by Teresa Trent
“Wiley, we have a problem.”
“What now?” Wiley asked running his hands through his thinning hair.
“Moore Foods just put our beef patties on back order. We’re going to run out of hamburgers.” Nora’s eyes widened. Was Moore Foods trying to drive them out of business?
Wiley shook his head. “Then find somebody who can get them to us today.”
“There’s no one. Right now, the only supply company that delivers to Piney Woods is Moore Foods.”
“If you need to get into your car and drive to the grocery store, do it. I’ll get to the kitchen as soon as I can, and we’ll try to sort this thing out, but the first thing I have to do is find someone to fix the elevator.”
“I told you, there is no need to do that Uncle Wiley. Lucy has someone for us. You just worry about the restaurant, okay?”
Usually, Nora worked five to eleven, but with the convention being her baby, she volunteered to work double shifts for the event. The hours were exhausting, but what else could she do? She wanted to make the Tunie Hotel successful again. The Tunie had been the place to be in Piney Woods, Texas from the forties to the eighties. When Mr. Tunie died, it fell into disrepair and was about to be closed for good when Marty picked it up for a dime in a foreclosure sale. Now that Nora was Co-owner, reviving the Tunie had become her life, and if that meant helping old ladies up the stairs for the next two days, she would do it.
“Oh, my God,” Max said from the front desk.
“What? Is something wrong with the software?”
“Worse.” His blue eyes widened as the screen reflected on them.
“What could be worse than the only technology we have going down before our first big convention?”
“We received a one-star review on Rate Your Hotel.”
“Huh? What’s that?” Nora asked.
“It’s a hotel reviewing service. It’s been gaining popularity in the last year. You can search the name of a hotel you’re thinking about booking and see what other people thought of it first.”
“Oh yeah. They have sites like that for restaurants, too. Stuff like that can put you out of business,” Wiley said.
“One star? What did the guest say was wrong?” The Tunie Hotel usually booked from one-half to three-fourths of their rooms. Being newly reopened, they tried to give first-rate service and hospitality. Nora searched her memory for any upset guests.
“Wow. Everything,” Max read on. “Bad location, bad service, a smell, and cockroaches crawling everywhere. Oh, no …”
“This can’t be good, Nora,” Wiley said.
Max gasped again.
“Max?” Nora asked.
“We just went from one review to ten, all by the same person. They’re popping up all over. All one star. Whoever is doing this is doing it right now. I can’t believe they didn’t limit the reviewer.”
“People will figure out this is some crackpot and that will be the end of it,” Nora rationalized.
“If it were only that way. Even if though those ten reviews were by one person, it makes our overall average one star. It’s going to take a lot of five-star reviews to bring up our score on this site.”
“Maybe we should call Marty?”
Max shook his head. “I don’t know. What she needs right now is to stay off that ankle, not another crisis.”
Max’s protectiveness of Marty was touching.
“I guess we could wait,” Nora said.
“Just for a while.”
Nora turned slightly to Max. “Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“Are you and Marty … you know, interested in each other?”
Wiley held up a hand. “I gotta get back to the restaurant. You too can talk about your love lives and spare me.”
As Wiley made a quick exit, Max’s face turned a deep shade of pink highlighting his rounded cheeks. “It depends on who you are asking. I didn’t know I was that transparent.” He blinked, looked down and lowered his voice.
“From the time we were kids working here for Mr. Tunie, I have always had a special place in my heart for Marty.”
“Why didn’t you ever act on it?”
Max jerked his head back slightly. “Have you looked at me lately?” He threw his arms down around his wide girth like a clumsy ballet dancer. “Marty is beautiful. Sleek. A business woman. I’m this overweight guy who lives with his mother and studies for his law degree online. I have no idea why she hasn’t married up until now, but she’s never looked my way. I’m not much of a catch.”
“That is not true. Well, the part about living with your mother and trying to become a lawyer is true. Your outside might be big, but so is your incredible heart. You are one of the kindest, sweetest men I’ve ever met. Anybody would be lucky to get you.”
“And there is oh so much of me to get,” Max added, sarcasm in his voice.
“Okay, fine. You’re worried about how your size. You know, there are a lot of excellent fashions out there for big and tall men these days. Why don’t you snazz up your look? Just because you’re Grande doesn’t mean you can’t look grand.”
Max listened, his eyes sliding to the side as he considered Nora’s idea.
Nora continued, “What about Marty? You tell me how perfect she is. Don’t you think a woman with that many redeeming qualities wouldn’t judge a good friend because of his size?”
“Friend. That’s the word. I’m not only live in the friend zone, but I have my own subdivision.”
Nora put her hands on her hips and planted her feet as she looked up to Max’s blue eyes. “I think you should go for it.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Nothing ventured …”
“No way. If I were to tell Marty I think about her day and night and wish we could be together, it could ruin the friendship we have now. That is too much to risk. As much as I appreciate your advice to the lovelorn, we need to work on those one-star reviews.”
Max and Marty’s friendship was a wonderful thing to observe and Nora could understand Max not wanting to take a risk.
An attractive older woman with dark blond hair styled in a short cut stood behind the group assembled at the counter.
“Oh, I know all about one-star reviews. They’re the plight of any endeavor.” She wore a tweed skirt and matching beige camel hair jacket. Nora immediately recognized her from the banner in the lobby advertising the Meow Meetup convention. This was Evangeline Cartwright, the famous mystery writer who was the keynote speaker and the main draw for the gathering.
“Miss Cartwright!” Nora tried holding her papers over the grease stain left from climbing out of the elevator. “How nice to meet you.”
Evangeline’s smile was warm. She might have achieved notoriety in her field, but there was a very friendly feeling about her. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m a little early. I like to get to know a place before I speak. It takes away some of the nervousness.”
Nora scooted behind the front desk bumping against Max and stowed her papers under the counter. “That’s quite alright. We’re honored to have you here.”
Evangeline looked around the ancient walls of the Tunie. The wallpaper in the main lobby had been restored to the original print that had been there in 1945. Large chandeliers sparkled reflecting light on the highly polished wood. “What an interesting old place. No matter what your sour apple of a reviewer said on the computer, I’ll bet there are some stories to tell around here.”
While Max checked Evangeline’s reservation, Nora replied, “Yes. The Tunie has been here since the forties. If you look closely at that wall, you’ll find pictures not only of the generations of visitors and townspeople of Piney Woods but a few celebrities like LBJ and Waylon Jennings.” In Texas, these two well-known gentlemen were ranked at the same level of honor.
Evangel
ine stepped over and examined the vast collection of photographs collected by Mr. Tunie over the years. “This is incredible. Would you mind if I snapped some pictures of them later? Your wall of pictures is a tremendous bank of potential characters for my next novel.”
“We don’t mind at all,” Nora assured her. “You’ll be taking a picture of my own mother up there. Again, it’s quite an honor having you here.” Nora was especially proud that they had started a section of new pictures beginning with a panorama shot of the reunion she and Marty had held just recently.
“Oh, I want to make sure to remember this one,” Evangeline said as she leaned closer to a picture of a tall, thin man. Nora didn’t recognize him, but the novelist seemed to like his photograph. What would he turn out to be in her novel?
“Miss Cartwright, our elevator is not working right now. How are you with stairs? We put you on the fourth floor, thinking it would give you the most privacy. If the stairs are a problem, we can put you on the first floor.”
“And bump somebody else? Nothing doing. I walk three miles a day. The older you get, the more important it is to exercise. I certainly think I can handle a few stairs.”
Her statement gave Nora tremendous relief. Now if the rest of the guests would have this attitude, she might be able to sleep at night. Evangeline Cartwright had drifted over to the pamphlet rack and picked up a few of the three-fold brochures that advertised the town’s attractions.
“You have a lovely little town. I hope I can get some time to sight see a bit.”
“Thank you and I agree. People don’t always think of East Texas as a vacation destination, which makes finding it even better.”
Pocketing a couple of brochures in her spacious quilted bag, she returned to the desk. “Would you happen to have a map of the city?”
Most people pulled up maps on their phones these days, but the writer was from a different generation. Nora pulled out a few she kept on hand for non-computer savvy customers.
“Thank you. And is there a phone book nearby?”
Again, not the usual request. Nora pulled a weathered phone book out from behind the counter and dusted it off.
“Thank you again. Oh, and I was wondering if you could do me a little favor? I’d kind of like to get accustomed to the place, so if anybody asks for me, tell them I’m checking in right before the conference.”
On top of the tattered, neglected phone book, Nora placed the key to Evangeline’s room. “No problem. Like I said, you’re on the top floor right next to one of the owners of the Tunie.”
“Just one?”
“You’re looking at the other,” Nora beamed.
“Well then, it’s nice to meet you …” She looked for Nora’s nametag.
“Nora. Nora Alexander.”
With the arrival of her keynote speaker for the convention, the elevator breaking, and the disparaging review didn’t seem to matter as much. No matter what, the Tunie would keep going.
A few hours later, Nora was in the office going through preparations for the convention the next day. Jolene walked in and plopped the file folder of hotel receipts on the desk Nora had been carrying before getting trapped in the elevator.
“Here ya go. These dogs are pooped.” She said pointing to her feet clad in discount store sneakers. Nora smiled. Jolene had been one of Tuck’s rescues after he put her husband in jail for selling drugs. Tuck was good at that. Rescuing.
After Jolene left, Nora decided to call and check on Marty.
Her voice was faint on the other end. “Did I wake you?” Nora asked.
“No. I’m too bored to sleep. Most of my day has been spent watching the colors change on my ankle.”
“Maybe we should get you in for an x-ray?”
“No. I think it’s just a sprain. I’ve sprained this ankle before and broken bones. I can tell the difference. I’m fine, really.”
“Are you sure I can’t get you something?”
“No, but thanks for asking. How is it going?”
“Jolene just left. I’m worried about all the people coming tomorrow. I hope we can handle it. Know any boy scouts looking for a merit badge?”
“Max is the only boy scout I know. Dominic comes in a little later. He said he couldn’t work this morning because he is sleeping off a paranormal investigation he and a couple of buddies conducted over at the old mill.” Dominic Fazio, a transplanted New Yorker, was a new hire at the Tunie Hotel. Marty and Nora assigned him to the front desk. He then informed them his job that would pay the bills would be working the Tunie, but the passion of his life was being a paranormal investigator. With the Tunie Hotel having its long history and possible ghost sightings, it was an ideal position for him.
“Good Lord, not another investigation. Dear old Max. What would we do without him,” Marty sighed. Nora noted the tenderness in her voice when she mentioned her old friend. Maybe she was right, and it did seem like there might be something there. After her discussion with Max, she had to ask.
“So, you and Max. Were you ever a couple?”
Marty paused as she considered the question. “Max? No. I guess I depend on him for everything, but we were never a couple. We’ve known each other since high school, but I was on cheer squad and he was in the debate club. We met working here the summer Mr. Tunie decided to have a Hawaiian theme. Max and I were in charge of decorating the lobby. I never laughed so hard. He was just so funny, you know? We even had hula dancers in the front lobby one night. Max and I had so much fun that summer but when school began again, I went back to the popular crowd and he went back to the debate team. Funny, though. All those beautiful people, the football players and the prom queens aren’t a part of my life anymore. Max is. I guess he always will be.” Her tone grew wistful. She seemed a put-together business woman, but for a second she was that popular girl who ran with all the right people in high school.
“I should get off the phone and let you rest. If you need anything just call.”
“Sure. Don’t forget I have the webcam focused on the lobby. You’re doing a wonderful job. You don’t have anything else to do. Don’t worry about me, just keep the hotel up and running.”
Nora felt bad for not telling Marty about the reviews some creep was posting about the Tunie as she replaced the phone in the cradle. Before it could overwhelm her, she set herself back to the tasks at hand.
Nora lifted the manila folder and looked underneath it. She had expected to find Izzy’s manuscript, but it was not with the file. It had to still be in the box with the sheets and those sheets would’ve been taken out and put on the beds by now. Why hadn’t Jolene delivered them both to the office? What if Izzy’s manuscript was lost? She had spoken to Evangeline earlier and had forgotten all about it. All she could hope was that she put it in a safe place somewhere and not in the trash. She was a little on the sketchy side, but so far had been reliable and took instruction well. If she lost Izzy’s manuscript it was like not returning a library book on time. She thought of the little woman with the thick glasses. She was depending on Nora to help her pursue her dream of becoming a published author. With her luck, Jolene had dumped the envelope in the trash.
Chapter 4
W
“Hey beautiful. Up for some dinner? I know a nice little place right here in the hotel.” Tuck leaned against the doorway and his very presence provided a welcome escape from the pre-convention anxiety she was feeling. She would find the manuscript after she had dinner with Tuck. She would be able to think clearer.
“Yes!” Nora quickly put down the folder, rose from the desk and went into Tuck’s arms. His kiss started out light, but when he caught her eagerness, he lengthened their embrace. When they finally pulled apart, he spoke, his voice low.
“Well, hello.”
“You’re like a port in a storm. Dinner sounds wonderful but then I have to get my mind back on the hotel. I still
don’t feel ready.”
“Did you get Wiley’s chicken problem straightened out?”
“We’re working on it.”
“Somehow, I knew that you would. What’s he serving tonight?”
“I don’t know. I’m starved. How about you? Let’s go see. I haven’t seen him pacing the floor in a while so maybe things are better with him.” He slipped his arm around her waist and guided her to the door.
“I think we’re Wiley’s most frequent diners.”
“I believe you might be right. Lucky for us we both like gumbo,” Nora said.
“And each other,” Tuck whispered. This was the way it had been between them for months. Nora loved having Tuck around and he seemed to feel the same. If it kept up like this, who knows where it would lead?
When Tuck and Nora stepped into the doorway of the restaurant, Evangeline Cartwright was already seated at a table with an older gentleman deep in conversation. His hair was a mixture of gray and black and he is athletic build would’ve qualified him to be a spokesperson for a prescription drug company.
Nora crossed her arms and whispered to Tuck, “Well, would you look at that. It seems Miss Evangeline has found a new friend.”
“I think I recognize that guy,” Tuck said eying him.
They walked over to the table in the corner and took a seat. Tuck glanced at the keynote speaker and her date. “How old is Evangeline Cartwright?”
“She’s got to be between sixty-five and seventy.”
Tuck laughed, “I guess she’s a mover and shaker in more than just writing novels.”
“I’ll be right back,” Nora said rising from the table. She returned shortly with her cell phone and pulled up the camera function.
“You can’t do that,” Tuck whispered. “It’s an invasion of her privacy.”
“Mr. Tunie would have wanted me to take this picture for his wall. She’s a celebrity. I will ask her if it is okay. I think we have a little room next to Mattress Mack, the furniture guy from Houston who gave up his million-dollar showroom for Hurricane Harvey refugees.” Nora quickly snapped the picture and pocketed the phone.