A New Year In The Presidential Suite (Beach House Hotel)
CHAPTER ONE
LORI
Loralie “Lori” Hamlin stared at the summer wardrobe lying atop her bed and wondered if these clothes would be suitable for the trip to Florida her family had planned for her as a Christmas present.
It was sweet of them to pool their money so she could start off the New Year at a luxurious hotel on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
She’d read about The Beach House Hotel and the two dynamic women who owned it, but she’d never dreamed she would actually travel there from upstate New York.
Her idea of a splurge was a two-scoop ice cream cone from Love’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Shoppe, a favorite of hers.
Her beloved husband, Nick, had died from cancer at thirty-two, leaving her without much.
His life insurance had, thankfully, paid off the mortgage on her house.
Beyond that, her income came from both her job as a preschool teacher and a side hustle as a Virtual Assistant helping two authors and three small businesses with marketing.
She’d never heard of a VA until one of the other teachers at school mentioned it.
Medical expenses had finally been paid off after two years, but it brought her no satisfaction.
Nick was gone forever, and she knew in her heart no one could ever replace him, no matter what her two older sisters told her.
Lori held up a sundress and stood in front of the long mirror in her bedroom.
Her gaze fell on her brown curly hair, which she found hard to tame.
Nick had called it chocolate brown and had loved to tangle his fingers in it.
With her hair now shorter, her sisters declared that it made her green eyes look bigger, and the pink floral dress was a perfect choice for her to take to Florida.
She turned away with a sigh. Her feelings were torn. She owed it to her family to go on this trip and try to have fun. But it would, in a way, mean a break from her past life with Nick, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to let that go.
A moment later, her sister, Aurelia, came into the room. “Sorry, I’m late. I had to drop Sara off at ballet class. But I’m here now to help with your wardrobe. We must send you off in grand style.” She handed Lori a gaily wrapped box. “Florence and I got this for you. Just in case.”
“Thanks,” Lori said, eying the familiar pink wrapping. “Do I dare open it?”
Aurelia winked. “It might put you in the mood for this trip.”
“Uh-oh. What have the two of you done now?” Lori asked. She removed the mauve silk ribbon and tore the paper off. She knew the store and could well imagine the slinky nightgown inside.
“It’s sexy but classic,” said Aurelia, beaming at Lori.
Holding it up before her, Lori realized how sheer the red fabric was and held back another sigh.
Her sisters had such high hopes for her.
Aurelia was six years older, happily married to a successful doctor in town, and the mother of two adorable girls.
Florence, “Flo,” was three years older than Lori and was married to the high school principal in the next town.
They had a three-year-old boy and a baby on the way.
Lori was the last of the three to get married and had thought her life would be full of loving Nick and the three children they wanted together.
Flo arrived looking flustered. Together, the three of them went through Lori’s wardrobe and selected the best choices for the trip.
Lori had read about The Beach House Hotel and knew that though it was small, it was upscale and unique, exactly like the two women who owned it had envisioned.
The fact that she would be among the kind of guests the hotel attracted was both thrilling and terrifying.
Aurelia gave her a steady look. “I can see those tiny little worry lines start to form, Lori. Stop it. You’ll be fine and have fun.
It’s good for you to get away and not have to worry about Mom trying to fix you up with someone totally unsuitable just so she can say all her chicks are happily settled. ”
Hearing the way Aurelia talked about her mother, Lori glanced at Flo, and they burst out laughing.
It was true. Their mother was desperate to have Lori paired off with someone.
This compulsion was done out of love, of course, but Lori would wait until she found someone she truly loved as much as she’d loved Nick.
The possibility that it might never happen didn’t frighten her.
“Okay, that’s it. I think you’re ready,” said Aurelia, standing back and giving her a nod of satisfaction.
Lori held up a checklist. “I’ve had a mani-pedi, shaved my legs, and washed my hair. Anything else?”
“No, honey. You look beautiful,” said Flo. “That bikini mom gave you will be striking on you.” Flo patted her round stomach. “I hope I’ll look more like you come summer.”
“You will,” said Aurelia. “Remember how well you did to get back in shape after having Hudson.”
“I guess,” said Flo. “But I have to admit, as excited as I am about this baby, I’m envious of the trip Lori is taking. Just think. No snow and ice. Instead, palm trees and sandy beaches.”
Aurelia gave Lori an encouraging smile. “Hopefully, all that warmth and beauty will work its magic on you and help you make some changes in your life.”
Lori shook her head. “Now that the medical bills are settled, I’ll have to begin work on fixing up this house like Nick and I planned. I’m moving ahead regardless of what happens in Florida.”
“Okay,” said Aurelia. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning to drive you to the airport for your flight.”
“Are you sure you want to do that? My flight is so early,” said Lori, then laughed when she saw the look of determination on Aurelia’s face.
When her eldest sister decided something, it was pretty much a done deal.
“Okay, thanks. And thank you both for helping me pack. I have plenty of clothes for the trip. I’ll be gone only a week. ”
“A lot can happen in a week,” said Flo, grinning and wiggling her eyebrows playfully.
“You two. let your imaginations go wild while I relax on the beach alone,” said Lori, laughing.
But inside, she wondered what would happen if she met someone interesting.
She’d probably turn tail and run. In the last year, every time someone “found” her a date, it had been a disaster.
She doubted dating would ever work out. Her soulmate had died, leaving her to live alone for the rest of her life. Like a female swan.
###
The next morning, Aurelia helped Lori get her suitcase and carry-on bag into the back of her SUV. It might seem like too much luggage for such a short time, but Lori wanted to be dressed properly at such a luxurious hotel.
Later, when Aurelia dropped her off at the terminal at the Westchester County Airport, the realization hit Lori that she was actually leaving.
Nervous twinges raced through her body. She hated flying, was fighting the thought of this being her last day alive, and told herself she should call an Uber and return home.
A man held the terminal door open for her, and sighing deeply, Lori rolled her suitcases into the lobby. She couldn’t disappoint her family. They’d been so supportive during Nick’s illness and, afterwards, his death. Now, they wanted this for her.
After checking in and taking a seat in the boarding area, Lori decided to fake it, pretend she was a sophisticated traveler, and enjoy the ride.
And later, aboard the plane, she sat in her seat and gazed out the window, reminding herself to relax.
The plane swept up into the sky.
Lori leaned back and closed her eyes, trying not to worry about the week ahead. She didn’t realize she’d fallen asleep until she was awakened by the announcement they were approaching Tampa International Airport.
She followed the crowd out of the plane, onto the tram to the main terminal, and down to the baggage claim area to search for someone holding a sign with her name on it. Her parents had arranged for a hotel limousine driver to pick her up.
A pleasant-looking young man smiled at her when she headed toward him. “Are you Lori Hamlin?”
“Yes, I am,” she replied.
“I’m Joe Sanchez. I’ll be driving you to the hotel, and I’ll take care of getting your luggage. Please give me your baggage claim stub, and I’ll get your suitcases. What color are the bags?”
“I have only one bag checked and it’s brown,” she said. Her sisters had warned her not to buy black because everyone else seemed to have that color.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
As she waited for Joe to bring her suitcase, she studied the people around her and tried to imagine where they were headed.
Joe returned and led her to a white limousine with a green and pink logo on the door indicating The Beach House Hotel. With a flourish, he opened the door and helped her inside, quickly loaded the suitcases in the trunk, and slid behind the wheel.
“There’s a bottle of chilled water for you. Is this your first time at The Beach House Hotel?” he asked politely as they drove out of the airport.
“Yes. I’ve heard of it, of course, and seen pictures of it. Such a beautiful place,” she said, feeling a thread of excitement weave through her.
“It’s everything you could want in an upscale hotel,” said Joe. “Wait until you taste the food. Be sure to start your day with a warm cinnamon roll. My grandmother makes them.”
Lori’s stomach growled. She realized she hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch. A snack at the airport didn’t count.
Soft music played on the car’s audio system, and Lori felt the tension of the trip leave her shoulders.
This was a time for her to have some fun, to meet people, enjoy excellent food, and forget about her worries back home.
She gazed out of the tinted windows, thrilled to see palm trees.
She and Nick had planned a tropical trip before he got sick.
When the limousine pulled through the gates of the hotel, Lori’s breath caught as she stared at the pink stucco building.
Pictures hadn’t done justice to the way the building appeared, looking like a stunning sandcastle come to life.
The landscaping around the building softened its edges and added color to the surroundings.
As Joe pulled up to the front entrance, two women whom Lori recognized as Ann Sanders and Rhonda Grayson walked down the stairs to meet them.
Joe parked the car, ran around, opened her door, and then helped her onto the pavement.
“Welcome to The Beach House Hotel,” said the blonde. “I’m Rhonda Grayson, one of the owners of the hotel.”
“And I’m Ann Sanders,” said the other woman. “We hope you enjoy your time here. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make your stay more enjoyable.”
They turned as another limousine pulled up in front of the hotel.
A man got out of the vehicle and bobbed his head as the owners greeted him.
Lori headed up the stairs and was soon joined by the man.
She turned to him but said nothing, feeling too shy and uncertain to do more than acknowledge him.
At the reception desk, she couldn’t help overhearing a clerk say to him, “Griffin Sawyer, yes, the Presidential Suite is all set for you. You’re traveling alone. Is that correct?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” he replied and cleared his throat, obviously embarrassed.
Lori turned away to give him privacy. She knew the difficulty of being a “single” in places meant for couples. Griffin Sawyer left the area, and Lori checked in.
The female staff member who led her to her room said, “You’ll love being on the ground floor. From your room, you can walk directly outside to the beach or go to the pool area.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Lori. “The temperature was in the low forties this morning in New York State.”
“The weather at this time of year can sometimes seem chilly, but most afternoons, it’s pleasant unless a storm front has come down from the north. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay.”
Her suitcase was already in her room when they arrived. “Can I help you with your luggage?” the woman asked. “Or do anything else? The ice bucket has been filled. The fruit and cookies are yours to enjoy, along with the bottled water.”
“Thank you,” Lori said, trying not to gush at such service. She had a feeling one of her sisters had ordered the fruit basket.
Left alone in the room, Lori went to the sliding glass door, opened it, and stepped out into the salty, seventy-degree air. Drawing in a deep breath, Lori felt as if she’d stepped into another life and couldn’t help the giggle of delight that escaped her.