CHAPTER TWENTY
Vaughn met me at the door when I arrived home, “Good evening, Mrs. Sanders. May I interest you in a dinner date at your favorite French restaurant?”
“That sounds delicious. What about Robbie?”
“He’s already consumed two hamburgers and fries and coleslaw at his favorite place,” said Vaughn chuckling. “Now, he’s next door playing video games with Brett.”
“Perfect,” I said. “I really need a break. It’s been tough having Rhonda gone for a couple of days.
” As I said the words, I realized how true it was.
She was a business partner in every sense.
Being able to talk through situations with her relieved a lot of stress.
I was the worrier; she was the comforter.
“Come here.” Vaughn pulled me into his arms and wrapped me in them.
“Sounds like this is the right evening to fuss over you. I’m glad I’m here to do it.
I heard from my agent, and he wants me to film a commercial in the Rocky Mountains sometime next week.
It shouldn’t take long, but I’ll be away for a few days. ”
“Then I’m very glad we have this time together. When are our dinner reservations?”
“Any time after I’ve had a chance to have you to myself. Margot at André’s is holding a table for us.”
“Oh, perfect,” I said, lifting my face for a much-needed kiss.
###
André’s was tucked into a small alleyway downtown. The owners, Margot and André Durand, were friends of Jean-Luc’s and were supporters of ours.
After we were seated, Vaughn and I shared a bottle of wine.
The aroma of butter and garlic filled the air and my nostrils as I gazed at the menu. Making love with Vaughn had helped to settle my nerves, but I still had to get through the wedding breakfast tomorrow before I could relax.
Margot came over to us. “Have you decided what you want?”
“I’m going to have the ratatouille,” I said.
“Excellent. We had delivery of some fresh vegetables especially for it.”
“Is your coq au vin as delicious as always?” Vaughn said to her, grinning.
“When we heard you were in town, André and I made sure of it,” said Margo, chuckling. It had become a joke that no matter what else was on the menu, Vaughn ordered coq au vin.
Margot left, and Vaughn sat back in his chair and studied me. “It’s nice to see you smile. I wish there was something I could do to help you deal with Jonny Arno.”
“Me, too. But things are bound to settle down,” I said. “Have you heard from Nell lately? I talked to her last week, and they’re still planning on coming for Thanksgiving.”
“I called her this morning,” he said. “She, Clint, and the kids are fine. They aren’t quite ready to move to Florida but someday they will be.”
“I would love it,” I said.
“So, would I,” he said. “It makes me happy that you and she are close. I think you and Ellie would have been friends if you’d ever had the chance to meet.” Vaughn and Ellie had been happily married before she died of cancer.
We discussed his son, Ty, and his family, and then we moved on to Vaughn’s latest project. It was such a relief to talk about anything but the hotel.
Our meal came, and as I tasted my vegetable stew, I couldn’t help emitting a little groan of pleasure.
Vaughn chuckled and took a bit of his chicken dish. “M-m-m, so good.”
The restaurant was emptying of people when André came from the kitchen and pulled up a chair to our table. “Bonsoir to two of my favorite people. Now that you’re about finished with your meal, I wanted to speak to you about some things I’ve been hearing.”
Vaughn and I exchanged glances.
“Is this about Jonny Arno?” I asked him.
He made a face and nodded. “He’s in trouble. I heard he borrowed a lot of money from the mafia to open his restaurant, and now he can’t pay it back. They overspent on the construction and the décor, and Jonny bought that fancy car of his. I don’t think that restaurant will be open much longer.”
“I’ve wondered about it,” I admitted.
“Two members of the kitchen staff have come to me for work, which I couldn’t give them,” said André. “I think they, too, suspect a bad ending.”
André stood and a waitress cleared our table.
Margot appeared carrying a plate of Macarons. “Here’s a little sweet for your dessert. Enjoy!”
I reached for the meringue-based confection and took a bite.
Vaughn did the same, grinning when we both said, “M-m-m” at the same time.
When it was time for us to leave, we thanked Andre and Margot for a delicious meal and then decided to walk around town to work off some of our dinner.
Walking hand in hand, gazing into the windows of stores now closed, I felt as if all was right with the world.
Sabal was a charming town on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and I felt lucky to be able to call it home.
After living most of my life in Boston, I’d loved coming to a warm, more tropical climate.
Even now, watching the fronds of the palm trees sway in the breeze, I couldn’t help my pleasure.
Vaughn gave my hand a squeeze and I impulsively stopped and threw my arms around him.
“Well, what do we have here?” I heard a familiar voice say and froze.
I turned to face Brock Goodwin. “What are you doing in town?”
“I could ask Vaughn the same question,” he said. “In between movies?”
“For a bit,” said Vaughn, keeping a hand on my shoulder.
“How are things going at the restaurant?” I asked him.
“As well as can be expected for a restaurant of this caliber. It’s really beautiful. As you know, I helped the interior decorator by providing some of the décor items from my import business. It’s worked out rather well.”
I could feel Vaughn’s fingers squeeze my shoulder and knew that he, as well as I, was trying not to react.
“See you around,” I managed to say and watched Brock walk away with an added strut to his pace.
Chuckling softly, Vaughn and I continued our stroll.
###
The next morning, I slept in, cuddling Vaughn, knowing he’d be gone in a couple of days. His schedule had caused some problems and disappointments, but we managed to work with it. Having the hotel to run kept me busy along with family responsibilities. That helped.
Cindy nosed our bedroom door wider and then whined for us to pick her up.
Vaughn lowered his torso out of bed, grabbed hold of her, and tossed her on the bed.
After licking us happily, she settled between us. There had been days when Robbie was little that he’d be there too. Now, as a young teenager, he was in his own bed asleep.
Reluctantly, I got up to shower and dress for the bridal breakfast. We did a great job of providing both a hearty breakfast and healthy snacks for wedding guests who were leaving to go home.
###
As I drove to the hotel, I was anxious to see if Philippa would be there to help Lorraine. Being responsive to the demands of others grew tiresome if you weren’t really happy about doing it and following through. This would be an interesting test for her.
I went past the gates of the hotel and drove behind it to my usual parking space near the loading dock. Beside the dock, on an area reserved for staff breaks, I noticed Philippa and Chet kissing and couldn’t hold back a smile. They were an adorable couple.
I got out of the car and headed inside, stopping to say hello to them before going to check on preparations for the wedding breakfast buffet.
Philippa caught up to me. “Morning, Ann. I want you to know I was just taking a break. I’m heading back to the dining room now.”
“No problem, Philippa, as long as it doesn’t interfere with work for the hotel by either you or Chet. How do you like working in the hospitality department?”
“I love it. I’m used to helping at receptions put on by my parents, and this is a lot more fun.”
“Sometime next week, Rhonda and I will sit down with you to discuss a permanent plan for you.”
“Thanks. My father is going to come down to Sabal in a few days to look at the house my mother wants to buy. I want him to know how serious I am about living and working here.”
I gave her an encouraging smile. “Glad to hear it. How is Luciano doing?”
“He and Harper are getting along nicely. The truth is, Luc and I are relieved to be able to move along with our lives. I don’t know how long he’ll be staying here.”
“Does his family know there will be no wedding between you and him?”
Philippa made a face and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Luc is waiting to speak to my father.”
We entered the dining room together.
“Hello,” I said to Lauren who was adjusting the floral centerpiece on a small table holding dishes and silverware.
“’Morning,” said Lauren. “Thanks, Philippa, for retrieving the flowers from last night’s dinner.”
“You’re welcome. I would hate to see them go to waste,” Philippa said.
“Have you coordinated timing with the kitchen?” I asked them.
A pretty blush crept up Philippa’s cheek. “That’s what I’d been doing when you saw me.”
“Okay, fine,” I said. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
I left and stopped in the kitchen to see what was happening there.
Consuela beamed at me as she pulled cinnamon rolls out of the oven. “Buenos Dias.”
“A quiet morning to be here,” I said, grabbing a cup of coffee. “Thanks.”
“When is Rhonda coming back?” she asked me, placing a sweet roll on a plate and handing it to me.
“Late tomorrow night. It’ll be great to have her back.”
“The two of you together. That’s what makes a great team,” Consuela said. “It’s always been that way.”
I went to my office to work on a financial reconciliation of wedding expenses. Costs had to be carefully controlled for these events. This wedding was small and well-planned. But costs for larger ones often got out of control if their contracts didn’t include everything.
I was reviewing numbers when there was a knock on the door and Harper came inside.
“Have a minute?” she asked.
“Sure. Have a seat,” I said, seeing distress on her face. “What’s going on?”
She leaned forward. “I want to be totally upfront with you. Luciano is asking me to travel to Italy to meet his family. He wants to see where our relationship might go. I told him about my commitment to you and Rhonda and that I’d need time to think about it.”
“How do you feel about him? Isn’t this very sudden?” I asked her.
“I’m falling for him hard. He’s a bright, kind, gentle man whom I’m very attracted to.”
“But?” I asked her.
“It might mean a whole different life if I go with him. I don’t know that much about his family, and he hasn’t met mine.”
“How soon is he returning to Italy?” I asked.
“That’s open. The vineyard is past the pressing period for the grapes so there’s some flexibility.
But I know I promised you and Rhonda that I’d work for you, and I don’t want to go back on my word.
That’s important to me. I’ve drawn up a list of ideas for the bar, but I might not be able to implement them. ”
I studied her. “Do you think you love him, or do you know deep in your gut that you do? Enough to go to Italy and live a life there? That’s a very big step. Why is he in such a hurry?”
Harper gave me a steady look. “He and Philippa are under a lot of pressure to follow through on an old family promise neither wants to keep. I know he’s not a player and he’d never hurt me.
He tells me he’s never felt this way about any other woman.
We’ve both been with other people, so I understand.
I’ve never felt this way about any other man. ”
“As far as your word to Rhonda and me, we’ll understand if you decide to go to Italy with him.” My mind spun with an idea. “Are you both free this afternoon to go for a sail on my husband’s boat. It’s a great day for a sailing picnic.”
Smiling, Harper said, “I think Luc would love it. I know I would.”
“Great. Why don’t you two come to my house at around two o’clock? “
Harper stood. “Thank you. I want to know what you think about Luc and me together. This will help.”
“Exactly,” I said smiling at her. “See you then.”
She left and I called Vaughn to make those arrangements with him.
Upon hearing what I had in mind, he laughed. “It’s true. There’s nothing like being on a boat to expose the true nature of others.”