Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
“Here we are, the sage room,” Elaine said, opening the door to reveal a beautiful bedroom decorated in light, earthy greens. “There are plenty of towels in the bathroom, and there’s a welcome basket there on the bed for you.”
“Oh, this is lovely,” said the elderly woman who had booked the room for the weekend. “So tranquil and relaxing.”
“I’m so glad you like it,” Elaine said, meaning her words sincerely. “Just let us know if there’s anything you need.”
The woman promised that she would, and Elaine took her leave. As she walked away down the hallway, the smile that she’d kept on her face while she was with the guest disappeared.
I wish the girls and I could have a relaxing weekend, she thought with an internal sigh. Especially Audrey. Heaven knows she needs it. I’m glad we were able to convince her to just watch a movie and take a hot bath last night, but she still looks so weary this morning.
Elaine started to descend the staircase, her mind turning over their new problem of Clark’s arrival.
She hadn’t seen him herself, since he hadn’t returned to the hotel since he’d first jump-scared Audrey, but when she did, she felt like giving him a piece of her mind.
She’d liked him well enough when he and Audrey had first started dating, and he’d seemed to her like a careful, considerate young man.
She’d realized, however, as the years went on that he was a showman—he knew how to appear charming, and how to sweet-talk people.
She’d observed, whenever he and Audrey visited Coral Sands, that he said all the right things but didn’t actually treat Audrey all that well.
He’d tuned her out when she was talking about something that excited her, and he’d declined several invitations to go on outings with the family, choosing instead to stay at home and peruse golfing magazines or watch TV.
He’s a selfish man, Elaine thought, pressing her lips together.
I can’t believe he had the nerve to come back here and demand something of Audrey after everything he’s put her through.
If I was strong enough—and if I wasn’t worried about damaging it—I’d take that grandfather clock and hurl it right at him.
She reached the bottom of the staircase, still lost in thought, when she heard a familiar sound. It was that of someone clearing their throat in a deep, grumbly kind of way. As soon as she heard the sound, her heart leapt up, and a feeling of gladness swept through her.
“Shep?” she said, turning toward the parlor.
He was standing in the doorway, looking a bit awkward. He was holding a blue knit hat in his hands, looking like an old-fashioned gentleman caller. She felt absolutely thrilled to see him and she had to hold herself back to stop herself from giving him a hug.
“Shep!” she repeated warmly. “It’s wonderful to see you. What warrants such an unexpected honor?”
Shep cleared his throat again. “We have a meeting scheduled for this afternoon. We wanted to go over the weekly pastry order and its schedule and talk about any adjustments.”
“Oh my gosh!” Elaine gave her forehead a good-natured smack as she shook her head, laughing. “A meeting that I asked for, and then completely forgot about. I’m so sorry, Shep. I—well, I’ve been a bit preoccupied this morning.”
Shep cocked his head to one side. The expression of concern on his face was subtle, but clearly genuine. “Is everything all right?” he asked her gently.
Elaine shook her head, forcing a smile. “Don’t worry about it, Shep. Let’s go into the parlor and I’ll get us some coffee.”
There was a coffee maker and white mugs ready on a beverage table in the parlor, and Elaine poured them both steaming mugs of the rich, dark liquid.
“Black?” she asked, feeling sure he took his coffee that way even though she’d never asked him before.
“Um, no, cream and sugar please.”
Elaine hid a grin. It made sense that Shep would like cream and sugar, since he ran a bakery. Clearly the man must have a sweet tooth, since he made such impeccable sweet pastries.
“Sounds good,” she said, pouring cream into both mugs and then plopping a sugar cube in each.
She sat down next to him on the couch, handing him his mug of coffee. He took a sip, and then grunted appreciatively.
“Very good coffee. Excellent.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
She smiled, feeling a glow in her chest. She was thrilled that Shep had appeared in her home right when she’d been feeling so troubled about Audrey’s predicament. Shep seemed to have a way of making her feel more cheerful whenever he was around.
Not even Shep could totally keep her mind off the situation with Clark, however.
As they sat and talked about the menu, Elaine found herself growing increasingly distracted.
The grandfather clock was directly in front of her, visible through the doorway that led into the front hall, and she kept feeling spurts of indignation as she thought about Clark demanding to take it from Audrey.
She did her best to stay focused on the meeting, but more than once Shep had to repeat a question before she heard him fully.
“Elaine,” Shep said gruffly but not unkindly. “Your distraction is keeping us from getting anywhere with this meeting. I suggest that you tell me what’s the matter and get it off your chest.”
Elaine sighed. “I’m sorry, Shep. You’re right, I am completely distracted. Something happened a few days ago and it’s had all of us upset.”
Shep waited for her to say more, his expression concerned.
“Audrey used to be married to a man named Clark, and he—well, let’s just say he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain and their marriage ended.
Good riddance to him. But now the problem is that we aren’t as rid of him as we thought we were.
He showed up here completely unexpectedly and told Audrey that he was demanding to take that clock from her.
” She gestured to the grandfather clock.
“Which is just ridiculous, because it belongs to her—and he’s the one who caused them to lose their old house because he stopped paying the mortgage.
Not that Audrey would have lived there anyway after the divorce, but—well, you know what I mean?
He took so much away from her and now he’s demanding even more?
” She huffed and tossed her hands in the air, feeling another surge of indignation.
Shep shook his head. “That’s ridiculous,” he growled. “Poor Audrey. I’m sure him showing up like that must have been very disruptive, to all of you.”
Elaine nodded. “It has been. It’s been so hard to watch my daughter go through something like this.
The first night he was here, she went up to her room and never came down for dinner, even though Evan was here.
She’s never done anything like that before, so I know that this whole thing has her shaken badly. ”
“She’s going to be okay,” Shep said encouragingly.
“One visit from an old rat can’t take away the life that she has now.
She’s got her wonderful job here in the hotel, getting to work alongside you and Michelle, and she’s got Evan!
He’s the best man I know, and I’m pretty sure he’d do anything for her.
Everything will be all right, don’t you worry. ”
Elaine smiled at him, immediately brightening when she heard his words. He spoke with a tone of certainty that was hard to dismiss, and when she inhaled, she seemed to be breathing in his confidence.
“You’re right, Shep,” she said, smiling brightly at him. She knew in her heart that he was right, and that Audrey was going to be okay. Clark returning might have been a blow to her heart, but it wasn’t one that was going to knock her over.
Look at this, she thought, feeling suddenly cheerful. Shep of all people had the power to make me feel more optimistic on this dreary matter!
She took his hand and squeezed it gratefully. “Thank you for your words. I feel much better.” She took a deep breath. “Now, let’s get back to our work. I’m sure I can concentrate just fine now that you helped me get that off my chest.”
Shep smiled at her. “Always glad to be of service.”
Elaine and Shep continued their meeting, sipping their coffee and laughing quietly as they went over the bakery lists for The Birchwood House. Elaine’s heart felt lighter, and she found herself wondering what other surprises Shep would bring her way during the course of their deepening friendship.