40. Theo
40
THEO
I walk through the nearly finished lobby of the resort, taking in the final details. The grand opening is just around the corner, and everything is falling into place. The reception desk gleams under the soft lighting, the new carpets are plush underfoot, and the walls are adorned with art from local artists. My guests can even purchase the paintings, and all proceeds will go to that artist. It’s hard to believe that after all the setbacks and negotiations, the resort is finally ready to open its doors.
I wonder what Steve would think if he could see how things were going now. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with him anymore.
My manager, Lisa, approaches with a tablet in hand, her face beaming with excitement. "Theo, you have to see this," she says, thrusting the tablet toward me. "The bookings for the first few weekends in August are looking fantastic. You’re not sold out yet, but you’ve been picked up by six travel blogs, and their affiliate links have been crazy busy."
I take the tablet and scroll through the data, a sense of relief washing over me. The numbers are solid—better than I had hoped. "This is great, Lisa. Looks like all our hard work is paying off." I might not have as many guest rooms as I’d hoped, especially not until Building B opens, but I’ll be earning a respectable income from the entertainment areas once they become fully functional.
She nods enthusiastically. "Absolutely. The entertainment areas are a huge draw. Opening them up to the public was a brilliant move. People are raving about how you’re not just here for money but here for the community, too."
I glance out the window towards the beach, the waves crashing rhythmically against the shore. "I just hope it makes Mia’s guests happy, too. I want them to feel like they have the best of both worlds—the charm of her bed and breakfast and the excitement of the resort."
Lisa gives me a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it will. The combination is perfect. You’ve both created something really special here. I’ll keep you updated, but right now, you’re set to open the same weekend. And we’re at sixty percent capacity."
As Lisa heads off to check on the final preparations, I take a moment to savor the quiet before the storm of opening day. Everything has been leading up to this, and I can’t help but feel a mix of pride. Owning a rental house is one thing, but this resort is something else entirely. There’s a tiny part of me that feels like there might have been a mistake. I’m not capable of running something like this, not on my own.
I head outside, the warm breeze carrying the scent of salt and sea. The sun is starting to dip towards the horizon, casting a golden glow over the beach. I spot Mia walking toward me, her dark, shoulder-length hair tousled by the wind and a smile playing on her lips. Seeing her always lifts my spirits, and today is no exception.
"Hey," I greet her, pulling her into a hug. "How’s everything going at the bed and breakfast? Did you get all the groceries you were saying you needed?"
"Hey yourself," she replies, wrapping her arms around me. "It’s going well. I’m ready for the opening, just a few last-minute details to handle. I’m nervous and excited, then I start to feel nervous again. It’s like I don’t know what to feel."
I press a kiss to the side of Mia’s head. “That sounds normal. You’re about to start living your dream.”
Mia bites her bottom lip. “What if my dream isn’t as great as I dreamed it would be?”
“You could always sell the house to me.”
When Mia’s face starts to turn dark and stormy, I kiss her again. “I’m kidding. Calm down. I’m kidding. In reality, you’ll probably have a few nightmarish guests. That’s normal. But I think on the whole, it will be a positive experience for everyone. You’ll have some guests who will come back every year. You’ll look forward to seeing them.”
“Really? How do you know that?”
“Because I know you. You’re kind and welcoming, and you’re going to start becoming friends with the guests, especially guests that stay a long time.”
“Well, thanks, Theo. How are things for you? You’re opening this weekend too, right?”
I nod as I think about the information Lisa just shared with me. "The bookings are looking good, and we’re ready to open. I thought it would be nice to take a walk before things get crazy. But a walk with you is even better."
Mia nods, taking my hand as we start walking down the beach. The sand is cool under our feet, and the sound of the waves is soothing. It’s our last chance to enjoy some quiet time together before the guests start arriving, and I want to make the most of it.
As we walk, we talk about the upcoming openings, our hopes and fears, and the excitement of seeing our dreams come to life. Mia’s enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself more optimistic about the future than I’ve been in a long time.
"I still can’t believe we’re both opening our places at almost the same time," she says, looking out at the ocean. "It’s like everything just fell into place."
"It did, but it took a lot of work and a lot of luck, especially considering I had to get our plans reapproved after Steve decided to go behind my back. But I’m glad our entertainment areas will be ready for your guests. Did you add the pictures I sent you of the bowling alley and movie theater?”
“Yes, I added them. I wonder if that’s a major draw.”
“I guess you can always ask your guests when they arrive.”
We walk in comfortable silence for a while, the sun sinking lower and the sky turning shades of pink and orange. The beauty of the moment isn’t lost on me, and I feel a surge of gratitude for having Mia by my side. We’ve both been super busy over the last few weeks, but we’ve still found time to spend with each other.
As we reach a rocky outcrop, we stop and sit down, the rocks warm from the day’s sun. I turn to Mia, wanting to share something I’ve been thinking about.
"You know, I was really worried about how things would turn out. Not just with the resort, but with us. I was afraid my business decisions would come between us."
Mia looks at me, her eyes filled with understanding. "I was worried too. But I think we’ve come out stronger because of it. We’ve learned to trust each other and work together."
"Yeah," I say, feeling a swell of affection for her. "And I think that’s what makes us a great team. We support each other, no matter what."
She leans her head on my shoulder, and we sit there watching the sun dip below the horizon. The sky darkens, and night begins to make our spot on the rocks feel even more private. It’s a peaceful moment, and I wish it could last forever.
“You know,” I say to Mia as we start walking back. “I’ve been thinking it’s just not right that the first people to use the guest suites will be strangers.”
Mia looks confused. “Isn’t that the way it works?”
“It doesn’t have to. Maybe you and I could try out some of the beds.” I smile wickedly, and Mia starts laughing when she understands what I mean.
“Why not? We can set the tone for your resort’s success.”
I lead Mia to my resort, using the key to unlock the empty building. I spin Mia around in the lobby. “The place is ours, only ours until tomorrow.”
"Looks amazing. You’ve done an incredible job, Theo. But I’ve seen the lobby before. I want to see the guest room."
I lead Mia up the stairs to my favorite guest room. Number 12. The bed is beautifully made, and I’ll have to have housekeeping come tomorrow to ready it for my guests again. But right now, I don’t want to think about those details.
“This room is adorable !” Mia exclaims, running her fingers over the gold and blue bedspread. “Adorable! I can tell why you like these rooms so much.”
Then, she comes toward me and wraps her arms around my waist. “Now, let’s make use of the beautiful, king-sized bed you have in here.”