The Seaside Hotel

by Agnès Ruiz

  35

  Joanna arrived in the corridor and came across, not her father, but Guillermo Voily.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, intrigued.

  Guillermo smiled, almost sadly.

  “I was looking for you.”

  “My office is on the other side”, she said, suspicious.

  “I didn’t know. I was just trying my luck.”

  He slowly moved towards Joanna, but she stepped back.

  “What do you want from me?”

  “Why are you so aggressive? I haven’t done anything wrong...”

  Joanna knew she was in a bad mood. She realised Guillermo had nothing to do with it. She was fuming at her father and he wasn’t there. So, naturally, the first person she met became the ideal scapegoat. She sighed and looked at the closed doors of the offices behind Guillermo.

  “Tough day?” Her friend asked softly.

  “I’m looking for my father.”

  “Everybody is looking for someone”, he shot.

  He wanted to make her smile, but didn’t succeed.

  “And why were you looking for me? I told you it was Marguerite’s retirement party...”

  Guillermo slapped the palm of his hand against his forehead. Pitiful, he admitted he had forgotten.

  “Will we see each other afterwards?” he asked.

  “I don’t have the time at the moment. I will let you know.”

  “Wow! That feels like a slap in the face.”

  Joanna was dubious. Is that what she wanted to say? She thought of the evening they had together... And the moment on the beach; the kiss they shared.

  “No, well, I don’t know, to be honest”, she said, uncomfortable. “I don’t have the time. I told you, I’m looking for my father.”

  “Yes, of course. I imagine they are waiting for you. You are the one who organises everything...”

  “What do you mean by that? I don’t manage everything... It’s just that I’m in charge of relations and...”

  “It wasn’t a negative comment, Joanna”, Guillermo stopped her. “Why are you so defensive?”

  With that, Joanna lost it. She was annoyed; talked about her evening which had gone from bad to worse and the unexpected absence of Rodolphe G. Gaspardin. Guillermo seemed troubled by so much information shot at him so fast with a capital F.

  He regretted having his computer with him. He wanted to take her in his arms, perhaps able to calm her. Perhaps pushing her against the wall, he thought. He followed his train of thoughts, but as soon as he came back to Joanna, she caught him:

  “What were you doing here with your computer?”

  “I told you, I was looking for you.”

  “With your computer? Really?”

  “What’s going on with you? What do you think? That I’m going to spy in your office, or what?”

  Guillermo was suddenly very serious, he too, a smidge annoyed. As if they were about to collide, Joanna gave in.

  “You’re right, I’m talking rubbish. You came to the hotel because you had nowhere to live, thanks to me. And now, I’m accusing you of all evils.”

  “You are too nervous, that’s all”, Guillermo conceded.

  He had his PC back now. He announced they would see each other later. That it was not the right moment. Joanna watched him go downstairs. She wanted to call him back; spend some time with him rather than go back to the reception. Except she couldn’t shirk her responsibilities. Saying that, she was reminded of her father’s inconsiderate absence.

  He shouldn’t be shirking his responsibilities, either: even less than she could. Again, she felt as though there was a lead weight on her small shoulders.

  She knocked on the door of the father’s office, but got no reply. She tried to open the door, finding it locked.

  Finally, she couldn’t imagine him hidden away in there. He would never have closed it. She went around the whole hotel, in the places she guessed she could find him.

  No success.

  She was forced to recognise that he wasn’t in the vicinity.

  Now that Joanna had discovered that, she couldn’t avoid telling herself that he had done it on purpose, because he knew his daughter too well. He had undoubtedly calculated it and knew that she would go looking for him wherever he may be in the hotel, due to his hurtful absence.

  She had the unpleasant feeling that she’d been fooled. Hadn’t he already made her organise Marguerite’s leaving party?

  36

  Battle weary, she decided to go back to the party. At least she would make a show of being there. On the way, she realised that she hadn’t even asked Guillermo why he’d been looking for her.

  And how come he didn’t know where her office really was? He had seemed to know vaguely in another one of their conversations. She must have mistaken it. And Guillermo had tried his luck...

  Once again, she let herself get carried away by nice thoughts. Her memories from the beach stuck with her. Her heart was once again beating only at the images in her fervent mind’s eye.

  “I’m being silly!” she chastised herself, strongly.

  She shouldn’t continue down that road. It wouldn’t take her anywhere. It wasn’t the first time she had told herself that since that famous evening. And yet, she had still forbidden herself to see Guillermo to put things straight. Worse, she had even avoided him.

  But soon she would have no other choice. His flat would be ready in two days. Two minuscule days and he would go back home, just below where she slept herself.

  It was almost inconvenient.

  A gaping hole took over Joanna and she stopped right in the middle of the entrance hall of the seaside hotel. She wanted tenderness, attention and even more. She wanted to share the next years together. She didn’t want to suffer.

  And that was never in a relationship contract. Why? She rebelled, painfully.

  Why was everything so complicated?

  “Are you OK?”

  Joanna turned her head and discovered Mélanie at the reception. She was obviously worried about the state of Joanna.

  The young woman moved towards the intern student.

  “A little stressed, but nothing too serious. Thank you for worrying.”

  “Is the party good?” Mélanie enquired, suddenly wanting to know more.

  Joanna realised that Mélanie hadn’t been invited. And it was her fault. She had completely forgotten her.

  “I didn’t know you were working this evening”, she began.

  “Joshua asked me to stand in. Otherwise they’d be nobody here.”

  Of course, Joanna thought. She had just planned to get a bell for the concierge. He had told her that he would only come to the beginning of Marguerite’s party, then return to the small room that he used for odd jobs.

  By sudden impulse, Joanna suggested Mélanie go to the party arranged for Marguerite.

  “But your brother will be furious if he sees there’s nobody here”, Mélanie hiccupped.

  Yet, her eyes shining and full of hope said quite the opposite. Joanna was amused and the young girl’s genuine smile did her good.

  How could she have found the little one so irritating during her first days? Simply because she lacked experience or because she had her whole life ahead of her and she found rays of sunshine throughout her day, despite opposition...

  Sometimes people were worth stopping for and getting to know better, Joanna thought.

  “Don’t fret over Joshua, I’ll attend to it. Go and have fun over there. I will hold the fort here for you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Actually, it’ll do me good. I need some time alone. Go on; go before I change my mind.”

  “Oh! Thank you Miss Gaspardin. You are a great girl!”

  Mélanie left almost at a run towards the function room. Joanna watched her for a moment, the final words “a great girl” floating in her mind.

  “At least she doesn’t think I’m an old girl, that’s something”, she felt amused.


  Joanna had also appreciated the laugh that sprung from her throat. She thought she still heard it, bouncing, refreshing. It made her think of her daughter. She laughed less these days, in any case, in her presence. She was completely different when she was with her friends. That reassured Joanna. Hearing her laugh was one of the joys of being a mum. Laughing, was life, she told herself. Zoé’s image slowly left her mind and was replaced by that of Guillermo. They laughed so much when they were together.

  The reception phone rang and she stopped her procrastinating.

  “Welcome to the seaside hotel. This is Joanna. How may I help you?”

  Her voice sounded robotic, a long-established formula from which the tone happily took flight, she thought to herself.

  However, she did not hide her surprise when she recognised the voice on the other end of the line. It was Guillermo Voily. He also seemed surprised to find her there. Just to tease her, he told her she was shirking her responsibilities and that she was manning the reception desk just to show off her skills. After all, she had told him they couldn’t see each other because of that.

  Joanna decided not to embellish the bitter-sweet comment.

  “How may I help you? I mean, well, what do you want?” she caught herself a bit late.

  Joanna was staggered to hear him tell her that he wanted to extend his stay at the seaside hotel.

  “Why would you do that? Your flat will be ready in two days...”

  She skirted around the moment and told him she would get back to him by the next day. He brushed her objections aside and assured her that he was giving himself an unexpected holiday. He loved the sea view; it relaxed him and helped him in his recovery. Laughing, he assured her it would be at his own expense this time.

  “If you insist”, she gave in, calm.

  She made a note of his reservation then hung up.

  37

  In the function room, Joshua and Cécile went from group to group. Joshua used his usual charm to make everybody feel comfortable. The same old jokes and wisecracks flew out of his mouth. Everybody seemed to quickly forget his status as the owner’s son. However, the presence of Rodolphe G. Gaspardin’s fiancée seemed to intimidate more than one.

  However, the young woman remained cheery, likeable even, which was surprising, as she seemed inaccessible most of the time. Her elegant dress was further proof that she was different, not to mention her hair.

  Despite her short hair, she had clearly been to the hairdresser to have hair extensions put in, since she was wearing her hair in a sophisticated French twist which made her hold her head majestically. In Joshua’s opinion, she was the most beautiful woman at the party.

  “It’s always a pleasure to have such a beauty like you on my arm. You’re half way between an actress and a princess from the Arabian Nights.”

  Cécile gave him a pensive look, but didn’t comment. She nonetheless remarked that her glass was empty, and that she would appreciate it if he could get her another glass of champagne. Overjoyed, Joshua literally melted over the buffet.

  By the time he returned, Cécile Burnier had disappeared. He stood there holding two glasses and came across the young Mélanie.

  “I... Joanna allowed me to come”, she stammered when she saw him approach.

  “I’m not having a go at you”, he assured. “Here, take this glass. It seems the person I got it for has escaped.”

  Mélanie frowned briefly before forgetting her questions. She particularly liked Joshua. She was interested in him. He was handsome, kind and considerate. And he was single, she gushed, full of naïve hope.

  “Thank you.”

  “Have you tried champagne before?” Joshua asked with an almost fatherly smile.

  This bothered Mélanie. She wanted him to see her as a woman and not as a little girl. With a barefaced lie, she confirmed that it wasn’t the first reception she had been to. Joshua laughed, but she didn’t know if it was because of her or if he had already had a little too much to drink.

  She decided not to take offense and to take advantage of the moment. Joshua was at her side, he was making conversation and she tried to be on top of her game. Better still, he took her arm to guide her towards the different groups. She felt important and mentally thanked Joanna for allowing her to live this moment.

  Joshua regularly went back to the buffet and brought her a refill, sometimes with some petit fours.

  “To absorb the alcohol”, he said, laughing.

  “I think the little one has had enough to drink”, a voice behind them suddenly said.

  Joshua turned around and Mélanie was disappointed to see Cécile Burnier, Rodolphe G. Gaspardin’s new fiancée. She didn’t like her. That woman made her feel like ice.

  The image made her laugh this evening. She tried to take another mouthful, but Cécile took her glass with authority.

  “You shouldn’t drink so much, Miss.”

  “As far as I’m aware, you’re not my mother”, Mélanie rebelled.

  To defy her, she moved closer to Joshua, as if they were together.

  “She hasn’t done anything wrong”, Joshua pressed. “You have forgotten your youth, Cécile...”

  A dark look struck Joshua who seemed unnerved. He looked at Cécile again then at the young Mélanie.

  “You’re... right”, he recognised. “It’d be better if I took her home.”

  “You will not be taking anybody home this evening, Joshua. You have had too much to drink, too. I will find a decent driver for this little one.”

  “I don’t want to go home, the party’s only just beginning”, Mélanie protested.

  He words became slurred. She also felt like she wanted to retch, but refused to lose face before this overly-elegant woman. She clearly saw Joshua eat her with his eyes. Why didn’t he look at her like that?

  38

  Guillermo saw the whole scene. He hadn’t been invited to the small party. This was normal considering he was only a guest among so many people. In addition, he couldn’t be counted as the owner’s daughter’s boyfriend. Incidentally, he didn’t know himself where he was going or why he felt the need to get closer to Joanna.

  It was for that reason he had pushed so hard to come here. He told himself that once he was in the function room, she couldn’t refuse his presence.

  Except she wasn’t there.

  When he saw the hotel receptionist, he thought he would go to try his luck. His intuition would perhaps prove him right.

  He went to a corner to call the reception. That was when he feigned surprise even though he was sure that she would answer. Then, he spontaneously said that he wanted to extend his stay. He hadn’t considered it before, even though he thought it would be easier all round as the day he should leave the seaside hotel was fast approaching.

  Now, he was bored, and alone. He had hardly spoken to any of the other guests. He had nevertheless hung around Marguerite for a warm and pleasant exchange. The old lady was talkative and full of bitterness. Guillermo told her that he understood the feeling which unleashed the secrets.

  Marguerite finally excused herself and went to the bathroom. The old secretary was replaced by Lorelli who came to greet Guillermo.

  Joanna’s neighbour initially thought that she was upset by his presence. She didn’t know he was only a guest. Yet she wasn’t upset. Quite the opposite, she talked about her daughter. Did she know they were seeing each other Did Joanna confide in her mother? She let him think so, without going into detail.

  He had a nice conversation with Lorelli. She was relaxed; talked about the invited guests not to mention the absent: her ex-husband, Rodolphe G. Gaspardin.

  Unable to let such an opportunity pass by, Guillermo asked her about this strange behaviour. He hit the nail on the head.

  Lorelli loved talking about the man at the head of the seaside hotel. And it wasn’t necessarily always good, Guillermo quickly understood.

  He listened cheerfully, asked questions which she answered in haste. Then, Lorelli decided
she was bored of this evening.

  “A retirement party is like a petite mort!”

  The image was not very pleasant. She pulled a face and raised her shoulders once, as if it were meant to be.

  “I don’t think you’ll ever retire”, Guillermo thought right to say, with a half-smile.

  Lorelli threw him a complicit wink then warmly said goodbye.

  “I do hope we’ll have the chance to get to know each other much better; why not over dinner? With Joanna”, she concluded with an easy smile.

  Guillermo watched Lorelli leave the reception confidently. He had found the woman surprising. Frighteningly wise, too. He ought to make an ally out of her, rather than an enemy, for sure.

  Several minutes after their conversation, he guessed it was time for him to leave, too. He grabbed two glasses and a plate of petit fours then left the party.

  A few minutes later, he was in the hotel reception and held out a glass to Joanna.

  “You shouldn’t be alone this evening, fair lady”, he murmured warmly, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I thought if you couldn’t be free, I would bring myself to you...”

  Joanna was flattered and appreciated his initiative. They toasted, he on one side of the reception desk, and she on the other.

  “Aren’t you going back to the party, then?” he asked.

  “I can’t find my father. And Cécile seems to be managing it perfectly well.”

  “You sound bitter. I don’t think you like her much.”

  “I’ve got nothing against her”, Joanna lied.

  “Apart from her being young, beautiful, perfectly plastic...”

  Joanna was about to protest when she realised he was laughing at her.

  “And she’s your father’s fiancée...” Guillermo finally continued.

  “I only want what’s good for my father!”

  “I don’t doubt that. And you don’t think that Cécile Burnier is that, she is young and beautiful...”

  “How could she be otherwise? You said it yourself, she is young; she is beautiful. She could have ten thousand men at her feet. Yet she chose my father! What is she doing here?”