CHAPTER FIFTEEN
F riday morning, Rhonda walked into our office at the hotel. “How’s everything? No emergencies?”
I looked up at her and shook my head. “It’s safe for you to go, Rhonda. Hurry and leave before you or Will change your mind about having a few days off. We’ve got everything organized for the weekend. Guests are already arriving. “
Rhonda let out a sigh. “Okay. I can hardly believe it, but I won’t see you until Tuesday morning. You’ll have to tell me how the Halloween package worked for us.”
“I will. I promise.” I stood. “Now, go!”
Giggling, Rhonda left the office, and I said a little prayer that this time away would help them both. Especially Will, who’d needed a vacation for a long time. Angela’s husband, Reggie, was undoubtedly celebrating that he would be running the financial services office alone, even if it were for such a short time.
A short while later, Lorraine Grace, now married to Reggie’s father, Arthur Smythe, entered the office. As our wedding coordinator and social director, Lorraine was a highly valued staff member. We could always count on her creativity and follow-through on details. Aside from that, she was one of the sweetest women I knew.
“How’s it going? Did Rhonda get off all right?” she asked me, sitting by my desk.
“Yes, she’s both excited and nervous. She hopes this will give Will and her a chance to be together again and have some romantic time.”
“I hope it works. Arthur says that Will is a workaholic,” said Lorraine. “Heaven knows Arthur is no better, but he worries about their rivalry.”
“All because Reggie chose to work with his father-in-law instead of his father. It’s a tricky situation.”
Lorraine grimaced. “A little hurtful for Arthur. But Will and Reggie work well together, so I think it’s all for the best. I see some of our weekend guests have arrived. I’ve explained that they’re welcome to enjoy the hotel, but rooms are usually unavailable until three o’clock.”
“Yes, but Rosita promised that her Housekeeping Department would try to have the rooms ready as soon as possible. Each staff member is diligently seeing which rooms are available to clean. They’re doubling the teams to do the work.”
“Tonight, it’s just a welcome cocktail party,” said Lorraine. “Tomorrow night is when the work will begin. We’re decorating the library for our Halloween guests’ special dinner. Of course, we’ll add some decorative touches to our main dining room and our lobby.”
“What about the menu? I know Jean-Luc doesn’t want us to change his dinner menu, but have you come up with some cute items for breakfast and lunch?” I asked.
Lorraine chuckled. “My assistant, Laura, has added some special touches. She put Booberry Muffins on the menu along with Franken Burgers, Haunted Harvest Chowder, Graveyard Greens, Creepy Cobb Salad, Graveyard Grinder, Creepy Club Sandwich, Pumpkin Penne, Skeleton Skewers, and the like.”
“Very clever. It adds to the fun of the weekend,” I said.
“Yes. For dinner, the waitstaff will wear orange aprons instead of the usual white. And our flower arrangements for the table are all about harvest.” Lorraine gave me a playful smile. “I’m even going to wear a Halloween headband, but that’s it.”
“We’re offering a prize for the best-dressed person, which will be perfect. We don’t want to overshadow our guests,” I said. “Vaughn and I won’t wear costumes as we’d agreed earlier.” Vaughn was thrilled that he wouldn’t have to.
“Exactly what Bernie told us,” Lorraine said. “But I bought him an orange handkerchief to wear in his jacket. We’ll see if he wears it.”
“Our stiff and proper General Manager just might,” I said. “Since working for us and marrying Annette, Bernie’s brisk manner has softened.”
“He’s great,” said Lorraine. “So fun to tease. A little bit like my husband that way.”
“How is he? You both were quite sick with the flu some time ago.”
“He’s good. Florida has a satisfying lifestyle for him. We both work hard but like to relax together. I’ve taken up more golf, and having a pool makes it easy to swim and relax there.”
“That’s great. Even though Rhonda will take the credit for her matchmaking, the two of you are perfect together. Anyone could see that from the beginning.”
Lorraine’s face broke into a wide smile. “Who knew I’d get a second chance at love?”
Dorothy Stern tapped on the door and entered. “Am I interrupting anything?”
“Not at all,” I said. “What can I do to help you?”
“Actually, it’s Lorraine I need to talk to about the favors for the Halloween dinner.”
“Okay, you two, I’ve got to talk to Bernie. Anything I need to discuss with him?”
Both women shook their heads.
I rose, and the three of us left the office.
###
W hen I got home, Vaughn and Robbie were down at the dock working on the sailboat. I changed my clothes and headed down the lawn to join them.
Seeing me, Cindy barked and raced up the slope to greet me.
I patted her and sighed with satisfaction as both Vaughn and Robbie looked up and acknowledged me with welcoming smiles. This is what mattered most to me—my family.
“What are you doing?” I asked, coming closer.
“We’re testing all the lines and sheets, making sure everything is in order after our summer use,” said Vaughn.
“I know the names of all of them,” said Robbie proudly.
“This boat is lucky to have the two of you love her so much. Are we going to take a sail this evening?”
Vaughn looked up at the sky. “We can get a quick sail in before dark. I thought about it earlier, and I’ve already stocked the boat with snacks, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and a special bottle of red wine.”
“You’re wonderful,” I said as Vaughn wrapped his arms around me.
“Yay! Dad said I can be captain,” said Robbie.
“He’s ready.” Vaughn ruffled Robbie’s dark locks.
We put a life jacket on Cindy and climbed aboard.
“Toss the docking line aboard, matey,” said Robbie, laughing as he spoke.
“Aye, Captain,” Vaughn responded, waiting on the dock until Cindy and I were settled in the cockpit and Robbie had the engine running.
“Okay, all aboard,” said Robbie.
Vaughn tossed the docking line into the cockpit and stepped aboard just as the boat pulled away from the dock.
Vaughn sat in the cockpit beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Ah, this is it. Relaxing on the water.” Though he remained in his seat, Vaughn kept an eye on Robbie’s movements to make sure all was how it should be. But I knew from the looks he gave me that he had something important to tell me when the moment was right.
Once we motored out of the inlet and into the Gulf waters, Robbie faced the boat into the wind, and he and Vaughn raised the mainsail and then the jib.
I held onto the wheel while they did.
Robbie hurried back to me and took the helm so he could lay off the wind onto a port tack and the sails could fill. Vaughn sheeted in the jib and then checked the mainsail’s trim to eliminate any luffing. Then Robbie cut the engine.
We surged forward and heeled a bit as the wind pushed the sailboat ahead.
I was always thrilled with these first moments of quiet, hearing nothing but the sound of the boat cutting through the water with a soft hissing sound. The seagulls and terns flying in circles above us filled the air with their cries, which were carried in the wind.
I let out a long breath of satisfaction and turned to Vaughn, who gave me a wink to acknowledge how I felt. For him, sailing was the most gratifying way to relax.
I gazed at Robbie behind the wheel, a skinny but muscled boy who would soon become a man. Where had the time gone? I couldn’t help but think of my life with his father, who’d turned out to be someone I didn’t know, someone whose only unselfish act toward me was to give me Liz and then Robbie. My children meant more to me than even the best memory of our marriage.
“I’ve got something to tell you,” Vaughn murmured. “I’m thinking of doing more stints with the soap opera. It seems The Sins of the Children is going to go back to the time when I, as the mayor, was in love with Lily Dorio. It would be just a few episodes, but they think it’s important for their continuing storyline. What do you think?”
I let out a sigh that came from deep inside me. “You know how I feel about Lily Dorio. But I trust you to do the work required and then to come home. Will they promise to stop any rumors of an affair between the two of you?”
“They said they would. But it could happen with today’s social media being out of control. I’ll tell them no if you want me to.”
“Oh, Vaughn, I can’t let this stop your career. It’s a big part of who you are, and I respect that.”
He smiled at me. “Thank you.”
“Hey, Galley Cook, how about a can of soda?” teased Robbie, and I left bad memories of Lily Dorio behind as I went below to get Robbie’s drink.
###
I pushed aside my concerns about Vaughn’s work and concentrated on work at the hotel. I promised I’d be present for the Halloween cocktail party in the library. About forty people were participating in this private event of cocktails and dinner. Later, the lanai would be open to all guests for after-dinner drinks and live music. Vaughn would join me for that.
Annette was acting as hostess and stood by the door greeting people as they arrived, handing them each a goodie bag filled with sweets and small gifts from local businesses, including our spa.
“Hi, Ann. It seems like a fun crowd,” said Annette, wearing a headband and holding a small witch’s hat. It was the perfect touch to her black slacks and tasteful top.
I gazed at the guests filling the room. Costumes were optional, but most people in the room wore a costume or added a Halloween touch to their outfits.
“Lorraine organized a Halloween treasure hunt for guests this afternoon, which was a big hit with this crowd, who had to walk to various places in town.” Annette shook her head. “I don’t know how she manages to pull off things like this.”
“She’s a treasure of her own,” I said, looking up as Lorraine joined us, wearing black slacks and a burnt-orange top accented with a black bead necklace and a black cat pendant.
“Hello,” said Lorraine. “It looks like another successful party is underway.”
“I’m keeping my eye on the young woman in the corner by the bar,” said Annette. “She’s had quite a bit to drink. Her date doesn’t seem to be aware of it.”
“Or he’s trying to ignore it,” said Lorraine, sounding like she’d been in this situation before.
“We don’t want anything bad to happen to her or one of the other guests,” I said. “I’m going to make my rounds and then leave to go home. I’ll be back with Vaughn for the party on the lanai.”
“Thanks, Ann.” Lorraine smiled at me. “I know it’s a pain to spend the time, but having you and Rhonda welcome our guests makes them feel important.”
“That’s one reason we do it,” I said. “Truthfully, we decided when we opened the hotel that we would treat our guests as if they were being welcomed in our very own home. It’s kept a lot of people coming back. We might be a small operation, but we are and always will be very special.”
“Exactly right,” said Annette.
I left them to speak individually to our guests. I was always interested in who was in the hotel and what brought them here. I’d learned a lot about others and, in the process, a lot about myself.
Most of this crowd was younger than usual, and I was delighted to see it. We were a high-end property, but we welcomed people of all ages.
I was talking to a young man when the woman who’d been drinking came over to us.
“Happy Halloween,” I said, smiling at her.
She looked at me with glassy eyes, put an arm around the man’s neck, and threw up on him.
His look of shock was replaced by one of anger. “I’m sorry about the mess,” he said. “I’ll take her back to our room.”
Annette hurried over to us to help, and a bartender brought several black napkins and water over to the spot on the carpet and started to clean up.
I moved away to give him space and went to another area to talk to our other guests, who, fortunately, hadn’t noticed the incident. I knew Bernie would address the situation in our staff meeting on Monday morning. We trained our bartenders to cut off people who were under the influence of too much alcohol.
Lorraine sidled up next to me and said softly, “I’m sorry. I’ll speak to my staff about situations like these.”
“It happens, but we must be careful,” I said. I turned to the couple I’d been talking to and introduced Lorraine to them.
By the time people were seated for dinner, I’d spoken to almost everyone. I watched as the first course of shrimp cocktail was served, and then I escaped to go back home. I’d return later with Vaughn.
###
V aughn and I walked onto the lanai for the after-dinner party, which was open to all guests. The fact that he was well-known as an actor always made it awkward at first, but guests soon realized that he was with me, and he wanted to enjoy himself—that, and the fact that they had to sign a privacy agreement.
A well-known singer in the area, Kitty Carwell, was at the microphone while another well-known musician, Dee Morton, played the piano. They were often paired up, and the result was fabulous light jazz.
Kitty sang a slow number, and several couples started to dance.
Vaughn held out his hand. “Shall we?”
I smiled at him and rose. He was a graceful dancer, and together we moved well. As he held me in his arms, I felt my memories carried back to when I first met him, when we first held hands, and now, as I did then, I knew that I was so lucky to have found him.
“Are you thinking back to the beach with me when we first met?” he whispered in my ear.
I chuckled. He knew me so well.
“I am, too,” he said, his voice soft and affectionate. “And you’re as beautiful now as you were then, those few years ago.”
I sighed happily. I felt we’d always somehow been together, just waiting to meet again.
###
A s we left the dance floor, Lorraine and her husband, Arthur Smythe, Reggie’s father, joined us.
“The evening weather couldn’t be better,” said Lorraine, still holding hands with Arthur.
“The guests certainly seem to be enjoying it,” I replied. “Shall we make our rounds? Then, I want to go home.”
“Sure,” said Lorraine. “There’s someone I want you to talk to. They have friends who are getting married, and she wants to recommend The Beach House Hotel.”
While Vaughn and Arthur stood talking, we headed into the crowd.