The Sometimes Sisters(9)

Brook will work weekends doing whatever needs done. Since someday this place might fall into her hands, she needs to know the operation in all its stages. Don’t whine, Brook. If you want a paycheck, you have to work for it. Food is free in the café. Y’all will have to pay for what you take out of the store, including beer.

Harper threw up her palms defensively when she realized everyone else was staring at her. “Don’t give me those hateful looks. I don’t even like beer.”

“I like beer.” A big smile lit up Brook’s face.

“When—what—how?” Dana stammered.

“I tasted yours when you weren’t lookin’ back when I was about six and I liked it,” Brook said.

John cleared his throat and looked over the top of his glasses at them. “Shall I go on?”

“Yes, please,” Tawny said with a sideways glance at Harper.

Zed and Flora will keep their jobs and their paychecks will continue. Tawny will find all that in the computer program, plus what y’all will be paid. I hate all this newfangled technology, but in order to keep the cabins full, we need to have it so they can book rooms online.

“Wi-Fi after all!” Brook pumped a fist in the air.

“No, ma’am. The Internet will only be available in one cabin, and that’s where the business computer is,” Zed said from the serving window. “She was adamant about that.”

John checked his watch. “I’ll go on now.” He found his place and continued.

I’ve set it all up fairly. Tawny will also take care of reservations, checkouts, and rents on the cabins. When Zed goes, John will give each of you another letter. I remember when one of you said the only time you saw Dana was when you came to the lake for a while in the summer—that you were sometimes sisters. Here’s your chance to be more than that. Either live in harmony or get on down the road. It’s your choice. I love each of you. You’ve been a delight to my heart and soul. No tears or mourning. I want you to be happy and live every day as if it were your last. That’s what I’ve done for many years, and I’m leaving with no regrets for any of the decisions I’ve made.

John folded the letter and laid three bright-red folders on the table. “These are your copies of the will. Your names are on the front. My work here is done until such time as Zed passes on. Good day, ladies.”

He snapped his briefcase shut, picked it up, and left without another word.

“Y’all really stickin’ around?” Tawny wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Brook and I are,” Dana answered. “Harper?”

“Might as well. She said no tears.” Harper picked up a paper napkin and dabbed her eyes.

Dana and Tawny both nodded and bent forward in sobs anyway.

Brook hugged her mother and cried with her, but not a single one of the sisters consoled the other. Zed came from the kitchen, hugged each of them, and wiped their faces with his white handkerchief that smelled like smoke. “She didn’t want this, girls. She made me promise not to weep over her ashes. It’s the only promise that I made to her that I can’t keep.”

“I should have come more often,” Dana said.

“Me too,” Tawny and Harper said in unison.

“Past is past. That’s what she’d say if she was here right now with us. Present is what matters and future is what we look forward to. Now, if y’all are stayin’, you need to get settled in and ready for work that’s startin’ in the mornin’.”

“Why didn’t you come out here with us?” Dana asked.

“Didn’t need to. I helped Annie make up that will and I knew what was in it. Here’s the keys to the store, Dana.” He handed off a ring with two keys on it. “You go on and reacquaint yourself with the place. The bait man comes tomorrow before noon, and there’s a list tacked beside the cash register about when the other deliveries are made.”

Dana took it from him. “Thank you again. It’s not enough for what you’ve done, but I mean it.”

Zed nodded, but his eyes were swimming in tears. “Annie was my best friend. I already miss her and I don’t expect that time is going to do a damn thing to help it, either.”

Dana quickly stood up and hugged him.

Zed inhaled and let it out slowly. “Tawny, you need to go get your cabin straightened up. Your granny had it all set up for computer stuff so you can take care of the books.”

“Why no Wi-Fi?” Brook asked.

“Annie said when people come here, it’s to get away from all that machinery stuff,” Zed said. “I’ll be bringin’ the computer and printer and all that out there along with the desk to your cabin, Tawny, soon as I clean up the kitchen.”

Harper looked up at him. “And me?”

“You got the afternoon to unpack. Then you’ll be helpin’ me right here every day startin’ at five o’clock in the mornin’. We open the doors at six and serve breakfast until ten. After that it’s just burgers and hot dogs and whatever the blue-plate special is for dinner. If there’s any of the special left, they can have it for supper. If not, then it’s burgers until seven, when we close the doors,” Zed said.

“Do we get to run a bill in the store?” Harper asked.

“Yep, but Tawny will deduct every penny from your paycheck,” Zed said.