Mary #45

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45

“What” Johnny asked.

Then Jimmy “Was it because you came here?"

Elizabeth spoke up angrily before Mary could. 

“The hotel went bankrupt.  Can you believe it?  They told Mary she was through after all those years she worked for them.”

"They close the whole place down until they restructure.  They fire everyone and then hire new people that they don’t have to pay as well. That’s just how that business world works" Mary said.

“Well, that stinks” Johnny said.

“You’ll get severance though, right?”

“Yes Jimmy, thank goodness.  I’m still waiting for them to email me papers that I have to sign.”

“With this bad economy I think it might be hard to find a new job, Mar” Johnny said.

“I’ve come up with an idea if you two would agree to it.”

“Don’t forget, I gave you the idea” Elizabeth chimed in looking pale.

Mary noticed and said “Are you all right?”

“I’m good.  I’m just getting a little tired.”

“Why don’t you go upstairs and lay down.”

“Are you kidding, we’re getting to the good part now” and she chuckled.

Both the guys looked puzzled.

Mary started “Just hear me out before you say yes or no” and they both nodded.

“It would be hard to find a job in New York especially with what I do. I was thinking about moving back here.”

“That would be great” Johnny said.

“But what kind of job could you get here?  We don’t have many big hotels that could probably afford your price” Jimmy said laughing.

“Exactly” Mary said.  “That’s why Elizabeth suggested that I open up a B&B.”

“B&B, what’s that” Johnny asked.

“It stands for bed and breakfast inn.  You know instead of people staying in a motel or hotel, they stay in a place that’s a home” Elizabeth said.

“That sounds good Mary and if that’s what you want to do, do it.  You don’t need our permission” Jimmy said.

“Well, there’s a catch because I do need both of your permissions.  I want to do it here.”

“Here at the farm?  I thought you wanted to get rid of the place?” Jimmy replied.

“I never really wanted to get rid of it.  You and Johnny didn’t seem to want to live here so that seemed like the best thing to do.”

“That’s true Jimmy” Johnny said.

“Could someone make a real living doing that?  What would you do with all the farmland?”

“We’ve got that solved too.  Mary could rent it out.  In fact, she already talked to Eli about it and he said he would be interested” Elizabeth said.

“Again with the Eli, is there something we should know about the two of you” Jimmy asked.

Mary laughed “Not really, I’ve had dinner with him a couple of times.  We’re just friends.”

“For now” Elizabeth joked.

“Stop it” and Mary smirked.  “To tell you the truth Jimmy I’m not sure what kind of living I could make off a B&B but I sure would like to try, if both of you would let me.”

“I sure would like to have you back home” Johnny said.

“Me too” Elizabeth said.

“It would need a lot of fixing up if you wanted to have people staying here.  I know I don’t have extra money that I could give you to help and I’m sure Johnny doesn’t either.”

“I wouldn’t plan on doing any remodeling until after the holidays.  I think I should get quite a bit of severance that I can use.”

“I’m going to be a partner since it was my idea in the first place” Elizabeth added.  “We already started planning what needs to be done when I was at my treatment.  We’re going to do more at the next one.”

“I’ll be right back.  I have to use the bathroom” Jimmy said. 

When he left Mary asked Johnny “What do you think he’s thinking?”

“I don’t know but you have my vote.”

While Jimmy was in the bathroom he thought about what Mary had said.  He thought it would be wonderful to have Mary back home again.  Ever since she told him about Mitch it had bothered him.  Like somehow he had let her down even though he knew he didn’t but for some reason she seemed to have held it against him all those years. It would finally be a chance for him and her to get close. 

He also saw how much Elizabeth brightened up when she talked about the B&B.  He thought it would be good for her with everything she had gone through and still was going through.  He thought this would even give her more reason to fight for more time.

He came out of the bathroom and said “You have any more cake and coffee?”

“Sure” Mary said and brought some more for everyone.

She sat down and Jimmy said “So Mary, are you going to be getting rid of your apartment when you move back here and run the B&B?”

Mary got up and hugged Jimmy following close behind was Elizabeth.

Johnny asked “What about me” and they went and hugged him too.

When they were done eating Jimmy said “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day.  Are you ready to go home Johnny?”

“Ready” he said.

Mary and Elizabeth walked them to the back door and gave them each another hug. 

When they saw the car go they both started jumping up and down excitedly.

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