[joycedb]

An excerpt from [Promotional link deleted - MODERATOR]

But even as Sylvie issued the threat she knew she'd never follow through on it. She couldn't leave the grand old dame. In her mind, the inn was a living, breathing entity. Its worn floorboards, trod by large feet and small, gave up its secrets at night; its railings, rubbed to a golden patina by hundreds of hands, hinted at its strength of character, as did the sturdy walls and roof that sheltered its inhabitants through countless storms. And when evening shadows moved in, she swore she heard it sigh, as if to say, all is well, you're safe in my arms.

Not all of the old house's messages were subtle murmurings, however; some were more direct, like the horizontal marks with names and dates penciled inside Violet's closet door. Painting over them would be like tearing out a page in a history book.

The more Sylvie thought about her threat and Alex's counter threat, the more certain she was that he, too, had spoken in anger. Alex would never demolish the inn. She'd noticed the change in him over the past few months. No longer the stuffy businessman he'd pretended to be, but a man who'd known his share of struggle and strife, Alex had come to love this place as much as she did. Why else had he spent hours with her, discussing ways to attract a more family-oriented clientele? Not to replace the seniors currently in residence, but to add to them. Like an old-fashioned boarding house where lives intertwine and generations interact. They'd put in a small playground with swings and slides for children, a volleyball net for their parents, and a shuffleboard court for Granny and Gramps. Surely a plan the owner would endorse, he'd said. The owner.

Sylvie's heart soared as she thought of all their hopes and dreams. But until one of them yelled "uncle" that’s all they would ever be. Hopes and dreams.


End of excerpt. Thanks for reading.