Coming Home

by Judith Keim

  “Dear Congressman Kingsley – I understand you visited Africa in the past as a young student in the 1990s. Africa has always been of interest to me, especially knowing that my mother, Autumn Chandler, spent several years there during that period helping in Zaire and then in South Africa. Would you be willing to share some of your experiences with me? I’m working on a study of student life there for a project of mine. Thank you so much. Signed, Camilla Chandler.”

  Pleased, she patted the pad of paper and got to her feet. Before she could chicken out, she went into her computer, added her comment to his blog, and clicked send.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  When Cami stepped out of the shower, she heard her phone ringing. She wrapped a towel around herself and hurried to answer it.

  “Got a minute?” Drew said. “I’m just swinging by your place on my morning run and thought I’d stop by for a cup of coffee.”

  “Great. Give me a chance to get dressed and I’ll get our coffee ready. How about a cinnamon biscuit too?”

  “Thanks. I’ll be there in a few.”

  Cami remembered the hurt in Drew’s voice when she’d told him about Vanessa’s unwillingness to go home and how she planned to spend the night with Bernard. He’d been pretty quiet since that night ten days ago. Vanessa and she hadn’t spoken about it either since that Monday morning. Not that Cami would. She wanted no part in Vanessa’s life outside her work at the inn. Vanessa had handled the latest wedding very nicely, maintaining a friendly yet professional relationship with the bride and groom and their wedding party.

  Thinking about her now, Cami wondered how much longer Vanessa would stay at Chandler Hill. Word in the valley was that Rod was cutting prices for events and was now paying staff above the going rate in order to get people to work for him.

  Cami had just slid a couple of biscuits into the oven to warm when she heard Drew call out, “Hello!”

  She turned and smiled at him. Even with sweat streaming down his face and glistening on his torso, he looked delectable. It was a very nice body. His golden-brown hair was pushed away from his face, and the high color in his cheeks matched the brightness in his tawny-colored eyes.

  “Looks like you’ve had a nice run. Why don’t you go on out to the deck and relax? I’ll bring the coffee and biscuits out. I know you like your black coffee strong.”

  He grinned and headed out to the deck.

  When Cami went outside, Drew was sitting back in a chair, his legs stretched out in front of him, his face tilted toward the sun.

  “Ahhh, this feels fantastic,” he said when she approached him. He took the mug of coffee she offered and grabbed one of the biscuits the inn was famous for.

  Cami set the tray down and picked up the other mug of coffee. She’d decided that on slow days at the inn, she’d spend a little more time at home with Sophie. This being a Tuesday morning, there were no unusual situations that required her attention.

  They sipped and ate in quiet contentment for a while. Then Cami asked, “How are you doing?”

  Drew let out a long sigh. “I’ve learned a lesson or two in the past couple of weeks. Until I can work on a couple of issues on my own, I’m not dating. Growing up with only an uncle for my family has always made me wonder what it would be like to be married to someone smart and beautiful, have a houseful of kids and all that goes with it. I need someone who wants to be with me forever. Even though Vanessa made me believe that’s what she wanted, I think it was the idea of marriage, not me, that she was interested in.”

  There was so much Cami wanted to say. She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “You’ll be happy with a family of your own someday. I’m sure of it.”

  “Thanks. Funny, isn’t it, how old family issues reappear just when you think you’ve put them behind you.”

  “Yes, I know. I’m still struggling with a few things of my own. I went ahead and sent in a comment on Congressman Kingsley’s blog. No one else will think anything of it, but if he is my father he will get the meaning behind the message.”

  Drew frowned. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “Maybe not, but I had to try.”

  He lifted his shoulders and let them drop in a sympathetic shrug. “I get it. I really do. I just don’t want anything bad to come out of it. And I know Rafe is worried about it, too.”

  “I won’t do anything more at this time. I promise both of you. No one else but Jamison and the two of you know about it.”

  “Okay.” He took a last sip of coffee and rose. “Guess I’d better run,” he said, his eyes twinkling with humor at the pun.

  She laughed. “I can drive you home if you want.”

  “No, I need to run off a few pounds. Vanessa liked to go out to eat and party, and I’ve gained a few pounds.” As he patted his perfectly acceptable stomach, Cami’s body reacted. Mortified, she quickly looked away.

  “See you later,” said Drew, oblivious of her reaction to him. He kissed her cheek lightly and walked into the house, leaving her on the deck wondering at the sudden heat wave. From below, Sophie barked, and she turned her attention to the dog, happy for the distraction.

  ###

  When Cami got to the inn, things were fairly quiet. She entered her office hopeful that she could work on some new ad campaigns. She opened her computer and lifted the written notes she’d made the day before. As she was reading them a knock sounded on her door.

  “Come in,” she called out, surprised to see Vanessa. It was her day off.

  Cami grinned. “Hi, there! Couldn’t stand to stay away?”

  “Just the opposite,” said Vanessa, plopping down in one of the chairs in front of Cami’s desk. “We need to talk.”

  Cami’s pulse stuttered. She knew from the expression on Vanessa’s face that it wasn’t good news. Still, she waited for Vanessa to say the words.

  “I’m taking the job at Rod’s winery. He’s offered me so much money I can’t turn it down. And, besides, Bernard really wants me there.”

  Cami remembered when she would have done almost anything to please Bernard. She wanted to warn Vanessa about him, but, of course, she couldn’t ... wouldn’t.

  “When is this going to happen?” she said, wondering who she could hire quickly to replace Vanessa. The wedding and tourist season was about to pop open.

  “I normally would give a two-week notice, but Rod wants me on the job right away. We have a wedding coming up in two weeks.”

  “I see. I’m sorry that it’s come to this, Vanessa. I was hoping we could work things out.” She lifted the phone. “Becca, will you please come here? I need you right away.”

  Cheeks flushed from hurrying, Becca entered the office in a rush. “Is everything all right?”

  Cami indicated Vanessa. “Vanessa has resigned as of this moment. I need you to walk her out of the inn. We’ll box up her personal belongings in her office and give them to her at a later time.”

  Vanessa jumped to her feet. “Wait a minute! What about all that advertising work I did with you? I told Rod I’d have it ready for him this week.”

  Controlling her anger, Cami rose and spoke as calmly as she could. “That’s proprietary information. It stays here, as does your computer and all your office supplies. I’m sorry you didn’t choose to make a smoother transition, but we’ll work things out with you the best way we can.”

  Vanessa shook a finger at them. “Wait and see, both of you, I’m going to be better there than I ever could be here.”

  “Good luck, Vanessa,” said Becca. “C’mon. I’ll walk you out.”

  “I can leave by myself,” snapped Vanessa.

  “No, I’ll walk with you,” Becca said with unmistakable anger.

  Cami watched them go and then hurried into Vanessa’s office. Fortunately, she knew Vanessa’s password to the computer and quickly changed it. She’d have their IT guy come in and take care of the rest of it.

  Sinking down into Vanessa’s chair, she went through the desk, searching for any other information
she’d have to protect. The idea of a wedding already taking place at Rod’s winery was upsetting, to say the least. She hadn’t thought they’d be able to move so fast. But then, Chandler Hill had given them a successful blueprint for building the business, especially with Vanessa’s apparent secret input.

  Cami cleared out all the drawers and checked the files, setting aside personal items for Vanessa to get at a later date.

  Together, she and Becca went over Vanessa’s computer and looked through the spreadsheet that listed inquiries for weddings and follow-through actions.

  Susannah Grant had asked for the weekend Vanessa had mentioned. Vanessa had responded, and then had made a phone call. No further action was taken.

  “I’m going to call my friend at the flower shop and see if she’s helping with the wedding and if so, what the bride’s name is,” said Becca, her eyes flashing with anger. “I bet it’s the same name. Now I know why Vanessa insisted on handling the list herself.”

  Cami’s stomach twisted. “We’d better get in touch with everyone on this list to see if there’s anything we can do to help them make a decision to have their wedding here.”

  “Imani and I will get right on it,” said Becca.

  “And I’ll work on it too. We’re counting on a decent percentage of those wedding information requests to come to fruition,” said Cami grimly. She’d spent as little as she could with the new landscaping, the renovation of rooms, and the new carpeting throughout. She needed to recoup that cost.

  After talking to two different prospective brides, Cami hung up the phone so angry she pounded the desk with her fist and shouted into the room, “How could she?”

  She placed a call to Jamison Winkler, the lawyer who’d been so helpful to her.

  “Hello?” chirped Jamison. “How are you? Wynton and I were thinking of making another trip to Chandler Hill sometime in the near future.”

  “You’d better make a reservation soon. I’ve got a big problem,” Cami said. She launched into the details of her struggle with Vanessa and Rod Mitchell’s new wedding business.

  “Mm, sorry to hear that,” Jamison commiserated. “From what you’ve told me, there is little you can do about it. We could try a Cease and Desist order, but the fact is there is little involved here except hearsay, nothing in writing.”

  “I haven’t found any,” Cami replied. “But what can we do about it?”

  “You’re doing the right thing by contacting the women involved and checking in with them without referring to Rod Mitchell or his winery at all. I’m sorry this happened to you. Doing business in a market like yours can be difficult but, Cami, I don’t believe Rod Mitchell and Vanessa will be able to compete effectively. Your property, your staff, your facilities are incomparable.”

  Cami drew in a deep breath and gazed out the window at the little garden she loved. Emitting a long sigh, Cami knew Jamison was right. Chandler Hill was a first-class operation. People would get what they paid for, and undercutting her prices would get Vanessa, Bernard, and Rod nowhere in the long run.

  “Thanks, Jamison. I needed to hear that. Let me know when you and Wynton want to come, and I’ll make arrangements for you.”

  Cami exchanged a few more pleasantries with Jamison and hung up determined to follow up with every prospective bride.

  Later, when Becca reported that one of their staff had been approached by Vanessa to come and work for her, Cami decided to call a staff meeting.

  She asked the kitchen staff to put together some sweets and coffee and was able to arrange for her staff to leave their posts for a short while that afternoon to attend the meeting.

  ###

  Standing in front of her staff, a few of whom she’d known since she was a young girl, Cami’s eyes misted. They were like extended family to her.

  Seeing how emotional she was, Becca came to her side. “Let’s all give a round of applause for Cami, our leader.”

  As applause broke out, the tears that Cami had held back rolled down her cheeks. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue and straightened. “Thank you so much. I became overwhelmed when I realized how so many of you have seen Chandler Hill grow and evolve from my grandmother’s time to my own. We owe you a debt of gratitude.”

  After the murmuring in the room stopped, Cami continued. “Unfortunately, we lost one of our employees today. Vanessa Duncan has left us to work at the Lone Creek Winery handling weddings and other functions for them. It is with regret that I inform you that she has apparently been working for them on the side for weeks now, undermining everything we’ve trained her to do here.”

  Cami paused as more murmuring broke out. “I understand that at least one of you has been approached by her to leave here to work for her. Of course, you’re free to do as you wish, but as I consider you a member of the Chandler Hill family, I ask that you please talk to me first.”

  “I wouldn’t leave here for anything,” said Imani, rising from her seat among the others. “You’ve given me a chance to grow at my job, days off when I’ve needed them, and a healthy benefits package.”

  “Yes,” came another from the crowd. “My brother worked for Rod Mitchell for less than a month. He couldn’t take his treatment.”

  Cami held up her hand. “This isn’t a vendetta against the Lone Creek Winery. I’m merely offering my counsel, should any of you be tempted to leave. I need you, I care about you, and I want to be able to continue working with you for a long time.”

  A young woman on the waitstaff raised her hand.

  “Yes, Rosie?”

  “We are able to defend Chandler Hill against those people spreading rumors about Chandler Hill, aren’t we?”

  Cami’s heart bumped to a stop and raced ahead in panicky beats. People were saying bad things about Chandler Hill? She straightened her shoulders and steadied herself on her feet. “Chandler Hill is proud of our reputation and of the work everyone does here. If anything needs to come to my attention, please let me know. Lettie Chandler supported many a valley resident, and I will continue to do so.”

  “That’s right!” cried Becca, coming to Cami’s side. After the applause died down, she began to speak. “I’m here to talk with you as a staff member. If any of you are unhappy with your job, please come and see me. My office is always open to you. This is a perfect opportunity to make suggestions and to simply talk about things. The summer months are busy for us, but we always have time for you.” She smiled at Cami.

  “And now, let’s have some refreshments,” said Cami. “We’ll cover for you as long as we can while you enjoy them.”

  As planned, Cami left the room so the staff members would feel freer to talk. Becca and Imani had agreed to represent her.

  Cami hurried to the front desk to answer the phone and help guests check in.

  Wearing his black-checked pants and white chef’s jacket, Darren walked over to her.

  “Hi, Cami. I heard what you said in the meeting. I wasn’t going to say anything to you, but Bernard approached me a couple of days ago about working on functions for him. I didn’t think too much of it at the time because people from Portland, Seattle, and other places are always asking me to go to work for them. It’s nothing serious, just a compliment to a worthy chef.”

  “What did you tell Bernard?” Cami asked in what she hoped was a calm manner, even though her pulse seemed to be running a marathon.

  Darren grinned. “I told him to fuck off, that I’d never work for Rod Mitchell or him.”

  “Great response.” Cami couldn’t help the smile that crossed her face.

  Laughter erupted from Darren, a deep, rewarding sound to Cami’s ears. “Liz and I love it here. We’re not about to change our minds. In fact, I haven’t said anything to anybody else, but Liz is expecting.”

  “She is?” Cami couldn’t hide her surprise. Liz was over fifty.

  Darren gave her an impish grin. “She’s getting a dachshund puppy. After having Sophie around so much, Liz informed me she has to have one of her own.”<
br />
  Cami clasped her hands. “Terrific! It will be such fun to have them play together.”

  “Liz is pretty excited. We’re picking up the puppy in a couple of weeks.” Darren checked his watch. “Better get back to work. Talk to you later.” He turned to go, then stopped and turned around. “Cami, I’ve heard many nice things about your grandmother, but you’re great, too. Everybody loves working here. At least those of us who’ve been here for a while. Some of the younger kids don’t know what a fabulous deal this is.”

  “Thanks.” As she watched him walk away toward the kitchen, Cami thought of his words. The young, temporary staff people were the most likely to leave. If that was true, the situation wasn’t as bad as she’d thought. Maybe.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  As suspected, some of the younger staff people, lured by money, chose to leave and work for Rod Mitchell. But the key members of Chandler Hill’s staff opted to stay. Several of the older group were angry that Vanessa tried to lure them away with what they knew would become empty promises. Lone Creek Winery had a reputation for treating people poorly.

  With the vacancy left by Vanessa, Cami spoke to Laurel Newson. A widow in her late forties, Laurel was the picture of elegance. Her frosted brown hair was carefully tied in back of her head, her blue eyes sparkled with humor, and a smile curved her lips as if life hadn’t shattered her dreams. Cami had always admired her outlook.

  “You did such a lovely job in advising us about wedding photo venues outside and supervising the gardening staff that I’m wondering if you’d consider handling the details of our weddings and overseeing each one.”

  Laurel’s smile brightened her face. “I would love that challenge. My days seem longer and lonelier as time goes on.”

  “I was sorry to hear about your husband’s death a year ago,” said Cami. “He was well liked in the valley.”

  “A good man.” Laurel’s lips curved, and a pink flush colored her cheeks. “The love of my life.”

  “It’s that kind of feeling I want our weddings to have,” Cami said. “I think you can bring that to them.”