Free Summer on Kendall Farm by Shirley Hailstock Page B

faced east. She’d removed the pocket doors and installed french doors in their place. It allowed the light to flow out into the hall and make the space brighter.
    It was her policy to review the business every morning at seven. Using her project-management skills, she would study the expenses of the ongoing renovations and the future plans for making the property an income-producing concern. If all went according to her projections, the Kendall Farm Restoration Corporation would come into fruition. She’d been distracted for the past two days with Jace and Ari. But she was back on schedule now. She’d asked Jace to meet her at nine so he could sign all the employment papers and she could give him a list of things that needed his attention.
    Taking a drink of her coffee, she clicked on the Kendall’s financial details. Using the time to go over the books, she realized she was getting close to a zero balance in her account. She’d already mortgaged the place as much as the bank allowed. Thankfully, she had an advance check for $10,000.00 from a modeling agency that had asked to use the place for a week. When they finished their location shoot, she’d get the balance. The money wouldn’t go far, but it would pay Jace’s salary and help with some of the marketing she was doing. She’d contracted with local visitors’ bureaus and had brochures being printed to announce the opening of the farm for visitors.
    She’d worked with a web designer and the site was ready to go live. There were more details that needed coordination, but she was on schedule.
    Kelly glanced at her grad school degree hanging on the wall. Her MBA got her a job at an advertising and marketing firm on Madison Avenue. In charge of several key product accounts, she was on her way up the ladder. Then disaster happened. She lost a big client. She winced at the memory of her client telling her they were switching to a rival firm. Nothing she said could change their minds. Nothing she offered was good enough. Afterward, she felt as if there was a cloud over her and no longer was she given the important clients. Advertising is a business based on image and perception. Kelly was good, but one failure was all it took to end her chances at being the golden girl.
    When her grandmother died, leaving her a small inheritance, and the Kendall came on the market, Kelly snapped it up with the intention of proving her promotional skills were as honed as ever. Looking over the marketing plan, she made a few changes and hit the print button. As she pulled the page from the printer, Jace came in.
    “Oh,” Kelly said, startled as she turned back from the machine. “Is it nine o’clock already?”
    “Afraid so,” he said. He took a seat next to the desk. He held a sheath of papers.
    “Are they completed?” she asked.
    He nodded, handing them to her.
    Kelly checked to make sure the insurance forms had no gaps. Finding none, she looked up.
    “They seem fine. I’ll submit them right away.”
    Placing them on the top of her inbox, Kelly looked over the pages on her desk. Rifling through some, she glanced at Jace. “I’m usually more organized than this,” she said, finding what she was searching for. “Here’s a list of things I’d like you to start on. I made notes about what needs repair and what needs to be replaced.”
    Jace looked at the list. He nodded several times.
    “Anything else?” he asked.
    “Yes. I was hoping you could let me know if you think of anything else that should be done or restored here at the Kendall, given your association with the place.”
    He sat forward in the chair. “What do you mean?”
    “I’ve mentioned I’ve done a lot of the work myself, with my cousin’s help and her husband’s, but if I should bring in a specialist for something, let me know.” She pulled another sheet of paper from her desk and handed it to him. “These are the projects I worked on.”
    “You did all these?” He scanned the long list.
    “I