Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
Ali
Ali had planned to get right to the point with Didi.
But Didi did not have the time to chat. There was excitement at the Sea Turtle. Ali found Didi in the laundry room in a cloud of fabric softener sheets and reciting to do lists to herself.
Ali grabbed the laundry basket, filled with hot towels, from the grateful Didi.
“We’ve got two families, one checking into the Mango Mansion, and I think I’ll put the other in the Blueberry.”
Ali’s confusion was likely written clearly on her face.
“Mango’s the one directly across from the Key Lime; its Mango color gives it away.”
Ali thought about the cottage across from the Key Lime. It was not mango or even orange; it was weathered gray with pealing peach paint. And “mansion”? Well. Not so much. But the names of the cottages were part of the charm. She itched to get a scraper and a few gallons of mango-colored paint and do a once over before any guests arrived. The Blueberry was easy to figure, and its paint chips were less obvious. The darker blue was more forgiving. But the guests were coming today. There wasn’t time for DIY upgrades.
Ali followed a busy Didi as she pulled heavy wet towels from one of the washers to transfer them to the now-empty dryer.
The wall of four washers and four dryers constituted a mini laundromat really. There were two more empty spaces, likely the ghosts of appliances past. If the resort was fully booked, there would be a need for all six. But as it stood now, with one family in the hotel and none in the cottages, four was three too many.
Didi was breathing heavily, Ali noticed. And it was no wonder. It was already warm by 10 a.m. The older woman was moving fast, trying to get the linen done—and who knows what else needed to be managed before the guests checked in.
“Here, let me help you. We can work and talk, if that’s okay.”
“You’re the boss!”
Ali had a hard time accepting that fact. She still knew precious little about how that was possible. “Okay, yes. I guess I am. Give me that.” Ali finished adding the towels to the dryer.
“The sheets for the bed are already in there. While these dry, I need to do a once over with the cleaning. Let me get the cleaning cart.”
“I’ll get it.” Ali was done pretending she didn’t own this place; she did, and she needed to take charge, at least until they sold it.
She knew she still needed to understand what she might owe Jorge and Didi. She needed to find out if there were any debts associated with the place. Was insurance up to date? Her brain, used to handling details, was kicking back in. She’d had enough strolls on the beach and naps. It was time to wake up and get it sorted.
Didi led the way, and Ali carried the gear. She used the old-fashioned key and opened up Mango Mansion. It did not smell great. Not bad, but also not fresh.
“It’s been closed up for a bit.”
Ali wondered when there had last been guests here. She scanned the room. It was the mirror image of the Key Lime but slightly worse off. The draperies were stained, the furniture looked beat up, and the floor probably needed replacing. She noticed a few rag rugs on the floor and decided against moving them to see what was underneath. That was a reality check she didn’t have the strength for at this point.
This cottage, like hers, was a one-bedroom, one-bath affair with a pull-out couch in the seating area and a queen bed in the bedroom.
“Oh,” Didi said suddenly, “I don’t know if you realized this or not, but we actually have an outdoor shower on this one and yours, kind of a fun thing. Maybe you should try it!”
Ali decided the bathroom was the first order of business, and told Didi so.
“Sure,” Didi agreed. “I’m going to get these sheets changed, you work on the commode!”
“Sounds good.”
Ali opened the bathroom door, and two little geckos skittered across the linoleum. She let out an involuntary squeal.
“You okay?” came the question from Didi.
“Yep, fine. Fine.”
The geckos disappeared to a corner, and Ali wondered if she should hunt them down and relocate them or deal with the state of the bathroom.
Which…wasn’t good.
The toilet seat was clean but old, and the sink was water-stained. Worse, it was unstable. It rocked like it might separate from the wall when she put a hand on it.
The medicine cabinet mirror was pitted, and when she opened it, the rusty hinges creaked.
None of these issues were present in the bathroom of the Key Lime. She started to wonder if the other four cottages were like the Key Lime or like the Mango.
Ali got out a bleach wipe and wiped every surface. There was a high little window. She used every muscle in her body to open it and get new air in the space.
After a few minutes she had wiped every hard surface in the room, but it didn’t look any better.
The bathtub shower unit needed a new shower curtain, and a new towel rack, for that matter.
Is there time to make a run to Costco? What rate did Sea Turtle Resort charge for the Mango? What was the overhead for each unit’s utilities?
Ali was doing calculations in her head and trying to estimate if she could get this place slightly better before the guests arrived as she went to find Didi in the bedroom.
“Didi, the bathroom isn’t as clean as it should be. I?—”
Ali stopped mid-sentence when she saw the normally constant motion Didi sitting on the bedside. She had her hands on her knees, and her head was down.
“Didi!” Ali rushed to her side and kneeled. She put a hand on Didi’s.
“I’m sorry, just got a little overheated. I should have checked this room earlier. Jorge told me it was on his to-do list. And now the guests will be here in a little while.”
Ali didn’t like Didi’s color. Her face was red, but her hand was cold.
“Didi, do we need to call 911?”
“No, no, just need a moment.”
Ali walked into the kitchen and found a glass from the cabinet next to the sink. She ran the cold water, and a strange coughing sound spirited from the tap. Ah, no, not great.
“Didi, I’m walking you to the office. You’re sitting there with a cold glass of water.”
“The guests!”
“I’ll handle that. And if your color doesn’t improve, you’ll have zero choice, I’m calling 911.”
Didi didn’t argue. Ali and Didi walked back toward the office. Didi held Ali’s elbow, and they took baby steps. Ali deposited Didi with Jorge, who took over.
“You did too much. Come on now, honey. Sit down and sip that water Ali got for you.” His voice was tender, and the concern in his eyes for his wife at once broke Ali’s heart and gave her hope.
She’d told Didi she’d handle things, so handle them, she would!
“If you need anything, just holler,” Didi said, and Jorge nodded in agreement.
She waved them off. Ali usually hosted one hundred vendors descending on Frogtown with their displays, staff, products, and special requests. They all usually ignored sign-in times and showed up at the same time. Two small families would be no big deal.
A quick look around the office and Ali had her bearings. She found a list of what guest amenities the Sea Turtle offered. She made a quick decision. The Mango was in no way ready, and she couldn’t get it ready. But there were six cottages. At least two had to be decent enough, and the best should be for the guests.
In less than twenty minutes, she’d moved herself out of the Key Lime and deposited her stuff in the office. She’d sort out her own living situation later. She only needed one more night anyway.
Ali knew the Key Lime was in much better condition than the Mango. Guests deserved the best Sea Turtle Resort had to offer. Even though what it had to offer wasn’t at its best.
And she’d explain to the guests that repairs meant they couldn’t stay in the Mango.
In Ali’s run-through of options, the Blueberry had looked and smelled the best. If the décor was tired, well, that’s just the way it was. Ali assumed that the families who rented here had to have some idea what they were getting. Plus, the Key Lime sat slightly in front of the Blueberry. Jorge told her it usually earned slightly less rent since it was a few more steps to the beach.
She checked on Jorge and Didi, who were both under an umbrella by the green-looking swimming pool. Ali hoped that wasn’t the big draw because it was clearly un-swimmable. She made a note to investigate who to call on that. Clearly, selling this place with a viable swimming pool would add value. For now, the priority was checking in the guests and making sure Jorge and Didi made it to retirement.
“Both of you, drink that water and stay out of the sun.”
“You’re going to have to give them keys. The phone number sheet, the schedule, and the maps are all in the cottages. And just tell them the pool is under construction,” Jorge advised. He was calm. His trust in her was helpful. Didi, however, was agitated.
“What about the Grand Finale? I need to run to the store to get?—”
“Didi, you need to not have heat stroke,” Ali said. “I’ll handle the Grand Finale. You handle yourself. Well, Jorge, handle your woman!” She winked at Jorge and they exchanged a look. He would handle his wife and be sure she was okay. She sensed he was grateful for her help. That made her happy and put her in a wonderful frame of mind for the guests’ arrival.
It was five to four, showtime!