CHAPTER SIX
I took a last look at myself in the mirror. Satisfied I could do no better, I turned and went into the kitchen to say goodbye to Vaughn and Robbie.
“You look nice, Mom,” said Robbie, earning a hug from me.
“Gorgeous,” Vaughn said, sweeping me into his embrace.
Laughing, I said, “Have fun, you two. I shouldn’t be too late. There’s plenty of food choices in the freezer.”
“We’re ordering pizza. Dad said we could,” said Robbie.
“Okay, enjoy!” I bent to rub Cindy’s ears and left the house, my thoughts already turning to duties at the hotel.
I arrived there to see a lot of activity at the registration desk.
“What’s going on?” I asked Laura.
“The bride’s parents hired a bus to drive many of the guests from the airport in Tampa to here. Now, there’s a line to get everyone checked in.”
“Let’s offer those guests waiting in line some lemon water,” I said. “Where’s Elise Gorman?”
Laura indicated a tall, regal-looking blonde who was standing aside talking to people. As I approached, I could hear her say, “I’m sorry check-in is taking so much time.”
I walked up to her. “Welcome to The Beach House Hotel. I’m Ann Sanders, one of the owners. I’m sorry we were never made aware of the transportation arrangements. We have a reception table set up in the lobby with ice-cold water, hot coffee, and fresh lemonade. Perhaps those waiting in line would like some refreshments.”
Elise smiled. “Yes, that would be helpful. I should’ve told Lorraine we’d be arriving in a big bunch.”
“It’s a beautiful day and an exciting time for you. No reason to worry. The staff will take care of everyone as soon as they can,” I said, pleased Elise wasn’t making a fuss. Maybe this wedding would be easier to handle than some.
With people standing around the refreshment table in the lobby, the atmosphere changed. No longer were guests disgruntled over the wait time.
Elise introduced me to her husband, Corwin, an older man with pleasant features and thin gray hair who obviously adored his younger, attractive wife.
“Is Arthur Smythe around?” Corwin asked me.
“I’m afraid both he and his wife, Lorraine, are sick with the flu, but I know he’s anxious to see you. Hopefully, this illness is just a 24-hour thing.”
Elise frowned. “But Lorraine is supposed to handle all the details.”
I waved Laura over. “This is Lorraine’s reliable assistant, Laura Young. She and I will be taking care of the details. If there’s anything we can do for you, anything at all, please let us know.”
“Thank you,” said Elise.
A short redhead woman approached us.
Elisa greeted her with a hug. “Janelle, this is Ann Sanders, one of the owners, and Laura Young, Lorraine’s assistant. They are going to help us with the wedding.”
Janelle held out her right hand. A large diamond flashed on the other one. “Hi, I’m Janelle Cummings. We’re excited to be here. Lorraine has been wonderful to work with. I’m sure you will be, too.”
I liked Janelle immediately and vowed to do my best to make the weekend go smoothly.
Janelle waved a middle-aged man over. “Wilbur, I want you to meet Ann Sanders, one of the owners, and Laura Young, Lorraine’s assistant. They will be making sure everything will run smoothly for the wedding. The Rehearsal Dinner is here this evening and should be fantastic.”
Wilbur Cumming had butterscotch hair and hazel eyes set in a handsome face. His trim figure indicated a healthy lifestyle. I wondered what he’d think of the dinner Janelle had ordered and then told myself not to judge. But I wasn’t surprised when Wilbur asked what exercise facilities we offered.
I gave the four of them a quick review of our services and Laura handed them a wedding itinerary she’d printed for each guest. “There will be information in each room, along with a welcome basket requested by Alyssa and Burr.”
“Wonderful,” said Elise. “This is going to be a much smaller wedding than either Janelle or I wanted, but I want it to be perfect.”
“Right,” Janelle readily agreed. “The kids wouldn’t wait for a big New York wedding and opted for this instead. Because we love them so much, Elise and I agreed. The wedding is something she and I have wanted for years.”
Elise chuckled. “Since the kids met in a New Hampshire camp as counselors. I assume they’re already here.”
I turned to Laura.
She nodded. “They arrived a couple of hours ago.”
Bernie approached us and introduced himself. “I believe we’re ready for you at the registration desk. My apologies for the slight delay.”
I could tell he was unhappy about the overwhelming rush, but he was his usual calm, somewhat aristocratic self.
I made the introductions and left them to take a walk through the hotel. First, I went into the private dining room to check on the progress for the Rehearsal Dinner. The bride had chosen a color theme of peach and blush, which worked with the bolder-colored flowers from Tropical Fleurs and the peach linen tablecloths on the six tables for four. As usual, Lorraine had planned well.
I left that room to go outside to make sure the pool area was ready for an onslaught of guests. A small bar had been set up at the end of the pool deck.
Leaving the hotel behind, I walked down to the beach where we’d set up a sunset-watching deck where guests could come to observe the daily event that had become a must for visitors looking for the green flash.
A hotel staff member was working behind the bar getting ready. A young man was sitting at the edge of the empty deck, dangling his legs over it, allowing his feet to rest in the sand. When he looked up at me, I knew who he was. He looked exactly like his father.
“Hi, you must be Burr Cummings, the groom of the weekend,” I said, smiling at him.
He stood and offered me his hand. Closer to him now, I noticed how much more relaxed he was than his father who’d seemed a little uptight to me.
“Hi,” he said.
“I’m Ann Sanders, one of the owners. Welcome to The Beach House Hotel. I hope the wedding is everything you and Alyssa want.”
Burr puffed out a long sigh. “We just want this over with. We’re doing this for our mothers who’ve compromised by coming here for a smaller wedding than the one they’ve been planning for years.”
“Well, I hope you take the time to enjoy this one here,” I said. “It’s something that’s supposed to happen only once.”
“That’s the problem,” said Burr. “We’re already married, but our parents don’t know. We eloped as soon as we found out Alyssa was pregnant. We wanted to tell them right away, but our mothers were so involved in planning a big wedding we didn’t know how to do it. Instead, we were able to have a wedding more to our liking here at the hotel. It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I studied him. “How can we help?”
“It seems like you already have. Both moms are pleased with the hotel and all that you’re doing. That’s a major accomplishment. As I said, we’re doing this wedding for them. We want it to be perfect, want them to have wonderful memories of it. They’re not going to like the fact that Alyssa is already pregnant. She had plans to go to law school. But now she isn’t going to start that program. Neither of us wants that to happen.”
I was wondering what to say when I felt someone behind me. I turned to find a young woman with blond hair pulled back into a ponytail smiling at me.
Burr wrapped an arm around her. “This is Alyssa.” He kissed her and said, “Ann Sanders is one of the owners of the hotel. I was telling her the truth about our wedding.”
A worried look crossed Alyssa’s pretty face and dulled her blue eyes. “You won’t say anything, will you? My mother is going to be very unhappy when she learns I won’t be going to law school. She has such high hopes for me becoming an important woman.”
I remembered all the times I’d miscarried, had wanted more children, and I caught my breath. Nothing was more important than being a loving mother.
A hopeful expression filled Alyssa’s face. “I’m looking forward to being a mother to Burr’s baby. I don’t need to be a lawyer. Do you agree?”
I told her how hard I’d tried to have more children and how important mothers were. “There are lots of ways you can do both – be a good parent and still give to society in some way through work or volunteer opportunities.”
Alyssa threw her arms around me and hugged me tight. “Thank you.” She lifted her face, and her eyes were shiny with tears. “Sorry. I’m very emotional.”
“When is the baby due?” I asked. Alyssa barely showed.
“Not until next year. I’m only three months pregnant.” She turned to Burr who returned her smile with such love, I felt sure it would work out.
“Well, let’s make this occasion one the family will remember with great joy,” I said. “Please come to me or speak to Laura Young about any of your needs. I’m sure she left her information with you in your rooms?”
Alyssa nodded. “She explained she’ll be on call anytime.”
“Great. See you two later at the cocktail party Burr’s parents are hosting.” I turned and walked away. Weddings were always full of surprises.
As I approached the hotel, I saw Elise coming off the beach. I waved and went over to her. “Did you have a nice walk?”
“Yes, until a nosy neighbor kept asking me questions. He specifically wanted to know if I was staying in one of the houses on the property or knew anyone who was.” Elise shook her head. “I must say, I didn’t like the man. He said he was the president of the Neighborhood Association as if I was supposed to be impressed.”
“I know exactly who he was. Brock Goodwin is his name. I’d advise you and your guests to stay away from him and tell him nothing. He’s a nuisance.”
“Such a shame. But then I’m not going to let anything ruin my daughter’s wedding,” said Elise.
“Of course not,” I quickly agreed, wishing Rhonda was going to be around for moral support.