Chapter 35 #2
A murmur of agreement ran through the crowd. They vigorously applauded for Heather.
‘Thank you.’ Heather waved. ‘I started working at this hotel as a receptionist. At some point, it became a home to me. All of my most important people are here, the dead ones at least, anyway. It’s been an honour to work as your receptionist, but I’m ready for a change.
I know what it feels like to be in a powerless position, and I will use my new influence to make certain that everyone’s voice gets heard.
I will hold office hours every day to hear grievances and suggestions.
I will continue to adapt the trials to meet everyone’s needs and work on creating something new on our currently empty floor.
This hotel should be a temporary resting place for our guests, but we will still make sure that you have the best experience possible. ’
Heather raised her hand to forestall the applause. ‘I have one more very important announcement to make. I’ve adopted Jaime. We’ve been family for a while – I’m just making it official.’ She beckoned Jaime on to the stage.
Jaime ran forward. The crowd cheered even louder than they had for more food options in the cafeteria. Jaime was a much-loved fixture in the hotel. (In all fairness, most people didn’t know she’d broken the hotel, but Delilah decided not to focus on that. Instead, Delilah applauded along too.)
Placing a hand on Jaime’s shoulder, Heather turned to Lucy.
‘I would like to make an unusual request. It’s unfair that Jaime was never able to take her test. Technically, I’ve already passed my trial on Floor Anger.
Well, arguably, Delilah passed it for me, but a pass is a pass.
I won’t be using my button, because I refuse to leave Jaime behind.
When my time of service is complete, I’ll technically have two rights to enter Heaven.
Could I use one of them for Jaime, to take her with me? ’
‘I approve.’ Lucy beamed. ‘Everyone deserves a chance at Heaven, and since child labour has become a crime, this is the best outcome. Love is the most beautiful and virtuous force in the universe. I could never separate family. I will make a rare exception to the rules because of Jaime’s unfair circumstances.
’ Under her breath, Lucy muttered, ‘And because I don’t want to imagine what the little menace might do next if I tried to separate you two. ’
‘OH!’ Jaime gazed up at Heather, wide-eyed. ‘You’d give me your button?’
‘I always would have.’ Heather hugged Jaime. ‘We’re family, after all. You could use it now if you wanted.’
‘I have no one waiting for me in Heaven.’ Jaime clung on to Heather’s waist. ‘I’m staying here with you.’
‘You can call me your big sister. I’m too young to be a mother.’
‘Are you? You’ve been in this hotel for decades.’ Jaime squinted at Heather. ‘Have you been making yourself look younger ever since we found out that we can change our bodies?’
‘You brat!’ Heather put Jaime in a headlock and dragged her down from the podium.
Everyone laughed.
As Heather passed, Delilah stuck up her hand for a high-five. ‘You’re going to be awesome at your new job.’
‘Thank you,’ Heather whispered. ‘I couldn’t have made it past Floor Anger without you.’
‘Same. Friends?’
‘Best friends.’ Heather slapped Delilah’s hand.
Lucy clinked her glass again to request silence. ‘I have another exciting promotion to announce. John, please join me up here.’
John looked awkward as he climbed the short stairs, his cheeks flushing. He could not look directly at the crowd.
Lucy said, ‘John stepped up to repair the hotel at our most critical hour. He deserves credit for discovering the issue in the engine room and repairing the lift. Over the course of the repairs, he demonstrated leadership and calm courage during a crisis. I know that he’ll keep the hotel running through any dangers in the future.
He’ll be in charge of teaching his skills to the rest of the crew too.
With pride and joy, I announce John’s promotion to head of the maintenance crew. ’
Again, everyone cheered – including the maintenance-crew members at the back. Even Godfrey clapped. Delilah thought she could detect a hint of relief in Godfrey’s expression at being freed from a job he wasn’t capable of doing.
John inclined his head politely at the crowd, then escaped before anyone commanded him to give a speech. Back amongst the maintenance crew, they all patted his back and offered whispered congratulations.
Lucy cleared her throat. ‘The next being to be honoured desires no human promotion. As a cat, she already has innate superiority over everyone. Nefertiti bravely protected the hotel during our greatest moment of crisis. Thank you, old friend.’
In her cat form, Nefertiti leapt on to the podium to receive a medal and a ceremonial rub under her chin.
Lucy said, ‘I would also like to offer a dishonourable mention to Barbara, for being a troublemaker and a pain in my side. We could have repaired this hotel faster without her.’ Lucy’s ears smoked.
‘Just thinking about it is working me into a rage. She should never, ever dare show her face or other eldritch appendage before me again.’
The crowd exchanged puzzled glances, probably all wondering who in Purgatory was Barbara? Still, people knelt down to pet Nefertiti as she passed amongst them.
‘Enough about my archnemesis.’ Lucy shook her head. ‘We’re here to honour the people who saved this hotel. Damien, please come to the podium.’
Even though he’d known this was coming, he still looked twitchy. Delilah gave him a gentle nudge.
While Damien climbed the platform, Lucy said, ‘Damien bravely continued to do his duty in the lift under the most onerous and dangerous conditions. When the hotel was collapsing, he plunged into the destruction to conduct emergency duct-taping. He demonstrated courage and a deep loyalty to this hotel. His courage also empowered Nefertiti . . . and I hope he knows that he can do it again, if he ever needs to.’ She smiled mysteriously.
‘I am pleased to promote him as our new receptionist.’
Damien bowed his head, unwilling to look directly at the crowd, and spoke with only a slight stutter: ‘For me, the Purgatory Hotel for Wayward Ghosts has become a beloved home. Not all of us had happy lives. I’ve found more happiness and greater friendship here than on earth.
But after so many years as the lift attendant, I would like to tackle a new job that will take me to more parts of the hotel.
It would be my honour to assist Heather in turning this into a new and updated hotel.
I will keep walking forward, one step at a time, and I hope that I can help everyone else who comes to this hotel move in the direction that they desire too. ’
As everyone applauded, Delilah clapped the loudest, putting her palms together hard enough to sting.
Damien returned to her side. Delilah patted his arm. ‘That was great.’
‘Do you think? I was so nervous I forgot part of my speech.’
‘You did brilliantly,’ Delilah said firmly. ‘I liked it when you talked about helping everyone move forward. That’s exactly the energy that you need for a receptionist position.’
Damien nudged her. ‘I think it’s your turn.’
‘Oh!’ Delilah glanced over to see Lucy beckoning to her. Everyone was looking at her. She hurried over and climbed up to the podium, panting slightly. She brushed back her hair, hoping that she didn’t look a mess.
Lucy gestured to Delilah, a smile on her face. ‘As a guest, not an employee, Delilah held no responsibility to protect this hotel, yet she still stepped up during the direst hour.’
Some self-interest had been involved, but Delilah would hardly say so when she was being honoured at a ceremony. She pasted on a smile, thrust back her shoulders and tried to look noble.
Lucy said, ‘Delilah gathered together our team to repair the hotel. Whenever anyone needed help, she leapt to the rescue of our group. She was critical in the repair efforts of the hotel. In many ways, it is far more courageous to fight when you have no special powers or authority, with only duct tape and sleight of hand. I personally owe her . . . It’s been my privilege to know her .
. . and to come to love her as my own . .
.’ Lucy broke down, crying, fat tears running down her cheeks. ‘And now we have to say goodbye!’
Howard sprang on to the podium and hugged Lucy. ‘There, there.’
Into his shoulder, she sobbed, ‘Why do people have children when they only break our hearts by leaving?’
‘Don’t make it sound like I’m dying again.’ Delilah patted Lucy’s back. ‘We can still visit all the time. I promise to write regularly.’
Lucy yanked Delilah into a group hug. ‘You had better. I’ll send you postcards from my honeymoon.’
‘Honeymoon?’ Delilah asked.
Howard beamed. ‘Lucy has done me the profound honour of agreeing to marry me. She is my Heaven. We’ll be eloping, then taking a trip around the universe.’
Lucy dried her tears and blushed. ‘I can’t wait to see the rings of Saturn again. It’s been so long.’ They gazed into each other’s eyes, their faces bright with happiness.
‘It will be my first time. What if we drop by the North Star afterwards? Then I want to see the Andromeda galaxy.’ Howard looked around, seeming to realise everyone was listening. ‘We’ll talk more about our plans later.’