Mandy

Chapter 33

Let go my soul,
and trust in Him.
The waves and wind
still know His name.
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   When Caleb pulled the van into the inn's parking lot, Mandy noticed they weren't the only ones there.

   "Caleb, did I forget something?" Mandy asked, looking at him.

   "No." Caleb replied, then parked the van.

   Mandy frowned as she jumped out, then undid Ethan's seatbelt and picked him up.

   She walked over to the inn and unlocked the door, then opened it.

   "Auntie Sam!" Ethan screamed, then wiggled out of Mandy's arms.

   Mandy stared at her friend, shocked. "What are you doing here?" She exclaimed as she watched Ethan run to her friend.

   Samantha gave Ethan a hug. "It's good to see you too." She replied.

   Amilee walked into the room, then ran over to Samantha when she spotted her. "Sam!" She greeted her.

   Mandy watched in silence as Samantha gave Amilee a hug. "Mommy! Sam is here!" Amilee squealed.

   "I see that." Mandy replied, still confused.

   "Hey Sam." Caleb greeted her as he walked into the room, dragging a mattress.

   Mandy glared at him. "You knew?"

   Caleb shrugged. "Sam told you she would be here on opening weekend." He replied.

    Mandy sighed, but smiled at her brother as she gave her friend a hug. "I am happy to see you." She told her.

   "Good!" Samantha replied with a giggle.

    Jason walked into the inn, holding two chairs.

   "Is that the guy you told me about?" Samantha asked Mandy in a whisper.

    Mandy nodded. "Sam, this is Jason. Jason, this is my best friend Samantha."

   Jason nodded to them, then followed Caleb down the hall.

   "Well, since you're here, come help us unload the trailer."  Mandy told Samantha, then led her outside.

   "This place has a great location." Samantha said, looking around at the scenery that surrounded the inn.

   Mandy grinned as she easily jumped into the trailer. "It's really close to the best gym in the state." She replied, handing Samantha a couple pillows.

   "Are you going to train again?" Samantha asked as she took the pillows Mandy gave her.

   Mandy shrugged as she grabbed a couple bags of various garage sale finds. "Not seriously. I gave up that part of my life years ago." She said, jumping out of the trailer.

   Samantha followed Mandy into the inn. "But you're thinking of just working out there." She stated knowingly.

   Mandy sighed. "Yeah." She replied, even though she knew Samantha didn't need her conformation.

   "There isn't anything wrong with that. You were great Mandy."

Mandy set the pillows down in the room they were currently using as a storage room. "I don't know if I can do it by myself."

Samantha laughed as she added her pillows to the stack. "Ann, I'm sure Caleb would be do it with you. After all, he's probably feeling the need to workout too."

   "Maybe I'll ask. The inn needs to get up and running before I try anything like that." Mandy replied as she and Samantha headed out to get another load from the trailer.