731c3e32dd6349cda7e9d6caf76b901f

Never change. Now that I could do. But could I avoid all my usual worries and busybodying for one whole week?

I guess time would tell on that one.

2

“There it is!” I exclaimed as the old stone mansion loomed into view. Even though we split the trip into two days, we’d still driven a long way to reach our destination, and now that we were here, I couldn’t wait to get out and stretch my legs a bit.

“Are you sure this is the place?” Charles slowed the car to a crawl as we both gawked at the property ahead. “There seem to be a lot of cars, and we’re supposed to have the place to ourselves.”

I waved off his concern with a quick sweep of my hand.“I’m sure it’s just the staff getting it ready for us. Make sure you give them a nice tip, so it’s not awkward.”

“Right, okay.” He pulled into the small gravel lot beside the mansion and parked next to an old truck, then took out his wallet and thumbed through it for some cash, which he tucked in his front pocket so it would be ready.

I squealed as I hopped out of the car.“Eee! I can’t believe we’re really here.”

Charles climbed out of the driver’s seat and popped the trunk so we could grab our luggage. “Well, believe it. Only the best for my wifey.”

I wheeled one large suitcase behind me while Charles balanced two overstuffed duffle bags.“Look at this garden. It’s even more beautiful than my mom described. Is that hydrangea? Look how big and puffy!”

“We can eat your biscuits and gravy out here and watch the sunrise. Want to try for tomorrow?”

“That sounds great, honey, but tomorrow, I’m sleeping in. Let’s do it the day after, though, for sure.” When I turned back to look at Charles, I delighted in the enormous smile that decorated his handsome face.

“I can’t believe the size of this place,” he noted, eyeing the mansion. I turned back to study the domicile in all its refinement and grandeur. It appeared to be a mishmash of architectural styles, landing somewhere between a Scottish castle and a Colonial. Whoever had ordered this house to be built clearly had a very creative mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if we ran across a few trap doors or secret passages during our stay. I couldn’t wait to explore.

We reached the doorstep and paused to collect ourselves. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear as I studied the bright green front door.“I guess we just knock? Or do we head right in? Mom didn’t have any information about a key exchange, and I couldn’t find this place on Airbnb when I looked.”

Charles stepped forward, cleared his throat, and thumped on the door.

And someone pulled it open almost immediately, a little old lady with blue hair and thick glasses. She smiled at us, then turned toward the interior of the house and shouted,“Billy, the honeymooners are here!”

A middle-aged man with a pot belly shuffled out and grabbed my suitcase, leaving Charles to handle his own duffle bags. I stood on tiptoe to kiss my husband’s cheek in excitement. “This is it! The place is all ours!”

“What was that, dearie?” the old lady shouted my way.

“Oh, sorry. We’re just excited to have free rein of this gorgeous house for the whole week,” I explained with an awkward smile.

“You don’t exactly have free rein,” the man whom she’d called Billy informed us. “The third floor and attic are off limits to guests, and obviously you’ll need to keep to your room or the communal places on the property.”

“Wait.Our room?” I squeaked, not knowing what else to say.

Charles immediately jumped into lawyer mode.“I think there may be some misunderstanding. This is our honeymoon, and my wife’s parents expressly reserved the entire property for the week as a gift to us.”

“There’s no misunderstanding on our end,” the old woman piped up, taking her glasses off to clean them on the hem of her shirt. “Costs a lot of money to maintain a place like this, especially since it belongs to the official register of historical homes in the area. And that garden? Qualitygardeners don’t come cheap, dearie.”

My heart sank as I filled in the blanks.“So you turned it into a B&B to help pay the bills?”

“About five years back now. Your mother hasn’t been for a while, I’m guessing. I can’t believe she assumed she was reserving the whole place for the cost of a single room. Ha!” She hunched over and slapped her knee.

“There are no refunds without at least two weeks’ notice, so you’re out of time. Do you want your room or not?” Billy sniffed indifferently.

I looked to Charles for a decision since we obviously weren’t going to be offered any privacy to discuss our options.

“We want it,” he said decisively, shooting me a meaningful look that I had a hard time deciphering just then.

Billy nodded and headed toward a narrow staircase.“Very well. Let me show you the way.”

We followed the man up the stairs to a locked door at the far end of the hall.“You only get the one room, but it’s our best room,” he offered almost apologetically as he turned a key in the lock and pushed the door open.