Before he could figure out whether he ought to pursue the issue to suss out if Ari had a problem with that, a car pulled into the drive.
“Anybody you know?” Flynn asked.
“Nope. Maybe it’s one of the new reservations.”
“If it is, they’re early.”
The sedan rolled to a stop in front of the steps and the driver, a middle-aged man with graying sideburns and a neat goatee stepped out, followed by a woman Flynn assumed was his wife.
“Good day to you,” Flynn called. “Welcome to the Misfit Inn.”
“Oh honey, he’s Irish!” the woman exclaimed.
“So I can hear.”
Flynn broadened his smile. “Would you be the couple from Milwaukee, then?”
“What?” For a moment, the gentleman looked baffled. “Oh, no. But we are here looking to book a room. A woman at the diner in town recommended the place. Do you have any vacancies?”
“Sure, and I think we can manage that. For how many nights?”
“Through Sunday, if possible.”
Flynn knew without looking there was space. But were the other rooms all ready? “Check in’s not normally until after three, but come on inside. You’ll rest a bit, while we get things sorted. If you’ll just take your car around the corner to the lot there.”
“Excellent!”
As soon as the man and his companion slid back into their car, Flynn turned to Ari. “Where can we put them? Are the other rooms ready?”
“Beds are made. I just need to run towels up and set out the toiletries. I’ll check the book.”
“What information do we need from them?”
“Copy of driver’s license and a credit card number. But I don’t know how to run the payment program,” Ari admitted.
“We’ll figure it out. Run up and pick a room, while I get them settled in the lounge with…something to eat.”
She scampered off, and Flynn tried to remember what he’d seen in the cupboards for snacks. As soon as the couple came up the stairs, he ushered them inside and straight to the guest lounge. “I’m Flynn Bohannon. And you’d be?”
“I’m Kenneth Talbot. And this is my wife, Michelle.”
“And where would you be from, then?”
“Los Angeles.”
Flynn gestured for them to take a seat. “That’s grand. One of Pru’s sisters lives out that way. Would you be here for business or pleasure?”
“A little of both. Mostly pleasure,” Kenneth explained.
“Sure, and we can help with that. Can I offer you some coffee? Tea?”
“Coffee would be lovely,” Michelle said.
“Sort yourselves out there. I’ll be back in the shake of a lamb’s tail.”
Flynn hurried to the kitchen to start the coffee. When he opened the freezer for the beans, he spied the rolls of frozen cookie dough, neatly labeled with baking instructions. God love the woman. He pulled out a roll of chocolate chip, switched on the oven to the requisite temperature, and unearthed a baking sheet. Thinking freshly baked cookies would be good for the other guests, whenever they arrived, he went ahead and sliced an entire roll and popped them into the oven, before getting started on the coffee. He was searching out mugs and plates to make up a tray, when Ari came trotting down the back stairs.
“Oh, cookies. Great idea.”