Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
Valentine's at the Inn, Part 3
Mon, 24 Feb 2025
Our story tonight is called Valentine’s at the Inn, Part Three, and it is the finale of the three-week series of the same name, and also the much-awaited sequel to the story called The Secret Stair, released last Halloween. For those of you who actually hear the stories, and don’t get me wrong, your sleeping is what’s most important here, so I never mind if you don’t hear a word, but for those who do, I apologize for making you wait so long to find out what was up that secret stair at the Inn. And then I made it a three-parter, and put it right at the end of the last part. Yup, guilty. I think it wants to be a book. Anyway, small disclaimer that some things actually happen in this episode, but I’d bet that I’m still going to knock you out if I haven’t already. This story is also about the crosshatched top of peanut butter cookies, the sound of a vacuum cleaner running in the distance, a desk and straight-backed chair by the window, and a plan for something new in the Village of Nothing Much. We give to a different charity each week, and this week, we are giving to Wigs for Kids. Wigs For Kids is a nonprofit organization that helps children experiencing hair loss work together with a stylist to build the self-esteem and self-image they deserve. If you want to try Beam’s best-selling Dream Powder, get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com slash NOTHINGMUCH and use code NOTHINGMUCH at checkout. Visit bioptimizers.com/nothingmuch and use code NOTHINGMUCH for 10% off any order. For 20% OFF any AquaTru water purifier, go to AquaTru.com and use the promo code NOTHINGMUCH. Order your own NMH weighted pillow now! Subscribe for ad-free, bonus, and extra-long episodes now, as well as ad-free and early episodes of Stories from the Village of Nothing Much! Search for the NMH Premium channel on the Apple podcast or follow this link. Listen to our daytime show, Stories from the Village of Nothing Much, on your favorite podcast app. Join us tomorrow morning for a meditation. Save over $100 on Kathryn’s hand-selected wind-down favorites with the Nothing Much Happens Wind-Down Box. A collection of products from our amazing partners: Eversio Wellness: Chill Now Vellabox: Lavender Silk Candle Alice Mushrooms Nightcap Nutrachamps Tart Cherry Gummies A Brighter Year Mini Coloring Book NuStrips Sleep Strips Woolzies Lavender Roll-On
Chapter 1: What is the focus of Valentine's at the Inn, Part 3?
For those of you who actually hear the stories, and don't get me wrong, you sleeping is what's most important here, so I never mind if you don't hear a word. But for those who do, I apologize for making you wait so long to find out what was up that secret stair at the end. And then I made it a three-parter and put it right at the end of the last part. Yep. Guilty. I think it wants to be a book.
Anyway, small disclaimer that some things actually happen in this episode, but I bet I'm still gonna knock you out if I haven't already. This story is also about the cross-hatched top of peanut butter cookies, the sound of a vacuum cleaner running in the distance. a desk and a straight-back chair by the window, and a plan for something new in the village of nothing much.
If we can make the things that are good for us more of a treat and less of a chore, it makes adopting healthy habits a lot easier. This, as you may have guessed, is a big part of our philosophy. We want to make solid sleep something you look forward to. And it's the same for Beam.
Their delicious Dream Powder, vanilla chai is my personal favorite, is tested for high-quality efficacy and formulated to ease your body into rest, supporting all four stages of the sleep cycle. to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Beam Dream Powder. Make sleep delicious. Smart thinking.
If you want to try Beam's best-selling dream powder, get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com slash nothingmuch and use code nothingmuch at checkout. We've got this down in our show notes, if you forget. That's shopbeam.com slash nothingmuch and use code nothingmuch for up to 40% off.
Now, it's time. Turn off the light. Slide down into your sheets and pull the blanket up over your shoulder. I'll be here reading even after you've fallen asleep.
Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose and sigh. Nice. Do it again. Fill it up. And let it go.
Good. Valentine's at the Inn Part 3 The busy weekend was winding down. What fun we had had. The inn had bustled with activity for the last three days. Guests, of course, our small staff, a band of musicians, Floris and Sycamore the Cat.
We'd served fantastic meals, poured many cups of coffee in the breakfast rooms.
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Chapter 2: How does the innkeeper's day unfold after the busy weekend?
and kept the fireplaces burning through the days.
Now, as guests were checking out, I was behind the tall desk in the office, sliding room keys back into their cubbies and tidying up paperwork. I could hear our maids in the halls above,
vacuum cleaners running along the floorboards, and doors opening and closing as one room was finished and another began. Poor Sycamore was exhausted.
He lay in the inbox on the desk, his long black tail slung onto the keyboard. and his nose pressed against the blotter. I stopped to massage his little body. Oh, sick ye, I crooned. Was it hard to have so much fun? All those people telling you how handsome you are, wanting to pet you and give you treats. He purred thickly. and I lifted one of his legs to free the stapler from underneath him.
He would sleep all day.
I stepped into the hall and saw the last couple of guests coming down the stairs.
There was a sparkle about them as they smiled at each other, their hands clasped between them.
This weekend had obviously done them good, and I took a bit of pride in whatever part we had played in that. As they stopped to hand over their room key and fill to-go cups from the urn in the entryway, they thanked me for the special event we'd hosted the night before.
We'd had a fancy dinner in the ballroom, with musicians and beautiful decorations. A kind of grown-up prom.
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Chapter 3: What secret does the inn hold and how is it revealed?
I dropped Siki on the sofa and went back to the door. I looked up and down the hall. The vacuums were still going upstairs and probably would be for the foreseeable future.
I closed the door and turned toward Chef.
At the Halloween party, Something was revealed to me. I was well aware I was being a little dramatic and mysterious, but I was having fun. Chef nodded and extended the plate of cookies to me. I took one, cross-hatched on its dark brown top with tine marks. Chocolate peanut butter, Chef said, a little breathlessly. Well played, I replied. So my friend with the gray cat, you know her, right?
Cinder's mom? Yes. She pulled me in here and told me the inn had a secret. It was ready for me to learn. She didn't know exactly what or how, but after a minute or two in this room, she asked me if there were some questions I'd been carrying around about the inn. Chef had taken a large bite of their cookie, but had forgotten to chew, so caught up in the excitement of the story.
I took a deep breath and told them that sometimes, out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of the first innkeeper.
That I'd been looking through old pictures and newspaper clippings for her. That I felt a connection to her. Maybe it was just the house and the job that we'd both done. I walked over to the fireplace mantle and took the ring of keys from my pocket. I held up the small iron key I'd been given that Halloween night.
and fitted it into a hidden keyhole just under the bracket on the side of the mantle. Chef let out a satisfying gasp and jumped to their feet. Is this really happening? Yep, I said, as I grasped the key with both hands and turned it forcefully.
A panel in the wall beside the bookcase moved back and slid away, revealing the bottom step of the hidden stair. The first time I'd gone up those stairs, I'll admit the hair on the back of my neck had stood up. But I'd quickly learned that this wasn't an eerie place, but a protected one.
It felt now, as I led the way, chef behind me and sycamore at the rear, like showing your childhood bedroom to your best friend for the first time.
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Chapter 4: What is the significance of the hidden room at the inn?
At the top, it opened into a small room
about the size of one of our guest rooms.
But instead of a chest of drawers and a bed, there was a large desk and a straight back chair. Along the walls, there were shelves lined with books and several large trunks. Chef, who still held half a cookie in their hand, gulped as they looked around and stuck it into the front pocket of their apron.
Sycamore, who by now had spent plenty of time in this room, jumped up onto the ledge in front of the single window and looked out.
What is all of this?
Chef said with wonder in their voice. Well, it took me a while to understand, but I think the first innkeeper was a kind of archivist.
All these books, I trailed my fingers across their spines. They're full of local people's stories, and the trunks have pictures and family trees, maps and histories. Stories like folk stories?
Um, some, but plenty are just the stories of people's lives. Like, look at this.
I picked up a book that was open on the desk and turned it around to show. This whole book is about people's birthdays who lived when the innkeeper did, here in the village.
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