by Judith Keim
###
The look of excitement on Robbie’s face when he saw the dog erased any doubts I had about my decision. Tail wagging, Trudy ran right up to him and stood by as he awkwardly patted her on the head. Elena and I looked at each other and smiled.
Trudy continued to trail after Robbie as he coaxed her into a game of tag. When he collapsed in a heap on the floor, she went over and sat beside him.
“Good idea, Ann,” said Elena. “Robbie will go down for his nap without any fight.”
“Ahhh, a method to this madness,” I said, leaving the room to answer my phone.
I looked at the number, frowned at our lawyer’s name and picked up the call. “Hello?”
“Ann, Mike Torson here. I would like it if you and Rhonda would come to my office to discuss a matter that has come to my attention.”
My heart fell. “Is it another lawsuit?”
“I’d rather not go into details now. Can you join me at the office with Rhonda at, say, four o’clock?”
“Yes, but...”
“Great. See you then,” Mike said and clicked off the call.
As soon as I hung up from him, Rhonda phoned me. “Did you just get a call from Mike Torson?”
“I’m meeting him at four o’clock this afternoon. Are you?”
“Yeah, but I’m worried. Do you think Tina’s mother is trying to sue us again?”
“I don’t know. It isn’t like Mike to be so abrupt. I’m worried too.”
###
As I waited outside Rhonda’s house for her to join me, I studied the large, two-story home that she shared with Will and the baby. It couldn’t match The Beach House in size, of course, but it was a beautiful home. Rhonda loved it.
She emerged through the front door and hurried over to my car.
Sliding into the passenger seat, she turned to me with a worried look. “Something tells me this meeting with Mike isn’t going to be good.”
“I’ve been wondering what is so big he couldn’t tell us over the phone,” I admitted, pulling out of the driveway.
Outside Mike’s office, I parked the car, and then, giving each other smiles of encouragement, we hurried inside the white-stucco building.
The receptionist looked up at us and smiled. “Ann? Rhonda? Mike asked me to put you in the small conference room. Please come this way.”
Rhonda and I followed her into a room dominated by an oval mahogany table. We took seats on either side of the far end and waited for Mike to appear. We were lucky to have him represent us. Small in stature, he’d earned the nickname Tyson. Others forced to face him in an opposing situation often found themselves outwitted before they could recover. And he would, I was sure, protect us now.
After the receptionist had offered us water or coffee, which we turned down, she left.
In a matter of moments, Mike appeared. “Hello, Ann. Hello, Rhonda.” He shook hands with us and then took a seat opposite us.
“Glad you could make it,” he said.
“Okay, Mike. What’s this all about?” Rhonda bluntly asked him.
He smiled at us. “This could be good news for the two of you. I received a phone call from a lawyer handling an inquiry from an investment group interested in possibly buying The Beach House Hotel.”
My heart stuttered to a stop and then raced to catch up, leaving me feeling disoriented.
“Whoa! It’s not for sale!” Rhonda turned from him to me. “Right, Annie?”
“Right,” I said firmly. It was bad enough that both Rhonda and I were feeling pushed out of the hotel. Now, this.
“Are the two of you going to be able to keep up with the demands of the hotel? You both have had changes in your personal lives that make a big difference.”
All my frustration burst out of me in snappish words. “Are you suggesting that because we’re women and mothers we can’t do the job of running the hotel?”
Mike blinked in surprise at the anger in my words. “No, that’s not what I’m implying. Not at all,” he said calmly. “As a matter of fact, it is for the opposite reason. You two have been so successful that others are interested. As I would advise any of my clients, I’m asking you to consider it.”
“But it was my home,” said Rhonda.
“And now it’s a hotel.” Mike turned to me. “Ann, I would suggest you talk it over with the hospitality consultant you know in Boston.” He held up a hand to stop me from speaking. “Just to get feedback on what this might mean to you and the different approaches one might normally take. The decision is, and always will be, for the two of you to make.”
Rhonda and I exchanged glances.
Remembering my earlier conversation with Vaughn, I said, “I suppose we can at least talk about it. But I have to be honest and tell you I’m frankly not interested. I’m even sometimes sorry we hired Bernie.”
“Yeah,” Rhonda agreed. “I like being part of everything.”
Mike gave us each a thoughtful look. “This sometimes happens to people like you who have built something out of nothing. Why don’t I tell the lawyer that it’s a little premature, but that they can come back to us in a few months and see how you’re feeling about it then?”
“Okay, that’s fair,” I said. “But I don’t think I’ll be changing my mind.”
“Me too,” said Rhonda. “Do you know what a dump that place was when Sal and I bought it?”
“Indeed I do,” said Mike. “You’ve made it very special. Let’s keep this interest of theirs quiet, and if and when the times comes, we’ll have them sign a confidentiality agreement before exchanging any information. Before you consider doing anything, you might want to speak to your consultant about it.”
“We’re not going to even think about it now,” said Rhonda. “Too much is happening too fast.”
“I understand,” said Mike.
“What is this group?” I asked. “Are they legit?”
Mike smiled. “Oh, definitely. It’s very secure money. I wouldn’t even bring this before you if it wasn’t.”
“Thank you,” I said, forcing the words out of a mouth that had gone dry with tension. Like Rhonda had said, too much was happening too fast.
Mike chatted with us about an upcoming meeting he was attending at the hotel and, after social pleasantries were exchanged, Rhonda and I left his office.
Standing outside, Rhonda and I faced each other.
“How about a drink?” said Rhonda. “I’ve got a white wine chilling. Sound good?”
“Sounds wonderful.”
###
Rhonda and I were in her upstairs sitting room. It was Rhonda’s favorite spot in the house. She liked to spend quiet moments there. With our minds whirling with all kinds of scenarios, we needed this quiet moment together.
Willow sat in her infant seat on the carpet at our feet, kicking her feet and waving her hands in the air as if testing what her extremities could do. With her pretty features, straight brown hair, and bright brown eyes, she reminded me of a baby doll I once had. Her cheeks were round and rosy, a combination of good health and good eating. Already eight weeks old, she was, I thought, one of the cutest babies I’d ever seen.
While Rhonda sipped bubbling water, I enjoyed a glass of pinot grigio.
“What are we going to do, Annie? I never imagined selling the hotel.”
“Me either. Why don’t we put aside the idea for the time being? In the next couple of weeks, I’ll put in a call to Roger Jamieson to see what consulting advice he has for us. We should at least know how something like this might work so we’re not caught unaware.”
“Okay, but I don’t like it.” Rhonda turned as Willow started to fuss.
“What’s the matter, baby girl?” she crooned to Willow as she picked her up and rocked her in her arms.
Watching the two of them together, I thought what a miracle this baby was. She was one lucky, little surprise. Her parents adored her and would be able to give her a wonderful life. I was about to say so when Will walked into the room.
“Hi, hon,” said Rhonda, her face alight with affection.
He gave Rhonda a kiss on the cheek and took the baby from her. Holding the baby up in front of him, he said, “And how’s my best girl?”
He turned to me. “I can’t wait to get home to Willow at night. I’ve never felt like this before.”
My smile wavered when I saw the look of hurt on Rhonda’s face.
“I’m sure you like to come home to both Rhonda and Willow,” I said, hoping he’d catch my clue.
Ignoring me, he left the room with the baby.
Tears shone in Rhonda’s eyes. “You see how it is? Will hardly even notices me anymore.” She sniffed. “I thought it was just my fighting postpartum hormones, but I realize things have changed. I used to be the one he came home to at night.”
“Maybe you just need to have some private time together—you and Will. Everything is revolving around the baby now, but that’s not how it’ll always be.”
Rhonda let out a sigh that spoke volumes. “I feel lost. Everything has changed at home and at the hotel. What seemed so simple, so easy, so fun, now seems like a chore.”
Concern rose in me. “Rhonda, maybe you need a break from all of it.”
“Yeah, I think I do. My brother called me the other day to ask me to come for a visit. Richie and Margaret are too busy at the butcher shop to come here, and they want to see Willow. It should be nice this time of year at the Jersey shore—warming up and not too busy.” As she straightened in her chair, a look of determination filled her face. “I’m going home to New Jersey. And I’m taking Willow with me.”
“What about Will?” I couldn’t help asking.
“He can decide for himself if he wants to make the trip. Like you said, I need a break. And God knows I’m not needed at the hotel.” Her smile was weak. “Maybe you should take a trip too.”
I shook my head. “I have no place to go. Not really.” Sadly, it was all too true. “You go and have fun! I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the hotel—whether Bernie and the others want me to or not.”
“Go, girl!” said Rhonda, giving me a high five.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I lay in bed, waiting for a phone call from Vaughn. With the four-hour time difference, it meant my staying up later than normal, hoping for a last call before they headed out of phone range.
The trill of the phone jolted me out of my half-awake state. Smiling, I reached for the phone.
“Hello, fisherman! How was your day?”
“Great,” said Vaughn. “We all caught some nice king salmon and then Jim, our guide, fried some over the fire. Talk about delicious! Best I’ve ever had!”
I smiled at his enthusiasm.
“Ann, I’ve been thinking that we should take an Alaskan cruise to introduce you to some of the scenery up here.”
“Sounds like fun.”
He chuckled. “I can’t wait to show you everything. How’s Robbie?”
“Good. We’ve been doggy-sitting Trudy for a couple of afternoons. Robbie loves her so much I wonder if we should consider getting a little dachshund of our own. What do you say?”
“If they’re all as cute and as smart as Trudy, I think it’s a good idea. Every boy needs a dog. We had a lab for Ty and Nell, but I don’t want a dog that big right now.”
“Hmmm. I think I’ll look into it further then.”
We went on to other subjects, and much too soon it was time to say good-bye.
“I’ll call when I can, but it’s going to be a while. Love you, Ann. You’ve made me so happy. I can’t wait until you’re completely mine.”
“Love you too, Vaughn. More than you know.” Unexpected tears stung my eyes. There were times when I didn’t know how I’d ever survive without him. He made me feel so loved, so complete.
I hung up feeling blue at the idea of not seeing or hearing from him for several days.
###
With both Vaughn and Rhonda away, days crept by. I kept busy doing things around the house, checking in at the hotel, and building a stronger relationship with Robbie.
One afternoon Angela called me. “Hi, Ann. I’d love to have you come to lunch. Reggie went back to school to finish up the last of his courses before graduation, and I need some good company.”
“I’d love it,” I said, pleased by the invitation. “What time do you want me there?”
“How about one. Evan should be down for a nap. That will give us a chance to talk.”
“I’ll be there,” I said, cheered by her invitation.
Later, as I pulled up to Angela’s house, I couldn’t help thinking of Liz. It would be wonderful if she would live close by one day. If Chad’s and her relationship continued the way it appeared to be going, it was a real possibility.
As I climbed out of the car, Angela appeared at the front door and waved to me.
Smiling, I went to meet her. “Hey, girl! You’re looking great!”
She grinned. “Not like the movie stars who make it seem so easy, but I’m working on it.”
“At four weeks postpartum, you’re doing fine,” I assured her. I placed an arm around Angela’s shoulder and we went inside.
I paused. The house was spotless—everything in its proper place. “You’ve made the house so attractive. What did Katherine say when she saw it?”
Angela beamed. “My mother-in-law really liked it. Go figure.”
“I’m glad you and Katherine seemed to get along when she and Arthur came to see the baby,” I said, as I followed Angela into the kitchen.
“Me too,” responded Angela. She indicated a chair for me at the kitchen table and then stood to face me. “But, Ann, it’s not going to be an easy relationship. Katherine was excited about the baby, but both she and Reggie’s father are still upset by the idea of our living here. Arthur said some very unkind things about Will. I’m glad my mother wasn’t around to hear it. But Reggie likes and respects Will a lot. Will has a very good reputation and that goes a long way with my husband.”
Angela tossed a salad in a wooden bowl and placed it and a basket of French bread on the table. “Bubbling water okay?”
At my nod, she retrieved a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, filled two glasses with ice, and poured some of the water into each glass.
“Everything looks wonderful,” I said, impressed by her easy manner in the kitchen. It too was spotless and so tidy that one would hardly know a baby was in the house.
“Super simple, but I do love a nice salad,” Angela said, taking a seat opposite me.
I took a bite of the salad she served me, and murmured, “Yummy!”
“Thanks.” Her eyes shone. “I’m trying to make everything perfect so that Reggie and his parents have nothing to complain about.”
Whoa! “How long are you going to be able to keep that up?” I asked in what I hoped was a pleasant, conversational voice even as I filled with dismay at the thought of such pressure.
Angela frowned. “What? You don’t think I can do it?”
I reached over and squeezed her hand, and said gently, “I don’t think you need to do it.”
She gave me a quizzical look.
“Sweetie, you’re wonderful as it is. Just do the best you can with you, the house, and the baby, and let the rest go.”
Angela set down her fork. “Reggie doesn’t know what it’s like not to have a maid to pick up after him. It bothers him if things are too messy.”
“So, you want to be his maid?” I loved this daughter-of-my-heart and hoped I wasn’t being too outspoken.
A look of surprise crossed Angela’s face. “Oh my Gawd! That’s what I’m doing, isn’t it? Becoming a maid on top of everything else.”
“I’m not sure, but it sounds that way.”
“Thanks, Ann. I appreciate your willingness to be so open with me. When you and Mom became partners, it was a good thing for both of us.”
I blinked back the sting of tears. I’d been feeling so lost with Vaughn and Rhonda away that th
is connection with Angela meant more than a simple friendship.
“How’s that baby of yours?” I asked on a brighter note.
A smile stretched across Angela’s face. “He’s such a good baby,” she said, and then chuckled. “I think he knew he had to be good with Katherine around. That woman wants everything on a tight schedule. I’ve tried to keep it up, but sometimes it doesn’t make sense.”
“Right. Keep that in mind.”
She nodded. “How are things with Robbie? He’s such a cute little boy, but Liz has told me stories about how spoiled he was. I guess Kandie couldn’t handle him. Is he changing with you?”
“He seems to be doing much better. He likes to know the rules, and though he fights them sometimes, he seems to understand when he’s corrected.” I grinned. “Actually, I adore him. He’s funny and cuddly and bright. It’s such a surprise to have a toddler again.”
“I know how much it means to Liz to have you adopt him. She loves him, but would rather be his sister than his mother. I don’t blame her. She told me she’ll always feel a little guilty about it, but she is pretty sure her father would understand it’s best for Robbie. I like her honesty.”
“Me too,” I said. It made me happy that Vaughn and I could give Robbie the gift of a good home and Liz, the gift of completing her education.
The baby’s cry came through the baby monitor.
A smile lit Angela’s face. “I’ll go get Evan. I put him in one of the little outfits you gave him. I want you to see it on him.”
While Angela went to get her baby, I put the dirty dishes in the sink, then stepped outside to the pool patio. It’s a wonderful house, I thought, so pleased that Rhonda had Angela living near her. I hadn’t mentioned Rhonda’s difficulties to Angela and wouldn’t.
Angela appeared, and I went inside to see the baby. He’d grown a lot since I’d last seen him over two weeks ago. Then, I’d thought he looked a lot like his father. Now, I could see a bit of Rhonda in him and knew she’d be pleased to hear it.
“He’s adorable,” I said, taking him from Angela. “And the outfit looks great on him.” The white onesie was designed to look like a shirt, complete with blue bowtie. It was a bit cutesy, but it worked with Evan’s broad chest and round tummy.