There's Always Plan B by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online

folding.”
    Not good, Carly thought. She had more questions but didn’t want to get into it in front of Tiffany.
    She turned to her daughter. “We’ll talk later today and come up with a chore list.”
    â€œYou let her decide that sort of thing?” Rhonda asked, obviously annoyed.
    â€œI think her input is important,” Carly said. “But she doesn’t decide.”
    â€œI could,” Tiffany said defiantly. “I’d do a great job.”
    Carly narrowed her gaze. “This would be a great time for you to keep quiet.”
    Tiffany opened her mouth, then closed it. “Fine,” she muttered between clenched teeth.
    â€œI still need help with all those sheets,” Rhonda said. “I suppose if everyone is busy, I can just do them myself.”
    Like that was going to happen, Carly thought. “I’ll help,” she said. “Tiffany, why don’t you write up a draft of what you think is a reasonable chore list and we’ll talk about it later this afternoon? Aside from keeping your room clean, you’ll need to help around the B and B, so think about what you’d like to do.”
    â€œI don’t want to be a maid even if it pays good.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be. There are lots of other things. You could help Maribel in the kitchen, you could prepare the evening appetizers, be responsible for arranging the fresh flowers in the public rooms and the guest rooms.”
    Her daughter perked up. “I don’t know how to arrange flowers.”
    â€œIt’s not that hard. I could teach you.”
    Tiffany’s eyes widened. “You know how to do that for real? You were always putting flowers in the house, but I didn’t think you really knew what you were doing.”
    â€œGee, thanks for the vote of confidence. My point is there are a lot of ways to help and I don’t mind if you pick one that’s fun for you.”
    â€œOkay. I’ll do that.” Her expression cleared and she headed out of the room.
    Rhonda watched her go. “You’re spoiling her.”
    â€œBecause I’m willing to let her have a say in what her chores are? I don’t consider that spoiling, Mom. She’s more likely to do the work if she has some input in the process. There’s already plenty of friction with her being a teenager. I would like to avoid adding more to the situation.”
    Her mother shook her head. “I would never have let you pick your chores.”
    â€œI know.”
    Her mother glared at her. “Is that a criticism? Do you want to blame me for the problems in your life? Is it my fault you couldn’t hold on to your husband?”
    â€œNone of the above,” Carly said as she wondered if living in say, Iowa, would really be that bad. “Come on. I’ll help you fold the sheets.”
    She would use the time with her mother to find out the real situation at the B and B and then make her decision about staying or leaving. If she was going to move again, she had to do it soon, before Tiffany got too settled. Plus there was her daughter’s school to think of. Spring break was only a week. She didn’t want to keep Tiffany out of school because they were moving yet again.
    Ten minutes later Carly found herself in the basement laundry room. Despite the fact that it had probably once been a dungeon, the space was bright and airy. Several small windows up by the ceiling let in light while the sunny yellow paint added cheer. Three industrial-size washers lined one wall, and matching dryers lined another. There were long folding tables and cabinets with laundry supplies. A dumbwaiter in the corner allowed the clean laundry to be sent up to the guest floors.
    Carly stared at the piles and piles of sheets. They were on top of the tables, on the machines themselves and in baskets. She could see why her daughter freaked.
    â€œWere you full for the weekend?” she asked her mother as