Wed Sep 18

The week was going well. Bobbie assigned many of her management duties to Will and he was enjoying the responsibility. The ISO-like procedures was her project as were some programming odds and ends for the website and financial software. She still liked to do her morning rounds and today she had a guest with her. Bobbie picked up Suzy the night before. June and Charlie had a medical appointment and the babysitter was unavailable in this morning.

Suzy finished her breakfast of a chopped up biscuit and scrambled eggs and was now on the floor playing with Fossie.

“Sweetie, lets go potty and get dressed and we can take Fossie on a walk around the motel. We can see Auntie Quinn and Uncle Will and Mark and Mink and everyone.”

Suzy nodded happily and got unsteadily to her feet. They got in the bathroom and Bobbie discovered the diaper was dry. She set Suzy on the potty and she had a big pee. Bobbie put her in a pull-up before bed and took her in the bathroom to pee late last night. She also took her to pee early this morning so with a little help Suzy had not peed the bed or wet herself all night. last night, Bobbie’s interrupted sleep pattern worked in their favour.

“It feels good to have a dry bum doesn’t it?”

Suzy nodded.

“We’ll get dressed and find Fossie’s harness.”

Suzy liked getting dressed at Grammas. Bobbie did a lot of experiments with kids clothing, making dresses and jackets out of blouses, shirts, sweaters and other things that she got from the thrift store. Suzy passed a critical eye over the dresses Bobbie showed her and chose one that had a bodice and arms made from a blouse with tiny pink and fuchsia flowers and an overall styled bibbed dress made of light cashmere died a dark fuchsia. Bobbie helped Suzy get it over her head and fastened up. “I think you need some tights too.” Bobbie put on footless tights and socks and then her sneakers. “Go see in the mirror and tell me if you like it.”

Suzy scampered into the bathroom and twirled with the dress. The cotton ruffle around the edge twirled and the dark fuchsia highlighted her her light colouring and dark hair. She smiled around her soother.

“It looks nice, let’s take your soothie and put it in the bedroom for naptime.”

Suzy frowned and spit it out. Bobbie picked it up and washed it and they went into her bedroom and they put it on the bedside table. “It’ll be OK here. Let’s get Fossie harnessed and go.”

Bobbie had Suzy’s hand on one side and Fossie’s lead in the other hand as they headed down the stairs. They took them one at a time and Bobbie counted as they came down. Suzy counted along and could follow along pretty well. They headed over to the Gallery. Quinn and Ray were there with the twins. Suzy went over and kissed each twin on the forehead. They giggled and gurgled.

Quin gestured to Suzy. “Hi guys. Bobbie did you make that little dress that Suzy is wearing? It’s adorable! You’ll have to show me how to make them for the girls.”

“I play around with some of the sweaters and shirts that I get that are worn out or have holes. I’ll make some for the girls when they get bigger. Have you knit them some diaper covers?”

Ray smiled, “nothing but the best for Cora and Edie. They have cashmere blend diaper covers.”

“Nice. Is everything OK with working with your brother? He’s not being too bossy, is he?”

“He tries but I am the oldest, by 45 minutes, so I can keep him in line. You and Trixie are my bosses. I’m doing some design work for her; for when she changes her company’s name. I keep our website up to date, handle reservations and bookings and do the design on the side. Joe’s doing weekends. I can use the almost 2 salaries right now. Lacey helps at the reservation desk sometimes. Do we even pay Lacey.”

Ray Frowned. “I’ll be getting a salary too. I’m working on the band council art display this weekend and we’re getting customers in the shop on the weekdays.”

Quinn squeezed her hand of course. “I’ll send Dad to the market and look after the shop this weekend.”

“It’ll be nice to see Gary. I let Greg and Trixie handle paying Lacey.” Bobbie rounded up Suzy and Fossie and they headed over to the restaurant. They chatted with people in SPOKES and headed back to the kitchen. Bobbie stood in the doorway with Fossie and Suzie went in and Mark picked her up.

“Hi Bobbie, Suzie and Fossie you guys aren’t too cute. I’ve got some fresh cookies around here somewhere how do feel about chocolate chip?”

“I don’t think Suzy likes chocolate chip cookies.” Bobbie teased.

Suzy shook her head no. “I like cookies Gramma!”

Mark put Suzy down and she walked over to Bobbie while she nibbled on her cookie. “So Bobbie, I wanted to talk to you about our tomato situation.”

“This sounds serious what’s wrong with our tomatoes.”

“Nothing’s wrong. I’ve filled the freezer with enough to supply us with chilli and red sauce fore a year and we still have many bushels. We were thinking that we could just sell them on Saturday at the market or even give them to the Growers Collective for them to sell; when Jane had an idea.”

Jane wiped her hands. “Yes, I used to date a fella who made the best salsa. He put salsa on everything. Eggs, potatoes you name it. Anyway, I thought we could make salsa. It’s a preserve so it’s shelf stable and we could serve it or sell it.”

“I think that’s a great idea. Homemade salsa sounds delicious; I’d love to help. When are we going to make the salsa and what can I do?”

“Jane and I are heading out to buy the jars and Roger and Gina and Effie are picking the last of the produce to bring up here for this evening.”

“I smell some overtime. I can come and help after supper. In the meantime, I’ll go check in with Will and then maybe we’ll go see Johnny. So can I have a cookie too?”

Mark nodded and gave her a cookie and Bobbie and Suzy and Fossie went into the restaurant to find Will. He was sitting at a table with Frank and they were having coffee and chatting.

Both men looked up and smiled. “You better not let Mink catch Fossie in here.”

Mink appeared behind Bobbie. “Fossie is very well behaved; he can stay.”

Frank laughed. “Not much gets by Mink. Do you think Townes will be back here soon. I am getting instructions and contract documents for him and I need his input.”

“He just left. I think he’ll be back on Friday though. I can ask him to come tomorrow if you need him.”

“Thanks Bobbie.”

“How’s it all working Will?”

“So far so good. The rooms are pretty full, the reservations are steady. We’ve got 3 wedding receptions over the next 3 weeks and your procedure thingy with the list of contacts and everything to consider is amazing. We hope to use the area outside by the pool.”

“The little church in Oceanview won’t know what hit them.”

“All right guys, let’s go see Uncle Johnny. I think he’s building his house today.” Bobbie checked her phone. Suzy would be ready for her nap at 10 or so. They’d walk down through the garden and chat with Johnny and headed back up for story time and maybe Suzy would nap.

Suzy woke around noon and they had lunch. They were playing with a puzzle when Charlie and June arrived. June admired the little dress. “Gramma, can I keep my dress?”

“Of course you can Suzy, that dress is obviously meant for you.”

“Thanks for everything Mom.”

Bobbie was just happy that she could change into gardening clothes and head down to help them pick the rest of the produce. In the end they made 12 dozen bottles of salsa. Mark said she could take a dozen but he wanted the rest and they probably wouldn’t have enough to sell at the market.