CHAPTER SEVEN
I met Annette in the back kitchen, delighted to see her. She’d oversee the cocktail party and the dinner for us. Annette was a quieter, gentler version of her husband, Bernie’s, aristocratic manner. The staff respected her and learned from her how to be better servers and attendants.
I went with her to the private dining room to make sure that the small group had enough space to stand around the bar talking to one another.
Annette and I agreed the room would work, and I went to see how Jean Luc’s prep for dinner was going. However, protocol didn’t allow anyone to simply walk in on the chef. I checked with the sous-chef who told me all was in order.
I decided to go into my office to wait for the cocktail party to begin. Then, if everything was running smoothly, I’d be free to go home and be on call from there.
###
A short while later, I stood at the entrance to the dining room with Annette, smiling and talking to guests as they arrived. After knowing the story behind the wedding couple, I was relieved to observe the camaraderie among the guests. Burr’s brother, Adam, was a real party boy but hopefully would respect Burr’s wishes to have a nice weekend without trouble.
“It’s a lovely group,” murmured Annette to me. “I read about the work Elise and Janelle have done with a program for underprivileged children in New York City. They’ve accomplished a lot together.”
“They seem very nice. Two mothers wanting their children happily married,” I said. Alyssa was worried about her mother’s reaction to the news of a baby, and now I think I understood why. Elise was a powerful person and sounded like a woman who wouldn’t appreciate someone who wasn’t doing her share to help a cause outside the home.
“Do you have everything under control?” I asked Annette. “Okay if I go home? Vaughn is here for a couple of days.”
Annette grinned at me. “No problem. Off you go. If anything serious arises, I’ll call. But not unless I absolutely must.”
“You’re a doll,” I said, giving her a quick hug. “Laura and I will oversee breakfast in the dining room and then we have until four o’clock to get ready for the wedding at five.”
“Fine. I’ll meet you here then to make sure dinner is ready. The schedule says cocktails are on the pool deck.”
“Yes,” I said. “It should be a beautiful evening.”
###
Vaughn was sitting on the lanai reading when I arrived home. Cindy was nestled by his side. Both jumped up when I said, “Hello.”
“You’re home nice and early. Robbie and I had dinner, but can I fix you something?” Vaughn asked.
“If you have left over pizza, I’ll heat a slice of that. That will be sufficient. And a glass of wine to go with it.”
Vaughn got up and kissed me. “A bit of a stressful day?”
I followed him into the kitchen. “After all these years of running the hotel, I wouldn’t think I’d stress like this, wanting everything to be perfect. It never is. And you won’t guess what the situation is this time. The bride and groom are already secretly married because she’s pregnant. They didn’t want to disappoint their mothers by having no ceremony at all. They all agreed to a small wedding here instead of a big, fancier one in New York. I hope no trouble comes of it.”
“As long as the hotel provides good service, you shouldn’t have to worry at all,” said Vaughn pouring me a glass of wine while I heated a slice of pizza.
“True. I just wish I didn’t have a nagging worry about it,” I said, accepting the wine from him. “Secrets are bound to backfire. Both families seem very nice, very proper.”
“Let’s sit and relax,” said Vaughn, heading onto the lanai. “I’m enjoying being home away from the grind of hurry and wait while making a movie.”
I sat on the couch with Vaughn and leaned back against the cushions. I’d just finished my slice of pizza when my cell rang. Annette.
My heart thumped with concern. “Hello? What’s up?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I think you’d better come to the hotel. Bernie’s here, but I think one of you owners should be too. A huge fight has broken out among members of the wedding party. I’ll fill you in when you get here.”
“Okay. No problem. I’m on my way. Is anyone hurt?”
“No. Some clothes may be ruined from being thrown in the pool but that’s it,” said Annette. “But now the party wants to cancel the wedding.”
“That can’t happen,” I said, wondering what in the world was going on.
###
I arrived at the hotel to find the pool area closed. Bernie was talking to Burr and his brother. Both gave him sheepish looks.
Standing aside both Elise and Janelle were looking furious.
“Hello, everyone,” I said, approaching them.
Elise and Janelle came over to me and each grabbed one of my arms and marched me away from Bernie and the boys. Only then did I notice Alyssa sitting on one of the lobby couches, surrounded by her two bridesmaids, crying.
“I’m furious with my boys,” said Janelle. “They should know better. The evening, everything is ruined.”
“I can’t believe Alyssa did this to me,” Elise said, trying not to cry. “This whole wedding is a fake. I’m not going through with it.”
“Let’s go to one of the private meeting rooms and talk this over,” I said calmly, though my mind was whirling as it put together a believable scenario.
We walked into a small boardroom and pulled chairs into a circle. Janelle handed Elise a tissue from her evening purse.
‘Okay, tell me exactly what happened,” I said.
Elise turned to Janelle and Janelle cleared her throat. “After dinner, we were serving nightcaps on the pool deck. I don’t know what my son, Adam, said to Burr, but Burr warned him to be quiet and when Adam shouted something about a baby, Burr pushed him into the pool. Adam grabbed him and soon several in the wedding party jumped into the pool, thinking it was some sort of game.” She twisted her hands. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s just part of the story,” said Elise. “When we questioned Burr, he confessed that he and Alyssa are already married because she’s pregnant.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “She should’ve told me. We could’ve done things differently. Now, this whole wedding is fake, just like someone said.”
Elise wiped her face while Janelle, looking ill, reached over and took hold of her hand.
“May I be honest with the two of you?” I asked. “I found out this afternoon from Burr that he and Alyssa were already married. I was shocked until I realized that they both wanted to give their mothers a beautiful wedding to remember, a wedding like you’d always wanted, but smaller.”
Elise bit her lip.
“For a young couple to have such love for their parents is very touching,” I continued. “Certainly, there are places in the world where a private ceremony occurs before one with family and friends. Why don’t you consider this an opportunity to celebrate not only a marriage but the birth of your first grandchild?”
Elise and Janelle remained quiet.
“We’ve had many weddings here at the hotel, but your wedding has stood out to us because there is such love and affection between both families. Use this time to make happy memories. I’m sure Burr was only trying to protect Alyssa. How sweet is that?”
Elise and Janelle gazed at one another.
“We have lovely plans going forward. The wedding is going to be beautiful, and the Sunday brunch for you and your guests will be delicious with the hotel’s famous cinnamon rolls.”
“I would love it if you’d say yes, Elise,” said Janelle. “We’ve wanted Burr and Alyssa together for a long time. And now we have a baby to think about?”
“It’s all happened so fast, but it wouldn’t do any good to cancel the wedding.” Elise’s breath hitched. “The fake wedding.”
“In simply talking to Burr and meeting Alyssa, I don’t believe it’s fair to call it a fake wedding. They are adorably in love.” I smiled at the two of them, unable to keep a tear from blurring my vision. “It’s a sweet story.”
Janelle opened her arms and Elise went into them. “Let’s go talk to the kids. Are you ready?”
Elise nodded, and they rose and left the room.
I sat for a moment, collecting my thoughts. Everything I told them was true. I felt it to my bones.
###
Later, I discussed the situation with Annette and Bernie. “There will be no changes to the wedding as Lorraine and Laura have planned it. When you think about it, it’s a sweet story of kids not wanting to upset their parents.”
“It’s fortunate that we had the private party sign posted for the pool area. No one got hurt. We’re lucky about that. The fewer people involved, the better,” said Bernie.
“I’ll keep an eye on Adam and the other young people at dinner tomorrow night,” said Annette. “Adam had too much to drink at the dinner.”
“That’s a very tricky position to place yourself in,” said Bernie. “But we’ll mention it to the staff and ask for them to be aware of such things.”
“If you don’t mind, I’m going home,” I said, rising. “I promised Laura I’d be present for breakfast.”
“Thank you, Ann, for coming here and being part of the resolution,” said Bernie somewhat formally.
I smiled. “Thank you, Bernie.” We were very lucky to have him looking out for us. He’d made sure no claims would be filed against the hotel.
All the way home, I imagined cuddling with Vaughn.