Page 12 of Babies for the Christmas Grump

And now, reading her scribbled memos, I’m peeking into a part of this world I didn’t know.

There are quirky notes about the staff, some underlined, some written in random colors. Red, green, and even gold. Some entries are a bit chaotic, like she was getting overwhelmed and just wrote whatever came to mind.

There’s a plan for a Christmas gala, some ideas jotted down for decorating, and then a list of things that, according to Aunt Evie’s notes, were never followed through on.

The more I read, the more my heart stirs. She had grand plans for this place, so many ideas she never got to finish. And then there’s a small note toward the end, in bold letters:

We can do this. This place can shine again.

That’s when it hits me. She left the hotel for me, soIcould make it happen.

Right?

Not just fix things. Not just scrape by. But actually, bring this hotel back to life.

The idea seems crazy. The hotel needs a lot of work. I’m a mess. I have no experience. But this could be my chance to do more.

To not just get by with my work, but to put my stamp on the world. To build something more than just a business, but a place that carries on Aunt Evie’s legacy, a place that shines.

She left me the hotel for a reason, and I ache to make her proud.

The thought of it pulls at emotions deep inside me. I might need this more than I even realized.

Before I can get too lost in my thoughts, I hear a quiet voice calling from the hallway.

“Sunny?”

I jump and look up, startled. Standing in the doorway is a tiny woman with white hair, wearing a sparkling sequined dress and carrying a Thermos in one hand. Her eyes twinkle with curiosity, and she’s smiling as if she’s just walked into a party.

“Pearl?” I ask, blinking. She’s the neighbor, I remember. Aunt Evie’s friend. “Oh my goodness, is thatyou?”

She looks different from the last time I saw her. Yet somehow the same, too.

I have to admit, the familiarity is a relief.

“The one and only.” Pearl winks, stepping inside without an invitation. “You’ve got that look in your eye,” she adds, tilting her head with a knowing smile. “The‘I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m gonna give it my best shot’look.”

I laugh nervously, not sure if I should be worried or grateful. “Is it that obvious?”

She nods sagely, sitting across from me without hesitation, her Thermos clinking as she sets it down on the desk.

“Oh, sweetie, trust me. I’ve been here long enough to know that look. You’ve inherited more than just this hotel, you know. You’ve inherited Evie’s legacy. And her dreams. And well, let’s say she wasn’t the kind to back down from anything, not even a crumbling old hotel.”

I swallow hard. “But I don’t know anything about running a hotel. I can barely manage my own life.”

Pearl chuckles softly, suggesting she’s heard this all before. “Honey, that’s the first lesson. You don’t have to know it all. Just know what feels right and what makes you want to keep going. The rest? It’ll fall into place. But you have to want it. You have to believe in this place.”

I look down at the journal again, now feeling different. Like Aunt Evie is watching over me, urging me to go for it.

Pearl leans in a little closer, raising an eyebrow. “And if you’re going to make this place shine, you might need a little help. I’ve got plenty of that to offer, but I’ll warn you now, I’m not your average old lady.” She lets out a wink. “I drink hot toddies at breakfast and wear sequins every day, darling. So if you want to make some magic happen, I’m your gal.”

I grin, feeling a spark ignite in me. “I think I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

Pearl claps her hands together. “Then let’s get to it.”

My stomach rumbles.

I can’t wait to get something to eat.