by Judith Keim
After the ceremony, the group moved into the main dining room. Lorraine Grace at Wedding Perfection had decorated the private alcove to resemble the outside garden, carrying out the theme of a tropical, destination wedding.
Continuing his role of father of the bride for our brochure, Bernie looked every bit the real part. Even Trudy wore a white bow around her neck. I noticed Bernie talking to Babette and smiled. She was nodding her head enthusiastically and glancing from her mother to him. Love was definitely in the air.
Once I was certain that everything was under control, I left the hotel, eager to spend some time with Robbie and to talk to my daughter.
Still wrapped up in the beauty of the wedding, I entered the house missing Vaughn so much it hurt.
Robbie ran toward me, shouting “Mommy!” and my attention was diverted. I swung him up in my arms and nestled him against me.
After a moment, he wiggled to get down.
Elena smiled at me. “I need to go to the mall. I thought Robbie might want to go with me. He likes seeing all the colors and shapes.”
“Sure, that would be fine. And then you have the evening off. Right?”
She smiled. “Troy and I are going to the movies. Pretty lame, huh?”
“No, it sounds perfect.”
Elena and Robbie left, and I wandered through the house, feeling restless and a little blue. When the phone rang, I eagerly picked it up.
“Hi, Liz! I was going to call you.”
She laughed. “Beat you to it! What’s going on? I heard that you and Rhonda aren’t going to be at the hotel as much.”
“Right.” I explained the new routine to her.
“Wow! Are you going to be all right with that, Mom?”
“It’s going to take some time to get used to it, but it’s all for the best. I’ll be able to spend more time with Vaughn and Robbie.”
“Oh, good.”
“So I understand you and Chad had a good time together in Boston,” I said and waited for her response.
“Angela wasn’t supposed to say anything about it. Well, I might as well tell you. I think I’ve found the man I’m going to marry.”
At my surprised silence, Liz continued. “Don’t worry, Mom. It isn’t going to happen anytime soon. He’s busy setting up his business, and he knows I want to finish school. So nothing is going to happen for at least another year.”
“Are you guys really in love?”
“We’re both pretty sure this is it, but we want to take things slowly. If things continue to go well, Chad mentioned getting engaged at Christmas. And Mom, when I come home this summer, I want to move in with him.”
“But, Liz...”
“I need to be sure of this, Mom. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. But everything is happening so fast I want to know it’s real. I don’t want to make the same mistake Dad did.”
Ahh, so that’s it, I thought. Both Robert and I had made mistakes in the past. “Okay, Liz. You’re an adult. I understand.”
“Mom? I think I know what you and Vaughn have. It’s magical, right?”
My lips curved at the thought. “Yes, sweetie, it feels that way. So tell me more about this young man you love so much.”
I sat back in my chair and listened happily as my daughter told me all the reasons she thought Chad was special.
“And, Mom, we’re going to make his business grow. His customers love him, and he’s so good at his job. He’ll do the labor, and I’ll handle the marketing and all. A little like you and Dad, huh?”
“Uh, we’ll have to talk about that later,” I said, unwilling to burst her bubble of happiness. But if I had any say in it, her situation with Chad would be a lot different.
“Gotta go, Mom. Thanks so much for listening to me. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Liz.” As I hung up, I realized how much I’d missed talks like this with Liz and promised myself as I grew busier with Robbie, I’d still save precious time for Liz.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
My eyes flashed open. I lay in bed, aware of the perspiration that dotted my brow. The dream that still pumped fear through me faded in and out of my mind. It had been so scary, so frightening. In it, Vaughn was sitting all alone on a glacier amid tall mountains. I’d cried out to him over and over, but he’d ignored my pleas to come to me.
I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes. I knew it was a silly dream, but I couldn’t shake off the sense of losing him. I checked my bedside clock. Four o’clock in the morning. Sinking back among the pillows, I forced myself to take calming breaths. Vaughn wasn’t scheduled to leave for Alaska for another three hours. I’d call him then.
Unaware I’d fallen asleep again, I was startled by the ringing of the phone. Groggy, I picked up the receiver. “H..hello?”
“Hi, sweetheart! It’s me. Sam Nichols and I are being picked up soon. I just wanted to say hello and good-bye. I can’t wait for this trip to Alaska to begin. It’s been a difficult few weeks and I need a break so that I’m rested for our wedding.”
“Vaughn, I just had the most terrible dream. You’ll be careful, won’t you?”
“Of course. We’ll be traveling with a seasoned pilot who’s also a good guide. And the weather is supposed to be great. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t miss our wedding for anything.”
The tension that had knotted my shoulders eased. “I can’t wait. After shooting the Bauer wedding at the hotel, I’m excited to put some of my ideas together for our wedding. It’s going to be so beautiful.”
“You’re going to be beautiful,” Vaughn amended. “How’s our little boy doing?”
“He’s becoming such a ‘cuddle bug.’ I have to admit I love holding a little one again. The temper tantrum part I could miss.”
We chuckled together, well aware that the one came with the other.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll call you as often as I can, but I’ve been told some areas are out of phone range, so hang tight.”
“Okay,” I said, wishing I hadn’t had that dream. I reassured myself that Vaughn was in good hands—Sam was an experienced fisherman and the pilot who’d serve as their guide was an excellent one.
“Ann? Don’t worry. I’ll bring back lots of salmon. See you soon.”
We hung up, and I lay in bed a moment, telling myself not to worry foolishly. I’d recently seen a television program on the Antarctic that I now thought had prompted the dream. The mind, I knew, could conjure up all kinds of weird things. And my mind had become overactive as I tried to lessen my role at the hotel. Too much time on my hands, I realized.
I rose out of bed and tiptoed into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Sitting at the table sipping my coffee, I thought of all I had to be thankful for. The babbling sounds of Robbie talking to himself came through the baby monitor, bringing a smile to my face.
When he began to fuss, I got to my feet and went to get him.
As I opened the door to his room, he looked up at me. “Mommy! Down!”
I laughed and went to him. He lifted his arms and I swept him up in my embrace. “Good morning, sweet boy!”
He snuggled against me. I thought as I had so many times how unpredictable life was. I got him dressed for the day, and we went into the kitchen. Reminding myself that I didn’t have to rush into the hotel, I sat with Robbie while he ate breakfast and played a word game with him. Elena had the day off, and it was just the two of us in the house. Outside, the sun spread lemony light on our surroundings, coating the tips of the ripples in the inlet’s water with golden brightness.
A day to be outside, I told myself. I smiled at Robbie. “How would you like to go to the zoo?” I’d heard the zoo in Naples was nice.
“Zoooo?”
“We can see monkeys and other animals,” I said, excited about the prospect of introducing him to something new.
Robbie clapped his hands together. “ma-kee”
“Okay, that’s what we’ll do.”
After breakfast, I packed a diaper bag with all the necess
ities, including water, juice, and snacks. I got Robbie loaded into his car seat and then struggled to heft his stroller into the back of my SUV.
Driving down the coast, I felt like a kid skipping school. I couldn’t remember when I hadn’t been worried about the hotel, the future, my life. I sang songs barely remembered from Liz’s toddler days. When the words wouldn’t come to my mind, I made them up.
Robbie caught my spirit and shrieked with glee as I laughed at the silliness of it all.
The small zoo was a treasure. Seeing animals up close in a comfortable setting delighted Robbie. He laughed and pointed and tried to sound out their names. The surprised look on his face when a giraffe came right up to us to get the food we were offering it brought laughs out of me and the people standing next to us. And, later, when Robbie saw a stuffed giraffe in the gift shop, there was no way we could leave without it.
During our drive back home, Robbie sat in a daze in his car seat, clutching the giraffe. As I caught glimpses of him in the rearview mirror, my heart filled. He was such a treasure. I felt foolish now for wondering if I’d be able to handle the fact that he was Robert’s child by another woman. The fact that he was Liz’s brother made him special.
At home, I gave Robbie his lunch and settled him down for a nap. On my way back to my bedroom, intending to lie down myself, I noticed Rhonda’s car pulling into my driveway.
Smiling, I went to greet her. “Hi! Come on in. What are you doing on your free day?”
She grimaced. “That’s just it—nothing. We gotta talk, Annie.”
I ushered her into the kitchen. After serving us both some of Consuela’s blackberry iced tea, I took a seat opposite her at the kitchen table.
“What’s going on?”
“I went to the hotel to talk to Jean-Luc about a new recipe idea, and he...” her lip quivered... “and he told me not to worry about things like that anymore. He said he had everything under control.” Tears filled her eyes. “It’s my frickin’ kitchen. Not his.”
I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “It used to be your kitchen—before we turned The Beach House into a hotel.”
“Yeah, but Annie, even afterward, I was part of it. That’s the agreement we made with Jean-Luc. Remember?”
“I do. But things have changed.”
Rhonda sniffed. “Well, I want to change ’em back to what they were.”
“I know how you feel,” I said sympathetically. “But it’s too late. When we began, it was just the two of us working like crazy, wondering if we’d make it. Look at all the changes since then.”
“I know.” Rhonda slumped in her chair. “You’re right. But it hurt my feelings—Jean-Luc talkin’ to me that way.”
“Believe me, I understand how you feel,” I said. “I’ve had a wonderful morning with Robbie, but I don’t know if I can simply turn the hotel over to Bernie and the others. After being so much a part of the daily operation over the last two years, I need to know what’s going on.”
“That’s not all that’s bothering me,” said Rhonda. “Will and I had our first real fight. He told me to let some of the hotel business go, to relax and enjoy what we had together. I agree Willow is a blessing. I love her, and I want to be the best mother I can to her, but that hotel is my baby too.”
I drew a deep breath and struggled to sort through my own emotions. Deep down, I wanted to be able to tell Bernie to leave things like they were when he first came to the hotel, but I knew, for so many reasons, that was unrealistic.
Rhonda twisted her hands. “I know Will is right. I just needed to let off a little steam. Ya know?”
“Oh, hon, I do.” I knew very well what Rhonda was going through because I was experiencing the same ups and downs of our changing lives.
The conversation turned to Angela and the baby. Pride filled Rhonda’s face. “That Evan is a tough little guy. But big and strong as he is, his Aunt Willow is going to show him a thing or two. She’s bright and active and determined to get her way. She’s already spoiled. Can you believe it?”
“Better be careful,” I teased.
Rhonda laughed. “I will. I don’t want her to become a brat like a certain someone we used to have to deal with. Any word from our famous actress, Tina? I’ve been thinking of her.”
“Me too. Last time I talked to her she was going on location for her new movie. And remember, her problems were a very real cause of her behavior.”
Rhonda stood. “You’re right. I’d better get back to my little princess. It’s time for her to be fed.”
I rose and gave Rhonda a hug, wondering what was going to happen to the two of us.
###
Vaughn called from Alaska as I was sitting by the pool with Robbie. “Hello from the rugged north.”
“Hi, sweetie? How was your flight?” I asked.
“Long, but well worth it. We flew over some pretty amazing stuff. I can’t wait to get inland. The scenery there is supposed to be even more spectacular.”
I smiled at the enthusiasm in his voice. Vaughn worked hard and deserved a nice break like this.
“What’s happening on the home front?” he asked.
As I told him about Robbie’s experience at the zoo, we laughed together. It felt so good to be able to share the small details of my day with him.
“And how are things at the hotel?” he asked.
“I’m guessing they’re good. I haven’t had any calls for help. It’s not easy to let go. Rhonda’s having trouble with it too.”
“Probably a good idea to start slowly. Someday you might want to sell it.”
My insides froze. He knew how important that hotel was to me. “Is that what you want me to do?” I asked in a deceptively quiet voice.
“Not necessarily. But you’ve got a nice business going. People in the industry are starting to notice.”
As nausea twisted my stomach, I remained quiet.
“Ann? Are you there?”
“Yes,” I answered. Then eager to change the subject, I said, “Do you have all the proper gear with you? I imagine Alaska has plenty of stores to outfit fishermen.”
Vaughn laughed. “You ought to see the hip boots I just bought. They’re huge.”
We talked about the fishing trip, then, at the signs of Robbie’s restlessness, I told Vaughn I’d better go. “Love you. Talk to you soon.”
“I’ll call as often as I can, but phone service will be sketchy.” He paused. “Ann, I’m sorry I mentioned selling the hotel. I know it upset you.”
“It’s all right,” I said, though the idea still sickened me.
“Love you, Ann.”
His melodious voice sang softly in my ears as he clicked off the call. I sat a moment, wishing Vaughn was here beside me.
“Mommy?”
Robbie looked up at me from where he was sitting on the steps of the pool. The look of worry on his face startled me. I leaned over and cupped his cheek in my hand.
“It’s okay, Robbie. Ready to get out?”
“Juice.”
I helped him out of the pool, dried him off, and we headed into the kitchen for our afternoon snack.
Is this what my life will be like? I thought uneasily. I thought back to the days when Liz toddled around me. Even then I’d occupied myself with outside activities—volunteering at the library and working for Robert. I’d loved that life. Having Robbie didn’t mean staying in the house with him all day. Elena was here to help me, and there were many worthwhile charitable projects to work on. My concern evaporated. I’d taken a chance joining forces with Rhonda. I would just let things evolve into another phase of my life. As long as I had Vaughn in it, I wouldn’t worry.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
As I drove through the gates of the hotel, I told myself to remain relatively quiet at the meeting Rhonda and I had scheduled with Bernie. We had to give him a chance. He’d signed an amended contract and was encouraging Annette to move in with him.
Rhonda met me in the office beforehand. Sitting
there, going over the reports Bernie had prepared and emailed to us, it seemed like old times as we chatted about the list of upcoming events Bernie had described at the hotel.
“Lots of weddings,” commented Rhonda. “But they’re mostly local, which means we’re not selling rooms to the wedding parties. What’s up with that?”
“We’ll have to make some suggestions about these events, but, Rhonda, we have to go easy.”
“I know,” she said grumpily.
I studied the numbers. They looked good. Food sales had picked up.
By the time our meeting was to begin, Rhonda and I had only a few questions to ask.
Bernie showed up at our office at the appointed time, and after exchanging greetings, we sat around the small conference table.
After we discussed the weekly sales and payroll figures, Rhonda mentioned the issues she had with the wedding events.
Bernie stiffened and then nodded. “You’re right. We’ll look into bringing in more destination weddings. I’ll have a report for you next week.”
The meeting concluded on a high note, and then we sat and talked for a few minutes.
“I understand Annette is moving in with you,” said Rhonda to Bernie, a gleeful note in her voice nobody could miss.
He smiled. “She’s going to be spending time with me here.”
“You’re a perfect pair,” said Rhonda, grinning broadly at us both.
I chuckled. Rhonda still believed her efforts at matchmaking were what had brought Bernie and Annette together.
Bernie rose to go.
“Where’s Trudy?” I asked.
“She’s at home. Some of the guests complained about her. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I’m looking for a pet sitter.”
I cleared my throat. “I might be willing to take her for a few afternoons. She and Robbie got along beautifully when you visited us. I’ve been wondering if we should get a dog.”
Bernie’s eyes lit with pleasure. “That would be great if you could have her. You could see if you’d like a dog, and it will give me time to find a pet sitter until Annette gets here. She loves Trudy.”