Chapter 3 #2
“Hey, it’s not all bad. You’re in Key West. The weather’s beautiful.
You’ll learn a lot. Let me call someone to take you over to Stock Island.
” She got on the phone, talked to someone named Carlos and then turned back to her.
“He’ll be here in a minute. So, why are you working during spring break anyway?
Most college kids are trying to get as drunk as possible on someone’s parents’ dime. ”
“Couldn’t afford to do anything else. My mom’s a nurse’s aide. I’m on scholarship. Spring break was going to be me working at a bakery in Brooklyn until my stepfather got me this.”
“So you came here to work instead of working at home.”
“At least it’s different work in a different place.” Lizzie managed a smile. “Plus I’ve always wanted to see Key West. Hemingway lived here.”
“You like Hemingway?”
“Love him. The writing, the house with the cats, all of it.”
Chrisla grinned. “Half the tourists here are Hemingway pilgrims.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Chrisla finished up printing her employee badge when a short, dark-haired man walked her way from across the hall.
“That’s your ride. Carlos. He’s the maintenance manager.”
“Is he as terrifying as Sarah?”
Chrisla let out a genuine whooping laugh. “Carlos? No way. He’s a teddy bear. You’ll like him.” Chrisla checked her watch. “You want to grab lunch tomorrow? I can show you around, give you the real tour.”
“That would be amazing. Thank you.”
“No problem. Everyone needs a friend.” They exchanged numbers and made plans for lunch the next day when the man closed the distance.
“You must be Lizzie.” He had an easy smile and kind eyes. “I’m Carlos Martinez. Head of maintenance. Ready to see your new digs?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
She followed him out to a pickup truck in the parking lot. As they pulled out onto the main road, Lizzie looked out at the island. A rooster strutted across someone’s lawn.
“Those chickens are everywhere,” she said.
Carlos laughed. “Wait till you walk around downtown. They’re everywhere. But you’ll get used to them. They’re kind of the unofficial mascots of Key West. Protected, so nobody can touch them.”
“Jasper told me about them, but I didn’t believe him until I saw one at a stoplight this morning.”
“First time in the Keys?” Carlos asked.
“First time anywhere, really. I’ve never left the Northeast before.”
“You picked a good place to start. Crazy town, but beautiful. I’m from the West Coast myself. San Francisco but my wife’s a Conch.”
“A what?” Lizzie thought she hadn’t heard right.
“Someone born on the island. She left for the West Coast too. That’s where we met. But her heart was always here.” He turned down a side street. “We’re heading to Stock Island. It’s where most of the employees live. Less touristy, more affordable.”
“What’s the difference between Key West and Stock Island?”
“Stock Island is technically separate, but it’s right next to Key West. You drove past it on the bus. It’s where the actual working people live. Key West is where the tourists and the rich folks hang out.”
They drove past a marina and seafood restaurants, the landscape shifting from polished resort town to something more industrial. Carlos kept up a steady stream of information about the area, pointing out good places to eat and where to rent bikes.
“So you’re head of maintenance?” Lizzie asked, looking to keep the conversation going.
“Yep. Been with the Carlson since it opened. Before that I was in Colorado running maintenance at one of Billy’s ski properties. And like I said, California before that.”
“Billy was Sarah’s husband?”
“That’s right. Good man. We all miss him.”
Lizzie hesitated. “Sarah seems pretty intense.”
Carlos laughed. “That’s one word for her. She’s my best friend, so I might be biased, but she’s brilliant at her job. Just doesn’t have a lot of patience for incompetence.”
“Right,” she mumbled, telling herself to try her hardest not to make a fool of herself again like she had earlier with the accommodations.
They stopped in front of what had clearly been a motel at some point, and he handed her a key.
“You’re up the stairs, first one on the corner.
You have it to yourself which is nice. Some of the others share.
Right, so the shuttle will be here at quarter till seven in the morning.
There are some bikes in the back you can use.
Best way to get around unless you want a scooter. ”
Lizzie gulped. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get around yet. She hadn’t thought about it. And she definitely hadn’t ridden a bike in years.
“Is there a bus?”
“Sure is.” He smiled. “There’s an info folder on your bed. Don’t worry. It’ll be alright.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right. Ask my wife. Actually, don’t. She’ll tell you she’s always right.”
“She works here too?”
“Yup, head of housekeeping. Esmeralda Diaz.” He paused at the door. “One piece of advice? Don’t judge Sarah too harshly. She’s dealing with a lot right now. Give her a chance.”
“I will. And thanks for the ride.”
After he left, Lizzie sat on the bed in her new temporary room and looked around. Plain walls, basic furniture, a window that looked out at the parking lot. Not exactly the tropical paradise she’d imagined.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Maya: How’s Key West??? Living your best life yet???
Lizzie typed back: Ran into Cynthia!
CYNTHIA IS THERE??? Are you kidding me?
Unfortunately not.
Damn, that’s some bad luck. At least she won’t be there the whole time you’re there.
I suppose. My boss thinks I’m an idiot too because I thought I was staying at the hotel. Nope. I’m in some old motel on the next island over.
Oh…well. I thought that was a fair assumption also….
Well, at least Maya agreed with her…She set down her phone and stared at the ceiling. Six weeks. That’s how long she had to not only prove she was not just some nepo baby who got this gig through connections.
She was going to show Sarah Barnes that she could do this job. And she would definitely, totally not spend any time thinking about her new boss’ insane curves or kissable mouth.
Nope.
Definitely not…