Trunk Junk, Marbles and Lace

By Kay Coop

In Trunk Junk, Marbles, and Lace, the third and final book of the BnB Biddies series, we continue the adventures of our friends through their process of retirement, relocation, and future plans. All but one of our ladies have found true love for the second time (except Babs, who is happy in her first and only marriage), and all have enjoyed their BnB experiences. This book leads us into a community-based yard sale and the philanthropic nature of the women and their men and follows the active but admittedly aging group into their redirection of interests. The activities abound and the retirement process is that many of our senior citizens go through themselves--and a joyful one at that.

Our characters remain Lil (now married to Bill), Ditty (now married to Gregory), Milly, Izzy (now married to Jack), and Babs (remaining married to Gerald). Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887311838

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

About the Author

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Trunk Junk, Marbles and Lace

Kay Coop

Copyright © 2023 Nancy Lueder and Kay Coop

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88731-182-1 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88731-183-8 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

A bed and breakfast (typically shortened to B&B or BnB) is a small lodging establishment regulated by state and local lodging laws that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast.

This BnB Biddies series is dedicated to our mom and dad, who taught us the importance of family and communication. Our father had one brother and four sisters. As they married and left home to raise families, they stayed in touch with one another and their parents via a round-robin. It was a wonderful day when a fat envelope arrived in our mailbox filled with letters, usually written by our aunts, sharing the lives of their families. Our family would gather at the kitchen table as Mom or Dad would read the letters aloud. We loved hearing what our cousins were doing in school and what their families had been doing since the last letter. After chores were done, Mom would write a letter about our family to include in the magic envelope to mail to the next family member. We lived outside a small farming community and had neither running water nor electricity, and a telephone was certainly beyond our reach. Money was scarce, and a stamp was a luxury for important mail like the round-robin.

Prologue

In this third and final book in the BnB Biddies series, we have met five women who began their friendship in high school. Reunited at a class reunion many years later, they discovered each of them had migrated to ownership of a bed-and-breakfast (BnB). They resumed their prior friendship, including the husbands acquired along the way. As it stands at the beginning of this book…

Delilah (Lil) Hunter continues to operate her BnB, The Marigold Inn, with the help of her second husband, Bill. Lil's first husband was an astronomer with interest in helping her see stars via a whack or two. She has overcome the effects of her first unhappy marriage, has learned ways to cope with her continuing arthritis, remains a present aunt to her niece Marigold, and offers seasoned advice in Marigold's resoled cowboy boots business. Bill and Lil are now contemplating their next adventure in life, as you will soon discover, along with the interesting day-to-day life of business owners.

Meredith (Ditty) Jones Chandler continues to operate a BnB, though not the farmhouse she converted. After her husband, Charles Chandler, passed, she converted their large home into a successful BnB and continued to operate their ranch. Her sons joined her in the enterprises by purchasing land on either side of hers, converting their homes into bed-and-breakfast locations and adding even more farm-based businesses too. Ditty married again, to Gregory, a gentleman whose son operated a café in their town and purchased his veggies from Ditty's son and daughter-in-law. Ditty and Gregory moved into a smaller BnB location in their community. They are now also entertaining the idea of another retirement, and that idea adds to the plot of this book.

Mildred (Milly) Chamberlain also continues to operate her BnB, the Upper Crust, inherited from her grandfather and modernized and made successful by Milly's efforts. She remains single and still dedicated to her hobby of collecting monogrammed pillowcases—a habit having become well-known in the previous adventures of these women. She has ventured out into other businesses as well, including a very successful dog biscuit company. Milly is trying to decide on her future, to remain in the BnB business or take a different course as she approaches her retirement age.

Isobel (Izzy) Behr Carmichael loves people and being around them. She married her good friend and postman, Jack, and they have continued to operate her Chartered Inn BnB together. Both of them want to travel a bit more. Jack's interest in photography is calling him. Izzy is ready to give up some responsibility, and retirement from BnB ownership is being strongly considered by the couple. Izzy had been surprised at the success of her BnB, having wanted to be a pilot in her youth. She discovered dyslexia and lack of concentration were not qualities leading to a career as an airline pilot or, for many years, what was then called a stewardess. After many classes with special teachers, she learned to concentrate and overcame dyslexia; however, the time for piloting had long gone by then.

Barbara (Babs) Smythe Gilbreath and her husband continue to operate their Shell House BnB. They are both actively engaged in their community as well as their travel. They continue to produce books of interest to those taking road trips within the United States, and Gerald's photographs of their travels have earned him gallery space in many cities. He would very much like to focus more on his photography and less on BnB ownership. He and Babs have so many interests they each want to pursue. Retirement from the hospitality venue is something they are considering.

This, then, is the cast of characters you will follow through their daily activities, touches of their pasts, and plans for their future in Trunk Junk, Marbles, and Lace.

Chapter One

LIL

Please check under the seats and make sure you have all your belongings. Please remain seated until the plane comes to a complete stop and the pilot has turned off the seat belt sign. The steward was giving final instructions as the plane taxied.

Thank you! Lil thanked the pilot and crew for a safe landing as she exited the plane.

That seems so odd to say, Bill said to Lil.

Why?

Because the pilot wanted a safe landing as much as the passengers. Bill laughed.

Of course, but it doesn't hurt to acknowledge being grateful for his expertise, Lil snapped back, a bit annoyed that Bill would think being nice was uncalled-for.

I wasn't being judgmental. Let's not ruin a wonderful trip over such a trivial comment, Bill commented. Of course, the pilot has expertise we don't have, or he wouldn't be the one piloting.

Seriously!

Sorry. I guess I am grumpy that our trip is over. I'm not ready to go back to reality just yet, Bill apologized.

I agree it was a wonderful reunion, but The Marigold Inn is wonderful, and we get to be together there too.

You are right as usual. I guess this is our first trip together, and I enjoyed every minute of it. You have wonderful friends, and it was fun putting a face to a letter. Bill took Lil's hand as they stepped onto the escalator to ground transportation.

Lil and four of her high school girlfriends had reconnected at a reunion several years ago. Remarkably, all five are BnB owners in different states. They agreed to reunite once a year, and in the meantime, they stayed in touch through their round-robin letters. It has become a ritual for Lil and Bill to read the letters together over a cup of tea on what they referred to as round-robin day.

Once the luggage was loaded into the van, Bill gave Lil a kiss as he opened her door. Shall we stop at the coffee shop and pick up a pie on our way home?

That sounds like a great idea. I'll text Sonya to put the teapot on, and we'll celebrate being home, Lil agreed.

Look at you texting! Bill teased her.

An hour later, they were sharing their trip with Sonya and catching up on all that had happened at The Marigold Inn. Sonya was such a good friend and loyal employee they never gave the BnB a second thought while they were away.

Dear Robins,

I trust all of you are home safe and sound from the reunion. Bill and I are happily back into our routines at The Marigold Inn. Sonya had everything under control as we knew she would.

We had the most delightful trip. I can't say enough about the airline pilot and crew. Bill would say I have sung their praises too much. One touching event I must share with you is that one of the elderly passengers was celebrating her birthday. Right before we were ready to land, the steward announced that Emily was having a birthday and would we all turn off our overhead lights, which we did. Then he asked that we turn on our service light, which lit the cabin with blue lights. The steward explained these were Emily's candles! Well, of course, an ah-h-h was heard throughout the cabin. Then the steward led us in Happy Birthday. It was heartwarming to hear the entire plane full of strangers singing in unison to celebrate another stranger's birthday. Then a steward put a crown on Emily's head that was made of the colorful packages from pretzels—so clever and a perfect ending to a perfect flight.

We are fully booked, so no time to feel sorry for ourselves being back to reality. Bill was a bit sad to be home since that was our first trip together. I've always felt it was better to leave a vacation wishing you could stay longer than to stay too long and wish you could go home. We're definitely looking forward to next year!

Be well, friends, and fly back soon.

Lil

DITTY

Ditty, have you written the girls about this horrible accident of yours? I am sure they would like to know.

Gregory, I haven't, and I'm not sure I actually could put it on paper. It really doesn't mean a lot except to you, me, and the kids. No one else can possibly imagine this sad/silly experience we have just weathered and are weathering.

Ditty, try.

Dear Birdies,

At the advice, suggestion, and instruction of my dear husband, I am going to relate my recent turbulent experience to you. To say it shook me up is an understatement; to say it made me feel vulnerable and downright old is just sugar coating it; to say I have found it to be so frustratingly funny is the truth. Anyway, here goes:

I walked across our roadway to pick up some trash. If I don't pick it up, it seems to walk over here on its own anyway. So, as I turned to walk back to our place, I must have hit the raised asphalt with my toe as I found myself laying in the middle of the road, glasses almost out of reach and hurting like the very Devil. I hurt so bad it was almost numbing. Attempts to get to my feet seemed futile, and I could not figure out why, until I looked to my right and discovered I had both wrist bones exposed and my hand flapping in the breeze. Scared? You bet! Hurting? Need you ask?

Greg was away from home for the day, but, thankfully, our yard man was here. I walked down the driveway, around the house and called to him as he weed-eated in the garden. Bless his heart, he drove me right to the ER for treatment, refusing even to move the car until I was in a room being cared for. I really liked this man before, but I have even a deeper appreciation for him now.

The ER doctor told me they were going to put me into a wake sedation state and would be hurting me as they tried to set my arm, and I would not remember the pain or actions afterward. Well, when I came to, the nurse patted me on the arm and said, You are so strong—words repeated to me by everyone in the ER. I began to worry just what happened while I was sedated and finally asked where all the people had gone, those who had been in the room causing me pain. The nurse smiled and said there had been quite a few people in that room for sure, and by the way, I had very strong legs. I shudder to think of the fight I must have given them as they tried to set the arm. Surgery was performed around 5:30 that evening and a plate put on one bone; the other did set and hold. Wild and crazy happenings for an older person.

The fun began the next morning as I was served a breakfast of plain oatmeal, scrambled eggs with zucchini added (still shivering at the thought), and cold decaf. I politely declined the tray. A person came to introduce herself as my hospital physical therapist and said she wanted me walking up and down the hall, swinging my arm and twisting it back and forth, moving my fingers too. I asked if she had seen my chart, and she said she would look. Upon returning, she indicated I should begin to gently try and move my fingers. Lunch was a delicious roast beef slice with potato and gravy and green beans one could use to hold up the north side of the house. I do not like being snarky about hospital food, but oh my word! Dinner was a burger, and it was pretty good. The breakfast the 2nd day was a fruit bowl with delicious scrambled eggs minus zucchini. Then came lunch, spaghetti and mixed veggies—this time, those green beans cut up and added to every vegetable no one had eaten the previous day, I am sure. Girls, I love having someone else cook for me but, again, oh my word, ha!

When I was finished with paperwork at the checkout desk, the gal in charge walked me to the hallway and pointed to the exit door, saying I couldn't use the front door as they were adding to the hospital. For the first time ever, I carried my handbag on my good shoulder, a hospital bag in that hand, and walked myself out the door of the hospital. For all I know, they may still be looking for the patient who walked away since no one knew I left or walked me out. I felt a right orphan, ha.

Discoveries I have made since my injury: you can test the level of water in a toilet by dipping your gown into it, your offhand/arm is not long enough to reach body parts needing to be wiped, brushing your teeth with the offhand is a challenge, even after a month and half of therapy, I cannot eat in a public place with my good hand—unless I fist the fork the way a 2-year-old does when learning to navigate tableware. It is just impossible to use your offhand with a curling wand, and brushing your hair can take a bit of time. It would be easier to pay someone to pull your pants up than to spend the 10 minutes it takes to do it one-handed, and the same with hooking a bra. It's great to have canned food at hand, except it is difficult to open a can one-handed; simply emptying a pan or skillet is challenging when one cannot only lift with one hand and is unable to twist the other to dump the pan or scrape the contents. Thank goodness for husbands, sons, sisters, daughters-in-law, and friends who can do much of this for you—not the tooth brushing or wiping however, ha.

So to conclude this I am sure boring story, I have been released by the surgeon. I told him my shoulder still ached painfully, as I had been saying for three months. Bless his heart, he looked me in the eye and said, Maybe you hurt it in the fall. We are treated by parts doctors these days, and his part was my wrist. I guess the rest of me could have melted or turned into tuna fish, and it would be beyond the scope of his treatment. He is a great surgeon though, and I appreciated the work he performed. I have 2 more therapy appointments and will then call when I need assistance or them to work on my wrist/hand. I feel I should be swinging from trees at this point, but I cannot yet hold onto the limb. Yes, that is a whine, and yes, you may have some cheese now.

Oh, one other thing we found sadly amusing. Sis and I had gone to lunch at a new-to-us restaurant and noticed an eyeglass shop in the center, one unknown to either of us. Since my glasses were very crooked, we stopped to see if they would straighten them for me. While I was standing behind the woman as she worked on my glasses, arm in a ton of wrapping and a brace, skinned knee, and a black eye from the fall, I suddenly heard her say, Oh no! Well, that's the way my day has gone. I said, I have a feeling I am having a bad day too. She turned around with half my glasses in each hand—ha. She and I were both right, a bad day. It took two and a half weeks for the new frames to come in, but I do have working eyeglasses again. Whew!

Greg has been a wonder through all this. I am so glad we moved into this smaller BnB. We are still connected to Chandler Farms, but we have a smaller place now with only a cook and house manager to help out. It gives us more latitude for travel, and we can fill in where and when we are needed at the Farms. I am sure I must have shared all this with you earlier, but I find my memory needs refreshing at times—where is that button? Do you know?

We still talk about the enjoyable time we had last year. Greg wants to go back for more fishing, and I loved all the shops we visited. I am on laundry duty this morning since I can at least put things in the washer and dryer and remove them too. Ha!

Lil, tell Bill that Gregory was not ready to come home either. He loves to fish. He also said it was such fun meeting the new fellas. I'm thinking we are a lucky bunch of gals to have stayed friends all these years and to have our partners like one another too. Next reunion, we'll just have fun all over again.

Until you fly into our nest again. Bye for now.

Ditty

MILLY

"I've got a brand-new