The Nantucket Inn (Nantucket Beach Plum Cove #1) - Pamela M. Kelley Page 0,2

a realtor?”

“I might,” Lisa said.

“I thought you said you’d never sell?” Sue looked confused. “You’re not thinking of moving off-island?”

“I don’t want to sell. But I may not have a choice. My money is running out, and even though the taxes on Nantucket are low, the real estate prices are high.”

“But Brian was a financial planner. I thought you were all set for retirement,” Paige looked both furious and worried at the same time.

Lisa sighed and then told them about the gambling debts and the retirement account and savings that had been drained.

“You didn’t know about any of it?” Sue asked.

“I had no idea. Brian always handled that, and since it was what he did for work, I never thought to question him. I thought I would have been able to find a job by now. I really hate the thought of moving.”

“Even if you sell, everything else on the island is expensive. You might have savings for a while, but you’ll still need money to live,” Sue said.

“I know. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to stay, but I am at the point now where I just don’t think it’s possible. At least there’s no mortgage, so once I sell, I’ll have a little time to decide what to do next. I could always rent for a while, maybe.”

“Nantucket rentals are ridiculously expensive.” Paige looked thoughtful as she added more wine to their glasses. “Your house is awfully big for one person. How many bedrooms do you have?”

“Six total. Five upstairs and the master on the first floor.”

“Have you ever heard of Airbnb? You could make some money renting out the rooms.”

“To strangers?” Sue sounded appalled at the idea of it. “That doesn’t sound very safe.”

“People do it all the time. It’s the newest way to travel.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about that,” Lisa said.

“You’re a great cook and you love to entertain and to decorate. You could turn the house into a bed and breakfast and still have plenty of room for yourself.”

“A bed and breakfast, that is an interesting idea.” Over the years, Lisa had thought more than once that it might be fun to own a bed and breakfast someday, to serve some of her home made favorites to guests. But dreaming about it was one thing, actually doing it was another.

“Would you actually consider it?” Sue sounded surprised.

“I don’t think so. I love the idea, but I would imagine it would take a lot of money to get it up and running.”

“I don’t think it would. Your son is a builder. He could probably help you out. All you’d really need to do is close off most of the bottom floor so guests could only access the dining room and stairs to the second floor. And you’d still have your privacy.” Paige made it sound so simple. Lisa didn’t think that it would be, but she supposed it wouldn’t hurt to at least act like she was considering the idea.

“I’ll ask Chase to stop by one day this week and see what he thinks.” She was pretty sure that he’d think they were all crazy.

“Have him over for dinner and make something delicious. Can’t hurt….” Paige laughed.

“I’ll do that. So, are you ladies ready to go strolling? I need to walk off this dip.”

Kate Hodges rushed back into her bedroom and looked around until she saw the shoes she was looking for under Dylan’s jeans. He’d left them in a crumpled heap on the floor, as usual. She slid her feet into them and glanced at the bed, where her fiancé lay sleeping. His dark hair fell over his forehead and he looked so sweet and peaceful. And so handsome, that he took her breath away. He yawned just as she turned to go and his sleepy voice stopped her.

“Is it that time already?”

“I’m going in early, it’s not even eight yet.”

Dylan stretched and grinned. “Kiss before you go?”

“I really have to run,” Kate said as she walked over and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“My last shoot should end by six, want to meet me for dinner in the North End?” Dylan was a photographer and often did work for the magazine Kate worked for. That was how they’d met almost two years ago. He’d swept her off her feet, and she’d resisted as long as she could. Dylan was so charming and so good looking that it made her nervous. He was a flirt and girls were drawn to him.