“I got a lot of the things in my house from shopping the antique malls around the area. Bella’s Vintage Shop has some great pieces. You could maybe get a big wooden hutch for over there in the corner to hold the menus, the silverware bundles, and the water pitchers. And you know what would look great there by the front window in the alcove where the customers wait? Replace those chairs all lined up, with a long old wooden church pew.”
Keely squinted her eyes, trying to imagine the changes. “You know, that would look nice I bet.” She grinned at Natalie. “Okay, what else?”
“Well, you really need more space for people to wait.”
“I know that. Same problem. My mother.”
Just then the bell over the door jangled and Hunt came inside. “Hi, ladies.”
“I’m not quite ready to go, Hunt. Can I get you a cup of coffee while I finish up here?”
“That’d be fine. No hurry.”
Keely saw her sister outside the cafe and jumped up to get the door for her.
“You know, Keely, I really can open the door on my own.”
“I was just trying…”
“I know, trying to help.”
Katherine wheeled past her and headed over to where Natalie and Hunt were sitting. Keely followed along behind her sister, mentally judging whether the tables were far enough apart in the corner for her sister to fit through. Though they’d taken out some tables after the accident, they’d missed the income from the extra tables. Her sister hadn’t been coming around much lately, and Keely was embarrassed to admit she’d added a few more tables back in. They could sure use them on the weekends.
Keely followed her sister back to the table where she’d been sitting. “How did you get here?”
“I wheeled over.” Katherine grinned. “Mother was driving me nuts. She finally went to take a nap and I left her a note.”
“I would have come and gotten you.”
“It’s a pretty day. It’s only a couple of blocks.”
She didn’t know what had gotten into her sister’s head. And she was certain her mother would think this was all her fault, not her sister’s, that somehow she’d made her do this.
“Hi, Natalie. Hunt, I haven’t seen you in forever. How’ve you been?”
“Pretty good.”
“So, what are you guys up to?”
“Natalie and I were actually talking about making some changes to the cafe.”
“Really? Like what?” Katherine jumped in eagerly.
It had been a long time since Keely had seen Katherine interested in much outside of her existence at home. She had TV shows she watched, read books constantly, knit afghans and socks. As selfish as it sounded, Katherine kept her mother occupied so she wasn’t constantly criticizing Keely, and that worked out just fine as far as Keely was concerned.
Keely and Natalie explained the changes they’d talked about. “But then we were just starting to discuss the problem with no room for people to wait for a table when it gets busy.”
“So what about your idea to use the patio area out back? That would work for most of the year. Like you always said, Keely, if you had more seating, there would be less people waiting for a table.”
When had Katherine started to pay attention to what she’d said about the cafe’s business? Keely watched her sister’s eyes light up with the discussion. Maybe she hadn’t been giving her sister enough credit.
“Really, you have a patio out back?” Natalie set down the salt shaker she was filling.
“Yes, but it would need a roof put over it. Maybe some partial sides? And, of course, it can’t cost much.” Keely smiled weakly.
“Let’s go take a look.” Hunt pushed away from the table.
They all trailed out to the back of the restaurant and through the French doors to a very tired, small patio. The edges were covered in raggedy underbrush.
“Well, the good thing is the patio itself is in good shape. It could be enlarged a bit, too.” Hunt paced off the patio.
“I think with a roof, some partial sides, and a bar at the far end, you could make it into a kind of wine garden out here.” Natalie suggested.
Keely tilted her head and eyed the space. “I could see that. The customers could wait out here and have a drink. Or come out here after dinner and enjoy a glass of wine. This might work.”
“Some ceiling fans to stir the breeze during the summer,” Katherine added. “Some of those heater lamps for colder weather.”
“Those are great ideas to extend the time we could use the area. I bet we could use it almost the entire year then. But, I’d still have to convince Mother. That might be the biggest hurdle. And finding someone to do the work at a reasonable price.”