She doubted her mother or any other family member had ever stepped foot in any of the rooms on the basement levels. The staff bustled around the lower levels during the day, but when she descended the back stairs now, the place was quiet and dark.
The lowest basement level held mostly storerooms on the west side of the inn. The other side was separated into a large laundry area that was busiest in the evenings.
She heard sounds from a television coming from somewhere deep in the darkness and made her way towards the massive kitchen on the first basement level.
Stepping inside the familiar room, she took a deep sigh of relief when she spotted Kathrine Clark. The middle-aged woman had run the inn’s kitchens since Eve hit puberty. At more than one time, Kathrine had been Eve’s only friend and confidant.
“There’s my girl,” Kathrine said, opening her arms for Eve to rush into them. She held onto the skinny woman and didn’t realize tears were streaming down her face until she heard Kathrine mention that Eve was going to soak through her apron.
Of course, this was said with a chuckle, but still, Eve pulled back and wiped her eyes dry.
“I know, girl.” Kathrine handed her a clean dish towel. “We all miss him.” She used her apron to dry her own eyes. “It’s been too long since you’ve been home.”
“I’m sorry,” Eve answered. “I… have no excuse other than…” She motioned to the ceiling.
“I understand.” Kathrine touched her shoulder. “I bet you’re starving.”
Eve sat down on the stool Kathrine motioned to, then watched as the woman moved gracefully around the kitchen and quickly produced a plate of food for Eve.
There were several other kitchen staff working to clean up after dinner. Eve spotted Jerry, who waved to her as he finished loading dishes into the automatic dishwasher, but the other two people rushing around were new faces.
Kathrine took the stool next to hers and watched as Eve wolfed down the meatloaf and potatoes.
“God,” Eve said after the first bite, “I’ve missed this.”
“You’ve probably been eating fast food. You’re too skinny.”
“Says you.” Eve smiled at her. “What have you lost?”
Kathrine smiled. “Thirty pounds and good riddance. I’m actually running in marathons now.”
“Wow.” Eve chuckled. “You look amazing.”
It was true. The last time she’d seen Kathrine, she’d been on a down slide after losing her husband to heart disease. Both she and her husband had been chefs and overweight for as long as Eve could remember.
“Is it true?” Kathrine asked after giving Eve a moment to eat in quiet.
“Hm?” Eve asked between bites.
“Did Reggie really leave you the inn?” Kathrine asked, leaning forward slightly.
“Yes,” she answered with a sigh, setting down her fork.
Kathrine smiled and nodded. “Smart man.”
“I… I’m a little overwhelmed.” She rolled her shoulders. “How… do you know how he died? What are they saying?”
Kathrine shrugged. “From what we’ve heard”— she motioned to the rest of the staff, who had at this point gathered around them— “he passed peacefully in his sleep. I haven’t heard anything more.”
“Your mother is the one who found him,” Jerry added. The man was roughly ten years older than Eve. He’d gotten a job as a dishwasher shortly after graduating high school and had worked his way up to head waiter since then. He was also one of the biggest spreaders of gossip around the inn. If you wanted to know something, you asked Jerry.
Eve nodded. “She told me.” She glanced around. “Is it true? Did Grandpa really demand my family move out or start paying for their rooms?”
The five of them were quiet for a moment. “Yes,” Kathrine finally answered. “Your uncle Gerald and Aunt Louisa were to move into makeshift rooms in the basement, since they couldn’t afford their rooms. Your great-aunt had already moved to the main floor two years ago when she started using that walker. She’s limited to that floor only, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen to her. Your other uncle and aunt… well, they haven’t said what they’re going to do yet.”
“And my parents?” Eve asked.
“Your father was looking for an apartment in town, but…” Kathrine shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything more.” She turned to Jerry, who also shrugged.
“They still have a little over a week left,” he added. “Well, did. With Reggie gone…” He trailed off.
Then Kathrine gasped. “You don’t think that one of them hurt Reggie?” The question hung thick in the air.
“I don’t know what I think. I haven’t been back long,” she admitted quickly, not wanting the gossip to spread that one of her family members could do such a thing. Or that Reggie’s death was anything but natural.
“What are you going to do? Will you make them move out?” Kathrine asked.
Eve didn’t think it wise to make any decisions until she’d had time to look over the books. Nor did she want any gossip getting back to her family yet.
“At this point, I’m not sure.” She finished off the plate of food. “Thank you.” She smiled at Kathrine. “You still make the best meatloaf around.”
Kathrine patted her hand. “Beverly, grab Eve some of those peanut butter cookies to take back upstairs with her.”
Beverly, one of the new staff members, rushed to grab a plate.
“That’s Beverly,” Kathrine added. “This is Mike.” She motioned to a skinny black-haired man roughly Eve’s father’s age. “Brian and Carl work mornings. Jerry and I are the only original staff left down here.”
“What about the others? Timothy was still here.”
“Reggie made Brandon head gardener last year. He has two other boys working part time under him, Ed and…”
“Derek,” Jerry supplied.
“Right.” Kathrine nodded. “Ezra and Elsie are still here.” She smiled. “Those two are still impossible to tell apart.”
The twins had always been at the hotel as well. They had been cleaning rooms at the inn longer than most of the other staff had been working there.
“There is a new concierge, Patrick.” Kathrine leaned a little closer. “I don’t like the man. And Genie. You’ll get along great with Genie. She’s your age.”
“I’m sure I’ll meet everyone tomorrow.” She had a thought. “I know it’s short notice, but I’d like to have a staff meeting in the morning. Can you spread the word? Meeting in the main hall at…” She glanced down at her watch and winced at the late hour. “Let’s say seven.”
“Sure thing, boss,” Kathrine said with a smile. She squeezed Eve’s hands. “I’m so glad you’re back.” Kathrine hugged her again. “I just know things are going to start picking up here again.”
“Start…” She frowned. “Has it really been that slow?”
Kathrine sighed. “I won’t lie to you. In the past two years, this place has been empty more times than I could keep track of.”