The Investing In-Laws
Chez Serene was a restaurant built with the lake in mind. The restaurant was a wide two story restaurant that was built in a large arching semi circle curving around the bank of the lake.
There were tables on the dock that extended out into the lake, tables on the outer edges of the upper deck, and on the lower level but in tiers that allowed all tables to have some sort of view in the lake.
The restaurant was made of drift wood and dark mahogany. The planks of the walls looking like the hull of an antique ship. The décor was nature, calm and soothing and the breeze from the lake caused several hung wind-chimes quietly chime.
A tall striking brunette entered the main entrance and was immediately greeted by the lake view. She smiled, her green eyes twinkling with admiration. She was Tiffany Trace and her husband, broad chested and very tanned, Jacob Trace, stepped next to her and assessed the restaurant with the eye of a businessman – he was pleased. His daughter-in-law had done well.
The hostess smiled broadly at the couple before her. "Welcome to Chez Serene. Would you like a table for two?"
Jacob Trace looked stern – as usual. "We have a reservation for four under Trace young lady. I didn't know how lovely your restaurant was could we please have a table on the upper deck?"
At the mention of his name the hostess' smile had frozen for a moment, but she had gathered herself rather quickly. She pulled menus from her hostess stand and looked to the other hostess.
"These are the Traces, I am going to take up to their table." The second hostess' eyes went wide and she fumbled with her skirt for a moment. But eventually she nodded.
Tiffany and Jacob Trace walked through Chez Serene absorbing the view and the atmosphere. They could feel the nervousness of the staff and they smiled inwardly.
The stepped up on the second floor deck and their eyebrows rose. It was breathtaking. The lake was the first thing you saw because you turned the back of the restaurant by the time you made it to the top of the stairs. But thus deck was like a wonderland. Ceramic, marble, and clay pots held various plants and the trellis was covered in grape vines that actually had grapes on them.
The tables were all at the edge of the deck facing the lake, a dance floor stood in its center, and there was greenery and beautiful marble and ceramic statues surrounding it. To the side was an area where musicians could set up when they had live music.
"it's exquisite."
Jacob nodded at his wife's words. "It is definitely a hidden gem."
All the tables and chairs were made of different materials. The hostess set them at a table made of faceted glass and driftwood. The greyish white wood was polished to a high shine and had decorative etchings on the legs and the portion just below the glass top.
Tiffany carefully sat down as if it was too pretty too use. Her husband sat down beside her and looked at the beautiful table with a frown. "This must have cost a fortune. These tables are too expensive. Is this place actually making money?"
"It is. I found a young couple online that makes many things out of recycled materials and they create art. They did most of this for free because you can actually buy the statues and some of the works downstairs. They have a new place to showcase their art, and when things calm down I plan on building s gallery to feature it, and their furniture, on a grander scale."
Tiffany and Jacob turned at the sound of their daughter-in-law's voice and saw Amber and Dan standing a few feet from them. Tiffany smiled wide and too Amber in a strong embrace. "I my goodness! I am so glad to see you and to see you with Dan. I was so worried. Come sit, sit. The hotel, the bakery, this restaurant, that wonderful flower garden. It is all so beautiful. You have done a good job."
Amber smiled and sat next to Tiffany and Dan sat next to her and his father. "Thank you so much."
"So I can buy this table or one of those beautiful marble statues?"
"You can't buy a table in this exact design. It is exclusively for Chez Serene, but yes."
"And how does one know the price?"
"The menus you have are the art listings. I have already put in our order for lunch. We are going to have one of our family style fusion lunches."
Even as she said this and the Traces picked up their menus with frowns and surprise on their faces, the food arrived. Food was placed on their table and two tables around them. The hostess looked to Mrs. Trace and spoke. "Would you like to serve yourselves or would you like us to serve you."
Tiffany looked to the polite young lady with a smile. "You can serve us dear."
And then proceeded the unique experience of Chez Serene. They were asked their drink preferences and served their choices. Then they were told the food choices and Tiffany and Jacob looked to Amber with greater surprise.
The food was served flawlessly and they fell into comfortable conversation. "This is a fantastic place Amber. I am even more excited about experiencing the spa tonight." Jacob looked at his son. "I want to see these villas you are building as well." Dan nodded to his father, a smile of pride on his face. "You should be proud son. You wife has done something extraordinary here."
He looked to Amber and spoke in no uncertain terms. "I want to invest in this Amber. You say you want to build a gallery on property? I want to put money into that and we have already been to the artisan dairy can we invest in that? And once I see these villas I am sure I will want in." He looked eagerly at his son.
Amber smiled. "I don't own the dairy but I can introduce you to the owner. If you'd like to invest in the gallery it would be greatly appreciated. I am also planning to build more docks on the lake and have a small tea house out on the center. If you'd like to invest in that or the paddle boats I want made you can think about those as well. I can get you the business plans for each."
Amber put a fork full of food into her mouth and chewed slowly. Tiffany smiled broadly. "No more business." She paused and looked at an abstract white marble statue that had soft grey veins moving through it. "I do want to buy that piece though. After that we are talking about you two and your marriage."
As Dan and Amber had lunch Jessica sat in her front room carefree. She popped a hand full of BonBons Sereins granola in her mouth as she flipped through a high-end maternity clothing line on her phone. She frowned when her doorbell rang.
She scowled when she saw that it was the doula Christopher hired for her – she couldn't stand the woman. She turned on the mic and spoke through her phone to the woman. "Not today. Come back tomorrow. No. I will call you and tell you when to come back."
"Ms. Lance you keep skipping your breathing and Lamaze classes and you won't be prepared for delivery."
"Whether anyone likes it or not I will be drugged for this birth. Your services really are not needed."
"Even with pain meds you…"
"I said to leave!"
Jessica smirked when she saw the woman jump when she screamed at her. She backed up a step and then turned and left. Jessica shook her head in disgust. Why were people so weak. Not even five minutes later her phone buzzed and her online shopping was disturbed.
A call from Christopher.
"She wasn't even gone long enough to tattle. I just sent you maternity clothes that I want and my sizes. Buy them or send me the money."
"If you do not use the doula there will be no more purchases and no more money."
There was silence. Then Jessica burst into raucous laughter. She laughed for a good minute and Christopher sat listening to it.
"You seem to be confused Christopher. I do not need your money. I want your money. You have no say in this."
"You asked for the doula Jessica."
"And now I say I don't need her."
The call disconnected and Christopher sat in confusion for a while. Then he looked at the listing Jessica sent him and transferred money into her account.