Pages of the Past (Bellingwood Book 9) (4 page)

"Yes, I can write at home. But it's so quiet. Sometimes it's deadly quiet. I do my best work in hustle and bustle."

"I doubt that you'll ever find hustle and bustle in Bellingwood," Joss said. "Even downtown, you're doing well to have a little hust ... never any l-e." She spelled the last two letters out.

Sal nodded. "On any given day in any city in the country, creative types make their way to coffee shops, where caffeine and sugar stir their imaginations. They're inspired by everyone else who sits at a table working away at their computers or in their notebooks. It's like a perfect competition. You see other people working and can't help but imagine their projects and it brings out the best in you. I need my coffee shop."

"So, you're going to build a coffee shop?"

"That's what I want to do. I'm meeting Henry tomorrow afternoon to talk about remodeling the place and then..."

Polly frowned. "You're meeting Henry? He didn't say a word."

"That's because I made him promise to keep quiet. I wanted to be the one to tell you. I just found out Friday afternoon that the sale was really going to happen."

"I can't believe he didn't tell me." Polly growled at Sylvie. "And he didn't tell me when you bought your house, either. That man is going to be in serious trouble one of these days for not letting me in on his secrets."

Joss patted Polly's leg. "Shhh. Tell us more about the coffee shop, Sal."

"Henry said that you are genius with interiors, Polly. I want lots of wood like Sycamore House. I don't know. Maybe a coffee bar with cool stools and tables or booths. I don't know any of that stuff. So, can you meet us here at one thirty tomorrow? I want to know what you think."

"Hmm," Polly responded. "Maybe he won't be in trouble after all."

"What are you going to do with the apartments upstairs?" Sylvie asked.

Joss grinned. "Apartments? Are you going to be a landlord, too?"

"There are two apartments," Sal said. "From what I can see, they're not in terrible shape. They need some work. They've been empty a long time, but I think they'd make cute places to live."

"Do you really think you can make money at this?" Polly asked.

"I don't know, but it can't hurt to try. You've become an entrepreneur and you're really good at it." Sal's eyes lit up. "I want to be just like you - renovating and remodeling and making a go of it."

Sylvie sat back and shut her eyes. Her fingers were moving and every once in a while, her tongue crept out and licked her upper lip.

"What are you doing over there, Sylvie?" Polly asked.

"I'm concentrating," was the response.

"Well you look weird doing it."

Sylvie's eyes popped open and she stuck her tongue out at Polly. "If you're going to do this, Sal, you need more than just coffee. You need bakery items, but I don't have the stoves at Sycamore House to do that much baking. I could help you in the beginning when you're just getting started, but if you're successful, things will have to change."

"There is a ton of space in that building. Maybe we put a bakery in later. Oooh, wouldn't that be fun?" Sal was bouncing in her seat when Bri brought the pizza to their table.

"You can't bake," Polly said.

"I know I can't, but Sylvie can. It could be an extension of her catering business."

"It's Sycamore House's catering business," Sylvie interjected quickly.

"We can work that out. Maybe Sycamore House Catering needs two locations. It won't all happen at once. It's going to take some time before we are big enough to do that."

Polly's brain began whirring. This was a great idea. "Do you think that would work, Sylvie?" she asked. "How strange would it be for you to have two locations?"

"It's not the worst idea in the world. There are details that need to be ironed out: personnel, all of the appliances. We haven't done many cakes because I don't have a good place to build them." She looked off into space as she thought about it. "I've had people ask about cakes for special events."

"If we put a bakery in with your coffee shop," Polly said, "that would bring business in for both of us." She took a bite of pizza and then breathed through her mouth to cool it down. "Every single damned time. You'd think I would learn. Pizza cheese is hot!"

Sal waved her hands in front of her. "You guys are turning this into a bigger deal than I planned for. I just wanted a busy place where I could write and get a decent cup of coffee without having to make it myself."

"What did Mark think when you told him?" Polly asked.

"He's the one who found the building. Well, Dylan did. He and Mark's sister, Lisa were over for dinner a few weeks ago and he was complaining about the empty building across the street from this place. It wasn't a half hour later and I was whining about needing a barista of my own. The next thing I knew, Mark and Dylan were talking about how I should bring a coffee shop into Bellingwood. Joe only makes regular and decaf at the diner."

"I didn't even think about that," Sylvie said. "You'd be competition for him."

"Not really. I wouldn't want to serve food." Sal shuddered. "Can't you see me slinging hash with a greasy apron on and a hair net over these pretty locks?"

"Hey!" Sylvie said, laughing.

"Yeah. Like any of your aprons are ever greasy."

"They are after a long day, but I'll give you a break. You totally wouldn't fit in any kitchen I know."

Joss hadn't said much and Sal finally asked her, "What do you think about all of this?"

"I could get a White Chocolate Mocha? In town?" The yearning in her voice made the rest of them giggle. "I love you, Sal. Like the sister I never had. And if you want more than that, I will love you more than that. This is the best idea ever!"

"I guess that's another vote for the coffee shop. Now all I need is to figure out what to call it."

"How about Sal's Joe?" Polly said.

"That's too weird," Sylvie replied. "Maybe Java Sal, though."

"Maybe we don't go any further with this tonight," Sal said. "Think about it, though. You girls are my best bet for a clever name. And anyone who wants to come up tomorrow to walk through the building with me and Henry," she looked at Polly, "and you too, just show up. I don't know what I'm doing. I just know that I want it to happen and I want it bad enough to do something about it."

"I get white chocolate mocha," Joss said dreamily. "I might cry."

CHAPTER FOUR

Opening Jeff's office door after a light knock, Polly gave him a sweet smile. "Do you have a minute?"

"Good lord, what do you want now?"

"What do you mean by that?" Polly wanted to be offended, but inside she was laughing.

"I recognize that smile. You want something. Woman, I've given you my blood, sweat and tears. My first born is already promised to that man at the crossroads who was playing the fiddle. I've got nothing else."

"You think you're funny."

"I'm a little funny." He gestured to a chair in front of his desk.

Polly dropped into it and leaned across. "I need to talk to you about lots of things this morning."

"Do any of them include a raise?"

"You must have had a good weekend."

He shrugged and grinned. The running joke on his raise was one they were both quite comfortable with. Jeff was paid very well and they had already negotiated his yearly salary increases along with his bonuses. It seemed the joke was never going to grow old, though.

"It was a good weekend. I had dinner with a friend last night."

Polly perked up. "A friend or a
good
friend?"

"I don't know," he smirked. "But her daughter loves her very much."

"Oh," she said, slumping back down. "I thought it might be a date."

"No. It's just a friend who needed a shoulder to cry on. So we ate expensive steak and I flirted with the waiter. He was adorable. Maybe a bit too young for me, but the flirting was fun."

"You're a nut."

"And you love me. What's happening in Polly-world?"

"Before I stir Sylvie up, I want to know what you think about a coffee shop and bakery coming to downtown Bellingwood."

He sat back and nodded slowly while he thought. "It's not a terrible idea. The Chamber would love to see a business like that. They're always looking to fill those empty buildings. Are you planning to buy and remodel down there?" Jeff glared at her. "Why don't you ever talk to me before you start doing these things?"

"I'm talking to you now and no, it's not just me. Sal is buying the building across from Pizzazz. She wants to put a coffee shop in, but then we were brainstorming and before I knew it, I had an entire bakery to dream about while I slept. We don't have room for additional equipment and supplies here at Sycamore House."

"Yes we do."

"You're not helping."

"Really. If Sylvie wanted to do it here, we could put ovens and racks on that back wall. We'd have to yank the table out, but mixers could sit on the counter back there and..."

Polly waved her hand to stop him. "Sylvie started getting excited about putting a bakery in Sal's building."

"She really wants to work out of two separate kitchens?"

"I think she sees the potential for bringing on more employees. And we really don't have room in this kitchen. Besides, a bakery and coffee shop seem to go together, don't you think?"

"So Sycamore House Bakery downtown?" he asked.

"Sure. It expands our reach and both of those small businesses would be a draw for the other one."

Jeff leaned forward on his desk and rubbed his forehead with both hands. Looking up from under his fingers, he sighed a deep sigh. "Why can't anyone just be satisfied with growing the businesses we already have?"

"You can hardly blame Sylvie. She wants to use the heck out of what she learned. And you and I both know that she doesn't have room here to bake wedding cakes like she wants. Just think of all she could create. And think of all the people she could hire as the bakery grows."

"What if it doesn't?"

Polly curled her nose at him. "Who are you and what did you do with my Jeff? First of all, you'll be promoting the place..."

"I will? Who said I'd do that?"

"Don't make me pull out the boss card on you. And secondly, this is Sylvie. She's amazing in the kitchen. People already ask about her breads and pastries. And that's just what she does on a small scale for wedding receptions."

"So, Sal's buying the building and putting a coffee shop in. I suppose Henry's doing the remodel."

"Well, duh."

"And you want me to tell you
what
about the idea of a bakery?"

"I want you on board with this. I'm meeting everyone at one thirty, and then Henry and I are going to talk to Steve."

Steve Cook was Polly's financial advisor. His firm had worked with her father and he'd been involved with her decisions since the day she decided to return to Iowa and buy an old schoolhouse. He had yet to say no to her and Polly was hoping that she never presented him with an idea that he thought would fail.

"You know that if you and Sylvie decide this is what you want to do, I'll be behind you all the way."

"Good. I'll let you know."

"What were the rest of the lots of things?"

She was confused for a moment and then said, "Oh! Those. It's mostly about hiring more people. I can't handle all of the bookkeeping that is going on with Sycamore Inn and catering and if the bakery gets busy, it's going to just get worse. And … I think we need a full-time receptionist."

Jeff shut his eyes and shook his head back and forth. "I kept hoping that Sarah would be able to do more, but that poor woman seems to be hanging on by a thread. She comes into the office every once in a while, but after an hour, she's exhausted."

"I know." This was a hard conversation to have. Polly kept having it in her head, but she didn't want to deal with the reality.

"I don't want to have to tell her that we're replacing her."

"I'll talk to her. There will always be something for her to do if she has the energy, right?"

"Of course," Jeff said.

"That's all she needs to know. But I think we need someone else here in the office. And you have
got
to hire someone at Sycamore Inn. Rachel can't keep going out there to clean rooms. Especially if Sylvie gets busy with another kitchen."

"Are you yelling at me?" he asked.

"No. I'm just telling you that I think it's time we finally admit we are no longer a four person operation. We need more help."

"Maybe you just need to rescue a few more people."

She laughed. "You're a brat."

"That's where your best employees come from. Am I right?"

He was right. Sort of. And that made Polly a little crazy. If Henry wasn't giving her trouble about rescuing the whole world, Jeff was."

"It's time to look," she said. "Would you put together some job postings?"

"I hate interviewing."

"So do I. Do you remember your interview? I stunk at it and you hired yourself."

He grinned. "I learned that closing line from a friend of mine and to be honest, I couldn't believe it worked. But I also knew that I wanted this job. As much as I might want to tell you that we're getting too many businesses..."

"It's only three and maybe four," she interrupted.

"Anyway, it's the best fun I'm ever going to have in my life, so you do what 'cha gotta do and I'll find people to support you."

"You really will?"

"I'll get on it right away. But don't forget you have to talk to Sarah."

"It might take a day or two, but I'll make sure she's comfortable with whatever happens."

~~~

Polly pulled in beside Henry's truck and jumped out. He was standing with Sal and Sylvie just inside the glass front door. Sylvie pushed it open when Polly approached.

"So what do you all think?" she asked as she walked in. Then she stopped talking and looked. The place was a complete mess. Dressmaker's dummies were scattered around, some on their sides, others still standing erect. It looked creepy. Boxes and bins littered the floor. A pile of filthy old furniture was shoved up against the interior wall and counters and cabinets were piled against a back wall.

"Wow. Did you know about this mess?" she asked Sal.

"Of course. I've been in here a few times. We just need to bring in a dumpster and empty the place."

"We? That includes you?" Polly asked. "Wouldn't that mar your latest manicure?"

"Don't be smart," Sal scolded. "Of course not me. But your husband says it's no big deal."

"Now Polly. You need to look beyond the mess and see the entire space. Just like you did when you began creating Beryl's art studio or the apartment at Sycamore House." Henry took her arm. "Look at the windows and the walls."

"Is that the wall that separates this from the back room?" she asked. "Is that where the bakery could go?"

"It's not a load bearing wall, so it can be moved anywhere. We just need to leave these beams in place." Henry knocked on a steel beam that went from floor to ceiling."

"Can you wrap those with wood?"

"We can do anything."

Polly spun around. "What kind of style are you thinking about, Sal?"

"Hell, I don't know. I just want coffee. You tell me what I want."

"I think it should be comfortable and cozy. Use reclaimed wood and stain it really dark. Hang lamps from the ceiling and sconces from the walls. None of that fluorescent stuff." She pushed some fabric out of the way with her feet and bent over to look at the floor. "What kind of shape is this in, Henry?"

"I haven't had a chance to really look at it yet, but most of the floors in town were laid by the same people and they're generally in really good shape."

"So we clean the floors. Those could be beautiful." Polly paced off a section. "Here would be a dark wood bar - like a dark walnut. Henry's dad could so make this. It would be gorgeous. Put comfortable wooden chairs in front of it. Then, the tables and chairs on the main floor would all be different. We could hit thrift stores and find tons of those things. Different shapes and textures. But I'm sitting in every single chair. I hate uncomfortable chairs at a coffee shop. And bookshelves. Lots of bookshelves. Because books warm the room."

Sal and Sylvie stood back and watched her dream out loud.

"And you need to talk to Jerry about re-wiring this place," Polly said, gesturing at the walls.

"We'd have to do that anyway. Nothing in here is up to code," Henry said.

"Smart wiring. And there should be outlets all along the wall and maybe bring some into the middle of the room somehow. Can you put them in the floor?" she asked Henry.

"Running lines under an existing floor won't be easy."

"If people needed to plug in, they could take a table along the wall. But there need to be tons of outlets. No one should have to worry about whether they have access."

"And you could have coffee pots on a big round table here in the middle of the room. Customers could buy their cup at the counter and for just plain coffee, they can get free refills. Any of the special stuff, that's done by the barista. And tea out here, too. This could really work. You could have specialty coffees and teas every day along with familiar brews."

She looked at the three of them. "Whatever! I'm just saying things out loud. Step in if you want something else."

"It sounds great to me," Sal said. "Do you want to see where the bakery will be?"

"Yes. Have you seen it yet, Sylvie?"

"Not yet."

Polly walked past the area where she'd paced out the bar. "There would be racks of bread right here. Rolls and baguettes. It will smell so awesome. And a glass counter here for pastries and cakes. And we should construct a booth here for you, Sylvie, so you can talk to people who want to place big orders. Tall backs so your conversations don't bother anyone else. We'll install a tablet in the table and network it with your computer. You can be completely high-tech about it all. This would make a really fun office for you."

Sylvie nodded at her, obviously having no clue what Polly was babbling about. She whispered loudly to Sal, "All I'm hearing is bake, bake, high techy-techy." The two laughed while Polly walked through an opening into a large space.

"We need bathrooms," Polly said. "Don't forget the bathrooms."