Free Chances Are by Barbara Bretton Page B

be good,” Olivia said as Rose walked toward her. “I left Sunny in charge and she still doesn’t know vellum from construction paper.”
    “I’m so sorry, Liv, but I’m afraid I told them.”
    “Told them what?”
    “That you’re opening a tea shop.”
    “Is that all? And here I thought you told them about the night Simon and I—”
    “Never,” Rose said. “You swore me to secrecy.”
    “The tea shop is no secret. I filed the papers with the township. They’re public record.”
    “But you haven’t made an announcement. I shouldn’t have said anything, but Toni and Connie were being such bitches that I couldn’t hold back.”
    “Okay, so you told them. How did it go over?”
    “Everyone who matters thought it was a brilliant idea.”
    “And Toni and Connie hated it.”
    “They despised it.”
    Olivia threw back her head and laughed. “That means it’s going to be a smash hit!”
    “That’s pretty much what I thought, too.” She met her friend’s eyes. “If your offer still holds, I’m in.”
    “Of course the offer still holds. I’d love for us to be partners in the tea shop.” Olivia extended her right hand. “Then it’s a deal.”
    “There’s one condition,” Rose went on. “I’d like to offer the manager’s position to Maddy.”
    “I thought she was working for you here at the Inn.”
    “She has been,” Rose said carefully, noting the lack of enthusiasm in Olivia’s tone, “but I think she needs a new challenge. Not everyone is cut out for innkeeping.”
    “Amen to that. Quite frankly, Rosie, I don’t know how you stand sharing the bathroom with strangers.”
    “You sound like my daughter.”
    Olivia was quiet for a few moments. “What about that radio gig? Doesn’t that take up a lot of her time?”
    “Friday mornings,” Rose said. “I see the radio show as built-in publicity for the new venture. She could do it from Cuppa if the station agrees.”
    A radio interview Rose had arranged back in December had generated a part-time gig for Maddy but not the career opportunity she had prayed would come her daughter’s way. The local radio program paid her in free tickets to the Paradise Point Multiplex and ten percent off at O’Malley’s Bar and Grill. The irony was not lost on either Rose or Maddy.
    Olivia drummed her fingers on the step. “I had been thinking of bringing Claire O’Malley on board.”
    “As manager?” Rose didn’t mean to sound quite so skeptical.
    “She is the one who kept O’Malley’s going before Aidan came on board.”
    “Not really,” Rose said. “Jack Bernstein kept the wolf from the door and Tommy did all the ordering.”
    “A subjective evaluation?” Olivia asked.
    “An accurate evaluation.”
    Olivia frowned. “We need someone with real experience to keep the books, take care of ordering—”
    “Maddy can handle it,” Rose said. “She was an accountant for years out in Seattle.”
    “There’s a difference between bean counting and running a business,” Olivia pointed out. “If you think Maddy is the best one to manage Cuppa, I’m willing to give her a try, but I have to admit I can’t see her up front shmoozing with the crowd.”
    “I’m the first one to admit her people skills need work.” It was the personal aspect of innkeeping that her daughter disliked so intensely. “I’m her mother but I do try to keep her away from the front desk.”
    They locked eyes.
    “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Olivia asked. “Claire up front as hostess, Maddy in the back, keeping the whole thing running smoothly.”
    “They may say no.” She wasn’t at all convinced the two women were half as friendly as Maddy wanted her to believe. Working closely together might put a strain on their budding familial ties.
    “We won’t know until we ask.”
    “I’ll talk to Maddy tonight,” Rose said.
    “Perfect,” Olivia said. “We’ll get to Claire’s house early tomorrow night for poker and present it to her