Page 5 of More Than A Fixer-Upper (Hope Runs Deep #13)
Rosalie
The bombshell Mr. Marks drops on Winnie, Drew, and me throws me for a loop.
We spend the last week talking through everything, and Drewever the wise one makes a pro/con list. We pack the U-Haul and leave Fredericksburg, Texas, bound for Durden Park, Wyoming.
As Rosa’s only living grandchild, I inherit everything: a bed and breakfast, a small house on the property, and enough money for repairs and to live on for a while.
We’re not millionaires, but I finally get a breather.
The three of us stand outside the small, rundown duplex that’s been our home for the last ten years.
Katie is excited for our adventure but sad we’re leaving Texas.
She’s been my backbone, my rock, my shoulder, and the other parent in this journey.
It’s strange to think she won’t be with us.
She’s in love now, and I can’t blame her for wanting to move in with her boyfriend. It’s a new beginning for all of us.
“Do you think the kids will like me?” Drew asks before climbing into the truck.
“Duh. You’re my brother,” Winnie says, always the one to reassure him when his self-doubt creeps in.
“Shades on, tank full, snacks ready for our first leg of the trip. Who’s in charge of tunes?
” I start the U-Haul and pull onto the quiet street at eight a.m., ready to begin our new adventure.
Since I’m the only driver and it’s nearly an eighteen hour trip, we decide to take our time and explore.
We’ve never been out of Texas, so we’re determined to make it fun.
I splurge a little. Mr. Marks gives me the green light so I get the kids cell phones on my plan and upgrade mine.
We all get new numbers since we’re moving out of state.
The kids say goodbye to their friends before we leave, and I’m glad they’ll be able to stay in touch.
Drew looks forward to the change more than Winnie, mostly because he doesn’t have many friends here.
I always remind him it’s quality over quantity.
He hasn’t quite got it yet, but he will.
The kids download apps, chat, and laugh together. I’m grateful they have each other.
The trip takes five days. We stop often, and driving the U-Haul is a challenge I’m used to a compact car. Drew teases me about how much harder it would be to drive an eighteen-wheeler. We arrive at the Lavender and Roses bed and breakfast just before nightfall.
“This is it?” Winnie asks, disgusted, as I park the truck and we climb out. Their groans make me chuckle. The sun hasn’t set yet, so we can still see the place clearly. The Victorian house towers three stories high.
“Wow,” I say, breathless. The exterior needs a fresh coat of paint. Some shutters are falling apart. The windows look seminew, but I won’t know for sure until I get inside.
“Wow? Mom, it’s ugly,” Winnie says, wrinkling her nose.
“Winnie! This is our family heritage. Think of it this way we get to pick colors, design rooms, go shopping for furniture. This is a new beginning.” I wrap my arms around my kids and pull them close.
I text Mr. Marks when we’re an hour out, and he turns on the lights in our new home. He says everything’s in working order and promises to stop by tomorrow with the keys to the bed and breakfast and a list of construction companies.
“I want to check out my room,” Drew announces, grabbing his bag and my suitcase. Winnie follows with hers. I take one last look around and sigh before heading inside.
“Welcome home,” I whisper as I unlock the door with the key from the mailbox. This town must be small if he trusts no one will break in.
We step into the house a smaller version of the grand Victorian. The kids race off to claim bedrooms.
“I get the master, you heathens,” I call out, laughing as their footsteps echo upstairs.
I walk through the downstairs and find everything newly updated.
The open layout is beautiful, but my heart stops when I reach the living room and look out the back of the house: mountains and a sunset.
I’ve only ever seen something like this in movies.
I always thought it was a Hollywood trick but it’s real.
“Mom, you should see this,” Drew calls out, wonder in his voice.
“Are you looking outside?” I shout back. “The floor to ceiling windows down here are breathtaking.”
“There are floor to ceiling windows up here too,” Winnie adds.
“Downstairs is open concept, new appliances, recently updated. I might ask Mr. Marks who did the remodel maybe they can work on the bed and breakfast too.”
I explore the five bedrooms. According to the paperwork, my great-grandfather started the bed and breakfast, then built this house after his wife gave birth to four sons and one daughter my grandmother.
She’s the one who fell in love with the business.
Mr. Marks, my grandfather’s cousin, tells me he used to work as waitstaff and fell in love with Rosa.
They suffer miscarriages and a stillbirth before having my mom.
They’re older by then, but they love her fiercely. I wish I could’ve met them just once.
I come to a closed door.
“Have you two been in here yet?” I ask. They shake their heads. I twist the knob and step into a teenage girl’s room.
“My mother’s room.” I slam the door shut and turn to face my kids. “Find your rooms?”
Winnie eyes the door, clearly curious. I shake my head. “Don’t go in there. I want to be the first. I need to get to know my mother. Please respect that.” They nod. Drew says he’s picked his room, and I follow him while Winnie heads downstairs still glancing back at the door.
“What do you think?” Drew spreads his arms wide. His room has a few windows, but nothing like the landing view. This one overlooks a lake and woods.
“Do you think this is our property too?” he asks. I shrug.
“This place is nice. I never thought we’d be somewhere like this.” He bites his lip, about to apologize, but I wave him off.
“You said what I was thinking. Get unpacked or explore your room, then come down. I’m checking the fridge.”
“I love you, Mom. I can’t wait to get to the BED AND brEAKFAST and see what we can cook up there.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “See what I did there?” He laughs, and I toss a pillow at him.
I stop by my mother’s door.
“Get out of there right now,” I say, my tone sharp. My kids know right from wrong. I teach them early timeouts, consequences, and conversations. I rarely use the phrase “I’m so disappointed in you,” but this might be one of those moments.
Winnie opens the door, not even pretending to be sorry.
“I want this room,” she says.
“No.” I push past her and grab her suitcase. “I told you I wanted to be the first. I want to get to know my mother. Why couldn’t you respect that? Why is it always Winnie’s world, and I have to live with your decisions?”
Her lip trembles, but then I see the defiance. She looks more like Randall every day, and I know that look she’s about to yell.
“Like moving here? I had friends in Texas. It’s not my fault you suck at keeping a job or that Drew can’t make friends. I had to break up with my boyfriend today. He didn’t want to do long distance but didn’t want to ruin our last night together!”
The Drew comment stings. I know it’ll come back to bite her later, but right now, I need to protect him. This move won’t be kind to either of us if I don’t.
I point to the room across from mine. “That’s yours until I say otherwise.” I walk away, disappointed. I need to focus on dinner, then talk to her. This won’t work if they shut me out.
Did I make a mistake moving here? Did I uproot everything we’ve ever known for a dream that might not be ours?