Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

MOLLY

I hurry into the gift shop feeling slightly disheveled. I slept so well last night that my normal six a.m. wake-up alarm came and went while I remained blissfully unaware. The only reason I got up when I did is because the sun was shining in my eyes. That's when I looked at the clock and saw it was already past nine.

Trina is standing behind the counter when I walk in. She finishes ringing up a guest's purchases before greeting me. "Hi, Molly, how did you sleep?"

"I overslept by three hours," I tell her.

"It's the sedatives we put into the water," she jokes. Then she says, "I sleep like a baby here, too."

"You're from Chicago originally, right?"

She nods her head. "Yeah, but I traveled a lot for work when I was hosting Midwestern Matchmaker . I love staying in one place now that the show is over."

"I can understand that," I tell her. "Traveling for work is a different kind of life."

I expect her to take this opportunity to pressure me about joining her dating event, but she doesn't. Which I appreciate because I haven't made up my mind whether I'm interested or not.

Looking around, I tell her, "You're better stocked than I thought you'd be. I was under the impression I'd basically be starting from scratch." My gaze stops on a shelf full of diapers and coloring books.

"We didn't want to open without having the basics."

"I'd say you've got that covered. I'm not sure why you even need me." Looking at a rack of keychains on the counter, I ask, "Why are you only charging three dollars for those? Most hotels price items like that around the ten-dollar mark."

"We're not looking to make money with the gift shop. We just want it to pay for itself."

"Why not be profitable, too?"

"Every t-shirt, keychain, and branded item we sell is good advertising for the lodge."

"Yes, but you could still make money on them," I tell her.

"We could, but we don't need to."

I think of all the high-end hotels I work for that make a ton in their gift shops and wonder why Trina and her fiancé aren't of the same mind. Picking up a toothbrush from the display, I tell her, "You could get eight or nine dollars for this." They have theirs priced at two.

"People already spend a lot to stay here; there's no reason to punish them for forgetting necessary items." Segueing off the topic of oral hygiene, she says, "We're interested in knowing what other kinds of things you think we should offer."

"I'd normally suggest an array of expensive luxury items. You know, perfumes, adding a jewelry case, silver flasks or things along those lines."

Trina nods her head thoughtfully. "I can see how those might be in demand in big cities or resorts, but I'm not sure they would be as marketable here in the middle of nowhere."

She's right and once again I wonder why I'm here instead of someone who specializes in more rustic locations. "I don't normally work for places like yours." I think, but don't add, places that aren't looking to rip off their guests at every turn.

Trina walks around to the front of the counter until she's standing next to me. "People are people. I figure you can get a feel for who our guests are and then advise us on what else you think we should carry."

"I can't imagine I'll need two weeks for that." Maybe two days …

"Then you'll have plenty of time to participate in the singles' event while you're here." If I were a conspiracy theorist, I might surmise my being here at the same time Trina was having her first matchmaking session was less of a coincidence and more of a planned happenstance. As in, maybe Ellen paid for me to be offered the spot and there really was no cancellation. But there's no way my sister would pay to have me participate without a guarantee that I'd do so. She's more careful with her money than that.

Also, why would Trina and Heath pay me to organize their gift shop if I were here for their singles' event?

"I'm still not sure I'm interested."

Trina looks nonplussed. "I thought you were intrigued by the idea last night." Waving her hand in the air, she decides, "But it's neither here nor there. Join us if you want, and if you don't, there are no hard feelings." Her attitude helps convince me this wasn't a set up.

"I guess I'll look around at the things you already stock. Then I'll put together some ideas of what more you could do."

"You don't have to stay in the shop," Trina says. "We want you to participate in all lodge activities and really get to know the ins and outs of the place so you can get a feel for what being a guest here entails. Just charge any expenses to your room and they'll be comped."

The Elk Lake Lodge is very different from my usual jobs. While I've worked at some of the most exclusive resorts in the world, I generally only get my room covered, along with a daily per diem for food.

"That's very nice of you, Trina. Thanks."

She smiles as she turns to leave. Before walking out the door, she spins around and adds, "If you change your mind about joining us for the singles' event, we'll be in the great room at five." Then she's gone.

I pull a notepad out of my purse as a youngish woman walks through the door. She's probably a few years younger than me. "You must be Molly! I'm Lorelai. I work here."

"In the gift shop?"

She nods her sandy brown head. "I live in Elk Lake. I was so excited when the lodge opened, I knew I wanted to be a part of it in some way."

Lorelai is the perfect person for me to talk to. "Is there anything your guests are looking for that you don't carry?"

She tilts her head as her face scrunches up in thought. "You know, I think we should carry more warms socks. You wouldn't believe how many people I hear complaining about cold, wet feet."

"Do they ask for socks?"

She shakes her head. "No, but they can see what we have and what we don't. The trick is listening to what they say to each other."

I'm suddenly convinced Trina and Heath just need to talk to their current employees. Regardless, I jot down warm socks on my pad before saying, "Thanks, Lorelai. Let me know if you can think of anything else."

Before starting my research, I exit the shop with the sole intention of finding a cup of coffee. I immediately forget my destination when Blake nearly runs me over.

"Molly, hi," he says.

I merely nod my head. I'm in no mood to embarrass myself with the inane drivel that constantly comes out of my mouth when Blake is around .

He looks over at Lorelai and asks, "You don't by any chance carry cinnamon gum, do you?" Glancing at me, he adds, "It's surprisingly hard to find."

"I'm sorry, we don't," Lorelai tells him. "I've got some Juicy Fruit if you want that."

Blakes eyebrows furrow as though he's having a hard time making the connection between cinnamon and artificially fruity flavors. "No, thanks." Then he looks at me and asks, "What are you up to today?"

Why is he suddenly being so friendly? Last night he treated me like I was a case of poison ivy looking for a hug. I remind myself to keep our interaction brief and words at a minimum. "Not much," I tell him. "Just working."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a gift shop consultant." Taking my notebook out, I write something down. "I've just made a note to order cinnamon gum."

The smile he gives me is enough to melt my butter. "Thank you."

Nodding my head again, I tell him, "Sure thing." Then I scurry around him. If I stick around, I'm sure to embarrass myself again.

Although, I have suddenly developed an interest in going to tonight's mixer. I don't know if I'll participate in the rest of the activities, but what can it hurt to see what kind of things Trina thinks will bring singles together?

Not only that, but it might also be interesting to find out what kind of woman Blake finds attractive. Especially as he's made it abundantly clear that I'm not his type.