I’d better include the budget and the monthly targets we set, and an analysis of expenses and annual patterns.”
Maria was dismayed. “But – it’s Gracie’s birthday tomorrow, and you need to get her a present.”
“I know.” Rob thought for a second. “Maybe I’ll run out tomorrow on my lunch hour and get her something then.”
“No way. Listen, I leave here in an hour, and Frida comes on. I’ll go to the mall in Colorado Springs and buy your niece a present, if you tell me what she wants for her birthday.”
Rob looked at her, gratitude flooding through him. “Would you really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, God. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem. Anything to help.” Maria hesitated. “Why did she do this to you, though? Make you do this on no notice?”
Rob shrugged. “Because she’s the boss. Because she can.”
**
Julie sat across from Mattie, sipping coffee and looking around the restaurant. It was perfect, absolutely perfect. The interior designer in her was very pleased.
She had been so sure that the whole place would be decked out in some kind of awful cowboy theme. She’d braced herself for horseshoes and lassos hanging from the walls, and a menu heavy on the meat and grease. She was convinced that there would be cheap leather everywhere, and the bathrooms would have cutesy signs on the doors, like ‘Rodeo Gals’ and ‘The Little Cowboys Room’. She had been prepared to gag on the twee.
But this – this was stunning. It was, actually, what she’d have done if she’d been given this space to design. The restaurant was flooded with light from the massive windows, and had clean lines through the floor space. There were some smaller, more private tables mixed in with long, wooden booths scrubbed shiny. The décor was rustic but not hokey: it was warm and inviting, and felt fresh and open. It was charming and relaxed, but not to the point of feeling like you were in a canteen – you walked in and felt like the menu would have some class and elegance. It was perfect for a family with small kids, perfect for a group of friends on a girls’ getaway, perfect for a romantic weekend. It hit all the markers, with ease and style and confidence.
Mattie was watching her as she looked around. “So. What do you think, hon?”
“It’s quite lovely.”
“Isn’t it? You should be here for sunrise and sunset.” She nodded at the windows. “Those windows face east, and those west. No matter what time of day you’re in here, you get the best view.”
“Nice.”
“So, I imagine that Joe has your stuff all moved for you. What do you want to do now?”
Julie thought about it. What she really wanted to do was take a tour of the last four smaller cabins, and get some sense of their worth. But they were occupied, so that was a no-go. She’d take a look tomorrow, while the cleaning staff were in there. Maybe go to the stables? But the thought of staring at horses didn’t appeal much. And truthfully, she was pretty wiped out. The past five days had taken it out of her.
“I think I’ll unpack, clean up. Turn in early.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Mattie beamed. “I’ll show you where your cabin is.”
They walked back through the reception area where Maria busied herself with the invoices and avoided Julie’s eye. Mattie escorted her across an open area, and to the cabin farthest from the stable.
Mattie pushed open the door. “Welcome.”
Julie walked in and looked around. She almost sighed with pleasure: the mood of the restaurant had somehow been captured in this much smaller space. It was warm and welcoming and appropriately rustic, to be sure, but it wasn’t basic. You walked in and you just knew that there was hot water and Wi-Fi and fresh towels and clean bedsheets. It was elegant but not formal; romantic but still kid-friendly; relaxed but not sloppy.
“What do you think?” Mattie said.
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
“OK. The bedroom’s over there, and that’s
Maria was dismayed. “But – it’s Gracie’s birthday tomorrow, and you need to get her a present.”
“I know.” Rob thought for a second. “Maybe I’ll run out tomorrow on my lunch hour and get her something then.”
“No way. Listen, I leave here in an hour, and Frida comes on. I’ll go to the mall in Colorado Springs and buy your niece a present, if you tell me what she wants for her birthday.”
Rob looked at her, gratitude flooding through him. “Would you really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, God. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem. Anything to help.” Maria hesitated. “Why did she do this to you, though? Make you do this on no notice?”
Rob shrugged. “Because she’s the boss. Because she can.”
**
Julie sat across from Mattie, sipping coffee and looking around the restaurant. It was perfect, absolutely perfect. The interior designer in her was very pleased.
She had been so sure that the whole place would be decked out in some kind of awful cowboy theme. She’d braced herself for horseshoes and lassos hanging from the walls, and a menu heavy on the meat and grease. She was convinced that there would be cheap leather everywhere, and the bathrooms would have cutesy signs on the doors, like ‘Rodeo Gals’ and ‘The Little Cowboys Room’. She had been prepared to gag on the twee.
But this – this was stunning. It was, actually, what she’d have done if she’d been given this space to design. The restaurant was flooded with light from the massive windows, and had clean lines through the floor space. There were some smaller, more private tables mixed in with long, wooden booths scrubbed shiny. The décor was rustic but not hokey: it was warm and inviting, and felt fresh and open. It was charming and relaxed, but not to the point of feeling like you were in a canteen – you walked in and felt like the menu would have some class and elegance. It was perfect for a family with small kids, perfect for a group of friends on a girls’ getaway, perfect for a romantic weekend. It hit all the markers, with ease and style and confidence.
Mattie was watching her as she looked around. “So. What do you think, hon?”
“It’s quite lovely.”
“Isn’t it? You should be here for sunrise and sunset.” She nodded at the windows. “Those windows face east, and those west. No matter what time of day you’re in here, you get the best view.”
“Nice.”
“So, I imagine that Joe has your stuff all moved for you. What do you want to do now?”
Julie thought about it. What she really wanted to do was take a tour of the last four smaller cabins, and get some sense of their worth. But they were occupied, so that was a no-go. She’d take a look tomorrow, while the cleaning staff were in there. Maybe go to the stables? But the thought of staring at horses didn’t appeal much. And truthfully, she was pretty wiped out. The past five days had taken it out of her.
“I think I’ll unpack, clean up. Turn in early.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Mattie beamed. “I’ll show you where your cabin is.”
They walked back through the reception area where Maria busied herself with the invoices and avoided Julie’s eye. Mattie escorted her across an open area, and to the cabin farthest from the stable.
Mattie pushed open the door. “Welcome.”
Julie walked in and looked around. She almost sighed with pleasure: the mood of the restaurant had somehow been captured in this much smaller space. It was warm and welcoming and appropriately rustic, to be sure, but it wasn’t basic. You walked in and you just knew that there was hot water and Wi-Fi and fresh towels and clean bedsheets. It was elegant but not formal; romantic but still kid-friendly; relaxed but not sloppy.
“What do you think?” Mattie said.
“It’s fine. Thank you.”
“OK. The bedroom’s over there, and that’s
Similar Books
