CHAPTER TEN
W e all leaned forward to listen to what the newscaster had to say.
“If anyone has any information on this John Doe, please call this phone number. He was found on the grounds of Hialeah Park outside the casino with no identification on him,” announced the newscaster.
“Quick, write the number down,” said Heather as Caro raced into the kitchen for paper and pen.
When the newscaster repeated the number, Caro said, “I got it.”
Amy collapsed on the couch. Jane took a seat next to her.
“What’s going on?” Rhonda said. She looked from me to Amy and back to me.
“This is a man I saw at the hotel. He said he was looking for his wife. I explained to him that I couldn’t give out any information on our guests. Bernie offered to walk him out, but he left on his own.”
“And that’s who I thought I saw the day of the luncheon,” said Jane.
“Dan was here?” Amy said.
“Yes, I had no idea who he was,” I said. “Even so, I couldn’t let him know you were here. As I told him, we must protect our guests.”
Amy covered her face with her hands and took several deep breaths. When she lifted her face, her eyes were filled with tears. “I missed part of the report. Is he dead?”
“I think so,” said Heather. “When you’re ready, we’ll call the number. Or if you prefer to do it alone, you certainly can.”
Amy shook her head. “No, I want you all with me. You’ve supported me for years, and I need you now.” She glanced at Rhonda and me. “You, too.”
We formed a circle around Amy as Heather punched in the number on Amy’s phone and handed it to her.
I listened with the others as Amy explained to the person at the other end of the call that she knew the person shown on television. After telling her story and answering more questions, she listened and then said. “Okay, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
Amy ended the call and faced us. “They don’t have any reason to believe it was a homicide. Drugs may have been involved.” Her voice caught. “He was dead when someone found him lying on the ground. Someone may have taken his wallet, but there are no signs of struggle.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, as Amy’s friends, Rhonda, and I hugged her.
“How far away is this place?” Amy said. “I need to go to him. I’ll see that he gets a proper burial. I must do that.” She got to her feet. “I need to tell Nick.”
She left the room.
“How far is Hialeah Park?” Jane asked.
“It’s on the east coast, a couple of hours away from here if you take Alligator Alley,” said Rhonda.
“I’ll go with her,” said Lisa.
“Okay,” said Heather. “Through counseling, Nick, you’ve been part of this situation for a while. I think Amy will appreciate having you along.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I never guessed her husband would come looking for her here.”
“You did the right thing, Annie,” said Rhonda. “It’s our policy to protect our guests. It is a reason many of our guests come to the hotel.”
“Of course,” said Jane. “No one would suspect that Dan would show up looking for Amy. They may have just gotten divorced, but the marriage has been over for years.”
“And remember where he was found. Like Amy mentioned, he was probably on another gambling jaunt,” said Caro.
“I think someone should tell Slade,” Heather said. “He and Amy have been together a lot, and he might want to know.”
“I’ll do it,” said Jane.
“What can we do?” Rhonda asked.
Jane shook her head. “At the moment, I can’t think of anything. Don’t worry. We’ll keep in touch.”
“Just remember, we have a hurricane headed to New Orleans,” I said. “Even if the hurricane stays on its course away from us, it means rain and wind for us. We don’t want any accidents with guests driving in bad weather.”
“You’re right,” said Jane. “We’ll make sure Amy keeps that in mind. Thanks again, Ann. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I sat a moment thinking of all the women in the guesthouse. What had started as a frivolous and fun vacation was turning into so much more.
###
R honda and I left the guesthouse.
“Would it have helped if Amy’s husband knew for certain that she was here?” I asked Rhonda.
“I doubt it,” said Rhonda. “Don’t blame yourself for any of this. It’s a problem that’s been going on for years.”
“You’re right. The man wasn’t in great shape when I saw him. He looked like he hadn’t cleaned himself up for a few days. I’m sorry Amy has to go through this.”
“Gambling addiction is very hard to deal with,” said Rhonda. “I know of another man who was addicted to it and killed himself after losing all his money. Amy told us she prepared herself financially to be on her own for some time.”
“We’ll let things settle down and then reach out to her to see how we can help,” I said.
We went to our office, and without any special events going on, I left for home. I was suddenly anxious to see Robbie and enjoy the quiet of my life there. I couldn’t get the mental image of Amy’s husband out of my mind.
###
I was preparing a simple meal for Robbie and me when my cell phone rang. Jane.
“Hi, Jane, what’s up?” I asked.
“I got a call from Dr. Perkin’s office. She wants to meet with me first thing tomorrow morning. I’m wondering if you’d go with me to see the doctor.”
“Of course,” I said. “Why don’t I pick you up at the house? It’ll most likely be raining.”
“Oh, thank you so much. Things are chaotic here. Because of the storm, Slade is going with Amy. They are leaving for Florida’s east coast momentarily. They’re hoping to get there and back before the worst of the storm hits here.”
“That makes sense. What time shall I pick you up?” I asked.
“My appointment is at eight o’clock,” said Jane. “I’m thinking positive thoughts, but if I’m wrong, I’ll deal with it. Like before.” I could hear the fear in her voice.
“I have a positive feeling about it,” I said, hoping I was right. This group of women had touched Rhonda and me from the beginning.
When Vaughn and I talked on the phone that night, I told him what was happening.
“That’s too bad about Amy’s husband. Addiction to gambling is ugly. It can start with something as simple as buying lottery tickets. How’s the weather down there? Will it be difficult for Amy and Slade to get there and back again?”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” I said. “Tomorrow morning, Rhonda, Bernie, and I will decide how far we go in protecting the hotel. At the very least, we’ll clear patios, balconies, and the pool deck of furniture. I don’t think we’ll need to put tape across the windows.”
“What about at home?” Vaughn asked. “Will you need to put the hurricane shutters down?”
“No, I don’t think so. And you told me your sailboat should be fine. So, I’ll just remove furniture from the pool area.”
“Okay. I trust your judgment. How’s everything else?” Vaughn asked.
“Fine. Thankfully, we have no weddings scheduled. We’ll probably offer High Tea for a couple of days to keep guests busy. And I‘m sure Lorraine will come up with some other things for guests to do inside. She’s so talented. Once the storm is over, Rhonda and Will plan finally to take a short vacation.”
“Speaking of that, I’m wondering if you can meet me in New York when I finish here,” Vaughn said. “It’s time for us to have a short vacation, too.”
“That sounds delightful,” I said. “Name the time, and I’ll try to work something out.” The situation with Jane and the need for Amy to take care of her husband’s body were reminders to take advantage of every chance I got to spend time with Vaughn and my family.
Vaughn lowered his voice and spoke softly. “I miss you.”
At the sexy tone of his voice and words that meant so much, heat flooded through me. “I miss you, too,” I managed to say.
“Night, love,” Vaughn whispered and ended the call.
I lay in bed, letting sweet memories fill my thoughts.
###
T he next morning, I met with Rhonda and Bernie at seven-thirty to discuss preparations for the storm.
“The latest weather news shows the hurricane is on track to the west but weaker,” said Bernie. “I think we should distribute flyers to the guest rooms advising them of the likely increase in rain and wind and asking them to place their patio or balcony furniture inside the room.”
“Add an invitation to High Tea this afternoon,” I said. “Lorraine was going to alert the kitchen of what would be needed, and the dining room manager promised to provide serving staff for it.”
“Later, if the storm is bad, let’s offer free drinks in the hotel lobby,” said Rhonda. “The Lobby Bar can offer discounts.”
“I agree,” said Bernie. “We can turn this into something amusing for our guests. A few of them have opted to leave early, but we’ll provide diversions for those who stay. The housekeeping staff will remain on alert if the weather becomes worse than anticipated. Then, we’ll need all hands on deck to make sure everything is secure.”
“It sounds like a thoughtful plan,” I said, glancing at my watch. “I’m sorry, but I must leave.”
“I’ll walk out with you,” said Rhonda, rising. “Thank you, Bernie.”
“Yes, thanks,” I said, focusing on Jane and her appointment with Dr. Perkins.
Rhonda and I walked into the lobby and were surprised to find Jane standing there, looking through the sliding glass doors at the gray weather. She sensed us walking toward her and turned around.
“How bad do you think the storm will be?” she asked us.
“Not much worse than this, we hope,” I said. “But we have some exciting things planned. You and the other women in your group might enjoy high tea with us.”
“That sounds lovely,” said Jane.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked Jane.
She nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Rhonda gave her a hug. “No matter what happens, I want you to know I’m with you in thought and deed. I know how scary it can be.”
“Thank you,” said Jane, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. “It’s such a stressful time.”
I took Jane’s arm and led her to the hotel's front circle where I’d parked my car. A valet helped us into it, and I took off, feeling as if the world was being put on pause until we had an answer.
###
T he waiting room had another woman there. Jane checked in with the desk and then sat in a chair beside me.
I sensed how nervous she was and patted her on the arm. “You’ve got this.”
“Jane Sweeny?” said a nurse, opening the door into the room.
Jane grabbed my hand. “Will you come with me?”
“Sure,” I said, rising to my feet and following Jane and the nurse to Dr. Perkins’ office.
“Dr. Perkins will be with you momentarily,” said the nurse.
Jane and I took seats and waited for what seemed like an hour, but it was, in truth, less than five minutes.
Dr. Perkins appeared out of breath and sat behind the wooden desk in front of us.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. But I have good news for you, Jane. The fluid from the cyst that we removed was analyzed, and we found the cyst to be complex with some debris in the fluid but nothing to be concerned about regarding cancer. Having cancer in the same area as a cyst is a coincidence. So, even with your history of having cancerous tissue in your breast removed, we don’t need to worry about this. However, with that history, you need to have any lump examined promptly.”
Jane blew out a long breath and struggled to speak while her eyes filled with tears of relief. “Thank you, Dr. Perkins. You don’t know how relieved I am to hear this news.”
Dr. Perkins gave her a sweet smile. “I believe I do know, which is why other doctors and I work so hard to try to get control of this disease.”
I shook hands with Dr. Perkins. “Thank you for seeing that Jane had such a quick response. This is supposed to be a special vacation for her and her friends.”
“You’re welcome, Ann. I’m so grateful for all you and Rhonda have done for the clinic.” She smiled at Jane again. “You have outstanding friends in Ann and Rhonda.”
“I’m very appreciative,” Jane said solemnly.
Dr. Perkins rose, and Jane and I followed.
As we left the office, I couldn’t help looking at the women waiting for news of their own situations, and I said a quick, quiet prayer that they would all be alright.
###
I drove Jane to the guesthouse and was surprised to see Henry at the front entrance talking with Caro.
“Henry, how nice to see you,” I said, joining them at the front entry.
“Thanks. When I heard there was a storm heading this way, I figured Caro and the other women in her group might need help.”
“When did you get in?” I asked him.
“Last night. Just after Slade took off with Amy,” he said. “I understand we’re to pull in the furniture from the lanai. Either that or throw some of the furniture in the pool to protect it from flying around and possibly breaking windows and doors.”
“Yes, that’s right. If you need any help, call the front desk and ask them to send someone over.” I gave Jane a hug. “Congratulations on your news.”
“Good news? That’s marvelous!” cried Caro, throwing her arms around Jane. “Later on, we have some bubbles to celebrate. I think this is my day to share.”
“Enjoy!” I said, intending to go home to take care of my own place. But first, I’d stop by to see Liz and the kids to make sure they were ready.
As I drove away from the hotel, I received a notice from Robbie’s school that they were sending the children home. Quickly changing directions, I headed to the school to pick him up. As usual, a long line of cars waited for the children to be released.
My next-door neighbor, Cindy Brigham, got out of her car and walked over to where I was parked. Cindy’s son, Brett, and Robbie were best friends. “Hi, there,” said Cindy. “Looks like the storm might be worse than we thought. I’m glad they’re sending the kids home. Better to be prepared than racing to get to them later.”
“I agree. Vaughn is away, and because I have to be at the hotel, I will take Robbie and Cindy to Liz’s house. I like knowing my family is together.”
“I understand, but you know Robbie is always welcome at our house. You too, Ann.” She looked up as the kids began to emerge from the school. “See you later. It’s been too long since we’ve had lunch together.”
“Yes, it has,” I said, waving so long. Worrisome times like this reminded me to slow down and enjoy doing things away from the hotel.
“Hi, Mom,” said Robbie, sliding into the passenger seat and buckling up. “I got out of history class. I didn’t need to do that report.”
“You’ll need it someday,” I said, smiling at Robbie’s lack of enthusiasm. Of all his classes, that one was his least favorite.
“Are you coming home?” Robbie asked.
“We’re going to put the outdoor furniture away, then I’m going to take you and Cindy to Liz’s. I don’t know how long I’ll be busy at the hotel. Does that sound okay?”
“I guess, as long as I can have my computer with me,” said Robbie. He loved his nieces and nephew, but they could wear him out. At almost four, they each were a ball of energy, vying for his attention.
As soon as we entered our house, Cindy ran to greet us. She hated hearing the wind. Robbie knelt to pet her.
“Robbie, I need you to help me,” I said, heading outside.
He trotted behind me. We put down the umbrella on the patio table, carried the lounge chairs to the storage area in the garage, and went back for other chairs. As we hurried about, Cindy raced at our heels, sensing our concern. Soon, all the furniture was stored.
We were walking into the house to dry off when my cell rang. Liz.
“Mom? Can you come right away? I need you,” Liz said in a quivery voice, and I was reminded of the little blond, pigtailed girl she used to be.
“Sure. Are you alright?”
“I don’t know. I think I might be losing the baby.”
“Robbie, Cindy, and I are on our way,” I said, motioning Robbie to come with me. He snapped a leash on Cindy’s collar, and they left.
“Have you called Dr. Benson?” I asked Liz. Ruth Benson was the best OBGYN doctor in the entire area. She’d delivered the triplets with a team of doctors and had welcomed all of Rhonda’s and Angela’s children.
“I’m waiting to hear from her,” said Liz. “I’m so scared.”
“I’m on my way,” I said, locking the door behind me.