Bev, Tommy—everybody.”
“And how do you propose to deliver that magic pill?”
“No pill. People who are happy in their work are happy in life. It’s as simple as that. And I want the people who arrive in this beautiful little town in New England stressed and careworn to leave happy and uplifted.”
“You hope.”
“So far, so good.”
Tricia couldn’t argue with that.
“What are you plotting for the future?”
“Not plotting, considering. Now that you know, you could be a wonderful sounding board. In fact, it would be oodles of fun if you and Antonio and Ginny and I all sat down and made a wish list for thevillage: things we’d like to see happen. Stores and services we’d love to see arrive. Needs that aren’t yet being met.”
“Like a shoe store?” Tricia suggested.
Angelica shook her head. “That’s been on my wish list for years. We’re much too small for a chain store, and a boutique would be too expensive for the residents.” She shook her head. “It’s a pipe dream.”
“A tea shop?” Tricia suggested.
Again Angelica shook her head. “Not enough trade to keep one in business through the lean times. But I have thought about offering afternoon tea at the Brookview Inn during the summer months. Maybe just on weekends to start. We also need more daycare. Ginny wants to go back to work after the baby arrives, and my grandchild must have the very best.”
“You wouldn’t hire a nanny?” Tricia asked.
“Children need to interact with other children. It’s good for them.”
“What makes you the expert when it comes to child care?”
“Google is my best friend,” Angelica said wryly.
“What about the ghost walks?”
“They could be great fun—and quite lucrative, not only for the cemetery, but for the Dog-Eared Page and the Bookshelf Diner. Before Pete died, he sent a report to NRA looking for backing.”
“Did you give him any money for them?”
“It was included with the check Antonio gave them.”
Tricia nodded. “When I spoke to Janet Koch at the Historical Society this morning, I suggested Michele give the talks.”
“What a great idea!”
“Of course, her boss would have to okay it,” Tricia said.
Angelica’s smile was more a smirk. “I’m sure I can arrange it. Anything else happen today I should know about?”
Tricia hesitated, then shook her head.
Angelica considered her empty glass. “We’d better not have another. Not if we’re going to check out those flower baskets.”
Tricia downed the last of her drink, then placed the olive in her mouth, slid it off the pick, and chewed.
“You set the table and I’ll get the food ready,” Angelica said, heading for the fridge.
Tricia carried her glass over to the sink, then scooped flatware from a drawer and placed it on the table, her thoughts straying back to the subject of Jim Stark. The idea of her store renovation possibly being derailed had her feeling disheartened and depressed.
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it
, she ordered herself.
She just wished she could pay more attention to that little niggling voice inside her brain that advised her to look at worst-case scenarios.
Sometimes she hated that stinking little voice she called her conscience.
• • •
It wasn’t quite dark, but unlike in years past when the streets of Stoneham had emptied at six o’clock, several cars still lined the south end of Main Street. The Dog-Eared Page was the draw, but farther down the street a few cars were also clustered near the Bookshelf Diner. “We really need more eateries here on Main Street,” Angelica said as they, along with Sarge, headed north on the sidewalk. “We need at least one fine dining restaurant here in the village.”
“Where would it go?” Tricia asked.
“It could go where the Chamber office is currently located, but that’s a bit close to the eyesore that is Kelly Realty.”
“You’d think Bob would have done something
“And how do you propose to deliver that magic pill?”
“No pill. People who are happy in their work are happy in life. It’s as simple as that. And I want the people who arrive in this beautiful little town in New England stressed and careworn to leave happy and uplifted.”
“You hope.”
“So far, so good.”
Tricia couldn’t argue with that.
“What are you plotting for the future?”
“Not plotting, considering. Now that you know, you could be a wonderful sounding board. In fact, it would be oodles of fun if you and Antonio and Ginny and I all sat down and made a wish list for thevillage: things we’d like to see happen. Stores and services we’d love to see arrive. Needs that aren’t yet being met.”
“Like a shoe store?” Tricia suggested.
Angelica shook her head. “That’s been on my wish list for years. We’re much too small for a chain store, and a boutique would be too expensive for the residents.” She shook her head. “It’s a pipe dream.”
“A tea shop?” Tricia suggested.
Again Angelica shook her head. “Not enough trade to keep one in business through the lean times. But I have thought about offering afternoon tea at the Brookview Inn during the summer months. Maybe just on weekends to start. We also need more daycare. Ginny wants to go back to work after the baby arrives, and my grandchild must have the very best.”
“You wouldn’t hire a nanny?” Tricia asked.
“Children need to interact with other children. It’s good for them.”
“What makes you the expert when it comes to child care?”
“Google is my best friend,” Angelica said wryly.
“What about the ghost walks?”
“They could be great fun—and quite lucrative, not only for the cemetery, but for the Dog-Eared Page and the Bookshelf Diner. Before Pete died, he sent a report to NRA looking for backing.”
“Did you give him any money for them?”
“It was included with the check Antonio gave them.”
Tricia nodded. “When I spoke to Janet Koch at the Historical Society this morning, I suggested Michele give the talks.”
“What a great idea!”
“Of course, her boss would have to okay it,” Tricia said.
Angelica’s smile was more a smirk. “I’m sure I can arrange it. Anything else happen today I should know about?”
Tricia hesitated, then shook her head.
Angelica considered her empty glass. “We’d better not have another. Not if we’re going to check out those flower baskets.”
Tricia downed the last of her drink, then placed the olive in her mouth, slid it off the pick, and chewed.
“You set the table and I’ll get the food ready,” Angelica said, heading for the fridge.
Tricia carried her glass over to the sink, then scooped flatware from a drawer and placed it on the table, her thoughts straying back to the subject of Jim Stark. The idea of her store renovation possibly being derailed had her feeling disheartened and depressed.
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it
, she ordered herself.
She just wished she could pay more attention to that little niggling voice inside her brain that advised her to look at worst-case scenarios.
Sometimes she hated that stinking little voice she called her conscience.
• • •
It wasn’t quite dark, but unlike in years past when the streets of Stoneham had emptied at six o’clock, several cars still lined the south end of Main Street. The Dog-Eared Page was the draw, but farther down the street a few cars were also clustered near the Bookshelf Diner. “We really need more eateries here on Main Street,” Angelica said as they, along with Sarge, headed north on the sidewalk. “We need at least one fine dining restaurant here in the village.”
“Where would it go?” Tricia asked.
“It could go where the Chamber office is currently located, but that’s a bit close to the eyesore that is Kelly Realty.”
“You’d think Bob would have done something
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