Page 2 of Sandbar Summer (Summer Cottage #3)

Chapter Two

Libby

“Wow, this place is amazing. Is this how the other half lived?” J.J. said as her friends toured the old Two Lakes Grove Hotel.

“Well, if by other half you mean a family of raccoons, I think they’ve taken up residence in the attic.”

Libby wanted J.J. and Hope’s take on the place and on her plan to lure their old friend Goldie to Irish Hills.

The Two Lakes Grove Hotel was built around the same time as Nora House. It was, as advertised, atop a hill, in a grove of trees, and situated on the narrow stretch of land adjacent to the channel that connected the two lakes, Manitou and Round.

“Look, Goldie has a fabulous life and mansion of her own in L.A. I think we need to do something more to make coming here seem like a good idea.”

Aunt Emma had given Libby the push to approach Goldie. The same push had worked out spectacularly with Hope. But Libby was less confident she could convince Goldie that Irish Hills was a good investment.

“What did you have in mind?” Hope asked.

“Okay, so this place would be an investment. I’ll pitch that for sure. But what about a Goldie Hayes Film Festival?”

“Oh, I love that,” Hope said.

“What’s involved in a film festival? I’ve never been to one,” J.J. said.

“Well, it can be a place for new artists to share their work or big studios like at Cannes in France, but I was thinking, just an appreciation weekend. I think we can pull that off fast. She’s a big star with a tie to our little town. We’d be the perfect place to host something like that.”

“Lure her here. Maybe she brings some of her Hollywood friends,” said J.J.

“Right, and we do it over North of Nash Festival weekend. Since there’s already a huge contingent of fans and country music stars in the area.”

North of Nash was held at Michigan International Speedway in nearby Brooklyn, Michigan. The event was huge. It was as if aliens teleported Nashville to Michigan for three days with beer. There had to be a way to get some of that tourism money and traffic to downtown Irish Hills.

“Is there a crossover, country stars, fans, and Goldie Hayes?” J.J. asked.

“She did win the Oscar for the Brenda Lee biopic, so maybe,” Libby pointed out.

She knew from her days as the organizer of big fundraisers that once you got one big name, others were easier to add.

Liz Gould, their Sandbar Sister, now Goldie Hayes, Superstar, was as big a name as you could get. Despite her recent bad publicity.

“True, so what can we do?” Hope asked.

“Wish me luck, and oh, I need someone to take on repairs. Even if she says no, it won’t be wasted. I need to sell this thing, and before that, I need it showable.”

In a lot of ways, Two Lakes Grove was perfect.

The potential was enormous. It also took up a prime location.

If Stirling Stone could buy it, he would.

But instead, it sat in the sagging real estate portfolio that Libby and Aunt Emma were trying to support.

If they officially put it on the market, Stone would grab it and tear it down.

Libby knew it. For now, to get it off her books, she’d need to get it sold on the sly.

But before that, it needed some sprucing.

“Anyway, Dean said he knew a guy who could start work on the repairs here?”

“Yep, Dean and I can get that end sorted out. The contractor he’s thinking of might need to stay on the premises. He’s just back in the area.” J. J. was always willing to jump in on anything Libby needed.

“Great, yes. Do whatever it takes to get stuff started. There’s a caretaker cottage, plus the dozen rooms in the hotel itself. We need to get this place sold. I don’t think I can wait too long with it on my balance sheet. Even if Goldie isn’t interested, I must get the hotel off my hands.”

Libby and her aunt owned too many dilapidated properties; this one was one of the largest. And it was more neglected than dilapidated.

This hotel was a gem, but it could easily be destroyed by raccoons or rain if they didn’t get going on it.

Libby needed cash; more than that, she needed it from the right places.

Libby saw every repair, every rehab she managed, as a victory against Stirling Stone. She’d seen the plans. This place would be a casino if he had his way.

The hotel here was beautiful, stately, but you couldn’t back one thousand tourists in here, not by a mile. There were twelve rooms, huge for the time, but nothing compared to what Stone was planning.

“What’s my assignment?” Hope asked.

“You’re up to your neck at the restaurant,” Libby said.

Hope had only been open for two weeks. It had gone great. Hope served people the best meals of their lives at Hope’s Table. But there weren’t enough people, that was the thing. Libby was determined to draw tourists to Irish Hills.

“You know, I did cater. What about this? If you get in front of Goldie, let her know that she doesn’t have to worry about a continental breakfast. Braylon and I will work up something that can be delivered here five days a week. He’s amazing with pastry.”

“Great. Work it up, budgets, and everything. Though I have to get her here first. Spring the buying the hotel idea second? Ugh, it’s all a long shot.”

“Yep.”

“So, when is your flight?” J.J. asked.

“Tomorrow morning, wish me luck?”

“Just channel Aunt Emma’s energy, and Goldie won’t be able to refuse.”

Aunt Emma had positioned Libby here, and with her guidance, Libby had maneuvered Hope into staying and joining the fight to save Irish Hills.

Goldie was a different story. She was a movie star, had a gorgeous mansion, and probably everything she dreamed about when she used to hang with them on Lake Manitou.

Libby had to bet on the fact that no matter how fabulous Goldie’s life was, there was something unique about this place and the bond shared by the Sandbar Sisters.

If that didn’t work, maybe Aunt Emma had dirt on her. That’s how she convinced Libby. Ha, no, no.

Libby would just make her a few offers, good offers. That would work.

It had to!