Grand Hotel

by Mary Davis

  Aha. She’d just found Huey.

  Someone at the table Huey stood beside said, “Have you lost her already? You aren’t even married yet.”

  Huey shrugged and stood a little longer to talk; then he left that table, but before he could engage the next table with his inquiry, Aimee intercepted him.

  “Huey.” He turned to her, and she continued. “I’m Aimee, and I’ll be taking some candid shots of the people here for your big day if that is all right with you.”

  “Mad would love that. She already has one scrapbook full and is planning dozens more.”

  “Great. Would you mind if I got your e-mail address so I can just e-mail them to you?”

  “That would work super. I’ll be able to just print them right off, and Mad can put them in her books.”

  Aimee pulled a piece of folded notebook paper out of her camera bag but couldn’t find a pen. “Do you have a pen?”

  Huey pulled one from his pants pocket, took the paper, and wrote down an e-mail address. “There you go. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”

  “Huey Dodson. Are you giving girls your phone number already?”

  A young woman, about five-foot-two, scooted up next to Huey and looped her arm through his. Flyaways of her brown kinky shoulder-length hair danced in the air. Her short frame held an extra thirty to forty pounds.

  “Mad, you know I’m only mad about you.” Huey squeezed her hand wrapped around his arm.

  Madison’s mouth broke into a wide smile. “I just love it when he calls me that.”

  “Mad, this is Aimee. She’s going to be taking pictures of people just milling around. I just gave her my e-mail addy so she can send the shots to us.”

  Aimee held out the paper to show her. She was about to tell Madison that if it was a problem, she would gladly return the address. The last thing she wanted to do was cause trouble between the bride and groom.

  Madison’s eyes widened. “Really! Oh, Huey, you did this for me?” She gave him a big hug.

  Huey winked at Aimee over Madison’s shoulder. She smiled and winked back to let him know she wouldn’t tell his bride it wasn’t his idea. Let him be the hero. That’s how it should be.

  Madison pulled away and playfully swatted Huey’s arm. “And you who are always complaining about all my pictures.” Madison turned toward Aimee. “He’ll thank me one day when we’re old and all we can remember of our lives are the images captured forever in fading photographs.”

  She had thought the glowing bride thing was just a myth. But if anyone could be considered glowing, it was Madison. And with the love shining in her eyes, she was going to make the most beautiful bride. Madison was what being a bride was all about. And the best part was the love in Huey’s eyes for his bride. “I wish you both the best and a long and happy life together.” She tucked the paper into her camera bag.

  She was about to leave when Madison thrust a disposable camera at her. “Would you take our picture?”

  Aimee took the camera and snapped the picture. The opulence of a Grand Hotel wedding in contrast with the disposable camera hit her funny, and she almost laughed. Instead, she handed back the camera and held up hers. “Let me get one of you with my camera, as well.” They posed again with the Mackinac Bridge in the background, then were off with their guests.

  She sighed and sent up a silent prayer that their marriage would make it for the long haul. And she sensed it would.

  Now that she had accomplished everything she had said she would, her initial fib was now the truth. She could go back inside and complete another task that she had promised. She turned to walk back up the stairs to the hotel but stopped at the sound of her name.

  Dillon was at her side in a few strides. “You aren’t leaving so soon, are you?”

  “I was just going in to use the ladies’ room.”

  “I’m heading back inside. I’ll walk with you.”

  She just couldn’t get rid of this guy. Under other circumstances, she would love his attention, would crave his attention. But not today. But she could enjoy his company on the way back up. . .as long as she didn’t look at his dimples. “Why did you come to this hotel to work?”

  “Who wouldn’t want to work at the Grand?”

  “Well, I don’t know, maybe someone who has a fear of water. After all, there is water all the way around the island.” Duh. Kind of the definition of an island. That had sounded so. . .so dumb-blondish. “Someone who doesn’t want to part with a special car. No cars allowed here. Or someone who wants to travel to other parts of the world. There could be a lot of reasons, and there are a lot of exceptional hotels like this one around the world. So why this one?”

  Dillon provided the now-expected pause, then said, “I like it here.”

  “There has to be more to it than that, and I’m going to keep probing until I find out the answer.” She suspected he was a private man by the way he guarded his words; maybe that threat would make him steer clear of her, and she could do what she came to do. “Well, thank you for escorting me back. If you could just tell me where I might find the ladies’ room, I’ll be out of your way.” Or you’ll be out of mine.

  Two

  Aimee sat on the edge of the bed in her hotel room and flopped backward with her arms splayed. The day had been a total waste. She hadn’t expected to find what she was looking for on the first day, but she had at least expected to make progress. She had to make progress tomorrow because she could only keep this room one more night after tonight.

  Dillon Thurough had been like superglue, supercute superglue. Every time she turned around, he was there. If she could avoid the cute assistant manager with the irresistible dimples, she could make progress tomorrow, even if she didn’t find what she was looking for. Then maybe she could check out of her room here early Sunday morning, attend services at The Little Stone Church near the Grand Hotel, and find what she needed on Sunday, either before or after the wedding.

  She paused in her thinking. Or maybe, better yet, during the wedding? Everyone would be preoccupied with the wedding, and she could possibly slip through the hotel undisturbed. Well, maybe not everyone, but everyone of consequence—specifically Dillon Thurough.

  Aimee picked up the phone and dialed the nursing home. It would be another expense to draw on her limited funds, but Nonie needed to know she had been inside the hotel and was hopeful.

  A tired voice came through the line. “EagleView Assisted Living and Retirement Center, nurses’ station, this is Betty speaking.”

  “Hi, Betty. This is Aimee Mikkelson. How’s Nonie doing today?”

  “She had a good day. Her hip seems to be healing as well as can be expected. If she continues to behave and do what we tell her, she should heal fine with no lasting problems.”

  She took a deep breath. “Is she still talking about dying?”

  “She mentions it. I think she’s trying to prepare you for the inevitable. She’s mentally ready to die, but I don’t think she has given up.”

  “I just don’t want to think about what life will be like when she’s gone.”

  “But one day, it will happen.”

  “I know.” She rubbed her face. “I realize it’s late, but is she still awake?”

  “Sorry. The doctor ordered some strong meds to ease her pain, and they knocked her out.”

  “Okay. Tell her I called and I wish her well.”

  “She’ll be sad she missed you. She sure looks forward to it when you come or call.”

  “Tell her I’ll try to call tomorrow night, earlier. And, hopefully, I’ll be back in a few days.” She hung up the phone. There were plenty of family members to keep Nonie company, but none of them could find two spare minutes to give her. After Aimee found her nephew, Justin, he had been happy to visit Nonie with her.

  ❧

  Dillon loosened his blue and gray tie and unbuttoned the top button of his white dress shirt.

  Aimee Mikkelson seemed to be exactly who she claimed to be. He was glad about t
hat. Tomorrow he wouldn’t spend one moment worrying over her.

  He hung his suit coat in his closet and went to the kitchen for a bottle of cranberry juice. He cracked it open and took a long swig. Nope, he wouldn’t spend one more minute thinking about the cute blond with more words than Chef Tony had complaints.

  The next day, Dillon stared down the hall at Aimee talking to one of the maids. Aimee wore a purple filmy dress that reminded him of a fairy or flower petals. The maid opened a room door, and Aimee disappeared inside. He’d seen Aimee enter the hotel and even greeted her without a second thought. But now what was she up to?

  He strode down the hall to the maid standing next to her service cart. “Brigitte, who just entered that room?”

  Brigitte turned quickly and sucked in a breath. “Oh, sir, you startled me.” Her heavy French accent slurred the words together. “I did not ask the lady her name. She said she did not have her key and would I please open the door for her.”

  Of course she didn’t have a key. “Thank you, Brigitte.”

  “I hope I did not do anything wrong.”

  She really shouldn’t have let Aimee in, but there was probably no harm done. “Next time a guest asks to be let into a room, send them to the front desk.”

  “Oui.”

  Dillon glanced at the room number, then headed back to the front desk and typed the room number into the computer system. She could simply be visiting with a guest of the hotel.

  Or not.

  The room came up as vacant. He grabbed the room key and strode back down the hall.

  When he opened the door, he didn’t see Aimee. He walked around and saw tiny white feet with a pair of purple sandals on them protruding from the closet. The body they were attached to was on hands and knees inside. “What are you doing?”

  She froze, then swung her head and looked over her shoulder. “Hi, Dillon.”

  Hi, Dillon? “What are you doing in the closet?”

  “I lost a contact.” She swung her head back into the closet.

  He swiped a hand down his face. She was kidding, right? “Please come out of the closet.”

  “Found it!” She backed out and stood up with her index finger extended. Resting on the end of her finger sat a hard contact lens. “I’m just going to run into the bathroom and pop this back in.” She walked away.

  He stood stationary. So she really had lost a contact. But that didn’t explain what she was doing in this room to begin with. He heard the water run, and a moment later Aimee reappeared.

  Aimee blinked rapidly as she approached him. “I just hate it when that happens. But it’s back in now.”

  “How did you lose a contact in the closet?”

  “I guess it just popped out. I need to be going.” She headed for the door.

  He just bet she did. “Wait.”

  She turned back to him with a smile. “What do you need?”

  “I need to know what you are doing in this room. You told me yesterday you didn’t have a room at this hotel.”

  She slumped her shoulders and cocked her head to one side. “It’s like this. I figure I’m not going to have a chance to see this beautiful hotel that I have heard so many wonderful things about. It is absolutely fabulous. I have never seen a finer one. See, I could never afford to stay in a place this nice and just wanted a peek at one of the rooms. I promise I didn’t hurt anything.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask one of the wedding guests who does have a room here to show you their room?”

  She raised a hand and waved it in the air. “Everyone is so busy with the wedding, and those who aren’t are around touring the island. I didn’t see any harm in a little peek. You can look around and see that I didn’t disturb anything.”

  He took a deep breath. The room seemed fine. “Come with me.” He led her to the front desk. He typed in the Presidential Suite, and as he thought, it, too, came up vacant. The nicest room in the hotel. She would enjoy seeing it. He grabbed the key. “Follow me.”

  Her eyes widened. “Where are you taking me?”

  “I want to show you something.” Why was he even doing this? Because she would appreciate the view? Maybe she wouldn’t feel the need to roam around the building? He let her enter the elevator first and then pressed the appropriate button.

  She stood across the elevator from him. “I really didn’t hurt anything.”

  “I know.” He gave her a smile to reassure her.

  “That maid isn’t going to get into any trouble, is she? She really thought she was helping someone. Well, she was. She was helping me get a small glimpse of how the other half lives.”

  “I’ve spoken to her.” The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. None too soon. This girl could talk Chef Tony quiet. “This way.” He pointed down the hall.

  “Are you planning on throwing me off the turret?”

  He couldn’t help but laugh at that. “This hotel doesn’t have a turret.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “The roof then.”

  He shook his head. “You have quite an imagination. A body landing in front of the hotel would not be good for business.” He stopped in front of a set of double doors and unlocked them. “You wanted to see what one of our rooms looked like. This is one of our finest.”

  ❧

  Aimee stared at the open doors, then back at Dillon. Was he trying to impress her with a fancy room? “You have been really nice and all, but I don’t go to hotel rooms with guys.” At least she had thought he was nice. But maybe all his attention yesterday wasn’t him being helpful. Maybe he had ill-conceived intentions. She had seen the door to the stairs, and she knew, if he decided to push his advantage, how to grind the heel of her shoe into his foot to cause enough pain to get away.

  He held up his hands and took a step backward. “This is nothing like that. I was merely allowing you to tour one of the rooms.”

  She squinted at him.

  He stood in the open doorway. “My only intention is to give you the opportunity to see one of our luxury suites. Take it or leave it.”

  She gave him a sideways glance as she stepped inside. This was very nice of him. Guilt twisted inside her. “Thank you for doing this.”

  She turned her attention to the room and sucked in a long breath. This was a side of life she never dreamed of seeing, let alone live. She took in everything from the antique furnishings to the fresh flowers. She opened a door off to the right, a grand master bedroom. Another bedroom was off to the left. Each bedroom had its own bathroom and a powder room was situated near the living room. “My whole apartment could fit in just one of these rooms.”

  He remained stationed by the open doors. “Mine, too.”

  “This is gorgeous. I never realized a hotel room could be so grand in every way, the lavish furnishings and spaciousness. . . People really live like this?”

  “Some do.” He walked over to a pair of glass doors and swung them open. “Check out the view.”

  She stepped out onto the balcony and, with a sigh, took in the beautiful panorama of the Mackinac Bridge.

  She exited the room with Dillon. “Thank you for letting me see that gorgeous view.”

  Dillon pulled the doors closed. “You liked it?”

  “Of course.” Her guilt wrenched tighter. Here he was being nice, and she had been trying to be sneaky. I know, Lord, honesty is the best policy. I promise, no more lies. I’m really trying. Honest. It wasn’t as if she made a habit of lying. It was as though she had a short in her brain or something since stepping foot on Mackinac Island. Her need to find Nonie’s treasure seemed to be driving her tongue.

  Later that night, back in her room, she phoned the nursing home again. It had been a challenge to talk Dillon out of escorting her to the rehearsal dinner for the wedding she wasn’t even a part of. It had been hard for her not to trip over him after he’d caught her in the hallway trying to figure out how to get inside that room a second time. She knew she could find what she was looking for if she just had the chance to sea
rch. She hadn’t had enough time the first time. Now she only had tomorrow.

  Betty picked up the phone at the nurses’ station again. “Hi, Betty. Is Nonie still awake?”

  “She is refusing to take her meds until you call, and she has the phone huddled next to her in bed. I’ll connect you to her room.”

  “Thanks.” Then she heard a click and a ring.

  “Is that you, Muffin?”

  The eagerness in her grandma’s words warmed her heart. “Yes, Nonie. I hear you’re giving the doctors and nurses a little trouble.”

  “People think they can run over you when you’re blind. They talk about you like you were deaf and couldn’t hear a word.”

  “Nonie, promise me you’ll take your medication.”

  “Oh, the doctors just like to fuss. I’m not really in much pain.” Her voice had the weak rasp of a worn-out elderly person. “If I took pills every time I had a little ache or pain, I’d be too full to eat a proper meal. You know, they have a pill for everything these days, and not a one will cure a thing.”

  Aimee closed her eyes and schooled her frustration. “Promise you’ll do what the doctors say.”

  “Even if they don’t know anything?”

  “Nonie.” Her grandma’s stubbornness and tenacity were encouraging.

  A heavy sigh came over the line. “Fine, I’ll behave.”

  “And take your medication.”

  “Of course, of course.” She could picture Nonie waving her hand as if batting at a fly as she said it. “Now tell me about the hotel. I wish I could have seen it just once. Is it as grand as its name?”

  “Even more so. I wish you were with me now. When you get better, I’ll bring you here. It’s beautiful.”

  Nonie’s voice took on a soft, wistful tone. “You are the only one who ever really believed, you know? Everyone just thinks I’m a crazy old woman trying to make up for her lack of vision. I’m not even going to ask you about it. I’m content that you believe enough to even go look.”

  She had to smile. By simply mentioning it, Nonie was asking and expecting an answer. “It’s been a little harder than I expected.” If Dillon would leave her alone, it would be a snap.