by Judith Keim
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
DARCY
Darcy pulled her coat closer as she and Austin walked down the street toward Kensington Palace. After seeing Big Ben, the double-decker buses, and the black cabs particular to London, she felt as if she was in a storybook. Viewing these things through photos or film did not do justice to the city she’d wanted to see. She looked over at Austin and smiled.
“Just think! Princess Diana, Kate, William, and Harry have walked these same streets,” she said, bubbling with enthusiasm.
Austin laughed. “They’ve certainly driven or been driven over the streets.”
Much later, after touring the palace, they entered Brown’s Hotel for their afternoon tea reservation.
“This is something my parents like to arrange for their small groups,” Austin explained. “I’ve had tea here once before, and I know you’ll like it.”
They were shown to a table, and from that moment on, Darcy was lost in fanciful dreams of lords and ladies enjoying tea in their castles every afternoon.
Crisp linens, delicate china, layered tiers of sandwiches, fruits, sweets, and other delicacies spelled royalty to her. She reveled in it all.
“Quite a difference from Florida, huh?” said Austin, amusement in his voice.
Darcy laughed. “A royal difference. I wish my sisters could see me now. I’ll send them a message with a selfie.”
“Another one?” teased Austin.
Darcy couldn’t hide her grin. “I’m going to share as much of my trip with them as possible. Who knows if I’ll ever be here again?”
“If we accept my parents’ company, you could come back here hundreds of times.”
Darcy didn’t answer him. They’d promised not to make any decisions until after the honeymoon. Besides, she wanted to think of this trip as hers alone with the man she loved with all her heart.
Sated, they left the hotel and headed to Harrods. Darcy hoped to pick up a few items to take back to Florida. Funny how thoughts of her sisters kept coming to her. She told herself not to worry about them and the hotel, but she couldn’t help wondering how things were going.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
SHEENA
Sheena was in the hotel office waiting for the building inspector to show up when her phone rang.
“Sheena? It’s Sally. I’m not feeling well today and can’t relieve you. I’m sorry. I hope to be able to come into the office tomorrow.”
“No worries. We’ll work something out. Feel better, and, hopefully, we’ll see you tomorrow.” As Sheena hung up, the upbeat feeling she’d projected into the conversation collapsed with disappointment. She’d just put an ad in the paper for office help, but they needed someone today. On a whim, she called Lynn and explained the situation to her.
“I can help for a few hours this morning. But later, I’m driving Patrick to his house in The Villages. He wants me to stay and help him get settled. I’ve got a friend there who will put me up for the night.”
“What? Wait! Dad is leaving today? I thought he was staying for two more days.” Sheena felt as if someone had slapped her. She lifted a hand to her cheek.
“No, we’re leaving this afternoon. I don’t think he’s coming back for a while, but you’d better talk to him. How soon do you want me at the office?”
“Can you walk over here now?” Sheena asked. She had to talk to her father. He’d turned down an invitation to join her and her family for dinner last night. Was it because he’d been with Lynn?
When Lynn showed up at the office, Sheena gave her a quick run-through of office procedure and headed over to the Egret Building to see her father.
On her way, she saw Patrick lounging at the pool and made a sharp turn through the gate into the pool area.
“Hi, Dad!” she said softly, hoping not to disturb the other hotel guests there.
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. “Hi, darlin’.”
She sat in an empty chair beside him. “I just talked to Lynn. I understand you’re going to leave us today, and she’s going with you.”
“Yeah, I’ve decided it’s time to get my place in The Villages settled. Lynn’s going to drive me and then help me set up the house.”
“And she’s staying with a friend?”
Patrick grinned at her like a naughty schoolboy. “Unless I can talk her into staying with me.”
A sense of protectiveness washed over her. She knew how charming her father could be, how lonely he’d been, but she didn’t want to see Lynn hurt. “Dad ...”
Patrick rose up on an elbow. “I know, I know. You want me to be careful. But at my age, you’ve got to move fast. I like Lynn a lot. She likes me. We want to see where it takes us. That’s all.”
“But, Dad, you’ve just met her.”
Patrick let out a snort of disgust. “You think I don’t know that? But like I said, we’re just seeing if all these feelings are real or not. It’s that chemistry thing, you know? It’s there, all right. And poor Lynnie has been on her own for a while now.”
Lynnie? Sheena opened her mouth to say more, then shut it. Her father was sixty-eight years old going on nineteen. “Just don’t hurt her. Okay, Dad? You almost married Regina.”
He gave her a steady look. “Like I said, Lynn and I, we like each other in a way I haven’t felt before.” He lifted a hand. “Don’t mean to put your mother in a bad light.”
“No, no,” said Sheena. “I get it.” She understood a lot more about her parents’ marriage than he suspected.
“Well, your sisters might not get it, so I’d appreciate it if you kept quiet about it.”
“Dad,” said Sheena. “They’ll know where you’ve gone and with whom. I’m not about to keep secrets from them.”
“You’re right. I just don’t want Lynnie to get hurt.”
At his words, Sheena relaxed. He was thinking of Lynn, after all.
Regan appeared. “Hi, I’m back. Hey! What’s going on?”
“Hi, darlin’. Come talk to me,” said Patrick.
“See you later, Dad. Safe trip.” Sheena rose and kissed his cheek, then turned to Regan. “Hi! I’m going to check on things at the bohio bar, and then I’ll head back to the office. Let’s talk.”
Sheena was on her way to the office when Regan appeared at her side.
“What’s going on? Dad and Lynn?”
Sheena shrugged. “Let’s go down to the waterfront. We’ll talk about that, and then we need to discuss some other things.”
They walked down to the grassy area beside the bay and settled in chairs facing one another.
“Dad told me he and Lynn are dating, that they’re really serious,” said Regan, scowling. “How can that be? They’ve only just met, and now they’re traveling to The Villages together?”
“I know how surprised you are. I was too. When I talked to him, Dad told me he’s very anxious not to hurt Lynn with a lot of talk about her going out of town with him,” said Sheena. “Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like the glow of happiness he has on his face. Maybe, as he says, he’s found what he’s wanted all along.”
“But Mom ...”
“He and Mom were faithful, but I don’t think their love was anything like what I have with Tony, or you have with Brian.”
Regan was quiet a moment. “Okay, I won’t say anything more to either Dad or Lynn about their trip. What else did you want to talk about? How are things at the hotel? I know it’s only been a couple of days, but it seems as if I’ve been gone forever.”
“I’m waiting for the building inspector to approve a C.O. for the twenty top-floor rooms in the Egret Building. He should be here sometime this morning.”
“Hold on!” said Regan. “Those rooms aren’t ready. Tony needs to do an inspection of his own, televisions and phones need hooking up, and pictures have to be hung.”
“I discovered that, and have taken care of all of it, but they aren’t critical for a C.O. anyway. We can’t lose income because of small details like this,” said Sheena.
Regan gave her a crestfallen look. “You think I’m not doing a good job?”
“Nooo, I think you’ve had a lot on your plate, and I stepped in to help you.”
“I hope you haven’t gone ahead and messed with the suites. I’ve got that under control.” The violet in Regan’s eyes grew darker. “You do your job, and I’ll do mine.”
After handling the hotel the best way she could by herself, Sheena felt her cheeks grow hot with a flash of anger. “I appreciate your thanks for my doing your job, Regan. It isn’t about egos; it’s about working together to make the hotel a success.”
Reining in her temper, Sheena rose out of her chair and headed toward the office, so frustrated she wanted to pound the ground with each step.
“Wait!” cried Regan.
Sheena slowed but kept walking.
Regan caught up with her. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I guess I should have asked for your help when I knew I was getting behind.”
“It would’ve helped. Each room that remains unfinished means a loss of income. By the way, we’re overbooked for our first wedding weekend, including the twenty upstairs rooms.”
Regan’s eyes widened. “All forty rooms?”
“Yes. We have to hope two people cancel, or we can get at least one suite done within eighteen days. I waited for you to come back. Now that you are here, the two of us need to talk to Tony and Brian together to make sure their crews are on the job each day. They’re almost done, but we need them to finish their work in at least one of the suites, so the tile floors can be laid. And then we can move furniture and appliances in and do the final decorative touches.”
“Okay, come to my house for dinner, and we’ll talk to them tonight. Right now, I have a few phone calls I’d better make.”
As Regan all but ran to the office, Sheena watched her with dismay. With both Regan and Darcy having plans of their own, it was very clear to Sheena her job at the hotel was going to get much harder.
###
That evening, Sheena and Tony drove through the gates of Kenton’s property and pulled up in front of the cottage.
“I hope Regan is as good a cook as you,” grumbled Tony. “I’m hungry, and I’m tired.”
“Having dinner here is a nice way to have our business meeting,” said Sheena. “Regan was sweet to invite us. We had a little disagreement this morning, and she’s anxious to be in charge of the rooms renovation again.”
Tony got out of the car and looked over at Kenton’s house. “Nice digs, huh?”
“Regan showed it to me. It’s beautiful inside.”
“This cottage is something anyone would be happy to have,” said Tony, studying it.
Brian stepped outside to greet them. “I thought I heard you drive up. Welcome to our little piece of paradise.”
He clapped Tony on the back and gave Sheena a kiss on the cheek.
Regan appeared at Brian’s side. “Dinner’s in the oven, but let’s go sit on the patio. It’s always nice there until the sun goes down.”
Inside the kitchen, Brian handed Tony a cold beer. “What can we get you, Sheena?”
“Just a glass of water. I can’t seem to get enough of it,” she said.
Brian fixed her a glass of water and handed a glass of red wine to Regan. “Well, now, let’s enjoy the outdoors.”
Regan led them out to the lanai. It was too cloudy to see a clear sunset, but the sky held a faint tinge of orange in and among the clouds.
“What’s the meeting about?” said Tony after sitting and taking a sip of his beer.
Regan glanced at Sheena and cleared her throat. “Sheena and I need you guys to agree to complete work on the suites. It cannot be delayed any longer. As Sheena says, any empty room means a lack of income. And these rooms are empty because your part of the work hasn’t been completed.”
Into the silence that followed, Sheena said. “I walked through the rooms today. The walls in the main rooms and the bedrooms are painted, but the new crown molding we talked about needs to be installed and painted. And tile floors need to be put down in the kitchens and bathrooms, so installation of the toilets, sinks, and tubs can be done, and kitchen appliances can be placed and hooked up.”
Regan studied the paper in her hand. “Also, the electrical fixtures including ceiling fans need to be hooked up in all the rooms. And the carpeting, for which you’re not responsible, needs to be laid after you’ve completed your work. Then all the finishing decorating can be done. Have I missed anything, Sheena?”
“These suites all have new HVAC systems, but the thermostats are not set into the walls, they’re just dangling on wires. It’s that kind of clean-up work that needs to be done. We, more than most, know how busy you guys are, but we need your help on this. With a wedding coming up in a little over two weeks, it can’t get messed up.”
Tony and Brian looked at each other.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” said Brian. “You sound like one of our clients.”
“This is one time where our relationships to you need to enter the equation,” said Sheena. “Right, Regan?”
She looked at the men and nodded. “By the way, I just got word I’m to start work with another customer at the Ventura Village development. Congrats!”
“Thanks.” Tony cleared his throat. “As far as the work at the hotel is concerned, if it’s okay with Brian, I’ll put together a crew tomorrow and take them over there for a rush job.”
“Okay. Guess we’d better do it. I want to enjoy my new status of husband.”
Tony looked at Sheena and grinned. “Me too. I like being able to go to bed with my wife.”
They shared a good laugh.
Darkness sent them inside the house from the patio.
In the kitchen, Sheena sat back and enjoyed watching Regan prepare and serve the meal. It was a treat to be a guest for once. She and Tony didn’t have much more time before they’d either have to drag a baby with them or be required to stay home.
###
Later that evening, driving into their development, Sheena noticed Taylor’s convertible at the show home. “Tony, pull to a stop. I want to check on something in Regan’s office. I think the carpet sample we were talking about earlier is there.”
Tony put on the brakes and stopped in front of the house.
“Go ahead. I’ll stay here.”
Sheena got out of the car, walked up the driveway, and knocked on the door. She also wanted to check on Taylor. Something didn’t seem right.
Through the front window, Sheena saw the sales office was empty. After testing the door, she opened it and stepped inside.
She started for Regan’s office in the back of the house when she heard a noise upstairs. Wondering if she should call out, she hesitated. A hand touched her shoulder. She jumped and whirled around.
“For God’s sake, Tony, you scared me. I thought you were going to stay in the car.”
“Ssshh!” Tony waved her toward the stairway.
As they quietly climbed the stairs, Sheena heard more noises and suddenly understood what was happening.
Tony kept climbing, and now, Sheena knew, he understood too.
At the top of the stairs, they walked to the master bedroom suite and peered inside.
Taylor was lying naked atop the bed.
“C’mon, hurry! You paid for just one hour,” she called to the man standing naked beside the bed.
“I wouldn’t, if I were you,” Tony said, his voice low, angry.
“What the fuck!” The man turned to face them, his eyes bulging with surprise.
“Get dressed,” Tony told him.
Sickened by what was going on in the house Tony and Brian had lovingly built, Sheena turned away.
“Make sure Taylor gets dressed while I call the cops,” Tony said.
“No! Not the cops!” Taylor cried.
Tony ignored her as the man hastily dressed. The pulse at his temple indicated how furious he was.
Th
e man bolted from the room. Tony followed, calling for him to stop.
Sheena stayed in the doorway as Taylor scrambled to her feet and reached for her clothes, which had been tossed on the floor. “I’m sorry. Look, it won’t happen again.”
“All those nights you were supposedly working late, this was going on?” Sheena said to her.
Taylor’s eyes narrowed. “What do you know about struggling to make ends meet? You’ve got it all. A handsome, rich man, and a family, a hotel, everything. My husband left me nothing. All because of an affair I had.”
“It wasn’t just one, was it?” Sheena said, knowing the answer.
Taylor began to cry. Sheena knew a lot of women who struggled following a divorce, but they were nothing like this woman. Now Sheena understood why Taylor had gone after Tony, then Brian. She thought they were rich.
It was almost laughable. In construction work, what looked good on paper could evaporate in a hurry.
Brian and Regan showed up just as a policeman was leading Taylor away. Breaking and entering was the reason given for holding her, and though they knew the charges might not stick, it was as good a way as any to get her off the property and out of their lives.
Tony and Brian checked every room for damage or theft. Sheena and Regan went through things in both offices. A petty cash box held one dollar and nothing else. Sheena found a check for one hundred dollars written to Lortay Enterprises tucked inside an envelope marked private in one of the desk drawers.
“Lortay Enterprises?” said Regan when Sheena showed her. “Taylor couldn’t think of a better fake name?”
“Her strongest assets didn’t include her brain,” said Brian, joining them.
“Guess we were all fooled by her,” Tony said, shaking his head.
Sheena gave him a withering look. “Nooo. She fooled half of us. Regan and I never trusted her.”
“That’s right,” said Regan. “I never liked her, but I didn’t think she’d do anything like this.”
“Well, lesson learned,” said Brian. “The next person we hire to assist Bett has to meet with Sheena’s and your approval.”