MAY
Rick's retirement coincided with the return of Nick and Ivy. Martha was trained and working while Rick spent three weeks training Katherine. Monday morning would be her first day on her own. The former owner worked his last breakfast and then they closed for moving day. Rick and Alice had been kind enough to let Katherine, or Kat as she preferred, stay in their spare room. Her belongings were in a storage pod in the parking lot.
As expected, everyone pitched in to move the Jablonskis to their cottage and Kat's meager belongings into the apartment. Will had been carrying furniture down the stairs all morning. Big things went in either Alex's or Jake Watson's pickup truck and they loaded the boxes in Jack's and Peter's SUVs.
Sam held the other side of the double mattress he and Will carried down the stairs. Will thought they should throw it in the dumpster not move it to a remodeled cottage.
Sam mumbled, "Rumor is he can afford a new mattress."
Will chuckled. "I was thinking the same thing."
Later after a quick break while Rory and Anna helped Kat clean the empty apartment, Sam and Will carried a newer queen-sized mattress up the stairs. It was bigger than the married couple's old one and Will assumed she slept alone. He felt weird wondering about his employee's sleeping arrangements.
It didn't take long to move her in. Rory was helping her put aways some kitchen items when Will carried in the last item, a flat screen TV. Sam went to work to set it up for Kat.
Rory said, "You should come to the party. You're part of the community now."
Kat frowned. "I feel weird like I'm taking his job and his home."
Rory laughed. "He wanted to retire and his new cottage is gorgeous."
Anna left to find Cole who was helping unload at the cottage on Puffin, up the street from Sam and Rory's cottage. Sam said, "Out with the old, in with the new. You are part of The Point family."
Will joked. "She'll need a jar."
Rory smiled. "Do you play cards?"
"I'll be too busy working and proving myself to play games."
Will froze. "Prove yourself?"
"To the corporate guys who own The Landing."
Will frowned. "I'd worry about all of us who love the place."
Rory frowned. "Will, don't scare her. Everyone is really nice."
He felt like a double agent. He looked at the time on the microwave. "I gotta go. Lana should be here."
When he strode to the stairs, he heard as Kat asked, "His girlfriend?"
Rory laughed, as he reached the first floor. He still couldn't believe he owned it all. He was an entrepreneur, boss, landlord, and all he really wanted to be was a wide receiver.
When Will reached his sister's cottage, Lana was changing for the party. She flew in for one overnight. The goal was to have as many of Rick's former employees at the party at the Pelletier's ocean front home.
Lana stepped out of her bedroom wearing a dress and frowned at Will. "I'd hug you but you stink."
"Try moving furniture. Can I shower here?" His clothes were in the car.
She teased, "You live five minutes away."
"I know. I can go."
"I was kidding. I don't care. How does it feel?"
"What feel?" His knee was fine.
"You saved The Landing?"
"Shush. No one knows."
Lana smiled. "I can't wait to see retired Rick."
"I'll be quick." He didn't need long, but the hot pulsing water felt good. Maybe he should schedule a massage.
When they arrived at the beautiful home, it was crowded. Will was surprised that so many former employees had come back for Rick's celebration. Sam was talking to Drew Pelletier who flew in from California. The two Lilies were laughing with their husbands. One was local, but the other lived in Boston.
When Rick and Alice arrived, the crowd erupted in cheers. As Will watched the festivities, he concluded that even if The Landing stayed the same, it wouldn't be without Rick behind the counter.
It was Megan Brenner whose voice rose above the crowd. "Anyone who has worked at The Landing meet on the beach."
When Will looked out Sam had his tripod set up with a camera ready. So many people gathered around Rick and Alice. Will stood on the patio watching. He had worked at the fish market, but his sister worked for Rick during her college years.
"It's quite a legacy to be stepping into."
Will sighed. Who knew? But he looked to see Kat beside him. She meant for herself. "Everyone will support you. Just keep up the tradition."
After the photograph, people milled around. Will hadn't known Matthew Clark's mother worked for Rick. She and Drew posed for a picture with Rick. Sam was happy walking around taking candids. Will would love to see some photos of Rick and his employees on the walls of The Landing. Maybe there were some older ones highlighting the history. He would have to ask Rick.
It was Sunday, so the crowd thinned since people had to work and kids had school in the morning. Will walked Lana home.
"Any regrets?" She put her arm around his waist.
"Not yet. It'll keep me busy."
"Not too busy? Your job is football."
"I know. It'll keep me out of trouble." He hadn't missed Hailey like before.
In the morning, he picked Lana up to take her to the Jetport. Ryan had dropped the kids at school, but Lana needed to pick them up. Together they walked into The Landing. John was at the counter talking to Martha. He turned to smile. Lana gave her father-in-law a hug.
"You're taking off?"
She nodded. "But school will be out soon." Her kids were on a different schedule from the kids in Maine.
Will looked around. "Where's the new boss?"
Martha pointed up. "Upstairs. Baking."
Will had learned enough to be dangerous and knew she couldn't prepare food in an unapproved kitchen. The problem was The Landing didn't have an oven. Lana squeezed his arm. She worked at restaurants so she knew too.
With two coffees, they walked to his car. "Did you know about her baking?"
"She mentioned something. I never thought it through."
"It wouldn't be awful to up your game on pastries."
"I don't want to get shut down."
As he drove across the causeway, Lana turned back. It was a Drake thing; growing up, they always took one last look before heading home to Massachusetts.
When he pulled up in front of the small terminal. Lana hugged him. "You'll figure it out. Maybe there's space in the storeroom for an oven."
"And work space?"
Will stopped at the gym and worked out his frustrations. When he returned to his condo, he picked up his laptop and logged in to his Landing email account. Kat had sent him the next week's schedule to review two days early. He liked that, but she had added baking time to her schedule. He responded with his concerns before driving over for a late lunch.
Alex waved to him from a table. "Will, these blueberry turnovers are amazing."
It couldn't hurt to try one. Kat was busy making sandwiches while Ivy ran the register. "Hi Will. Whatcha want?"
"A lobster roll and I'll try one of these."
"They're selling fast."
The pastries were selling, even priced more than the oversized muffins. He used his phone to pay and went to browse the groceries while he waited. There were boxes on the shelves collecting dust. Ironically, some were cleaning supplies, but also some food items. He was eager to dig into the reports. Maybe they could expand into the grocery area for baking. His head hurt.
As he rounded the corner, Alex shook his head. "Why the frown?"
"She baked that upstairs."
Alex's eyes widened. "What're you going to do?" He cleared his throat.
Ivy appeared with his lobster roll and dessert. "Thanks."
As he tasted his lobster roll, his bundle of nerves relaxed. "It tastes like it should."
Alex smiled and leaned in. "I don't envy you."
"I might need your expertise."
Alex stood. "Let me know. I gotta get back to work."
Will waved and even Kat followed Ivy and called out bye. Was Alex checking up on things? He could have easily grabbed lunch at home, but Will could have too. He watched as Kat looked at something on her phone and frowned.
When he stood to leave, Kat called his name. He turned to the counter. She smiled. "Thank you for helping to move me in."
"It's the neighborly thing to do."
"But I heard you don't even live here."
He frowned. "The Point is home."
"But you live near John across the causeway."
He nodded. "My parents have a cottage, so I spent my summers here."
"And your sister used to work here?"
"Yup, she and her husband have a cottage too. They'll be here all summer."
"John's son."
He smiled and chuckled. "You'll have it all figured out in no time. How's your first day?"
She pouted. "My boss."
"Who is it?"
"Some corporation that's more concerned with making money than providing good baked goods. Did you like the turnover?"
He froze for a minute, because he couldn't lie. "It was tasty."
"See. The jerks are wrong."
Speechless, he pointed to the door. "I, um, have to go."
She smiled again. "Bye."
Shit! She didn't like him, except she did.
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