The Waratah Inn: The Waratah Inn, Book 1 by Lilly Mirren

Author:Lilly Mirren [Mirren, Lilly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Lab Press

17

September 1995

Cabarita Beach

Two weeks were spent in negotiations with their new contractor, following up on financing with the solicitor, and endless discussions about paint chips, crown moulding, flooring, and curtains.

When Kate wasn’t arguing with Reeda over armchairs or trying to understand Bindi’s explanation of various accounting terms, she was holed up at the stables every afternoon with Alex.

By the end of the fortnight, the new stables were complete and every muscle, ligament, and tendon in her body ached, or screamed, depending on whether she was laying down or walking.

Kate had a clear idea of how she wanted the inn updated, but so did Reeda, and often their ideas clashed. On one thing they agreed, the bedrooms in the inn needed private bathrooms or modern-day holiday makers wouldn’t be interested in spending their hard-earned money to stay there.

There were eleven bedrooms on three levels in the Waratah, and they had decided to reduce that number to seven, three on each level with the master suite on the ground floor. The extra rooms would be converted into walk-in closets and spacious en-suites for the remaining bedrooms.

Reeda had suggested they opt for a lighter colour palette, with subtle variations for each of the rooms, rather than the eclectic, garage sale vibe Nan had created throughout the inn. She’d used whatever colour paint she’d felt inspired to use for each wall, with no apparent theme. Kate liked the idea and added that they should remove any unnecessary walls and change out the old, square windows for more modern, rectangular ones to let in more natural light.

Even though they couldn’t agree on carpet or hardwood, fabric couches or leather, they both loved the idea of modernising the inn without sacrificing too much of its historical feel.

When Bruno came back to do the walk through with them, pen poised above his clipboard, he jotted quick notes as they spoke. He’d suggested they refinish the timber floors, since with a lighter stain, they’d be both modern and fresh, while keeping the inn’s heritage intact. That had ended the question of flooring, since both Kate and Reeda loved the suggestion.

The contractor offered several more pieces of advice in his gentle voice as they paced through the inn. Each time, he encouraged the sisters to retain as much of the inn’s character as they could, since that was what guests would be looking for when they booked the Waratah over the more lavish resorts farther north on the Gold Coast.

Bruno was right. Kate could tell he loved the idea of working on the Waratah by the way he ran his hand up the balustrade, or gazed down the length of the hallway, stepping out a measurement here, or cocking his head to one side to calculate options there. He was the right man for the job, and she felt a weight lift from her shoulders when he stepped into his truck and waved goodbye as the sun dipped below the horizon. She and Reeda exchanged a relieved smile and walked arm-in-arm back into the inn.

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