Nadine Trades Her Partner

by Linda Hubalek

  Definitely.

  “We do hope to take time off from the hotel and travel in the near future. We’ve never been without four to eight girls with us, and we look forward to time spent together as a couple.

  “And also, travel to take whatever daughters and families will go with us, to see the new national parks, for instance. With Helen’s marketing skills, the hotel has done well, considering it’s in the middle of central Kansas in a frontier town. She’s made it a destination place to stay between Kansas City and Denver.”

  “And if Nadine decides to do something else instead of the hotel?”

  “We might sell it, say to an assistant manager down the road,” Ethan said with a shrug of his shoulders, but Wesley saw Ethan was hinting it could be an opportunity for himself. Wesley felt like he’d found his niche in working in a hotel. He liked working with the employees, wanting the best for the hotel’s customers, and being part of the business community.

  Ethan stood, picking up the tray again. Good thing there was a quilted tea cozy on the ceramic pot, or the hot water would already be cold.

  “I know you’ve only worked for our hotel for a short time, Wesley, but both Helen and I can see you and Nadine running the hotel together in the future. There is a spark between the two of you that burns bright, although Nadine hasn’t wanted to acknowledge it yet.

  “But realize Nadine is a copy of Helen and will be headstrong on a lot of decisions for the hotel. Can you let Nadine lead on some areas of management, as I have with Helen? I won’t say our marriage is perfect, but pretty close to it. I’ve been happy to step back and let Helen take care of certain things for the hotel while stepping up to take a larger role in raising our daughters.”

  “Thanks, Ethan. That thought should keep me up for the rest of the night.”

  “As it should. It will affect you the rest of your life, and possibly my daughter’s too. Goodnight, Ethan.”

  Wesley watched the man walk out of the office door and heard his boots climb the carpeted steps to their apartment. While he wrote letters to people looking for his sister, he’d been thinking about Nadine.

  Chapter 4

  “Mama! You’ll never guess who’s coming to visit!” Avalee called out as she walked into the family apartment.

  Everyone was sitting in the living room after eating supper downstairs in the dining room kitchen. There was a kitchen in their home, but it was rarely used.

  Phoebe and Cecilia were working on their homework, Daphne was reading a Ladies Home Journal and Nadine was trying to read a book, but her mind kept wandering to Wesley. Today’s conversations between them seemed to be a little flirting, at least on Wesley’s side. What was he up to?

  Avalee sat down by their mother on the settee, handing her the letter.

  “Gordon picked up the mail earlier today, but I didn’t get around to going through it until after supper. I’m so excited to see her again,” Avalee was practically squirming in her seat.

  Ethan and Wesley walked in next, their home practically had a revolving door.

  “I saw you coming through the door, but you didn’t bother to say hello, Avalee. What’s your news?” Ethan said as he walked to sit in his rocker beside the settee.

  Wesley must have felt Nadine drilling her eyes in his head because he turned her way.

  “Oh, I’m sorry to interrupt. I was just going to fetch some papers from my room to take downstairs,” Wesley explained as he waved his hand in that direction.

  “Oh, no stay a moment, Wesley. I came to tell the family my niece was coming to visit, all the way from York, Pennsylvania,” Avalee announced.

  “Elise is coming to visit?” Nadine asked, surprised the woman would travel all this way.

  “Your niece in Pennsylvania? I don’t understand,” Wesley said as he shifted on his feet. He was the only one standing in the room.

  “Wesley, remember I told you about my father, Arvid Lindsmeir? Elise Lindsmeir is technically my niece, although I’m two years younger than she is,” Avalee explained. “She’s one of my older half-brothers’ children. The family still owns and manages the York Hotel, where my family lived for a few years.”

  Oh yes, the story of her older sisters’ four fathers. Arvid was an elderly widower who hired Mama and then married her. Nadine couldn’t imagine marrying someone in his sixties, but then her mother was desperate with two young daughters. Arvid already had two sons from his first marriage, who inherited the York Hotel from their father, causing mama—and now three daughters—to leave and marry the louse who threw them out after Luella was born.

  Nadine knew it was hard times for her mother and sisters, but she got tired of hearing about it. Or felt guilty because she’d been the first daughter born to her mother and Ethan and had a good life.

  “Well, that’s so nice. The Lindsmeirs enjoyed your visit last year. I’m glad Elise has accepted your invitation to spend time with us,” Mama said as she scanned the letter.

  “Although I wasn’t accepted by my former husband’s sons, their wives became my dear friends. My girls and their children played together when we lived in the hotel, and we’ve corresponded through the years since,” Helen explained for Wesley’s sake.

  “I assume it’s all right if Elise stays here in the hotel during her visit?” Avalee asked their parents.

  “Of course. Besides visiting, I’ll want to know what’s going on at the York Hotel,” Mama laughed. “Maybe I’ll learn something new to add to our hotel.” Mama smiled at Papa, and Nadine wondered what message was just passed between her parents’ looks.

  “Elise isn’t married, is she?” Cecilia asked, after glancing Nadine’s way.

  “No, why?” Avalee asked their little sister.

  “Maybe Elise will marry Wesley and stay here. Then your niece would be living right across the hall from us.”

  Nadine felt her face heat at Cecilia’s suggestion, although she shouldn’t care who Wesley married. But Nadine had seen a photograph of Elise, and she was a stunning beauty. Wesley would fall for her the moment he met her.

  “What day is she arriving?” Papa asked, probably to change the subject.

  Her mother flipped through the letter again. “Next Monday! Oh, my word, she’ll be here in three days.”

  “How long is she staying?” Nadine asked, hoping it wasn’t too long a visit, now that she thought of Wesley being interested in her.

  “She didn’t say. I hope she can stay through our community Thanksgiving dinner here at the hotel. The event is so different than anything they’d have in the large city,” Avalee said.

  “And Maridell will be home for a visit then, so Elise could see her again too,” Mama added.

  “Would Maridell even remember Elise and her brothers?” Nadine asked, trying not to sound jealous.

  “Iva Mae remembers the Lindsmeir children, although she was seven when we moved out. I think Maridell might too,” Avalee answered Nadine.

  “Well, I look forward to meeting Miss Lindsmeir. I’ll get my things from my room and head back down to the front desk. Goodnight, everyone,” Wesley said and let himself out the door.

  “Maybe Elise will keep Wesley’s mind off of trying to find his sister,” Daphne added from behind her magazine.

  “How many letters has Wesley written, and has he heard back from anyone?” Avalee asked since she knew about his campaign to find his sister but didn’t live in the hotel to keep up on the results.

  “Wesley has used nine of the envelopes we addressed for him, but he hasn’t gotten any replies yet,” Phoebe reported.

  “Phoebe, Wesley’s search for his sister, is private,” Nadine reminded her sister.

  “Na uh. He showed us his list and pointed out who he’s written to,” Phoebe protested.

  “It’s nice that you’re helping Wesley, but please respect his privacy,” their mother reminded her daughter.

  “Yes, Mama,” Phoebe replied, but Nadine saw her slight smile, indicating she’d still bother Wesley.
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br />   But Nadine knew her little sisters wanted to help Wesley find his sister and would find a way to keep doing it. They were just loyal in that way.

  Should she hint she’d like her little sisters to steer Wesley toward her, instead of Elise? They loved sneaking around, helping Avalee and Gordon get together.

  Nadine would give it some thought before dropping hints to Cecilia and Phoebe. Did she want to marry Wesley? Yes, but at the same time, she was hesitating about what they’d do in the future. Would they’d stay working and living forever in this hotel, or would they move away?

  No, Wesley wanted to live near his friends, so that meant staying in Clear Creek unless he found his sister, and he wanted to live near her.

  There was so much more to think about in a marriage than just the wedding ceremony. But she was leaning toward trying to kiss Wesley again to feel the spark between them if it was really there.

  Maybe she should ask her sisters to lock her and Wesley in a broom closet to test out that theory.

  Chapter 5

  All the hotel rooms were clean, but the young daughters had to give the room they’d picked for Elise extra attention. They chose a second-floor room overlooking Main Street, and close to the main staircase. Every inch of the furniture was dusted again. The last of the fall mums from Millie Wilerson’s garden were in a vase on the room’s small table. A crocheted lap robe from the family’s collection laid just so across the back of the rocker.

  Wesley thought they’d dabbed some floral toilet water on the pillow, too, by how strong the scent was in the room when he checked it an hour ago. The family was at the depot platform waiting for Elise to arrive, so Wesley left the room door open to air it out.

  It was nice the family had extended family they could visit with, by letters or by traveling to see them in person. Wesley had long ago accepted the fact he had no family, but it still stung a bit when the Paulsons talked about other family connections.

  Wesley had counted the Miller brothers, Tobin, and Peter as his family for years, and he was grateful they were still so close. And now their lives were growing with wives, and so far, five adopted children.

  Maybe someday he’d have a wife and family too.

  Chatter and laughing coming up the boardwalk approaching the hotel meant only one thing. Elise Lindsmeir was here.

  Wesley stood tall by the check-in counter, ready to meet the young woman as she’d expect an employee at the hotel to act. Avalee had explained the York Hotel was a very elite sixty-four room hotel. Although the Paulson Hotel was in a small town, Wesley still wanted to give the young woman a proper greeting.

  Cecilia and Phoebe burst through the door first, walking backward to keep up with the conversation the rest of the family was having with the newcomer.

  Iva Mae and her two young sons had joined the family at the depot, and the youngsters exploded into the lobby in front of the adults, comfortable with being in their grandparents’ establishment.

  Ethan held the door for the group, smiling and listening to the conversations of his womenfolk as they filed into the hotel.

  Wesley took a double-take at the newcomer. Elise matched Avalee down to her height and dark copper curls. There was no doubt they were related. Avalee and Elise looked more alike than Avalee and Helen.

  But there was a spark in Elise’s smile and voice that Wesley found very attractive.

  “Elise, I’d like you to meet the hotel’s assistant manager, Wesley Preston,” Helen introduced him as they walked up to the counter.

  “Very nice to meet you, Miss Lindsmeir. I hope you have a wonderful stay at the hotel while visiting your aunt and family,” Wesley said with a polite smile, although he thought about changing his smile into a broad grin when he saw Nadine’s scowl.

  Was daughter number five jealous of Avalee’s niece? She hung back by the entrance rather than continue into the room with the rest of her family.

  “Wait until you see the room we fixed up for you!” Phoebe announced as she started up the staircase with Cecilia right behind her.

  “Girls, hotel manners,” Helen said as a reminder to the girls to slow down.

  The girls stopped, stood straight, and plastered very angelic smiles on their faces. Wesley wanted to burst out laughing but contained himself.

  “Oh, Mama, you saying that brings back so many memories of when we girls were young,” Iva Mae commented. “Do you remember her saying that when we all lived together in the York Hotel, Elise?”

  “You know, now that you mention it, I do! How funny to have a good memory like that surface. I’ll enjoy being with you all to reminisce,” Elise said.

  Wesley glanced at Nadine, noticing the pained look on her face. She wasn’t part of the older sisters that remembered their early years, and it bothered her, even though she’d had a wonderful life with her family.

  That irked Wesley a little. She should enjoy everything about her life because she had loving parents and sisters, where he’d… Wesley let out his pent up feelings and relaxed his shoulders. The Paulsons were his employers, and right now, he had no business wanting to be part of their family too.

  “May I take your bags to your room while you visit with your family, Miss Lindsmeir? The kitchen staff has set up refreshments in the dining room for you,” Wesley said to pull him back into his employee status.

  “Thank you, Mr. Preston. I’d like that,” Elise said demurely as she slipped off her coat, and Ethan took it.

  “I’ll also take your outer garment to your room,” Wesley said, and Ethan handed it to him.

  Cecilia and Phoebe switched back to excited little girls and bounded back down the stairs to lead the family into the dining room.

  Wesley waited until the family was heading out of the lobby before stooping to pick up the woman’s two carpet bags.

  “She’s very pretty, isn’t she. Poised and polished too,” Nadine said softly as she stopped beside Wesley as he stood up.

  “Just as you and your sisters are, Nadine. Don’t put yourself down,” Wesley told her.

  Nadine’s “hotel manners” as Helen called it slid onto Nadine’s face before she answered.

  “Thank you, Wesley. I’ll remember that,” she said with a nod and followed her family to the dining room.

  Wesley watched Nadine walk away from him, wishing he could have given her a hug and a kiss to bolster her confidence.

  He picked up the newcomer’s luggage and walked up the stairs to deposit it in her room. Should he flirt with Elise to make Nadine jealous, or not? No, that could be a way to get himself fired. He needed to stay a congenial employee to the family’s guest.

  But was that any different than trying to court Nadine?

  Wesley smiled as he walked into the room to place the luggage at the foot of the bed. The difference was all the members of the Paulson family were on his side, hoping he and Nadine would marry.

  First chance possible, he was going to ask Nadine to check something in the closet with him. It could be exciting to steal a kiss from Nadine in the broom closet. And the office, the dining room, and every nook and cranny there was in the three-story hotel. Just as well make a game of it as he tried to make Nadine fall for him.

  And a way to keep his mind off waiting for any word about his sister.

  Chapter 6

  “He’s coming this way! Get in the closet!” Phoebe whispered to Nadine, startling her from her dusting of the staircase.

  “What are you talking about, Phoebe? I don’t need anything from—” Nadine cut herself off when she realized what Phoebe was meaning.

  “Oh, yes. I need to get something from the top shelf in the broom closet. Would you ask Wesley to help me?”

  Nadine rushed in the closet, noticing someone had tidied the tiny room a bit. She heaved her dust rag over her head, hoping it would land on the top shelf out of her reach, but it didn’t. She tossed the rag overhand and almost clapped with glee when it stayed on the shelf, visible but out of her reach this time.

&nbs
p; She turned her back to the door, pretending to reach for the rag she’d just thrown up there.

  “Cecilia said you needed help, Nadine?” Wesley said in the open doorway and then took two steps inside the tiny space, his chest almost touching her back.

  “Why, yes, Wesley. I need you—”

  The door was slammed shut, and the key turned in the lock. They were in the pitch black. Why hadn’t Nadine realized it would be too dark to do anything in here?

  “I think someone tricked us into walking into the closet,” Wesley whispered softly as he moved his hands to circle her waist.

  “Why would they do that?” Nadine whispered as she just happened to lean back against his shoulder.

  “Oh, I can think of several reasons.”

  “And why is that?” Nadine felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she realized she’d practically repeated herself.

  “I believe your little sisters are playing matchmaker with us.”

  “Why would they do that?” Oh, geez, now she was repeating herself like a lovesick fool.

  “Because they think we belong together. Maybe if they lock us in a closet together, we’d kiss since we didn’t have anything else to do while we’re waiting for them to let us out.”

  Wesley bent down and lightly kissed the side of her neck. Nadine arched her neck sideways, so he’d have better access because his lips felt delicious against her skin.

  But then Nadine realized what he said and straightened her head, talking over her shoulder.

  “They? Don’t you mean Phoebe? She’s the one who locked us in this closet.”

  Wesley stilled behind her. “Phoebe? But Cecilia was supposed to—” Wesley started to say and then cleared his throat.

  “Okay, you want to explain that? I asked Phoebe to...oops,” Nadine said, cringing as she realized she just let Wesley know this meeting in the closet was planned.

  She felt Wesley place his hands on her shoulders and turn her around to face him. How she wished it wasn’t so dark in here, but it felt romantic to feel his hands on her forearms and his breath on her forehead.

  “Do we both have a confession to make?” Wesley hedged. “I was talking about Cecilia, and you were talking about Phoebe.”