Lunch at the Beach House Hotel

by Judith Keim

  I started to reach for her but she pushed me away so hard I tumbled to the ground.

  Tina ran into Liz’s bedroom and slammed the door.

  I slowly got to my feet. Tina’s behavior was unacceptable, but I knew now the reasons behind it, and I wouldn’t give up on her now.

  Limping slightly, I made my way into my office. As I got to my desk, my cell phone rang. I picked it up and clicked onto the call.

  At the sound of Vaughn’s sweet hello, tears flooded my eyes. “H-h-hello.”

  “Hey, what’s wrong, honey?” he said.

  “Just about everything. Tina, Angela, a storm named Nancy, a boy named Reggie and secrets that are choking me.”

  “Whoa,” said Vaughn. “This doesn’t sound like Ann Rutherford, warrior at heart.”

  “Ann Rutherford needs you,” I said, meaning it with my whole being.

  “I’m here, Ann. With you in spirit. Remember that.”

  I swiped at my eyes. I’d take what I could because there were times I didn’t like being strong and determined—times I wanted to be babied and cuddled.

  Later, soothed by my phone call with Vaughn, I decided to let Tina be by herself for a while.

  I was working on the figures for the bridal suite when she came into my office.

  “Hi, Tina,” I said calmly. “What have you decided?”

  Wearing a troubled expression, she took a seat in a chair and faced me. “You called me a whore.”

  I shook my head. “I never said that, Tina.”

  “But that’s what you implied. Is that what you think of me?”

  I took a moment to find the right words.

  “I think your behavior is something no mother should encourage. I’m not sure what she’s looking for. You have a nice career and what I would imagine is a nice income. Isn’t that enough for her?”

  “Nothing’s ever enough for her!” Tina’s shout startled me. “I can never do enough for her!” she continued in angry, slicing tones. “She doesn’t care about me. It’s all about her.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Tina,” I said, barely controlling the rising anger I felt toward her mother. “We’ve been talking about choices. Maybe it’s time for you to make some of those choices on your own.”

  “I’ve got a little brother I have to help,” Tina said. “He goes to a private school for students who need special attention. I can’t let him down.”

  “Maybe you can talk to someone who will help you sort all these issues out. Someone more knowledgeable than I.”

  “What?” she sneered. “Now you think I’m crazy!”

  “That’s not what I said or meant,” I said, injecting a calmness into my voice I didn’t feel. “These things are confusing. It might be easier for you if you have someone help you.”

  She sighed. “I called Brock and told him I couldn’t meet him tonight. He was really pissed about it. You were right, Ann, he’s an asshole. He called me all kinds of names.”

  “I’m glad you got out of the date. That was a good choice.”

  Tina made a face. “He wasn’t that hot anyway.”

  “So what shall we have for supper?” I said, trying for a safer topic. “We can have a quiet meal right here tonight. Then how about watching a movie?”

  Tina gave me an incredulous stare. “I gave up a nice evening out for something like this?”

  My heart warmed at the smile beginning to form on her face. “It’s not the Ritz, but it’s damn close!”

  We laughed together.

  As I told Rhonda later, Tina and I were taking baby steps forward and giant leaps back. The worst part was never knowing what kind of reaction I might get from her.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  I stood with Rhonda by the front steps of the hotel watching Angela and Reggie climb into one of our limos. Paul was driving them to the airport. Rhonda had opted not to go with them, confessing she’d only make a fool of herself saying goodbye to Angela in front of Reggie, that she already had the feeling she was losing her daughter for more than the few weeks until the Thanksgiving break.

  Beside me now, she was blubbering like a baby and waving goodbye even as they passed through the hotel’s gates.

  After the limo had disappeared, she turned to me. “I told Angela and Reggie that I would be happy to have his parents come for a visit, even though I’m not. Will you help me write the invitation to them? They wanted me to go ahead and send an email because his parents are traveling.”

  “Sure. We’ll make it nice and even send a follow-up letter, which could include a brochure of the hotel. They might turn out to be good customers of ours.”

  Rhonda curled her lip. “I doubt it. I wish Angela would pick out someone more fun. But she says she loves Reggie. Funny, I’d never imagined her going for someone like him.”

  “He loves her, Rhonda. They were so cute together. He’s not what we expected, that’s all. Let’s go into the office. I want to tell you what I’ve come up with for the bridal suite for Katrina Hassel.”

  “Okay, and then we’ll put together the stuff for the Smythes.”

  In the office, we looked over the sketches I’d made. They showed a king-size bed, huge closet, and large bathroom with plenty of mirror space above counters on which we could place perfumes, make-up, and other cosmetics for those last-minute touches. A lounge-area sketch showed several couches and chairs for bridesmaids, a second television, and a mini kitchen with snack-bar seating.

  Rhonda grinned. “I like it. We were going to have to refurbish Tina’s suite anyway, and those rooms are perfect, off to one end like they are, giving them privacy.”

  “I think we can turn this into a moneymaker,” I said, happy for her support.

  “I sure like that idea. I have a feeling this wedding party isn’t going to be easy.”

  “Me too.” We were still waiting for Brenda’s list of requirements.

  We wrote and refined the letter and email for Arthur and Katherine Smythe. After we sent off the email, Rhonda placed the letter and brochure in an envelope, sealed it, and gave it a little pat. “Guess I’ll take this down to the post office. I don’t want the storm to delay it.”

  “I’d better get back to Tina. She’s going through a rough time. I’ll do my usual financial work there.”

  When I got to my house, Tina was nowhere in sight. I checked the bedroom. Her things were still there. In the kitchen, I noticed a slip of paper tucked under the pepper mill and picked it up. It read: Gone on errands. Will be back later. VM

  At the signature, my eyebrows lifted. What did it mean?

  I was in the kitchen, checking supplies for the coming storm when Tina came in.

  “Hi!” I said, holding back on the many questions I had.

  Tina plunked down in a kitchen chair. She propped her chin on a hand and sat, staring into space.

  “What’s up?” I asked. “Did you go downtown?”

  “Uh, huh. I went to see Will.”

  “Will? Our Will?”

  “Yeah. After you left, my mother called me. We had a terrible fight. I told her I didn’t want to do this movie, that I didn’t like the role. She blew up and threatened all kinds of things.”

  “Oh? And so you went to Will because ...”

  “Because I need to protect my money. I’m old enough to have my own accounts, but I need to put it with someone I trust. I know Will enough to feel sure he’d never try to cheat me.”

  “Absolutely,” I quickly agreed. “He’s as honest as they come.”

  “We did a lot of talking. He helped me transfer some of my money into various funds we both liked. It’s enough that my brother will always be taken care of.”

  I swallowed hard. “So what are you doing about your career?”

  “I’m taking a break. I need to think things through. Maybe I’ll never go back to making a movie. After talking to you, I realize how unhappy I’ve been.”

  Alarm dried my throat. “But, Tina, I never wanted you to quit the movies. I only wa
nted you to be more thoughtful of others and especially yourself. I wanted you to be safe.”

  “Well, I’ve already told my agent I’m not doing it. It was the kind of role you wouldn’t let your daughter do.” Tina’s dark eyes shone with tears. “Maybe I don’t want to be called a slut anymore. Maybe I want to be normal, like your daughter. I’ve seen all those certificates in her room, the clothing in her closet, the kind of life she has. Maybe I want it too.”

  “What do your mother and agent think about all this?”

  “My mother doesn’t know, but she’ll find out soon enough. She and my agent are a real team. They’ll start hounding me. Wait and see.”

  My mind spun. “If they can’t reach you, they’ll probably try to call the hotel. I’ll leave word that my number is not to be given out for any reason.”

  “I’ve turned my cell off,” said Tina. “I can’t deal with them anymore.”

  I took a seat at the kitchen table and faced her. “Maybe you should talk to a professional about how best to handle them and your new life.” I raised my hand to stop her. “And before you think I’m talking about you being crazy, I’m not. But, Tina, you’ve got a big fight ahead of you. A fight you want to win.”

  “Do you know of anyone?” Tina asked me, apparently resigned to doing it.

  “Yes, it’s someone one of our guests used. Let me get the phone number for you. She’s a lovely woman who’s become a social friend of mine. Her name is Barbara Holmes.”

  I went to the office to find Barbara’s business card. When I returned, I found Tina curled up on one of the patio chairs.

  “Here’s the information.” I handed Tina the card and noticed the first rays of a sunset streaking through the sky. I grabbed her hand. “Hurry! Come with me!”

  She scrambled to her feet. “Where are we going?”

  “To find the green flash,” I said, grinning.

  She frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “Just come with me.”

  As we hurried across the hotel’s lawn toward the beach, I explained it. “It’s fun to look for it, even if it’s rare for anyone to see it.”

  We joined a few other guests on the wooden deck by the beach. Though a hurricane was threatening to come our way and puffy clouds raced in the sky, the horizon was clear for the moment.

  “Watch,” I said.

  The large, orange globe of the sun continued its descent, sending shards of light into the surrounding sky. But before it could get down to the horizon, clouds obscured it.

  A murmur of disappointment came from the guests around us.

  “Sorry,” I said to Tina as we walked back to the house. “It’s something we can look for again. Hopefully, before you leave, we’ll see it.”

  Tina pulled me to a stop. “I don’t have anywhere else to go. Can I stay here for a while? At least until I make some decisions about the future?”

  “Let’s see how things go, Tina. Everything is happening too fast for you to make more big decisions quickly. Talk to Barbara. She’ll help you.”

  Tina looked down at the ground and kicked her foot despondently.

  “Hey, let’s go home,” I said gently. “It’ll all work out.”

  At home, I enjoyed a glass of wine and put together a large, green leafy salad, topped with cooked shrimp from the hotel, bits of hard-boiled eggs, and a few capers in a lemony dressing.

  Tina sipped a glass of iced tea and watched me. “My mother hates to cook.”

  “Do you cook?”

  “I like it. Trouble is, I like all the stuff I’m not supposed to eat.”

  I couldn’t help myself. I said, “Okay, after dinner we’re going to the Green Cow for some frozen yogurt.”

  Tina’s eyes lit with mischief. “You’re fun after all, Ann.”

  I grinned. “After this, I’m not going to lead you astray. Film or no film.”

  She held up her hand for a high-five, and I clapped it. There was peace between us for the moment, but I knew it wouldn’t last. Tina’s issues were larger than anyone could easily handle.

  “What’s going on?” Rhonda said, bursting into our office. “I got a call at home late last night from Dave during his night shift at the desk saying someone named Skye Marks phoned the hotel, threatening to expose us for the corruption of her daughter.”

  I frowned. “You’d better sit down. The reason he couldn’t get hold of me was that I was out with Tina. We went to get a frozen yogurt and then to see a late movie. By the time we returned home, and I saw his message, he’d already called you. I didn’t want to disturb you again.”

  After she took a seat, I noticed her cradling her stomach.

  “Are you okay?”

  She looked down at her hands and laughed. “I love this baby already. Know what I mean?”

  “Yes. I can’t wait to see him or her.”

  “I don’t care what any test may say, this is a little boy. For Will.” Her expression grew serious. “So what’s going on? This woman is Tina’s mother. Right?”

  “Afraid so. Tina’s quit the movie and has hired Will as her financial manager.”

  Rhonda’s eyes widened. “So that’s what he couldn’t tell me! I’ll be damned.”

  “There’s going to be a big fight. I suggested she see Barbara Holmes for counseling, and Tina said she’d call her.”

  “Wow! You never know about people, do you?” said Rhonda. “We have our share of strange ones here, but I swear Tina is one of the most surprising.”

  “Do you think her mother is going to try to ruin the hotel’s reputation?” My stomach knotted at the idea. I’d overextended myself to buy into the hotel. If it failed, I didn’t know what I’d do. I’d never ask Rhonda or Vaughn for money. I couldn’t live with myself for doing something like that. My grandmother had drilled it into my head that no one else owed me a thing, that I had to make my own way.

  Rhonda drew herself up with indignation. “She can try to ruin us, but it won’t work. We already have an excellent reputation. She’s a crazy lady who should be thrown in jail for what she’s done to her daughter. It’s one screwed-up family. We should never have said we’d take Tina.”

  “Well, it’s too late,” I said, shaking my head. “She’s here now, and she doesn’t want to leave.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  A couple of days later, Hurricane Nancy, irrepressible storm that she was, made her way through the Caribbean toward Cuba, threatening to do some damage. A Category 4 hurricane, she sent shivers of fear through us. Dorothy and Dave joined the day staff in the dining room to review emergency procedures. Both had promised to be on hand at the hotel should we need them.

  “The lanterns we’d set aside for each room have fresh batteries, and I’ve distributed extra bottles of water to the rooms,” Tim reported.

  “If we should lose electricity, our generator will automatically kick in, providing emergency lighting throughout the hotel and keeping the refrigerators and freezers in the kitchen going,” I said to the staff in the meeting. “Even the office equipment will be kept going. But the safety of our guests will be the most important issue. We need to be aware of that.”

  “What about all the windows and sliding glass doors?” asked Dorothy.

  “Manny and Paul are trying to round up as much plywood as they can to board up the windows. Apparently, there’s a shortage.”

  “Consuela and I are preparing some easy meals ahead of time,” said Rhonda.

  “How many guests do we have scheduled in?” said Julie.

  “Twenty-four at last count,” I said. “Those numbers may decrease as people realize the hurricane will hit us. In fact, as much as it hurts us to do so, we’re suggesting guests delay their visit for a day or two.” I drew a deep breath. “We need to warn our current guests about the storm. They might want to travel inland while they can.”

  After answering a few more questions, Rhonda and I led the staff on a tour of the property, explaining what lights would be lit and what areas of t
he hotel were of most concern. Tim was assigned the task of clearing off the poolside deck and patio furniture to be stored in the garage. During the last storm, we’d lost some furniture and all the umbrellas. This time, we hoped not to have to replace anything.

  At home, I reviewed safety plans with Tina. The more she listened, the more concerned she became. “Ann, you’re making this sound really scary.”

  “It can be. But chances are by the time the storm gets here, it’ll be a lot of wind and rain, not the severe hit that Cuba will probably take. Besides, you’ll be safe here as long as you stay away from the windows and glass doors.” Lacking plywood, the hotel staff had taped my windows.

  “I talked to Barbara today. I like her, Ann.” Tina gave me a shy smile. “I think she likes me, too.”

  “I’m glad. I think I like you too.”

  We smiled at one another. “Why don’t we go to the hotel for an early dinner? The storm shouldn’t reach us until sometime during the night.”

  Jean-Luc was in the kitchen when we arrived there. He glanced at Tina. “Are we eating real food tonight?”

  Tina played along. “Oui, mais un petit seulement.”

  Jean-Luc lifted his eyebrows. “Parlez-vous français?”

  Tina laughed. “Not really. I had to learn a little French for a movie.” She glanced at me. “One of the ones you wouldn’t like.”

  “We’re serving a chicken and mushroom special. I think you’ll like that,” said Sabine, joining us. “Perhaps it will suit the two of you?”

  “Sounds delicious,” I said. “Thank you for coming in early. We’re suggesting to our remaining guests that they eat early.”

  “Yes,” said Sabine. “Maria and Paul are already serving appetizers and drinks to them in the living room.”

  “Good,” I said. “Relaxing a bit might soothe the jitters of some of our guests.”

  While Tina and Sabine chatted in the kitchen, I walked into the living room. A number of guests were sitting and talking to one another. Light from outside was constricted by the large X’s of tape placed on the double sliding glass doors. The smaller windows facing the Gulf were boarded up, but we’d run out of wood. Now I wished we’d gone ahead with the installation of hurricane shutters that we’d decided we couldn’t afford.