Room at the Inn (Bellingwood #5.5) by Diane Greenwood Muir Page B
Authors: Diane Greenwood Muir
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with him yesterday scrubbing down bathrooms, washing curtains and re-making the beds. When she'd left, the house had been sparkling, but Henry told her this morning that he was still cleaning and decorating. She supposed it would be difficult having your mother return to her old home. His mother couldn't be that much trouble, though. Polly tried not to be nervous about meeting them and then shook her head. Now wasn't the time to think about that. She had guests.
They went into t he living room and saw that Andy, Len and Ellen, Joss and Nate and Sylvie were also there.
"Merry Christmas!" resounded through the room as everyone greeted each other. Billy, Rachel, Doug and Anita all showed up, then Eliseo came in with Jose, Maria and Salvador. Eliseo was carrying the baby and laughing at something Jose had said. Mark and Sal were the last to arrive and Polly smiled and shook her head when they walked in holding hands. Sal's laughter was contagious and soon they were mingling with everyone.
Polly turned on Christmas music . She was glad to not have the pressure of a large Christmas party this year.
"I'm glad you are all here tonight ," she said. "You are my family and I couldn't imagine not spending Christmas with you. One of the best parts of family is that it grows. Andy and Len are back and I am thankful he is part of my family. Welcome home."
She reached over and took Henry's hand. "This last week Henry and I have been working on a new business deal and we are going to begin a partnership ... "
Before she could finish her sentence, there were gasps and smatterings of applause around the room. "No, not that," she scolded. "A business partnership. We are purchasing the old hotel out by the new winery. Sycamore Inn will open next summer or fall. Bellingwood needs a hotel and I can hardly wait to begin work on this. I've spoken with both Eliseo and Rachel. Rachel will begin working for us full-time just after the New Year. She will help in the kitchen and be responsible for the guest rooms here at Sycamore House, leaving Eliseo more time to be outside. This spring he is going to plant a rather large vegetable garden out back and we will start having a monthly Farmer's Market here in the spring. It is going to be an exciting year and I look forward to our continued growth. I wish Jeff were here to celebrate with us this evening since he has been such a big part of everything."
"To Sycamore House!" Beryl said, lifting a glass of eggnog.
"To Sycamore House!" came the response from the others.
"Thank you all for being part of my life this last year," Polly said.
Sal stepped forward and hugged her. "I'm proud of you," she said. "I knew you had this inside you. Your dad would be proud."
She moved back giving way to Joss and Nate. Joss hugged her as well and then whispered into her ear, "Our lives are getting bigger next year, too. We've finally decided to do something about adopting and everything is in place. We weren't going to say anything until we were approved, but it's starting!"
Polly looked up at Nate with excitement. "I’m so happy for you two. Did you know?" she turned to Henry.
"Know what?" he asked.
"They're adopting a child!"
"Congratulations, man," Henry clapped his friend on the back. "Before you know it, you’ll own a minivan instead of the Impala."
"Bet me," Nate laughed. "That was the first conversatio n I got out of the way. No minivans allowed."
"He's not kidding. He made me promise that we wouldn't ever park a minivan in our garage," Joss said. "I can agree to that."
Polly hugged her, "I really am excited for you. This is going to be a great year!"
When she had finally spoken to everyone and they were milling around the food buffet, she stepped back into Henry's arm. "You know, it's hard for me to believe all that has happened this year."
"It's been a good year."
"I barreled through, hoping I wasn't making some huge mistake. But when I kept meeting all of these wonderful people, I knew it wasn't
They went into t he living room and saw that Andy, Len and Ellen, Joss and Nate and Sylvie were also there.
"Merry Christmas!" resounded through the room as everyone greeted each other. Billy, Rachel, Doug and Anita all showed up, then Eliseo came in with Jose, Maria and Salvador. Eliseo was carrying the baby and laughing at something Jose had said. Mark and Sal were the last to arrive and Polly smiled and shook her head when they walked in holding hands. Sal's laughter was contagious and soon they were mingling with everyone.
Polly turned on Christmas music . She was glad to not have the pressure of a large Christmas party this year.
"I'm glad you are all here tonight ," she said. "You are my family and I couldn't imagine not spending Christmas with you. One of the best parts of family is that it grows. Andy and Len are back and I am thankful he is part of my family. Welcome home."
She reached over and took Henry's hand. "This last week Henry and I have been working on a new business deal and we are going to begin a partnership ... "
Before she could finish her sentence, there were gasps and smatterings of applause around the room. "No, not that," she scolded. "A business partnership. We are purchasing the old hotel out by the new winery. Sycamore Inn will open next summer or fall. Bellingwood needs a hotel and I can hardly wait to begin work on this. I've spoken with both Eliseo and Rachel. Rachel will begin working for us full-time just after the New Year. She will help in the kitchen and be responsible for the guest rooms here at Sycamore House, leaving Eliseo more time to be outside. This spring he is going to plant a rather large vegetable garden out back and we will start having a monthly Farmer's Market here in the spring. It is going to be an exciting year and I look forward to our continued growth. I wish Jeff were here to celebrate with us this evening since he has been such a big part of everything."
"To Sycamore House!" Beryl said, lifting a glass of eggnog.
"To Sycamore House!" came the response from the others.
"Thank you all for being part of my life this last year," Polly said.
Sal stepped forward and hugged her. "I'm proud of you," she said. "I knew you had this inside you. Your dad would be proud."
She moved back giving way to Joss and Nate. Joss hugged her as well and then whispered into her ear, "Our lives are getting bigger next year, too. We've finally decided to do something about adopting and everything is in place. We weren't going to say anything until we were approved, but it's starting!"
Polly looked up at Nate with excitement. "I’m so happy for you two. Did you know?" she turned to Henry.
"Know what?" he asked.
"They're adopting a child!"
"Congratulations, man," Henry clapped his friend on the back. "Before you know it, you’ll own a minivan instead of the Impala."
"Bet me," Nate laughed. "That was the first conversatio n I got out of the way. No minivans allowed."
"He's not kidding. He made me promise that we wouldn't ever park a minivan in our garage," Joss said. "I can agree to that."
Polly hugged her, "I really am excited for you. This is going to be a great year!"
When she had finally spoken to everyone and they were milling around the food buffet, she stepped back into Henry's arm. "You know, it's hard for me to believe all that has happened this year."
"It's been a good year."
"I barreled through, hoping I wasn't making some huge mistake. But when I kept meeting all of these wonderful people, I knew it wasn't
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