Down by the River by Lin Stepp

“Actually, I think your father would have been more respectful of my decision to make this move than any of you.”
    â€œI seriously doubt that,” Margaret put in sarcastically. “Ken’s right. You have no background preparing you to run a business. And Dad would have known that.”
    â€œYour father and I visited bed-and-breakfasts together in all our travels around the U.S. and in our trips abroad. It was a special pleasure of ours. You should remember I kept scrapbooks of our visits. And your father and I often talked about possibly buying our own bed-and-breakfast someday.”
    â€œPipe-dreaming and putting together scrapbooks of visits to inns does not prepare you to run one, Mom.” Mike scowled at her. “And Dad’s not here anymore to help you run a business. I’m sure he wouldn’t approve of your doing this on your own. As the head of the family now, I have to express that for him.”
    Grace was growing tired of this discussion. “Look. Although this may seem like an impulsive decision to all of you, it is—after all— my decision. I am an adult woman, not a child who needs guidance. And Charles made sure I would have my own income. You all know that. You may not have much confidence in my ability to run a bed-and-breakfast successfully, but I may very well surprise you. It is often difficult for children to imagine their mother in a career capacity—especially when she’s been at home at their beck and call for so many years. And, obviously, none of you seem to be aware of the work I did and responsibilities I carried in all the nonprofit endeavors I was involved in all these years.”
    Margaret rolled her eyes dramatically when Grace paused.
    â€œThe point is, I have bought this bed-and-breakfast. I do not intend to change my mind about that decision, even though you are obviously not supportive of my plans. And I have every intention of moving to Townsend as soon as I can make arrangements here. Mrs. Oakley, the former owner, says I still have time to get in touch with many of her former clients who come in June and July—and that I also have time to advertise and attract new clients for the late summer and for the fall. Many people visit the Smokies then to see the colors.”
    Only a set of scowling faces met hers. “You might want to remember I also have family in East Tennessee. My parents, my sister and her family, and my brother and his family live nearby in South Knoxville—about twenty minutes from the inn. In a sense, I am going back to my family as well as leaving family here. My own roots are in the East Tennessee area, children. And I want to do something useful with the rest of my life. I’ve been so busy with family and home that I haven’t had time to try my own wings like most of you. I think it is my time to do that. I feel really happy about this decision. I wish you could feel happy with me.”
    No encouraging words came back—just continuing frowns.
    â€œWhat about all your beautiful furniture?” Louise looked around with sorrow. “It won’t be the same here when the place is all cleaned out.”
    Grace smiled. “Much of the bed-and-breakfast is furnished. So I plan to leave most of the formal furnishings here with Frank and Elaine, if they would like to have them. They both like antiques. And I plan to talk with each of you privately about things in the house you might want for your own homes.”
    Barbara wrinkled her nose and sent a warning look to Mike. Both the boys had very modern tastes in their lake homes. It would be unlikely either of them would want much from the house here.
    â€œSome of the furnishings I’ll take with me, of course, Louise. I’ll also take some of the furniture over to the garage apartment to fix up my little place there.”
    Margaret laughed and sent a telling look around the table to her siblings. “That will be a