Forever and For Always

Emily nodded. Rico had shown her and Daniel the secret corridor room several days earlier.

“In that case, take a look,” Rico said. “I trust you.”

Emily smiled to herself, wondering how he trusted her if he couldn’t even remember her name. Then she and Daniel went along the unlit, winding corridor and into the expansive back room. Just like the last time she’d been here, Emily was almost winded by the cold, and overwhelmed by the sheer size of the vast room. It was like stepping into a cavern or cave. She shivered and pulled her arms about herself. Daniel noticed her shivering and drew her closely into him. The warmth coming off him comforted Emily.

They went deeper inside the room, passing cupboards and sideboards, desks and wardrobes.

“Narnia, here I come,” Emily joked, pulling open the door to a particularly ornate wooden wardrobe, before jotting down its price and number on her list of purchases.

Finally, they located the place where all the beds were stored.

“Here,” Emily said, looking at a dark wood, antique four-poster bed frame. Each of the posts was made to look like the tree trunks from which they’d been carved. It was almost otherworldly. “This is exactly what I need. Just one more like this and the high-end rooms will feel pretty darn luxurious, don’t you think?”

Daniel seemed particularly impressed with the bed. “This is amazingly well built. I mean you can tell that by how well it’s stood the test of time, but also the finish, the way they used a varnish that suited the natural wood effect.” He seemed enamored, though no sooner had he said the words than he immediately became distracted by another bed. “Emily, quick, look at this one!”

Emily laughed as he tugged her hand to show her another ornate bed frame. This one had a paler varnish, and it almost looked like it was from an Icelandic log cabin. Patterns had been carved into the headboard and posts. It was gorgeous, a sight to behold.

“I mean, that’s a one in a million piece, Emily!” Daniel said enthusiastically. “Hand-carved. Awesome carpentry. You’d pretty much put the B&B on the map if you bought this!”

Emily felt a warmth spread inside of her. It was true. The beds she’d found in Rico’s store were amazing and unique. She could see now what Cynthia had been trying to tell her, about treating her guests like royalty. She’d certainly feel like a princess sleeping in one of these.

“You know,” Emily said, her fingers idling over the wood of one of the posts. “If we buy these beds, there is one stipulation.”

“Oh?” Daniel said, his eyebrows drawing together.

Emily pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. “We’d have to try each one out. For quality assurance purposes, of course.”

“You mean… Oh!” Daniel caught on to what Emily was suggestively implying. He wiggled his eyebrows. The prospect of buying the beds suddenly seemed even more enticing. “Oh well, of course…” he murmured, reaching his arms around Emily and pulling her into an embrace. “You wouldn’t be able to rest at night if you didn’t know, firsthand, the experience your guests were paying for.”

He kissed her neck seductively and Emily laughed.

“I’m going to give Rico my list,” she said, drawing herself out of the embrace. “And part with all of my money.”

Daniel whistled through his teeth. “He’s going to be happy. You’ve probably made him a whole month’s profit in one sale!”

“I’m not thinking about that,” Emily said, pretending to cover her eyes with her hands to avoid looking at the price labels.

She left Daniel in the large room and found Rico.

“Evie,” he said when she reemerged. “Did you find what you wanted?”

“I did,” Emily said. “I’d like to buy three wardrobes, a dressing table, two desks, six bedside tables, one tall boy, two chests of drawers, three rugs, and three antique beds.”

“Oh,” Rico said, a little surprised as she handed him the list of items and prices. “That’s quite a lot.” He began to add them up slowly on his ancient till.

“I’m furnishing two more rooms in the B&B and redesigning another.”

“Ah yes, you’re the B&B girl,” Rico said, nodding. “Your dad would be so proud of what you’ve achieved, you know.”

Emily couldn’t help but squirm. Even though she appreciated his kind words, it made her uncomfortable to think of her dad.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“Now,” Rico said in his wizened voice, “since you’re such a valued customer and you’re doing something that will benefit the whole town, I’ll give you a discount.” He tapped some buttons and a figure appeared on the dusty display screen.

Emily squinted, not sure if she was seeing it right. “Rico, that’s a fifty percent discount.” She couldn’t tell if the elderly gentleman had mistakenly entered the smaller figure; the last thing she wanted was to accidentally rip him off.

“That’s quite right. You get a special Sunset Harbor Memorial Weekend discount.” He winked.

Emily stammered, handing over her card. She could hardly believe his generosity.

“Are you sure?”

Rico waved a hand to silence her. The sale went through and Emily stood there a little dazed.

“Thank you, Rico,” she said, breathlessly, and planted a kiss on the old man’s papery cheek. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

He smiled wide, and that smile said it all.

She felt like a giddy child as she rushed off back through the antique shop to find Daniel.

“Rico gave me a half-price discount!” she exclaimed when she reached him.

He looked stunned.

“That’s amazing,” Daniel replied.

“Come on,” Emily said, impatient all of a sudden. “Let’s get this stuff out of here and start fixing up the B&B.”

Daniel laughed. “I’ve never seen someone so eager to end a date.”

“I’m sorry,” Emily said with a blush. “It’s just there’s so much to do and prepare for when Jayne gets here.”

“Who’s Jayne?” Daniel asked. “You didn’t tell me you’d booked another guest.” He seemed excited for her, if not a little surprised.

Emily laughed. “Oh, it’s not like that. Jayne’s my old best friend from New York.”

Daniel seemed suddenly awkward. He’d felt judged by Amy when she’d visited and was more than a little reticent to meet any of Emily’s other friends.

“Okay,” he said in a half mumble.

“She’s nice,” Emily reassured him. “And she’ll love you.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“You can’t know that for certain,” Daniel said. “You never know – people rub each other the wrong way all the time. And it’s not like I’m the friendliest guy in the world.”

Emily slung her arms around his neck and nuzzled in. “I promise. She’ll love you because I love you. That’s how it works with best friends.”

Emily realized, after she’d spoken, that she had said the “L” word. She’d told Daniel she loved him. It had just slipped out, but she didn’t feel strange or anxious about it at all. In fact, saying it had felt like the most natural thing in the world. She noted, however, that Daniel did not say it back and wondered whether she’d crossed that line too soon.