Page 9 of Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

“Mom-my!”

“Just kidding. Guess we’ll have to make our own fortunes.”

“Stop teasing, Mommy.”

“Okay, but don’t you be worrying, Miss Mag-Annie. We’ll be together pretty soon. Have you been marking the days on the calendar I sent you?”

“Yep. I can’t wait. I’m gonna go to school in a town made of bells where everyone is friendly and there are no bad people and we’re gonna open a restaurant with peanut butter and banana sandwiches and I’m gonna have my own bedroom with Annie wallpaper and betcha there will be a dog just waiting for me to—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. One thing at a time.”

Once Delilah clicked off, promising to call again the next evening, she sat for a long moment, staring into the distance. Normally, Delilah was not a list maker, but she pulled out a notebook now.

Her first list involved her daughter, Maggie, and everything she needed to do for her move to the Outer Banks to take place:

—Diner running.

—Furniture. Maggie’s bedroom. Living room.

—Regain legal guardianship.

—CPS home inspection.

—Parole meeting.

—Kindergarten registration.

—Sell motorcycle.

—Buy used car & child’s booster seat.

Heck, while she was at it, she might as well make a list for the diner. It was probably unrealistic, but she hoped to have the diner open for business before Labor Day. But before that, she needed to:

—Finish vinyl restoration.

—Replace Formica countertop.

—Electrician: cooktops, ovens, fridge, freezer.

—Spray-paint the diner.

—Call food suppliers.

—Design & print menu.

—Jukebox repairman?

—Business license. Food permits.

—Hire staff.

Delilah didn’t expect to get to the motel renovations until winter when business on the Outer Banks would come almost to a standstill. It was a shame, too, because there was almost no lodging for tourists in Bell Cove. But before she could open the eight rooms, she would need:

—Interior & exterior painting.

—Plumbing & electrical updates.

—Mattresses, drapes, bedspreads, linens, shower curtains, towels, toiletries.