Sunny-Side Up Feud

Chapter 12 - Pillow

Now that the frame for the wall division and its door for the room downstairs is in place, I don't seem to be needed. Jacob brought two of his retired buddies to help with the insulation and the electric work. When they are together, they seem to talk a different language and I feel out of place. The least I could do was prepare sandwiches for their lunch later, and Jacob didn't mind when I said I needed to go out to do some shopping. I'm two weeks away from opening and still have plenty to arrange and do.

My intention was to test every single room in the house to avoid everything I experienced at the Royal Oak, but I didn't come to it since some of them are not even furnished and everything else has kept me busy, including learning the booking and accounting system Taylor and Nina installed. I tested the mattresses when I bought them, but that's not the same as trying them when they are mounted in their final bed frame. I will test everything soon, and in the meantime, I'm heading today to shop for dinnerware, bedsheets and towels.

When Mom and Dad were over, I asked her what she thought would be a good amount of bedsheets. She said the minimum number is three. One to put on the bed, the one that will be ready for the laundry after a change, and a spare one for the linen closet. I think I will follow that guideline as a starting point since the plan is to change bedsheets in between guests. I've built the same dressers for all rooms since I couldn't find enough spacious furniture for all and I will dress all beds the same to save me a headache while doing laundry.

While deliberating between two sets of soft beige towels that match the bedspreads I chose, I see Catalina coming into the same aisle with a shopping cart. She hasn't seen me and I don't want to make small talk with her, so I move towards the end of the aisle where a box sticking out of a shelf covers my face partially. As usual, she sports her exasperated look as she dumps a stack of white towels in her cart. Once she leaves, I make my choice of towels and add them to my own.

Curiosity gets the best of me and I check the area where Catalina got her towels. She's picked the cheapest towels available which feel like a piece of sandpaper on the skin as I had experienced during my stay at the Royal Oak. I wonder if I should say something about it to her... Although I believe she won't take the feedback kindly.

Carefully, I continue with my shopping at the wholesale and avoid the supermarket bakery area for fear of being struck down by lighting sent by Josie. Catalina doesn't seem to be around and after picking a bunch of basic dinnerware sets, I head to the registers. Content with my purchases, I walk to my car to load them.

"That's a lot of linen and plates for one guy," a well-known voice says next to me and my blood freezes. "Throwing a party, Declan?"

I find out that Catalina's car is parked next to mine and I curse my luck while she places her purchases in the trunk, which includes big boxes of frozen bread.

"Eh... Not really... One can't never be too prepared for an emergency."

"Emergency? Are you planning to give emergency relief to the entire street, then?" She watches me in disbelief.

"Something like that," I say with a weak laugh.

"Well, I hope you come and stay with us again some time soon." Her chirpy fake voice returns.

I give her an awkward smile and continue filling the trunk with my purchases. It puzzles me she remembered my name now, but not when I stayed at her hotel. I know she was busy and something was definitely bothering or worrying her, but it's just weird. Before I can say anything, she has pushed the shopping cart away and gets in her car. Catalina continues to be a strange woman.

My phone beeps and I see a reminder that Evan and Lisa are coming tomorrow night. Evan had offered to help me plan activities and other choices of entertainment for my guests. I feel slightly anxious. I don't want to come across as unprofessional and unprepared, even though I'm definitely the last. He is used to managing events for thousands of people and I can't seem to come up with ideas for up to ten guests.