Meanwhile, Alex had been getting ready on the third floor. He was beginning to feel comfortable in the owner's quarters. In fact, he felt more comfortable than he had anticipated. I may think about staying here while Libby's away at school, he thought as he stood in front of the mirror shaving. It felt good to be out from under the watchful eye of his parents. It would be a slightly longer commute to the office, but it was workable.
He hadn't felt this happy in a while. He tried to figure out why he felt happy when he was with Catherine. There was something about her that was soothing to him. As he continued shaving, he thought about the dream he had last night about his wife, Sarah. He used to dream of Sarah often but had not done so lately. His dream of her last night was vivid. They were on The Lady Droxell. He remembered them sitting on the deck of the boat. She was pregnant, and they were talking about having their child. They had found out it was a girl and Sarah was saying how happy she was that it was a girl. Then he remembered them getting into the water and swimming together across the cove to the other side. They had gotten out of the water and rested on the bank of the cove. He remembered kissing her and then she brushed back his wet hair and told him how much she loved him.
The particular events in the dream had not happened. But they reflected the warm and loving relationship he had shared with Sarah. It was at that moment as he stood in front of the mirror shaving that it finally occurred to him. He now knew why he always felt something familiar about Catherine. He realized why he had been drawn to her. He understood why he enjoyed being in her company. He knew why he had dreamed about Sarah last night.
Catherine reminded him of Sarah. She even looked like Sarah. Why hadn't he realized this before? They had similar long, dark wavy hair. Sarah's eyes had been brown, while Catherine's were green. But so many things about Catherine's manner were much like those of his beloved wife. When he was around Catherine, he had the same feeling of contentment and belonging that he had with Sarah.
Alex stood there for a moment dazed at this realization. But his thoughts were quickly interrupted by the reality that he was running late. He needed to get dressed and get down to the dining room.
He quickly threw on a comfortable pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He grabbed a long sleeved flannel shirt and jacket knowing the weather would be changing as the day went on. His blond wavy hair was a bit disheveled as it usually was, but it actually enhanced his natural good looks. Alex always looked like he had stepped out of one of his company's ads featuring a rugged outdoorsy type.
He slipped into his leather boat shoes and flew down the two flights of stairs to the first floor -- eager to start his day with Catherine.
Chapter Twenty-seven
THE LADY DROXELL
Alex and Catherine had a pleasant but quick breakfast at their usual corner table. They did not linger over breakfast because they were both anxious to get out on the lake.
Alex led Catherine out to his car. He decided they would drive over to the marina where The Lady Droxell was docked. In the summer, they had used one of the lodge's fishing boats to get over to the marina. This was the first time Catherine had seen or driven in Alex's car. He drove a Black Metallic Mercedes coupe. As Catherine slid into the passenger seat of rich, supple leather, it was quite apparent she was in an expensive, luxurious car. It was also evident to Catherine how wealthy Alex was. Of course, she knew how wealthy he was but had never given it much thought. Despite her own wealth, Catherine never aspired to have a lot of expensive possessions. Onlookers would be unaware of Catherine's wealth by the lifestyle she led. If it hadn't been for Doug's insistence, she would still be living in her modest apartment and not the upscale Art Deco loft. She was also perfectly content with her five-year-old Honda, although she could have easily afforded the car she now found herself in.
"Nice car, Alex!"
"It gets me where I want to go," he responded smiling. "I figured it would be a little more comfortable riding over to the marina in it. I didn't think you would like getting splashed with the cold October water in the fishing boat."
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness!" Catherine said laughing. "That is one thing I will miss this week -- not being able to swim. But I'm sure it will be wonderful cruising the lake."
Within a few minutes, they were at the marina and getting aboard The Lady Droxell. Alex had asked the kitchen to prepare a bag with a cooler of lemonade, a thermos of tea, and a box of the pastries usually served on the porch. He thought it would be a pleasant surprise for Catherine. He helped her onto the boat and then got the snack bag from the trunk of his car and loaded it onto the boat. If they did not have plans to have lunch in Davenport, he would have had the kitchen prepare a lunch basket. This was something the lodge did for any guest upon request.
Catherine got comfortable in the seat next to the helm while Alex got the boat untied from the dock and ready to start. The Lady Droxell although having some years under her belt was still luxurious and comfortable inside. The interior wood was as lovely and well-preserved as the mahogany hull outside. Her 46' length provided two private staterooms, two heads, and showers along with a large main salon, galley, and dinette. One could be comfortable cruising on her for the day or staying aboard her for an extended period. She was a perfect way to cruise this time of year with the cooler air temperature.
Alex revved up the engine, and they started on their trip to Davenport.
"Do you always spend a week at the lodge this time of year?" Catherine asked.
Alex realized it was time to share his reason for being at the lodge.
"No, I usually stay on the boat weekends and just take my meals at the lodge. Catherine, did you hear that Mr. Badeau passed away recently?"
"Yes, I noticed as soon as I entered the lodge that he was not behind the desk. When I inquired, James told me of his passing. I was so sorry to hear -- it's not quite the same without him. But one of the other guests told me the new owner is also nice."
Alex smiled, "Well, that's debatable, Catherine, I am the new owner of The Osprey Cove Lodge."
Catherine could hardly believe what Alex said, "Seriously? Why, that's great! What made you decide to buy it?"
"Well, I came up a few weeks ago to spend the weekend on The Lady. When I went over to the lodge for dinner, I noticed the For Sale sign. Like you, I was shocked to learn of Mr. Badeau's death. And I became worried that a new owner would change the lodge or worse yet do away with it. I had a crazy nightmare that the new owner hired a construction company to demolish it. I guess, I just couldn't bear the thought of it changing or not being there anymore. It has been such a major part of life. It sounds corny, but I think going there as a young boy helped to shape me. I know it helped to develop my love of the outdoors."
"You mean you wouldn't be the 'outdoorsy' guy you are today without The Osprey Cove Lodge!"
"Probably not!" Alex laughed.
"I think it's wonderful, Alex. It's a good thing you saw the For Sale sign first. I might have reacted the same way if I had come to the lodge and seen that it was for sale. But how do you plan to run it with all your responsibilities at Droxell?"
"Good question -- I haven't gotten it all figured out yet. I will hire a manager and a bookkeeper. There is already an excellent staff in place. Most of the staff has been with the lodge a long time -- like Rose. Even the younger group -- like James -- is all top notch. I won't have to make any staff changes. I've spent the last couple of days going through the books. They are all in order. Apparently, Mr. Badeau kept them himself. But they are antiquated. Nothing is computerized. That's the first thing that will have to be done."
"It sounds exciting, Alex. I envy you."
"It is exciting. I was a bit impulsive making the purchase. But I don't think I will ever regret it. Last night you asked me which room I was staying in, and I told you the third floor."
"Yes, that sounded odd to me. I didn't know there was a third floor."
"Well, I hadn't either when I had been a guest. But a pl
easant surprise was that there is a rather large owner's quarters on the third floor. The third floor has the same square footage as the lower levels. Half of it has been finished off into a three bedroom living space."
"Wow, that sounds wonderful, Alex. Do you plan to live there?"
"I hadn't planned to. But I must admit I have gotten comfortable there in a short time. I think I will stay there while Libby's away at school. By that time, I should have everything in place. Although Libby would love living at the lodge, it might be difficult to do so when I am back at work. At my parents' home, either Mother or the staff is there to look after her while I am gone."
"So you are commuting to Droxell?"
"I will be. But I haven't started yet. My father had asked me to work in the field for a few months visiting the stores and outfitters. It always boosts morale when upper management makes a presence. But when I dropped the bombshell on them that I had bought the lodge, Dad suggested I use the time to get it up and running."
"That's perfect, Alex. Now I really envy you. How nice to spend several months there. It is a good thing you saw that For Sale sign first!"
"I do feel privileged to be her new caretaker. I hope I'll do her justice."
"You will, Alex, I can't think of anyone more well-suited."
Those words were typical of things that Catherine said that made Alex feel good. She was so positive and reassuring. That part of her personality was so like that of Sarah. Her words just now were an example of why he was drawn to her.
The Lady Droxell cruised slowly across the lake toward Davenport as Alex and Catherine talked. It was a beautiful morning with few boats on the lake. The reflection onto the water of the vivid autumn colors of the trees was spectacular.
"I was thinking about you as I was going over the books. There are times of the year -- like this season and the winter season -- when I think the lodge could attract more guests if we did a little marketing. How would you like to use your marketing skills and see what you come up with?"
"I would love to help you with that. Maybe I can even come up with a few suggestions this week while I'm here."
Alex looked over at Catherine and smiled as he spontaneously said, "I'm glad you are here this week."
"I am too, Alex."
Chapter Twenty-eight
MEXICAN RIVIERA
Doug woke up to the sound of Isabella vacuuming downstairs. A glance at his cell phone next to the bed showed it was already 8:00 AM. He could hardly believe he had slept so many hours. But when he remembered how little sleep he had gotten on his way back from Tucson, he understood. He had been concerned each night when he stopped at a hotel about his Corvette. He stayed at hotels that advertised guarded parking and paid to have someone watch it, but he knew many of the areas were notorious for car thefts. Being back in the security of the villa was good. Or was it? Thoughts came back to him of the phone hang-ups and the dark sedan he had seen down on the street. Well, he wasn't going to think about that now.
He rolled out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror. As he stood there in one of his new Diving is Better in the Mexican Riviera T-shirts, he was trying to decide if he liked himself as a blond. He looked at himself for a while and concluded he would keep the look for a while. Change is good, he thought -- new life, new look.
He had gone to bed in his clothes which was not unusual for Doug. Sometimes, he was just too lazy to get undressed. He was glad he had purchased the shirt in several colors. Now he could put another one on and still be cool today. He wanted to stop by the dive shop and confirm the new time for his scuba lessons which he had canceled so that he could make the trip to Tucson.
He took a quick shower, skipped the shave, and put on a pair of shorts and a clean diving T-shirt. He headed downstairs.
"Good morning, Isabella. How are you this morning?"
"I'm fine, sir. Did you need any breakfast?"
"No, I'm off to Starbucks. I plan to be gone most of the day; no need to bother with lunch either."
"Okay, Mr. Castlebury. I need to tell you something before you leave. Yesterday, you asked me if I had seen a dark sedan while you were away. Well, I didn't see it then, but I saw it this morning when I came. It was parked at the bottom of the villa across the street. When I started up the driveway, it pulled away. I thought I should let you know."
Doug got an anxious look on his face and immediately went out onto the terrace to check the street below. There was no sign of a car.
"What time was that, Isabella?"
"About 7:00 AM."
"Were there anymore hang ups on the phone after I went to bed yesterday or this morning?
"No, sir."
"Okay, Isabella, that was good you told me about the car. If you see it again, let me know. In fact, I want you to stop what you are doing now and then during the day and go out to the terrace and check the street below. Will you do that?"
"Yes sir, I will let you know if I see it again."
Doug went to leave and then turned around and asked, "Did you happen to notice who was in the car -- maybe a husband and wife -- that looked like tourists?
"No sir, I didn't see.
"Okay, well keep your eyes open. I'm off to Starbucks. Have a good day, Isabella."
Doug was starting to get ticked off about this dark sedan. He decided if it made one more appearance, he was phoning the police. But he was not going to let it spoil his day. He made his way to the garage, hit the remote, took one look at his new Corvette, and gave little further thought to anything else. He could hardly wait to drive it to Starbucks. It was great to be driving a Corvette again. Doug loved the way it made him feel. When he drove his Vette, he felt important and as though others were envying him -- wishing they owned one. It is good to be the one being envied, Doug thought.
He pulled into the Starbucks parking lot and walked inside. There was a line as usual. And as usual, Doug got miffed about how long it was taking to get his double latte and cheese danish.
"It's sure taking long today," an attractive woman about Doug's age standing behind him in line said.
Doug turned and said, "My sentiments exactly, but then it takes long every morning. It was the same back in New York. I guess it just goes with the territory. If I weren't so hooked on the lattes, I wouldn't bother."
The young woman smiled, "I'm from New Jersey, and yes, I waited in lines back there, too. But I guess we shouldn't complain. I'm just glad there is a Starbucks here."
"Well, you're right about that. Are you visiting or do you live here?" Doug asked as they continued to inch forward in the line.
"I'm here temporarily. I'm a marine biologist. I'm doing research on the bay. I've been here six months now and should be here for another six months. I see your shirt -- are you enjoying the diving here in Puerto Vallarta?"
Doug was taken aback. He didn't want to admit that he didn't even have his first lesson yet; that wouldn't be cool. So he said, "I haven't been out much yet. I just moved here myself. I've been busy getting settled. I just made a quick trip up to Tucson to buy a Corvette and drive it back."
"May I help you, sir?" the barista asked somewhat annoyed because Doug had been so busy talking that he had left a gap between himself and the counter. The people in line who were behind him and his new friend were getting irritated.
"One double latte and one cheese danish," Doug turned to his new friend and offered to get her order. "And one vanilla latte and a blueberry muffin."
"Thank you for treating me. I enjoyed talking with you."
"Hey, if you don't have to run, let's grab a seat over there and finish talking. I'm Doug, by the way, Doug Castlebury."
"I'm Sheila Morris; it's nice to meet you, Doug. Sure why not, I've got a few minutes."
Doug could hardly believe how this was working out. Maybe he could talk her into a ride in the Vette when they were finished.
"So your work sounds interesting," Doug said.
"It is; the bay is beautiful. What brings you to Mexico,
is your job here, too?"
That was the first time Doug had been asked that question. He should have anticipated the question and prepared a response. But Doug was quick on his feet.
"I've been able to retire early. I did a lot of research and decided Puerto Vallarta was a good choice."
"Well, it must be nice to retire early. What field were you in?"
"Marketing -- I worked for a large New York City marketing firm."
"Well, good for you, Doug. It seems like there must have been some good investments somewhere in that retirement scenario."
"You could say that," Doug replied, wanting to change the subject.
"So I haven't met too many people here yet. Where are some good places to hang out to meet people?"
"Well, we met most of our friends through our jobs. My boyfriend is here on assignment with his company, too."
Doug was crushed at the mention of a boyfriend. Well, it is just a boyfriend, he thought. So he tested the waters a little.
"Hey, this is the first day out with my new Corvette. Would you like to go for a quick spin in it?"
"No, I need to get to work. But it was nice meeting you, Doug. And thanks for the treat."
"No problem. Hey, listen, I plan to have some friends over to my villa. Would you and your boyfriend like to come over sometime?"
"Sure, that sounds great."
"Here, write your number on this napkin. I'll give you a call when I've got it arranged."
"Great. Thanks, Doug. Have a good day."
"You, too, Sheila."
Doug watched her leave Starbucks. He was disappointed but glad to have at least made a friend. Sometime soon he would invite them over and ask if she had any unattached friends to bring along. It was a start. Hey, building a new life takes time, he thought.
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