Through A Magnolia Filter

“FITZGERALD HOUSE,” DOLLEY SAID.

“I’m hoping to book a long term stay.” The man on the phone had a delicious Irish accent. “I tried to book online, but wasn’t successful.”

“I can certainly help you.” Dolley closed her eyes. Yum. She could listen to this man’s voice for hours. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she logged in to the reservation system. “When will you arrive?”

“December fifteenth through...the twenty-fifth of March.”

A three-and-a-half month stay? Dolley bit her lip, afraid she’d blurt out hot damn. She loved being the sister who caught these calls. She searched for available rooms, then it hit her. “Oh, dear. We close the week between Christmas and New Year’s.”

“You’re closed?” Papers rustled on the line. “Is there any way I could...incentivize you to let me stay?”

A three-and-a-half month reservation was a pretty big incentive, especially since Carleton House was opening next year. “How many people in your party?” she asked, trying to stall while she figured out what to do.

“Just me until mid-February. Then I’ll bring in my film crew.”

“Film crew?” This guy was in the movies? “How many rooms would you need?”

“Three more, beginning, let’s say, February 20 through March 25.”

If she was a swooning woman, she’d be dropping to the floor. What a perfect way to open Carleton House.

But they weren’t open over Christmas.

After Mamma opened the B and B, she’d always insisted they celebrate Christmas as a family. Dolley drummed her fingers on the desktop. Just last week, she and her sisters had agreed to stick with Mamma’s tradition.

But this was a three-and-a-half month reservation. With more rooms starting in February. Dolley shook her head. This booking was not going to a competitor.

Maybe Abby would make an exception. Bess, their other sister, would agree with Abby.

“I’ll talk with my partners, but I think we can work something out. It might not include breakfast, afternoon tea or wine tasting during the week we’re closed. Would that be a problem?”

“Hmm. Would I be able to eat elsewhere?”

“Absolutely.” She’d personally create a list of open restaurants for him. “I’d be happy to set up reservations for you and your party during the holidays.”

The grandfather clock at the end of the foyer ticked like a slow metronome, filling the long silence.

“I’ll be alone.” His tone was soulful, like he didn’t have anyone in the world.

No family during Christmas? Now she definitely had to convince Abby to make an exception.

“Let me get your information.”

She wrote everything down. Liam Delaney. Even his name was drool-worthy. “After I check with my partners, I’ll call you back.”

Dolley danced down the hallway to the kitchen, pushing through the swinging door. Abby handled all the breakfasts, teas and appetizers offered by the B and B. Eighty percent of the time she could find her sister baking or cooking.

She was in luck. Abby stood next to the counter on her phone.

“Dolley walked in.” Abby waved her closer. “She’ll know.”

Dolley moved to the counter.

Her sister pushed the speaker button and set the phone down. “Mamma wants to know how many more beds we need for Carleton House.”

“Hey, Mamma.” Dolley rested her head on her hand.

“Hi, sweetie. Aunt CeCe and I have been having fun hitting antique stores and estate sales. We found some great Victorian bed frames and one tester, but I couldn’t remember how many more beds we need. Also, are we still looking for lamps?”

The smile in Mamma’s voice had Dolley grinning. Her newlywed mother sounded so excited. “Great-Aunt CeCe is shopping with you?”

“Her arthritis is better in the morning. We’ve gotten in the habit of hitting the stores early.” Mamma lowered her voice. “She loves feeling useful and spending money. If she could, she’d shop all day.”

“Let me think.” Dolley closed her eyes and pictured the inventory spreadsheet on her computer. She’d updated it last week. “Six more beds. Bess added a request for four small bookcases for the upstairs parlors. Two pairs.”

“We did find bookcases.” Mamma’s voice brimmed with energy. “Aunt CeCe, were those bookcases in pairs?”

There was a quiet conversation between Mamma and Cece.

“We’ll go back to that store and put the bookcases on hold. We think there was at least one matching pair. And lamps?”

Dolley scrolled down the spreadsheet in her mind. “We need a dozen table lamps and we’d take floor lamps, too.”

“Good. There was an estate sale today that had wonderful lamps. We put holds on the nice ones. I’ll take pictures and send them to you. Love to all.”

Abby ended the call. She and Dolley looked at each other and laughed.

“I’m glad Mamma volunteered, or we’d be running all over Georgia and the Carolinas looking for furniture,” Abby said.

“It sounds like Aunt CeCe’s having a great time, too.” Dolley spotted a tray of sweets. “Anything to eat in here?”

Abby waved at the counter. “Leftovers from tea.”

Dolley snapped up a sandwich and grabbed a plate off the stack. Deviled ham? Worked for her. Anything her sister made was delicious. She could chew and mull over how to approach Abby.

Abby stood in front of an open fridge with the inventory list Dolley had designed for her. “Did you need something?”

“I stopped in to say hello to the Scrapbooking Sister group I booked.” Dolley dusted the crumbs off her fingers and took a deep breath. “What do you think about another long-term stay?”

Abby wiggled her fingers, engagement ring sparkling. “I sure liked the last one.”

“Yeah, yeah. You got a fiancé out of it.” Dolley moved to the coffeepot and poured a mug. “He’s not asking for dinner, so I don’t think Gray has to worry you’ll fall for another man.”

Abby bumped her shoulder and took a sip of Dolley’s coffee. Her sister’s gaze softened. “Gray never has to worry about that.”

Dolley rolled her eyes. Her sister and Gray were in love. Sickeningly so. She was happy for her sister, but why couldn’t she find her own guy?

“Back to business.” Dolley snapped her fingers in front of Abby’s silly smile. “Three-and-a-half months. He hasn’t asked for a discount. And he’ll need three more rooms starting February 20 until March 25.”