by Judith Keim
“Mine,” he said, holding it away from me.
“It’s yours, but let’s share. Shall we?”
“No!”
“Robbie...” I began.
“Okay,” he said happily, waving it in front of my nose and pulling it away.
“That’s about all the sharing he’s going to do,” laughed Elena, turning to me.
I smiled, aware of how Troy’s eyes lingered on her. So that’s how things are, I thought and turned to Robbie once more.
As the famous saying went, life was indeed a bunch of circles.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The hotel was alive with activity when I walked into the lobby. A number of guests were checking out, and a group of other guests had arrived early in hopes of being able to get into their rooms. A late winter storm up north had sent people scurrying south.
I slid behind the front desk to help Tim handle the rush. As he finished with the checkouts, he said, “What are we going to do with all these guests hanging around?”
“Let me speak to Ana about getting rooms ready, and then I’ll get back to you.”
I went to find Bernie. He was in his office talking to Ana.
“May I join you?” I asked, aware of the tension in the air.
They both nodded.
“What is the status of the rooms?” I asked Ana. “Can we move quickly to get a few of them cleaned before long? We have an unusually high number of guests trying to check in early.”
“That’s exactly what we’ve been discussing,” Bernie said in a tight voice. “Apparently one of the housekeepers was unable to make it in this morning. We have to have a better system for staffing that department.”
Ana held up her hand. “Lourdes is on her way. Her mother was taken ill. I tried to explain that to Bernhard.”
“I see,” I said. “Okay, we’ll go with the two housekeepers who are here. Let’s double-team rooms and get as many check-outs done as fast as we can before Lourdes gets here.”
She rose. “I’ll go help them right now.”
After she left the office, Bernie shook his head. “This whole business of the staff being one happy family is driving me crazy. We have to be more professional, Ann.”
I took a seat and faced him. “As much as we want to be professional—and we are—the reason The Beach House Hotel is a success is due in large part to the feeling of service and dedication any guest receives from our staff. The people who work for us are thought of as our hotel family—people who are willing to go above and beyond for us, each other, and our guests.”
“I get your point, but it makes it difficult to manage them,” protested Bernie.
I hesitated, trying to make my words sound right. “They need oversight, but not constant management. That’s why we set up departments. Right?”
Bernie gave me a steady look. “Do you really need me then?”
“Oh yes, we definitely do. Among other things, we want your expertise with the financial end of things. We’re growing so fast that what started out as a fairly simple operation has become more and more complicated. And things are changing within both Rhonda’s family and mine. We need to know that, when we’re away, the hotel is being well run.”
“Good. I like it here and want to be able to help.” He gave me a wry smile. “I guess I have to get used to the idea that this isn’t New York.”
Relieved, I returned his smile. “It certainly isn’t.”
As I rose, ready to go to my own office, Tim knocked on the door and stuck his head inside. “You both better come. There’s a disaster in the pool. Cody Craig’s little boy has pooped in it.”
“Oh no! We’ll have to close the pool, clean out the mess, and then shock it,” I said, well aware of health code regulations.
“We need to close it for at least twenty-four hours to let the shock treatment work throughout the filtration system,” added Bernie, exchanging a grim look with me.
Bernie and I followed Tim outside. Cody and his wife Adele were stretched out on lounge chairs. Cody was wearing a speedo-style swimsuit and Adele was wearing a bikini bottom and nothing on top. Their son was running around the pool deck with nothing on.
I approached them and spoke quietly to Cody. “I understand your son has pooped in the pool and that he wasn’t wearing a swim diaper as we and our health codes require.”
His wife lifted up on one elbow and curled her lip. “You Americans are so uptight. I let Jack run free without any clothing so he doesn’t grow up to be ashamed of his body.”
Her condescending tone of voice set my blood boiling. Considering I wanted to slap her face, I spoke as calmly as I could. “Because of his actions and yours, no one else will be able to use the pool for at least twenty-four hours.”
She jumped to her feet so fast her boobs bounced. “Not use the pool? You’re kidding! Cody, we’re leaving and going to South Beach like I wanted.”
He looked up at me and shrugged. “What can I do? She’s got her mind made up.”
As his wife stomped off, Cody said to me, “I’ll pay for any damage. Just add it to my bill.”
He went over to his son and picked him up. “C’mon, Jack. We’re leaving.”
Jack pounded on his father’s shoulder. “No!”
Cody gave me a weak smile. “Typical two-year-old.”
Shaking our heads, Bernie, Tim, and I watched him walk away.
“He’s got two typical two-year-olds, not one,” I grumped.
“She’s a looker, though,” said Tim.
I rolled my eyes at Tim and turned to Bernie. “You’d better call the health department. I’m sorry, I have to leave to do a favor for Rhonda.”
“Don’t worry, Ann. I’ll see that we follow proper procedure including putting up signage for our other guests. It’s a damn shame for them to suffer because of people like Cody and Adele Craig.”
“How about offering our guests a free soda or a bottle of water or something refreshing for their inconvenience?”
Bernie smiled. “Good idea.”
###
When I drove into Rhonda’s driveway to pick up Angela, she was standing outside waiting for me. I waved and pulled to a stop.
She climbed into the passenger’s seat and gave me a happy smile. “Thanks for your help, Ann. Mom said she asked you to show me the house Reggie wanted me to see. I want your input. One of my friends ended up in a house she doesn’t like because of a number of things she hadn’t considered—her kitchen cupboards are too limited, and there’s no play area for her baby. That’s the kind of input I’m looking for.”
“I’m happy to help. It’s such an exciting time for you.” My gaze rested on her. The last year had brought about a lot of changes for her. “How are you doing with everything, Ange?”
“Reggie and I are doing fine. School work has been tough, though, and his parents even tougher.”
“Hmmm. I thought they’d come around.” His parents were insufferable snobs. They’d wanted their only son to marry someone else who wasn’t interested in marrying him.
“Things were getting better between us until Reggie announced he was going into business with Will. But, honestly, neither of us wanted to live in New York and raise a child there. We’d hoped they would understand.”
“When your baby comes along, they may soften up. It’s amazing what a new baby can do to help a tense situation. Years ago, Liz became the saving grace for me in dealing with Robert’s parents.”
“I hope it works for us,” said Angela.
“Do you know the sex of the baby?”
“No. Reggie and I opted not to find out. It’s best that way. You know how my mother is. We told her to hold off on buying anything until we found out.” She grinned. “Reggie wants a girl. I want a boy.”
“We’ll all be so excited to see that little one,” I said. “No matter the sex, your baby and your new baby sister can play together.”
“As Mom would say, ‘who’d a thunk it?’”
We smiled at e
ach other like the friends we’d become.
I took a turn inland from the coast.
We drove into a neighborhood shaded by tall palm trees. Colorful hedges of oleander and hibiscus defined many of the yards. An occasional tricycle or a stroller dotted a driveway.
We pulled up in front of a one-story, white-stucco house and got out. The real estate agent we’d promised to meet stepped out of her silver Lexus and approached us.
“Hello, I’m Lynn Scheffler.” She smiled at Angela. “And you must be Mrs. DelMonte- Smythe.”
Angela nodded and held out her hand. “And this is Ann Rutherford, a dear family friend. My mother couldn’t make it.”
The agent smiled. “So I understand. She called to tell me. Congratulations on having a little sister.”
Angela smiled. “Thanks. We hoping she’ll be friends with my baby.”
After shaking hands with me, Lynn led us inside. She stopped us in the front entry. “As you will see, some color choices might not be yours. But that is easily changed. It’s the only reason I can think of that the house is still on the market. It’s a gem of a house in a wonderful, young family neighborhood.”
Standing in the front hallway with Angela, I mentally erased the light-purple walls that offended my eyes. My gaze traveled beyond the living room to sliding glass doors leading to a screened-in pool and spa. Walking past the small dining area, we entered a sizeable kitchen that overlooked a family room that also had access to the pool. Off the family room was a sizeable bathroom shared by two bedrooms.
The other side of the house contained a master bedroom suite, a large bathroom, and a nice-sized office.
I remained silent as Lynn pointed out various features. But I kept track of storage closets, kitchen cupboards and other features I’d spent a lot of time thinking about for the renovation of my home. Aside from the light-purple wall color in the main rooms—a color that missed by a mile—the house was, in my opinion, as much a gem as Lynn had indicated.
As Lynn left us to check on the status of the two-car garage, Angela clasped her hands and beamed at me. “I love it. What do you think?”
“It’s a wonderful house, and it looks like a great neighborhood.”
“Great,” said Angela. “I’m going to tell Reggie to go ahead with the offer.” She squeezed my hand with excitement. “I’m so happy you’re here with me, Ann. You’ve been such a big supporter of Reggie and me.”
I gave her a quick hug. “Love you.”
“Yeah, love you, too.”
As Lynn returned to her, her smile broadened. “What do you think?”
“My husband will give you a call,” Angela said.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting for it,” said Lynn amiably. “But tell him not to wait. I have a showing this afternoon.”
“You do? Well, then, we’ll take it,” said Angela.
“We’ll have Reggie call right away,” I amended, ignoring Angela’s frown.
“That will be fine,” said Lynn, giving me a knowing smile as she shook our hands. She and I both knew that rushing to accept the price wasn’t how Reggie would want to buy the house.
As we left, Angela gave me a sheepish look. “Reggie told me not to buy the house outright, but I got so excited I couldn’t help myself. It’s perfect for us. A house of our own.”
“It’s going to be wonderful for you.”
Angela chuckled. “I’m going to tell Mom I’m going to keep the inside walls purple. Play along with me. Okay?”
I grinned. “Deal.”
###
At Rhonda’s house, Rita Ramos, Elena’s younger sister, greeted us with a finger to her lips. “Mrs. Grayson is resting and the baby is finally sleeping.”
Rhonda’s voice came through the intercom system box in the living room. “Rita? Is that Annie and Angela? Tell them to come on back.”
At Rita’s nod of approval, Angela and I moved quietly into the master wing of the house. When we entered the master bedroom, Rhonda smiled up at us from the king-sized bed she shared with Will. Willow lay in a cradle on the floor next to Rhonda.
I tiptoed over to the cradle. Wrapped in a lightweight, pink-gauze swaddle, Willow was sleeping peacefully. “She really is beautiful, you know,” I said to Rhonda.
She grinned. “Don’t I know it. Will is in love with her. All he wants to do is sit and stare at her. I didn’t think he would even go into work. But with Rita here, we’ve got things under control, and he finally left.” Rhonda turned her attention to Angela. “How did ya like the house?”
Angela shot me a quick glance and smiled at her mother. “I love it. Even the purple walls. Their color is going to be perfect with the new furniture I plan to order.”
Rhonda sat up straighter in bed. I hid my smile as I watched Rhonda struggle to be supportive. “But...but...”
Angela and I looked at each other and laughed.
“No worries, Mom. Neither one of us liked the color.”
“You two... you’re trouble!” said Rhonda, laughing heartily.
At the noise, the baby woke and cried.
“You, too, little one,” said Rhonda, her voice so full of love it brought tears to my eyes.
###
When I walked into the lobby of the hotel, it was eerily quiet.
I shot a worried look at Julie, who was working the front desk. “Where is everyone?”
“Out at the beach party,” she said. “Bernie organized it for our guests.”
I hurried outside, past the empty pool deck and on out to the wooden deck at the edge of the beach where guests had gathered for what appeared to be a luncheon buffet.
Bernie saw me and waved me over. Behind the small, portable bar we sometimes brought out here, Tim was offering assorted drinks to our guests.
“Hi, Ann. After talking to a few of the guests, I realized we’d better do more than offer guests a bottle of water. They were pretty upset about the pool being closed on such a hot, sunny day. So Consuela and I came up with this idea. Okay with you?”
I smiled. “It’s perfect. Goodwill is an important way we’ve helped build this business. Did you get rid of Cody Craig and his family?”
Bernie grimaced. “Yes, but they took all the towels and the terry robes. I wasn’t sure what you’d want me to do about that.”
A smile slid across my face. “I think we should charge him for that. Before he left, Cody said he’d pay for any damages. Rhonda and I learned long ago to let our guests know that any stolen items would be charged to them. So far, our policy has worked very well. Many of our guests are happy to purchase them because the robes and umbrellas have become status symbols.”
“Good,” said Bernie, giving me a sly look. “I already added it to his bill.”
I laughed, liking Bernie more and more.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
After checking reservations for the rest of the month, I quickly called our PR contact to discuss a new ad. The shoulder month of April was looking empty. We agreed on a promo for a spring package, and then I hurried home for a late lunch.
The house was quiet when I entered the kitchen. I searched for Vaughn and found him outside on the dock with Liz. Elena and Robbie were wading in the water near them. My heart filled with the sight of them, reminding me that this is how it would be going forward. My grown daughter and a toddler son. I couldn’t help wondering if Vaughn and I had made a huge mistake. I heard Robbie’s squeal of delight, and some of the tension that had gripped me with an iron hand loosened its fingers. This was an innocent little boy who needed our love.
I went down to greet them.
Vaughn looked up and lifted his hand in a quick wave. “I think I’ve converted Liz to sailing,” he called out to me before going back to showing her how to tie different knots on an unused docking line.
I crossed over to where Elena and Robbie were digging at the sandy edge of the water.
“Hi, Gammy. Look!” He pointed to a mound of sand.
Elena shot me a subtle wink. “We’r
e making a sand castle...of sorts. I wanted to help him, but he had a fit about it, so I stopped.”
I laughed. “Good job!”
I remained a moment, watching Robbie scoop up sand and stack it carefully on the pile of sand in front of him. The way he concentrated reminded me of Robert.
“Any calls?” I said, addressing Elena.
“Someone named Chad called to say he’d be here a little later to talk to you about setting up the wireless network in the house.”
“Good. I want Vaughn to be able to address those issues with him.” Vaughn would be leaving for New York soon, and we wanted the work done before he left.
When I approached Liz, she gave me a wobbly smile. “Vaughn and I have been busy with the boat...and talking. I felt guilty for thinking of giving up Robbie, but I understand now that because we’re all a family, it won’t really be that way, that it’s more like sharing responsibility for him.”
“And also relieving you of the financial responsibility,” amended Vaughn. “He’ll always be your brother. You’ll always have input in his life and will, I hope, always have a close bond with each other.”
“Do you feel better now?” I asked Liz, sweeping a strand of hair away from the troubled expression on her face.
Her face brightened. “We called Mr. Torson. He’s going to meet with us tomorrow.”
“I’m glad it’s settled. I think having us adopt Robbie is the best thing for everyone. But, Liz, I hope you appreciate Vaughn’s kindness, his generosity...and mine.”
“Oh, I do, I do,” she said so quickly, Vaughn and I laughed. I knew if the situation were reversed, Robert would never have considered it. He just hadn’t been that generous.
Later, as Vaughn and I were sitting on the lanai eating a light meal, Elena brought Robbie inside for a nap.
He ran over to me. “Look!” He lifted his little red plastic bucket up to me. I peered inside. A single broken shell—mostly whole—sat at the bottom of it. “A shell? How pretty!”
Robbie gave me a satisfied smile. “Mine.”
I cupped his face in my hands and kissed his cheek.