CHAPTER SEVEN
When I walked into the lobby, I saw Nell greeting guests arriving for the first dinner session.
Seeing her chatting with them, I was reminded of the stressed woman who’d arrived a few days earlier.
After speaking with Clint, I hoped they would find a healthy solution to their problems, but I wasn’t pleased with his new attitude.
Nell noticed me and came over. “How’s Clint? Has he seen the children?”
“Clint is fine. He’s seen the children and is getting settled now,” I said. “He’s coming by the hotel to say hello to you.”
“Oh, good. I want him to see how much I enjoy helping out here,” said Nell.
I gave her a quick hug and went to the kitchen to see what was happening there. Thanksgiving might be a holiday for other people, but for the staff at the hotel, it was one of the busiest days of the year, if not the busiest.
Being careful to stay out of the way, I watched as the kitchen crew worked together like various sections of a symphony orchestra. As many parts of the meal as possible had been prepared ahead of time.
Annette stood by helping the servers maintain a steady stream of comings and goings from the kitchen, keeping a well-stocked supply of food on display at the buffet stations bordering the dining room walls.
“How’s it going?” I asked her.
“Smoothly,” she replied. “I’m always amazed by how much people eat at these dinners.”
Waving goodbye, I thought of Robbie. He saved up room in his stomach all day so he could enjoy eating as much as he could at the Thanksgiving feast.
I left her to take my turn greeting guests at the dining room door.
From there, I would oversee staff seating guests and taking orders for drinks.
The attention to detail was worthwhile. We’d had our Thanksgiving meals featured in several local society and tourist magazines and online forums, which boosted dining room sales throughout our high season.
Nell approached me. “I saw Clint, and we’ve agreed to talk alone during this visit. He told me he’s going sailing with Dad tomorrow. I think that’ll be nice for both of them.”
“Oh, I’m glad,” I said, determined not to mention my concern about the way Clint acted around Claudine.
###
When Vaughn, Clint, Liana, and all three kids showed up for dinner, I was beginning to feel exhausted by the effort of being on my feet greeting people. But when I saw them, I gave each of them a genuine smile.
Nell took her break to join the family, and I kept an eye on them from a distance as they ate together. Liana had done a nice job of seeing that Bailey and Ned were wearing their holiday “outfits”. They looked adorable.
Some diners approached Vaughn for autographs, but most were kind enough to stay away. Studying him, I remembered how intimidated I’d been by him when we first met. But then, as he was now, he was very kind to all who approached him.
“Looks like another success,” said Rhonda, coming up to me. “One more seating and we’ll be done. I don’t know about you, Annie, but my feet are killing me.”
“Go have a rest in our private spot,” I said. “We have time between the seatings for you to have a break. I’ll join you when I can.”
“Clint looks good. Tired, but fine,” said Rhonda. “And our Nell is adorable in that cute dress as she speaks to diners.”
I loved that Rhonda and I considered all the kids as ours together.
Clint rose from his chair and headed to me, holding his phone. “Ann, is there a place where I can talk privately?”
“You can use my office,” I said. “Follow me.”
“Okay, I’m on my way to a private location,” Clint said into his phone as he walked behind me. “Claudine, I can’t change my plans.”
I showed him into my office and left him there, wondering why Claudine would be calling him on this family holiday.
When I caught up to him later, I said, “Is everything alright?”
He sighed. “Yes. I’m still staying here until Saturday morning.”
I gave him a look of approval. “Great. We’ve all missed your regular week with us.”
“I know,” he said. “It’s been really busy with the project.”
I gazed up at him, but he looked away.
Letting out a sigh of worry, I said nothing.
###
After the last group of guests had finished their meals, things happened quickly.
The dining room was closed, and servers and other staff descended upon the food on the buffet table even as more food was brought in.
We allowed them to drink beer or wine on the premises three times during the year.
This was one of those times, along with our Christmas employee party and the New Year’s Eve event for those who had worked at the party.
Now, this was a great way to thank those who had devoted themselves all day to making our Thanksgiving a success.
Jean-Luc, Bernie, Annette, Consuela, and other department heads joined in, making it a boost for morale.
Rhonda and I circulated, thanking them for their help, too tired to think of staying and eating more than a snack. After sampling the food all day, I’d had enough. I noticed that Nell had already left.
###
At home, Bailey and Ned were already in bed, and Robbie was playing games in his room. Vaughn was sitting alone on the lanai.
“Hi. Where are Nell and Clint?” I asked him.
“They’ve gone for a walk. They had a disagreement about the kids’ bedtime, and they wanted to have some privacy.”
I sat beside him on the couch and wiggled my toes out of my shoes. “Ah, that feels delightful.”
“It looked like another success at The Beach House Hotel,” said Vaughn, drawing me into his arms.
I leaned gratefully against him. “Thanks. It was. The employees were celebrating when I left. They did a great job. How were Nell and Clint at dinner? I know she couldn’t stay at the table for very long, but were they all right?”
“I think so,” said Vaughn. “Then Clint got that phone call. But it seemed fine when he told Nell he was still staying until Saturday morning.”
“That phone call was from Claudine. I don’t trust her. Clint is an attractive man, and she seems to like having him at her beck and call. It seems strange that she insists on having him work with her over a holiday weekend.”
“I agree,” said Vaughn. “We’ll have to see what happens next. Clint has promised to head out on the water with me mid-morning. Before then, he’s going to meet Reggie for coffee to offer his condolences.”
“Yes, he told me he wants to do that,” I said, looking up when Nell and Clint walked into the room.
“Hi, Ann. Dinner was delicious. Another success for you,” said Clint.
“And for the staff,” I said. “But thank you. I’m elated you could make it.”
“He tells me he can’t stay the weekend,” Nell said tersely. “But at least he’s here now.”
Clint studied Nell and then sighed. “I’ll make it up to you at Christmas.”
“I’ve told Clint that I’m going to remain here in Sabal until after the Christmas holidays. I’ve talked to him about doing it for a while, and I’ve decided it will give him space to work on that special project of his.”
Looking uncertain, Clint shrugged. “The kids love it here. I get it.”
“We’d all better get to bed early,” I told them. “It’s a busy day tomorrow. Nell, you and I will leave by seven at the latest.”
“What’s going on?” Clint asked me.
“The hotel is transformed into Christmas first thing in the morning. Selected employees help our designer put up decorations, lights, and trees, so when guests come down to the dining room for breakfast, it seems like magic.”
“You remember how the kids and I would always come to the hotel to see the change,” said Nell. “To them, it’s always been magical.”
Clint put an arm around Nell. “See you tomorrow.”
Nell blew Vaughn and me little kisses and went with Clint to the guest wing of the house.
Vaughn and I looked at one another. It was obvious the walk had helped Nell and Clint.
“I’m ready for bed, too,” said Vaughn, getting to his feet.
“Sounds fine to me.” I went to Robbie’s room. Cindy was curled up on the bed with him as he lay against the pillow with his earphones on.
I caught his attention and kissed him on the cheek.
After turning out all the lights in the rest of the house, I went to my bedroom, too tired to do much but strip down and crawl into bed.
###
The next morning, the thought of the hotel’s Christmas surprise for our guests got me out of bed. I moved quickly and quietly to get ready for the day.
When I went into the kitchen, Nell was already there, dressed in a beautiful red silk blouse and black slacks.
“Dressed for the holiday, I see. That looks great on you,” I said.
She smiled and took another sip of coffee. “Thanks. I wanted to fit in.”
I put my arm around her. “You fit in perfectly anytime. Have a good sleep?”
“Surprisingly, yes,” she said.
“Today, we’re going to host our first high tea of the season, and I thought you’d be perfect to oversee it, along with Lauren or Annette.”
“Lauren and I are already planning on doing it,” said Nell. “I really like her.”
“She’s a very pleasant, hardworking person. We’re lucky to have her.”
We left for the hotel without disturbing anyone else.
###
On the way to the hotel, I asked Nell if she and Clint were able to talk to each other.
She shrugged. “I guess. He says he loves me and is doing this for our future, but there’s something he’s not telling me. I’m sure of it.”
“Maybe after this big deal of his is concluded, you can get away. Just the two of you,” I said.
“Yes, we’ve agreed to do that. And though he doesn’t like it, he knows the kids and I are staying in Florida. I told him that was non-negotiable.”
“You know you’re welcome to stay with your dad and me for as long as you want,” I said.
“I appreciate that because it gives me the flexibility I need. I love working at the hotel.”
“Rhonda and I are pleased about that,” I said, and pulled through the gates to the hotel. I stopped and stared at the twinkling white lights shining from the landscaping at the base of the hotel and around the trunks of the palm trees.
“It’s gorgeous,” gushed Nell, in awe.