembered… The offer from the Hardys… Calling Fran Tulley to accept… Total strangers coming here to demolish the inn.
Was that really happening? As she rose from bed, she felt her heart sink. She dressed quickly, then went downstairs.
Crossing the foyer, she heard Peter’s and Claire’s familiar voices talking in the kitchen. Her brother had probably popped out of bed at the crack of dawn, wondering if it was too early to call Fran Tulley.
Had he told Claire what was happening? Liza felt a little pang in her chest. She had felt bad enough about telling Claire the inn would be sold when she first arrived and hardly knew her. But now… well, they had been through a lot together during the past two weeks, sifting through all of her aunt’s belongings, even being struck by lightning. Telling the housekeeper the place was sold and would be knocked down seemed a very hard task to face. Practically impossible.
Peter was the one pushing for this scenario; let him tell her, Liza thought. She hated giving in to her anger and frustration, but she couldn’t help it. Not when she thought about Claire.
Peter was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the local paper. He looked up with a sheepish smile. “Morning, Liza. Sleep well?”
“Not bad, all things considered.” Liza poured herself a cup of coffee.
Claire stood at the stove, cooking scrambled eggs. She turned to Liza and smiled. “I’m sure you were tired enough. After all the work you did out in the garden. When I looked out the window this morning, I could hardly believe my eyes. I bet the plants will double in size by the end of the week.”
Liza felt embarrassed by her praise. Yes, she had cleaned up the garden. For a bulldozer to plow it under.
Liza took a seat at the table. There was a basket of cranberry scones next to her plate. They looked tempting, but she didn’t feel hungry. Her nerves had stolen her appetite today.
“I think you may have inherited your aunt’s green thumb,” Claire said, as she brought a platter of eggs to the table and placed it between Liza and Peter. “She was quite a force of nature out there.”
“She definitely was,” Liza agreed. Aunt Elizabeth seemed to have an intuitive sense for helping plants thrive. Liza knew she would be lucky to have half that ability. Though I’ ll never know now if I do, will I? she mused.
Peter closed his newspaper with a snap, folded it, and set it down by his plate. “It’s a quarter past eight,” he announced, checking his watch. “Too early to check in with Fran, do you think?”
Liza nodded, forcing herself not to laugh. “I think so. She’s probably still at home with her family. I don’t think she gets in to her office until at least nine, Peter.”
He checked his watch again and sighed. “Guess you’re right. I was thinking of calling her cell, but that might seem a little too eager. We do want to bargain a bit if we can.”
Liza sipped her coffee without answering. She glanced at Claire and got the feeling that Peter hadn’t told her anything.
“We had an offer on the inn,” she told Claire quietly. “From that couple who came a while ago, the Hardys.”
Claire nodded. “I remember them. They were scared off by the lightning but came back Saturday.”
“Yes, that’s them. They made a good offer, and we have to talk to Fran about it,” she explained. She glanced at Peter, thinking, Jump in anytime, brother dear.
He met her glance, then quickly looked away and rose from his chair. “I’d better try to wake up Will. I don’t want him to sleep until noon again.”
Liza watched him go, leaving her holding the bag. Well, at least Peter seemed to have a few pangs of conscience about the situation. That was something.
She looked back at Claire. She didn’t have to tell her that the Hardys were knocking down the inn. That didn’t really pertain to her. Claire would lose her job, one way or the other, Liza reasoned. But Liza knew that Claire deserved to hear all of it. It just seemed right. In some ways, the inn seemed to belong to Claire more than anyone. Or maybe it was just that she seemed so much a part of this place.
Liza sighed and took another sip of coffee. “Well, we have to catch up to Fran and talk over the offer,” she said again.
“Don’t worry about me, Liza. I’ll find other work,” Claire said. She brought a cup of tea to the table and sat down nearby.
Liza looked across the table at her. “I am concerned for you, Claire. But it’s not just that. I don’t really want to sell the inn. I’ve been thinking a lot about it, and I want to stay here and run it.”
“Yes, I thought something like that was going on,” Claire admitted. “But I wasn’t sure.”
Though her arguments with Peter had mostly been private, Liza realized that Claire must have overhead or just sensed some of the friction between them.
“Peter does want to sell, and this is a good offer,” she repeated. “He’s got a lot going on right now. He just wants to settle this situation and get back to Arizona,” she added, trying to defend her brother.
“Understandable,” Claire said calmly. “It is a pity, though, that he won’t give you a chance. I can see it. I can see you taking your aunt’s place here.” Claire smiled over at her. “You are so much like her, Liza. I see it more and more every day.”
Liza was deeply touched. Claire could not have given her a greater compliment.
“Thank you, Claire, for saying that… I wish I were more like my aunt. If I was, maybe I could persuade Peter to let me stay-and keep the Hardys from knocking this place down.”
Claire’s expression fell. “Is that what they plan to do?”
Liza nodded bleakly. She hadn’t meant to tell Claire this way but felt relieved now that the whole truth was out. “They want to build a new house. It’s awful, isn’t it?”
Liza heard the tremble in her voice and felt embarrassed for a moment. Then realized she hadn’t confided her true feelings about this to anyone. It felt good to talk to Claire, the one person who would completely understand.
“It is awful… but it hasn’t happened yet,” Claire pointed out. “I know it looks bleak. But if you’re meant to stay here, God will clear a path, Liza,” she promised. “Trust in Him to show you the way.” She met Liza’s gaze for a long moment, then reached over and patted Liza’s hand.
Liza took Claire’s hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thanks, Claire. I’ll try,” she promised quietly. Before she could say anything more, Peter ran into the kitchen, his face pale.
“Have either of you seen Will? Did he come down here?”
“I haven’t seen him this morning,” Claire said.
“Me either,” Liza added. “He’s not up in his room?”
Peter swallowed hard. “No, he’s not. I knocked and knocked, and he wouldn’t answer. I thought he was just being stubborn. But when I finally walked in, his bed was empty. First I thought he was taking a shower. Or maybe he had gone up to the attic for some reason…” Peter took a breath. “When I went back to his room, I realized that some of his stuff is gone. His down jacket, his pack, his shoes… I looked in all the rooms upstairs. He’s gone somewhere. Without telling anyone.”