Free There's Always Plan B by Susan Mallery

or anyone to see.”
    Carly turned away. “Get out of here.”
    â€œWhat? Aren’t you going to punish me?”
    â€œRight now I don’t even want to look at you. Go to your room and stay there.”
    â€œYou can’t tell me what to do.”
    Carly turned on her daughter. She didn’t raise her voice, but for once she didn’t hide her disappointment, anger and pain.
    â€œGet out of my sight.”
    Tiffany gasped, grabbed her books and fled.

CHAPTER 5
    Carly did her best to clear Tiffany from her mind as she set out the papers in front of her mother. A couple of hours alone in her room might give the teen time to rethink her words and actions and come to the conclusion that she’d been rude and wrong. Given Tiffany’s current hormone level and mental state, it seemed unlikely; but hey, a mom could dream.
    â€œI’m interested in a three-pronged approach to growing our bottom line,” Carly said after she’d set up an easel and put up the first graphic of three arrows pointing up. “First, individual bookings, second, group bookings and third, day visitors. The individual bookings are going to account for most of our weekend reservations, so the other two need to fill up our midweek slots. My marketing emphasis will be based on the haunted-house angle. It’s the only way we’ll get people to come out here. The decrease in visitors in recent years proves that without a hook, we’re not going to make it.”
    She flipped to the second graphic, this one showing a couple in a car. “I want to use the existing database to send out a letter to all our previous customers. We can offer them a twenty-percent discount for their next stay. I’ll also put together some packages—a cooking weekend, day trips to Napa, or an afternoon on a marine research vessel. I already have some contacts there.”
    Her mother didn’t comment, nor could Carly read her expression. So she just kept on talking.
    â€œWe’ll advertise in very specific magazines. I’ve listed them on page two, along with their rates.”
    Her mother flipped the page. “This is a lot of money,” Rhonda told her.
    Carly thought about pointing out it was way less than it had cost to replace perfectly good china and flatware, but didn’t.
    â€œI have more specifics on attracting couples and families, but right now I’d like to continue the overview,” she said. “The group bookings would be small conferences. There are lots of groups looking for a unique place to come and have a two- or three-day session. I’ve had interest from some horror writers—obviously they’re excited about the ghost angle. There are three culinary institutes who would like to book for three- and five-day sessions at a haunted house. Management off-sites are another opportunity. I’m still getting information on that.”
    â€œThis is all very nice, Carly, but I don’t want a bunch of strangers in my house.”
    Carly opened her mouth, then closed it. “Mom, this is a bed-and-breakfast. Strangers is what we do.”
    Her mother sighed. “You know what I mean. Nice married couples are one thing, but horror writers? And I don’t want a bunch of business people here.”
    Carly had expected resistance, but not like this. “What do you have against business people?”
    â€œFor one thing, we only offer breakfast. I’m not interested in opening a restaurant.”
    â€œI agree. It’s too expensive and too iffy. But we can offer boxed lunches with advance notice, and catering. I’ve spoken to several of the restaurants in town and they’re more than willing to deliver out here. In fact, the boxed lunches tie in with my idea for day visitors. We could offer the larger, public rooms for meetings of local clubs. Civic groups, women’s groups. We make a couple of bucks a head on their lunch and give them the parlors