A Haven on the Bay - Nicole Ellis Page 0,34

laughter. “We look like we just tunneled out of a prison.” Their clothes were covered in dust, and stray bits of hay stuck out from where they’d worked their way into his hair. He ran his fingers over his head and brushed the debris away.

“Eh. You look fine.” Zoe gestured to the piles outside of the barn. “Looks like you’re making some good progress.”

Meg nodded. Now that she wasn’t having her picture taken, her mood had improved. “We were hoping you’d take a look at the furnishings today and let us know what we should keep.”

Zoe eyed the piles again. “How did all of this even fit in there?”

“I don’t know, but that’s only half of what we took out. The rest is in the dumpster.” Meg gestured to the giant metal bin to the side of the barn.

“Well, I’ll take a look at it before the end of the day,” Zoe promised. “I actually came by to see if you were interested in having something to eat. Celia and I got out sandwich fixings. She’s leaving soon to go shopping with a woman from church and Shawn and I are going to take a picnic down to the beach, but you’re welcome to grab some lunch.” She glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back. Shawn’s got us on a tight schedule today.”

Taylor smirked. Zoe’s love of schedules and lists was well known, so it was much more likely that the schedule she’d referred to was of her own making. “Thanks. Lunch sounds great.”

“Good. I’ll see you later.” Zoe looked at her watch again and hurried off.

“Are you ready to eat?” Meg asked Taylor.

“I could eat, but I’m not starved.” His stomach grumbled loudly in protest and she gave him a pointed look.

“Okay, okay,” he said sheepishly. He hadn’t wanted to quit until she was ready to do so, but his body had betrayed him. “Maybe I’m hungrier than I thought.”

They removed their work gloves and Meg looped the strap of her bag over her shoulder. As they emerged into full sunlight, Taylor took a few deep breaths, letting the salt-scented air clear the dust out of his lungs. Although he was no stranger to exercise, the muscles in his arms and legs were sending off signals that they’d be aching the next day.

“So, what do you think of the barn now?” Meg asked as they walked toward the Inn.

“I think we’re making progress and it’ll be a great space when we’re done.” He hesitated. “But there’s a lot more to do.”

“No kidding. I think it’ll help once Shawn gets the tractor out. That thing takes up a ton of room.” She sounded much more optimistic now than she had that morning.

She led him to a door at the back of the Inn. They used a boot scraper to clean off their dirty shoes, then entered the mud room, which led to the main part of the house.

“Wow, this place is huge.” Taylor looked curiously at all of the closed doors lining the long hallway.

She laughed. “Well, it was built to be an inn, so I’d hope so. I can’t imagine living here all by myself like Celia did for so many years. It seems much too big for just one person.”

“Tell me about it,” an elderly woman’s voice carried down the hall from the kitchen.

Meg shot him a guilty look and whispered, “I didn’t know she was still here.”

They walked another ten feet, stopping when they reached a large kitchen decorated in various shades of blue that mimicked the waters of Willa Bay. It wouldn’t have been Taylor’s first choice of color, but it suited the surroundings.

Celia stood next to the sink with a cup of coffee in her hand. “Good afternoon. How is the barn cleanout going?”

“It’s going well,” Meg said. “Sorry about my comment about the Inn being too big for you. I didn’t realize you were still here. Zoe said you went shopping.”

Celia beamed at them. “Carla had to make a phone call first, but she’ll be here soon. And you’re totally right—I used to rattle around this place when I lived in it by myself. It’s so nice to have Shawn and Zoe here all the time now.” Her smile grew even wider. “And I’m really looking forward to having guests once the rooms are completed.”

Taylor nodded, his gaze straying in the direction of the entry hall with its small check-in desk. “When will the first guests arrive?”

“The grand opening is in a few