by Judith Keim
“And you’re not like your mother,” said Mary Lou. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It must be the wine talking.”
“Or the truth,” murmured Bill as Julia approached.
“Such a lovely occasion with the Bowens,” Julia said happily. “I can’t wait to tell my friends how lovely they are.” She smiled at Lea. “You’ve done well for yourself, dear.”
Lea’s frown marred her delicate features. “Excuse me. I’d better go and save Dirk. He looks distressed.”
“Hopefully Lea will become a little more suitable in her appearance,” Julia said. “No rings and the like ... ” her voice trailed off.
“She’s lovely as she is,” Mary Lou said with an unmistakable annoyance in her voice.
Julia glanced across the room at her daughter. “If she cleaned up her act, she would look just like my mother, rest her soul.”
Sheena gave Mary Lou a sympathetic look. “Is there anything I can do for you? We’ve got things set for the wedding and reception, but if you need anything else, please let me know. We’re delighted to have you and Bill here.”
Feeling as if she was leaving a lamb standing next to a lioness, Sheena left them to speak to Casey, who was talking to the bartender.
After making sure everything was in order, Sheena decided to go home. Casey had assured her that her presence wasn’t needed, and it being a Friday night, Meaghan and Michael would be busy with their friends, and Tony would be at home relaxing.
On the way to her house, Sheena thought of the complications of a wedding. Sometimes, as in the case of Lea and Dirk, it seemed improbable the two families would ever blend. But she knew how much adding a baby to the mixture could change things. She’d been fortunate from the beginning that Tony’s parents had been kind and loving to her and her family.
###
Early the next morning, Sheena was in the kitchen sipping her coffee when her cell rang. She checked caller ID. Regan. “Hi! What’s up?”
“I’m sick,” said Regan. “It must have been something I ate, but I can’t come into work this morning. I’ll try for this afternoon, but no promises. Sorry.”
“Something you ate made you sick? Promise me it wasn’t anything served to the guests at the rehearsal dinner.”
“I don’t know if that is the case or not. Nicole and I ate some of the leftovers. Maybe we shouldn’t have.”
Sheena fought the panic that had begun to chill her bones. “I’ll check to make sure everyone else is fine. Pray they are. Hope you feel better soon. We’re going to need you at the wedding.”
Sheena clicked off the call and phoned Nicole. “Hi, there! Are you set for today?” Sheena asked, forcing a cheerful note into her voice.
“Ugh, I’m not feeling well. I hope I’ll be better enough to get to the hotel, but there’s no way I can leave my apartment without knowing if or when I’m going to throw up.”
“Regan’s sick too. What do you think it was? Food from the rehearsal dinner?”
“We didn’t eat any of the food prepared for them. Just leftovers in the kitchen.”
“Oh, my God! Did the other staff members eat them?”
“I’m not sure. Casey is fine. He left for work earlier.”
“Keep in touch with me, and make every effort to get to the hotel. You’re important to us, Nicole.” Sheena knew she should have been more sympathetic, but she was scared. How were they going to make this the perfect wedding the Salty Key Inn needed to establish its reputation as a destination for weddings?
###
At the hotel, Sheena manned the registration office. Jeanne would replace her in the afternoon, but for now, it was left to her to answer questions, make sure the pool and beach activities were overseen, and ensure the waterside sports area was operational.
As scheduled, Dirk and Lea’s friends from the University of North Carolina arrived in two separate vans from the Tampa airport. Their excitement was contagious. Soon, the hotel was filled with activity on the bay, in the pool, and even on the bocce ball court. Michael, handling the water sports, called to tell her they needed more paddle boards, and two kayaks were not enough for this crowd.
The Bohio Bar became busy, adding to the sounds of pre-wedding fun. Sheena watched to make sure their regular guests weren’t annoyed by all the activity. It seemed, though, everyone loved a wedding.
By late afternoon, things quieted. Sheena took advantage of this time to eat the lunch she’d picked up earlier from Gracie’s. Neither Regan nor Nicole had shown up, but each had called to say they were struggling to make it.
As Sheena finished the last of her sandwich in the back office, she heard a voice calling to someone from the front office and rose to check it out.
Julia Webster faced her with an angry look. “I looked for Nicole and couldn’t find her. I thought chairs were to be set up on the beach for everyone at the wedding.”
Sheena held back a sigh. “Nicole’s not feeling well, and I’m taking over for her. When I spoke to Lea this morning, she said there was no need to do that. It’s going to be a short ceremony with the group gathered around.”
“In light of who she’s marrying, I think it should be a much more dignified ceremony than that,” said Julia. “I’d think you’d know that and understand.”
“My job is to do as I was asked. This wedding is being set up according to the bride’s specifications and your mother-in-law’s.”
Julia narrowed her lips. “I knew we should have gone somewhere else.”
Sheena wished she had, but refrained from saying so.
“I’ll speak to Mary Lou and get back to you,” Julia huffed, turning and leaving the office with forceful steps.
Moments later, Sheena received a phone call. “This is Mary Lou Webster. Sheena? I want you to know we’re going to stick to our original plans of no chairs at the wedding ceremony. Lea and I decided that’s what we wanted.”
“Okay,” said Sheena. “May I ask a personal question?”
“Yes, go ahead,” said Mary Lou.
“Is there a reason you and Lea have excluded Julia from the plans? And should we ignore her suggestions?” In the silence that followed, Sheena wondered if she’d overstepped common courtesy.
“Julia and Lea got into a huge fight about wedding plans, with Lea threatening to elope. In a panic, Julia asked for my help. Bill and I decided the only way it would work would be for us to take care of the wedding with both Lea’s and Dirk’s input. We respect their wishes and are excited by what the four of us have agreed on. I’m sure you understand how difficult some family situations are.”
“Oh, yes,” Sheena assured her. “I just wanted to know how best to handle things for you.”
“Thanks,” said Mary Lou. “I appreciate that. These two kids are worth fighting for.”
###
As Sheena was leading guests to the beach for the ceremony, Regan joined her looking unusually wan but still lovely in a pale lavender dress perfect for a wedding.
“Sorry I couldn’t get here earlier. How’s it going?” she asked Sheena.
“We’ve had several rough patches, but I believe everything is in order now. Nicole is back, and she and Casey are making sure the reception is set up properly.”
“Good,” said Regan. She smiled at Sheena. “You look beautiful in that new dress.”
“Thanks.” When she’d put it on, she’d been dismayed by the way her body filled the navy maternity dress with three months to go before the baby came.
The guests all gathered by the same portable altar that had been used for Darcy’s wedding. Dirk and his father stood next to it, beside the minister. Looking at it, Sheena thought back to Darcy’s special day. It had been wonderful to see her sister so happy, so in love. The three weeks since then had flown by. She knew from the many postcards Darcy had sent and her Facebook posts how fantastic the honeymoon trip had been for her, but she hoped once Darcy returned, she’d be ready to settle in to work at the hot
el once more.
Regan grabbed hold of Sheena’s arm and whispered, “Here comes the bride!”
Sheena looked up to see Lea coming toward them like a sprite, wearing a smile that was both impish and emotional. A tiny tiara sat among the strands of blond hair that billowed playfully in the breeze. Her white wedding gown reached only to her ankles. The dress with a sweetheart neckline and sleeveless bodice was stunning in its simplicity.
Tears came to Sheena’s eyes. She’d hoped for a perfect wedding for them, and though things hadn’t always gone smoothly, this moment, this couple were perfect.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
DARCY
Darcy stepped into the warm, humid air outside the airport terminal and inhaled the salty aroma with a sense of satisfaction. As Austin had told her, he loved traveling, but he always loved coming home.
She turned to him now. “Feel good?”
He put his arm around her. “And how. Where’s the van that’s supposed to pick us up?”
Darcy frowned. “I don’t know. I thought my sisters would be here to greet us.”
“I’ll call,” said Austin.
While he phoned the hotel, Darcy gathered her new purse to her chest. Italian leather was so soft.
Austin turned to her with a worried look. “My grandfather is picking us up. No one from the hotel could do it.”
Darcy felt her eyes widen. “Is everything all right? Let me call Sheena.”
Darcy punched in Sheena’s number and heard a voicemail message. “This is Sheena. Sorry, I’m unable to take your call. Please leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
Darcy clicked off the call and phoned Regan. A similar message came on.
“Okay,” Darcy said into the phone. “I’ve tried Sheena’s number and now yours, Regan. I’m worried about you. Call me. We’re at the Tampa Airport waiting for a ride.”
Darcy disconnected the call and turned to Austin. “I hope you don’t mind, but I want your grandfather to drop us off at the hotel instead of taking us to the condo. I’m worried about my sisters. They always take phone calls.”
“Okay, hon. We’ll see what’s happening there, have a drink, and grab dinner before going to the condo and collapsing.”
She smiled and squeezed his arm affectionately. “Thanks for understanding.”
They were standing outside the terminal with their luggage when Austin’s grandfather drove up. Darcy warmed to his wide smile. Bill Blakely was one of her favorite people.
He got out of the car and came over to them. Throwing his arms around Darcy, he said, “So good to have you kids back home. I missed you, you know.”
Darcy laughed. “Wait until you hear about our trip. We saw everything!”
Bill and Austin exchanged back slaps. “Good trip, then?”
Austin grinned. “The best.”
They loaded the luggage into the car and took off.
“We need to go to the hotel,” Austin explained. “Neither Sheena nor Regan answered their phones, and Darcy’s worried about them. If you drop us off there, we’ll treat you to dinner.”
Bill nodded agreeably. “Sounds good.”
As she’d done on her first trip to the Salty Key Inn, Darcy opened the car window beside her to inhale the sweet smell of home. She hadn’t known what to expect on that first trip, Now, she couldn’t wait to see the hotel Uncle Gavin had once envisioned.
As they drove through the entrance to the hotel, Darcy let out a gasp. Two police cars sat in the driveway, their lights flashing a blue and red that spelled trouble. A white ambulance with flashing red lights was parked in front of the police cars, its back door open.
“Stop!” cried Darcy. Bill slammed on his brakes. Before the car had fully stopped, Darcy jumped out of it and began running.
A crowd had gathered around a man lying on a gurney on the ground.
Seeing her sisters among the group of people, she rushed over to them. “What happened? Who is it?”
Sheena turned to her with moist eyes and cheeks gone white. “It’s Senator Bowen. He collapsed after going for a swim. They’re trying to stabilize him, but he’s not responding.”
“I don’t think he’s going to make it,” whispered Regan, staring wide-eyed at the inert figure.
“Oh, my God!” Senator Bowen?” said Darcy, realizing who it was. “Is that his wife beside him?”
“Yes,” said Sheena. “She was on the beach when this happened.”
Austin came up beside Darcy and put an arm around her. She quickly filled him in on the details.
“Okay, everyone! Stand back,” ordered one of the policemen. “Give the EMTs room. We’re transporting him to the hospital. The State Police are clearing the way for us.”
As the medics lifted the gurney with the senator on it and rolled it into the back of the ambulance, Sheena hurried to his wife’s side. “Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?”
“That would be nice,” said Evelyn. “I need to be with him. And we’ll have to be in touch with Dirk. Can you call him for me?”
“Yes,” said Sheena. “We’ll see he and Lea get the message. I don’t believe their flight to Barbados has left yet.”
Sheena waved Regan and Darcy over to her. “Regan, call Dirk and Lea and tell them what’s happened. Tell them also I’m taking Evelyn to Tampa General Hospital, and ask them to meet us there.”
Regan turned to Darcy. “You help break up the crowd. We don’t want a lot of publicity. If reporters find out what has happened, they’ll flock to the scene.”
Regan hurried away, leaving Darcy to handle the curious crowd.
The ambulance left with its siren blaring, along with the two police cars. Sheena and Evelyn followed behind in the hotel van.
“Wow! Some homecoming,” said Austin, giving Darcy a troubled look.
“I’d better get to work.” She walked into the crowd of milling people. “Everything is being taken care of for the senator. Why don’t you carry on with whatever you were doing? We’ll keep you informed.”
“What if he dies?” said an older woman. “What will that do to the political scene?”
Darcy shook her head. “I don’t even want to talk of him dying. Let’s keep our hopes up, shall we?”
As people began to go their ways, a man walked over to her. “Hi, Darcy. I’m Jim Waters from the Tampa Bay Times. I heard there was some trouble here with Senator Bowen. What happened?”
As sympathetic as she was to someone reporting the news, Darcy shook her head. “I honestly am not sure. I just arrived here myself. Give me your card, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Aw, you know I can’t wait until tomorrow,” he said, giving her a pleading look.
“I’d tell you if I could, but all I know is he’s on his way to the hospital. Maybe you can find out more there. Sorry.”
Feeling jarred by the scene, the time change, and the shock of what had happened, Darcy lowered her head into her hands.
“You okay?” asked Austin, approaching her.
“I will be. Right now, I have to see what I can do to help Regan.”
“I’ll have my grandfather drop me and the luggage off at the condo, get my car, and come back for you.”
“Thanks, that’s probably best.” She lifted her face to receive Austin’s kiss. London seemed an entire lifetime away.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
SHEENA
Filled with dread, Sheena sat with Evelyn Bowen in the surgical waiting room. The scene with the EMTs trying to work on Chuck replayed over and over in her mind. She wasn’t sure how long they’d been waiting when a doctor wearing green scrubs approached them.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Bowen. We tried to save your husband, but were unable to do so.”
Evelyn burst into tears.
Sheena placed her arms around Evelyn’s shaking body. She looked up at the doctor. “What was the situation? Heart?”
He shook his head. “Brain aneurysm. There was really nothing w
e could do. And if it’s any comfort to the family, he would not have done well as a survivor.”
Dirk and Lea hurried into the room.
Evelyn cried out and scrambled to her feet as Dirk’s arms reached out to her.
Lea stood back, watching them, tears in her eyes. Dirk pulled her to his side, and the three of them huddled and cried together.
Later, when emotions had calmed, Sheena asked what she could do to help.
Evelyn immediately straightened. “We’ll need to draw up a press release. Chuck’s staff in Washington can do that for me if you give them the facts. Will you call the office?”
“Yes, I can, but they will also need a statement from the doctor. Agreed?”
Evelyn turned to Lea and Dirk. “And we’ll want it stated we were in Florida for a very happy occasion.”
“Thank you,” said Lea softly. She’d removed the ring from her nose for the ceremony and hadn’t replaced it, making her appearance much more in keeping with this political family.
The doctor who’d remained quiet and in the background stepped forward. “Why don’t we go into my office? We can take care of things there.” He glanced at Sheena. “You can have the senator’s staff call me here at the hospital. They’ll page me.”
Approaching Evelyn, Sheena gave her a long hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss. If there’s anything more I can do for you, simply ask. As soon as I get back to the hotel, I’ll call the senator’s staff as you requested.”
Evelyn reached into her purse, pulled out a small pad of paper and a pen, and wrote down a number. “Steve will handle it.” Her eyes filled. “Thank you so much for your help.”
“Yes,” said Dirk. “Thanks for everything. The wedding too.”
He and Lea exchanged sad looks, and then Evelyn, accompanied by the newlyweds, left the room.
###
As Sheena drove into the parking lot of the hotel, she saw a small crowd still lingered outside Gracie’s. A truck from a local television station pulled in beside her.
Nerves on high alert, Sheena got out of the van and hurried toward the registration office.