by Judith Keim
“Thanks,” said Sheena. “I’m going to try to get a final tab on the number of definite reservations for the rooms. It sounds like Lea’s mother would not like to share a suite with anyone else.”
By late afternoon, Sheena had been able to confirm all but one reservation. She left a message and hung up the phone, hoping Mr. and Mrs. Abbott, whoever they were, would not be able to come to Florida after all.
She looked up from the desk to see a young woman heading for the office. The short blonde was wearing torn denim shorts and a black tank top that showed bright purple bra straps. Dangling earrings and a small, delicate hoop threaded through her nose completed the picture of casual disdain for conformity.
Sheena checked her reservations list but had the niggling feeling she already knew who it was.
As the woman walked in, Sheena took a chance and said, “Hi, Lea! Welcome to the Salty Key Inn!”
The grin that crossed Lea’s pretty face was full of satisfaction. “Guess my grandparents are already here, huh?”
Sheena laughed. “They told me you were coming. We’re so happy to have you here and delighted to oversee your special occasion. Your grandmother said your mother wanted the wedding elsewhere. Why did you decide to have it here?”
“Image,” said Lea. “So many weddings are all about image. I like the idea that the Salty Key Inn is a simple place—attractive and quiet. My fiancé, Dirk Bowen, is the son of Senator Chuck Bowen of Pennsylvania. That’s why my mother thinks we should have chosen a fancier, more prestigious place. Luckily, Dirk was as unimpressed with that idea as I was. He knows how fake and insincere people can be to him because of his famous father.”
Sheena did her best not to show her dismay. There’d been recent rumors Senator Chuck Bowen was going to be drafted as a presidential candidate for his party. Even at best, the Salty Key Inn couldn’t be called glamorous, and now, after the storm, it had lost some of the luster they’d recently given the property.
“Neither your parents nor his are due to arrive until tomorrow. Is that correct?” Sheena asked, her mind spinning.
“Yes. Mine will be here in the morning, and Dirk’s arrive tomorrow afternoon.”
When Regan returned to the office, Sheena introduced Lea.
Regan smiled. “We have your grandparents in one of our new suites. I think you’ll be pleased. And you’re staying in the Bridal Suite, which has just been completed as well.”
“Sounds good. Caro Parsons, my roomie, will be arriving shortly, but I might as well get settled in.”
Regan smiled at her. “Okay. I’ll take you there now.”
After they left, Sheena collapsed in a chair, deep in thought. She knew pride could be a terrible thing, but, in this instance, it might serve them well. She picked up the phone and called Rocky.
After talking to and getting an agreement from him, she hung up and made a list of everything they’d need.
Next, she called Bernice.
“What are you doing?” Regan asked, entering the office.
“We’ve got to make some changes,” Sheena said grimly. She explained the situation with Lea’s parents and her fiancé’s family. “I know we’re waiting for some furniture and special-order items for the other suites, but I want to have two more of them ready by noon tomorrow. Chip completed the phone services and electronics for the building last week. I’ve just talked to Rocky about getting televisions brought in and hooked up, and Bernice is all set to send in cleaning crews. We need to fill in with furniture to replace those we’ve ordered, but haven’t received yet. This is where you come in, Regan. You’re going shopping.”
Regan frowned. “Aren’t you overreacting? Dirk’s father is famous. So what?”
“A lot of this is Sullivan pride on my part, but, Regan, think of the publicity this wedding will give the hotel. Priceless!”
Regan’s lips curved into a beaming smile. “Okay, then I’m going to have fun doing this. And, dear sister, if it seems like I’ve spent too much money, you can charge some of it to public relations.”
Sheena laughed at the challenging look Regan shot her. “Do what you can to get good buys, and we’ll pay whatever we have to for prompt delivery. But everything must be in place for the wedding party by noon tomorrow. We’ll put both sets of parents in those suites.”
“Okay,” said Regan. “I’ll take care of my share.” She turned to go and then turned back to Sheena. “Why don’t we decorate our two golf carts and have them available for the wedding party’s use?”
“Great idea,” said Sheena. “I’ll ask Sam and Clyde to work on them. You take the van and get going. And send me pictures of what you’re buying.”
At her sister’s bossiness, Regan frowned and saluted.
Sheena knew she sounded like the demanding big sister, but it was time to pull out all the stops.
CHAPTER FORTY- SIX
DARCY
Darcy strolled down the winding, cobblestone street hand in hand with Austin. As long as she lived, she mused, she would remember this honeymoon trip. She’d seen so many things she’d always longed to visit, tried new things to eat, and experienced a life of luxury she’d never known.
She’d found something to love in each city—London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, but having the opportunity to spend three nights in Italy’s Tuscany countryside outside of Florence was something she and Austin were savoring like a gourmet meal. Seeing sights, experiencing different cultures was well and good, but living among the people in a small village was, Darcy decided, the way she wanted to experience traveling the rest of the world. And there was so much else for her to see. Thinking of the opportunity that awaited them by running Austin’s parents’ business, her pulse thrummed with happiness. It would be a dream come true to take it over.
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?” Austin said, clasping her hand and smiling at her.
Darcy returned his smile and gave his hand a squeeze. “I’ve had the best time ever. And sharing it with you makes it perfect.”
“So, are you seriously considering taking my parents’ offer to run the business?” he asked, giving her a steady look.
“I think so. How about you? Is it something you want to do?”
Austin’s brow furrowed. “I can’t make up my mind. Taking the job would be exciting and fun, but exhausting and boring too.”
Darcy turned to him with surprise. “Boring? How can you say that?” She elbowed him playfully. “You’d better not be bored with me.”
He laughed. “Never. I promise.”
Darcy thought of her sisters. Regan was building her own business, and Sheena was more than capable of handling the hotel herself. She’d be a fool not to take advantage of an offer to travel like this. Their accommodations had been first-class all the way, and their guided tours excellent.
“Let’s wait until we get home before we make any decisions about this,” Austin said.
Darcy smiled and nodded. She’d wait to tell him, but she’d already made up her mind.
As a neighbor walked by, she proudly said, “Buonasera.”
“Good evening” sounded so much better in Italian.
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
REGAN
Regan studied the array of couches in front of her, pondering her choices. In her mind, she reviewed possible color schemes. The walls of the suites had been painted a soft, warm beige. The carpets were in a compatible tone, keeping the theme of casual beach. She trailed her hands over the woven fabric of two of the couches, liking the sturdy but soft texture and patterns of them. In warm tones of sea green, they would fit in nicely. She marked them as possibilities on her list.
From that section, she hurried over to where several chairs were displayed. The problem with sales items was they were so random. Regan needed to pull together the furnishings in the two suites to make them appear well-coordinated. She finally settled on overstuffed chairs covered in a light turquoise with a subtle, sea-coral design that added interest and a touch of
coral to her theme. She would, she quickly decided, find some coral and turquoise pillows to place on the couches. Sheena had given her to the go-ahead to do what she wanted.
“How are you doing?” a saleswoman asked, approaching her. “You’ve been here a long time.”
“I think I’ve found what I wanted. I just need you to promise me you will deliver them to my hotel tonight.”
“As you asked, I checked with my boss,” the woman assured her. “He said if you can take delivery after six o’clock and pay overtime to the driver and his assistant, he’ll do it for you.”
“That won’t be a problem,” said Regan. “I’ve chosen two couches and two chairs. Now I need side tables and lamps. We already have the rest.”
Regan’s head was spinning as she left the furniture store. While she still had colors and patterns memorized, she hurried to a Bed, Bath & Beyond store to buy bedspreads and bedding to coordinate with her new choices.
Later, the van filled with bedding, pillows, and decorative accent pieces, Regan headed back to the hotel. Maybe it was Sullivan pride on her part, but she’d done her best to make wise choices that would reflect good taste. As Mo had once told her, good taste wasn’t about the amount of money spent on items but their quality and how she was able to coordinate them with each interior for a tasteful look.
###
When Brian met up with her that evening at the Sandpiper Suites Building, she was hanging pictures in the ground-floor hallway.
“Working a little late, aren’t you?” He gave her a kiss that made her want to quit her job and take him home.
She smiled. “Sheena had the idea to move the parents of the bride and groom into suites. It seems the groom’s father is Senator Chuck Bowen. She thinks it will bring us a lot of good publicity when it’s announced his son was married here.”
Brian gave her a thoughtful nod. “I agree. It’s a good way to showcase the place. Maybe we can even get some mileage out of it for The Key Hole.”
“I’ll make sure they get extra coupons in their rooms,” Regan assured him, hanging the last of the framed photographs of the early days of the hotel. She stepped back to make sure it was hung right.
“When are you going to be ready to go home, or should I meet you at The Key Hole?”
Regan checked her watch. “Give me fifteen minutes, and I’ll be there. I want to check on Bernice’s staff. They’re close to being done cleaning the rooms.”
“Okay,” said Brian. “See you in a few. This will give me a chance to talk to our new manager. So far, so good, but it doesn’t hurt to keep a careful eye on things at the bar.”
Regan went inside one of the newly completed suites and looked around carefully. As she’d hoped, the recently purchased pieces of furniture looked as if they were supposed to have been there all along. Their casual style belied quality fabrics, colors, and patterns that complemented the walls and carpet perfectly. She continued her sweeping gaze of the suite. A large silk plant sat in one corner of the living room. A glass bowl filled with seashells and topped with air plants graced the coffee table. The lamps on the end tables were made from carved wood that looked like pieces of driftwood. The framed prints of underwater scenes were striking against the warm color of the walls. Yes, it worked. She checked the two bathrooms and the two bedrooms. Here, too, things seemed settled and compatible. Normally, families or long-term stays would occupy the suites, but for occasions like this, the suites provided flexible space to members of group events.
Sheena appeared in the doorway just as Regan was ready to leave. “Everything ready here?”
“All set. I’m going to meet Brian for dinner at The Key Hole, and then I’m going home to bed,” said Regan, sighing. “If this is what hosting a wedding is going to be like, we’ll both need all the rest we can get.”
“I just finished work with Sam and Clyde decorating the golf carts. Tomorrow morning, we’ll deliver one to Lea’s grandparents, and save the other for Senator Bowen and his wife.”
“How do they look?” Regan, looping a hand around Sheena’s arm.
Sheena turned to her with a smile. “Adorable. I’m so glad you thought of it. It will be a nice touch for transporting the bride and guests to the beach and back.”
Outside the building, Regan stood with Sheena a moment, watching people enter and leave Gavin’s.
“Tomorrow, we’ll double check the arrangements for the rehearsal dinner. I hope the Bowens will be happy with the restaurant,” said Sheena.
“I’ll be shocked if they aren’t. Gavin’s has become the number one place to eat here on the coast, even beating out The Key Pelican.”
“Right, right,” said Sheena. “I don’t know why I’m so worried about this wedding.”
“Maybe because it’s our first one here at the hotel?” Regan said, and they both laughed.
But even as they chuckled together, Regan knew it was no laughing matter. A bad review from someone prominent could ruin their reputation.
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
SHEENA
Fatigue dogged Sheena as she headed home. The fifteen-minute drive seemed to take forever. Maybe because she knew what awaited her—noisy, hungry kids demanding to be fed, a physically tired husband also waiting for a meal, and the mound of laundry she hadn’t gotten to this morning.
Thinking of the months ahead when she’d have an infant to care for in addition to these three, Sheena questioned whether she’d be able to handle the hotel by herself. Then she reminded herself she’d have her sisters’ help and told herself to stop worrying. Darcy would be home in two days, conveniently after the wedding party was packed up and gone. Then, maybe she, herself, could take some time off.
As soon as Sheena walked into the house, Michael greeted her with, “When’s dinner? I’m hungry.”
Meaghan followed Tony into the front hall. “What’s for dinner?” she asked. “Remember, I have a cheer meeting tonight.”
“Hi, honey.” Tony gave her a kiss. “You’re late.”
The three of them lined up in front of her like hungry baby birds chirping for their mother to feed them.
Sheena pushed away her frustration. “How about ordering in? I’m thinking of Chinese food.”
“Again? We had that last week,” said Meaghan.
“The alternative is your cooking dinner,” said Sheena more sharply than she’d intended.
Tony’s look of surprise changed to one of sympathy. “Tough day, huh? Chinese take-out sounds fine. Meaghan and Michael can go together to pick it up.”
“But ...” Michael began and stopped at the stern look Tony gave him.
Tony pulled the take-out menu from a kitchen drawer, and they quickly ordered what they wanted.
While the kids took off to get their order, Tony ushered Sheena outside to the lanai. “Have a seat. You look exhausted.”
Sheena sank down into a lounge chair and let out a long sigh. “It’s the wedding. We’re trying to make everything perfect for the bride and groom, especially since we discovered the father of the groom is Senator Chuck Bowen.”
Tony’s eyebrows shot up. “Wow! No wonder you’re nervous. I just saw an interview with him on the news. He’s seriously thinking of running for president.”
“Yes. That’s why his having an enjoyable stay at the hotel is so crucial for us. Regan and I opened two more suites today, so the Bowens and the parents of the bride can stay in them.”
“What about the rest of the suites?”
“We won’t be able to open them for a week or so. We’re waiting for things on back order to be delivered. We were able to steal patio furniture from the new lanai for Gavin’s people, but we can’t ask them to do without it for long. That wouldn’t be fair. I told our suppliers we’ll cancel our entire order if we don’t get a response within the next couple of days. But it was an idle threat. We got that furniture for a such a good price, we can’t replace it.”
Tony gave her a thoughtful look. “I know how determined you are to ha
ve things right, but remember what the Salty Key Inn is all about—a quiet, unpretentious place where all are welcome. So what if Chuck Bowen might be president one day? You’ve told me from the beginning all guests need to be treated the same.”
Sheena felt her eyes widen. “You’re right. Every guest, not just one or two, needs to be treated as if he or she is special.” She smiled at him with affection. “Thanks for reminding me.”
He grinned. “You used to tell me the very same thing back when I had my own plumbing business.” He leaned over and kissed her. “It’ll work out. Now, let’s go eat. I hear the kids coming through the door.”
Sitting at the kitchen table with her family, Sheena told herself as busy as she was with the hotel, she shouldn’t be too busy to enjoy her family. Michael had heard he’d been accepted at the University of Miami and would be off to college next year. Meaghan would follow three years later. Sheena gazed at Tony and tried to imagine what their new baby would be like. Michael had been easy-going, easy to entertain with a simple toy. Meaghan had been a fussy, active child who knew exactly what she wanted and when.
Meaghan broke through her thoughts. “The Spring Dance is in two weeks. I really need a new dress for it. Can we go shopping tomorrow, Mom?”
Sheena shook her head. “How about Monday, after the wedding at the hotel?”
Meaghan’s lips formed a pout. “Awww, it’s always about the hotel lately. What about me?”
Surprised by Meaghan’s old “me-first” behavior, Sheena said, “I promise to take you shopping on Monday. Darcy will be back in town then, and I’m asking for the day off.”
“Okay.” Meaghan’s hazel eyes, like hers, shone with excitement. “I think Rob is going to ask me, and I want to look nice.”
Sheena smiled. “You always look nice, sweetie.” She turned to Michael. “Are you going to the dance? It’s for seniors, too, isn’t it?”
Michael shrugged. “Not many of us are going. Besides, I have no interest in asking anyone out.”