Katherine Nicolai

of sharing and showing. The busy weekend was winding down. What fun we had had. The inn had bustled with activity for the last three days. Guests, of course, our small staff, a band of musicians, florists, and Sycamore the Cat. We'd served fantastic meals. poured many, many cups of coffee in the breakfast rooms, and kept the fireplaces burning through the days.

Now, as guests were checking out, I was behind the tall desk in the office, sliding room keys back into their cubbies and tidying up paperwork. I could hear our maids in the halls above, vacuum cleaners running along the floorboards and doors opening and closing as one room was finished. and another began. Poor Sycamore was exhausted.

Now, as guests were checking out, I was behind the tall desk in the office, sliding room keys back into their cubbies and tidying up paperwork. I could hear our maids in the halls above, vacuum cleaners running along the floorboards and doors opening and closing as one room was finished. and another began. Poor Sycamore was exhausted.

Now, as guests were checking out, I was behind the tall desk in the office, sliding room keys back into their cubbies and tidying up paperwork. I could hear our maids in the halls above, vacuum cleaners running along the floorboards and doors opening and closing as one room was finished. and another began. Poor Sycamore was exhausted.

He lay in the inbox on the desk, his long black tail slung across the keyboard, and his nose pressed against the blotter. I stopped to massage his little body.

He lay in the inbox on the desk, his long black tail slung across the keyboard, and his nose pressed against the blotter. I stopped to massage his little body.

He lay in the inbox on the desk, his long black tail slung across the keyboard, and his nose pressed against the blotter. I stopped to massage his little body.

He purred thickly.

He purred thickly.

He purred thickly.

I stepped into the hall and saw the last couple of guests coming down the stairs. There was a sparkle about them as they smiled at each other. their hands clasped between them. This weekend had obviously done them good, and I took a bit of pride in whatever part we had played in that. As they stopped to hand over their room keys and fill to-go cups,

I stepped into the hall and saw the last couple of guests coming down the stairs. There was a sparkle about them as they smiled at each other. their hands clasped between them. This weekend had obviously done them good, and I took a bit of pride in whatever part we had played in that. As they stopped to hand over their room keys and fill to-go cups,

I stepped into the hall and saw the last couple of guests coming down the stairs. There was a sparkle about them as they smiled at each other. their hands clasped between them. This weekend had obviously done them good, and I took a bit of pride in whatever part we had played in that. As they stopped to hand over their room keys and fill to-go cups,

They thanked me for the special event we'd hosted the night before. We had a fancy dinner in the ballroom with musicians and beautiful decorations. A kind of grown-up prom.

They thanked me for the special event we'd hosted the night before. We had a fancy dinner in the ballroom with musicians and beautiful decorations. A kind of grown-up prom.

They thanked me for the special event we'd hosted the night before. We had a fancy dinner in the ballroom with musicians and beautiful decorations. A kind of grown-up prom.

I nodded, smiling brightly. That's the nice thing. about having some space from those moments, right? I said. We can rewrite them when we're older and own the best version. He slung his arm around his partner and nodded, and I saw them out to their car in the drive. On the way back in, I sighed, realizing that the inn was now empty, besides her caretakers.

I nodded, smiling brightly. That's the nice thing. about having some space from those moments, right? I said. We can rewrite them when we're older and own the best version. He slung his arm around his partner and nodded, and I saw them out to their car in the drive. On the way back in, I sighed, realizing that the inn was now empty, besides her caretakers.

I nodded, smiling brightly. That's the nice thing. about having some space from those moments, right? I said. We can rewrite them when we're older and own the best version. He slung his arm around his partner and nodded, and I saw them out to their car in the drive. On the way back in, I sighed, realizing that the inn was now empty, besides her caretakers.

He trusted me completely.