by Judith Keim
He chuckled. “I love how you and Rhonda have a knack for making things work out well for the hotel. Are you sure you don’t want to open another one?”
“With Rhonda’s new baby and all that’s happened to me, the thought of that is pretty chilling.”
“Good for you, Ann. Keep those priorities. They’re the ones that count. I’ll be in touch with you regarding the paperwork for Robbie. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
My mind whirled as I hung up. Memories of Robert with Liz as a toddler assailed me. He’d never been the kind of father who played with his child, but he had watched me do it with a smile.
Vaughn was sitting in a chair on the dock when I went to find him. He looked up at me and smiled. “It’s so peaceful, just staring out at the activity on the water.”
“Are you all right? You were very restless in your sleep.”
He sighed. “Another bad dream.”
I leaned over and gave him a kiss. “I know how difficult this has been. Is there anything I can do for you?”
He shook his head. “Just get ready for that wedding of ours.”
“I’m going to meet with Lorraine Grace at Wedding Perfection. I’d like her to decorate the small dining room. With a photographer present for the press, we need to make this a little more formal than I’d planned.”
“Fine by me. Whatever you want. Did you get in touch with Syd?”
“Yes, and he doesn’t think there should be any problem with the adoption paperwork. He’ll get right back to us.”
“Good,” said Vaughn. “Go and have fun with Lorraine.”
I was heading back to the house when my cell phone rang. I checked the number and
frowned. No caller ID. I went to delete it and paused. Very few people had my cell number.
“Hello?”
“Ann? It’s Tina. I heard about Vaughn. How is he? How are you?”
“Hi, sweetheart! We’re doing okay. Vaughn was injured pretty badly, but he’s healing well. However, the death of the other two men was quite traumatic for him and is very sad for us.”
“Yeah, I heard he set up a fund for the pilot’s family. I’m contributing to it.”
“How nice. And how are you?”
“My new agent is terrific about finding great parts for me. I finished the movie I told you about earlier. It should be out in a few months. I’ve heard noises about an Oscar nod, but you know how those things go. We never can be too sure about them.”
“Tina, that’s wonderful! I’m so proud of you!” I said, truly happy for her. I couldn’t resist adding, “What does your mother think of that?”
“I have no idea,” said Tina. “We haven’t spoken in months. It’s been the happiest and most peaceful time of my life. None of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t come to The Beach House Hotel. I tell people about it all the time.”
“Thanks, we can always use more guests, though things are going well. Vaughn and I are going to be married on the beach at the hotel in a couple of weeks. It would be nice if you could join us.”
“I’d love to. You know I’d be there if I could, but I don’t think I can get there. I’m starting another film in ten days. But, Ann, I’ll be there in spirit. It’ll be like you and me together again, listening to the sounds around us. Coming from me, it may sound corny, but bless you, Ann, for all you did to help me.”
My heart warmed. Tina had been so demanding, so difficult, so needy when I’d first met her. She’d come a long way since then. “I said it then, and I’ll say it now, you’ll always have a place in my heart.”
“I know. Love you. I gotta go. I’ll be checking up on you.”
As she hung up, I heard the tears in Tina’s voice. I blinked back tears of my own. So many stories had taken place at the hotel. Hers was one of the best.
###
Lorraine was thrilled to be able to help me with the wedding dinner. She had a few other ideas with which I eagerly agreed. Now that new plans were evolving, my excitement grew. I’d been content to simply join hands on the beach and announce our marriage. But now, with added ceremony, it would be even more special.
I left her and, on a whim, decided to stop by Rhonda’s house to share the news. When I arrived, Rita greeted me with a smile.
“Hi! Is Rhonda here?” I asked her.
She nodded. “On the porch with Willow.”
I walked through the living room, and onto the screened-in porch. Rhonda was sitting in a wicker rocking chair with Willow, who was asleep in Rhonda’s arms.
“Hi! Wait until you hear the latest news on my wedding!” I exclaimed, lowering myself into a couch nearby. I clasped my hands in excitement. “It’s going to be so beautiful!”
I was halfway through the details when I noticed that the smile on Rhonda’s face hadn’t changed—as if it were frozen in place. Concerned, I stopped. “What’s the matter?”
Tears rolled down Rhonda’s cheeks. “I’m pregnant.”
“Wha-a-at! How did that happen?” I choked out a laugh. “I mean I know how, but when? I mean...never mind.” I rose and gave her a hug. “Are you okay?”
She shrugged. “Oh, Annie, I’m just so unsure about it all. Willow’s not even four months old. I wasn’t even thinking about another baby. They tell ya that as long as you’re nursing, you’re fine, and with me being so down after Willow’s birth, there wasn’t that much going on, if you know what I mean.”
“What does Will think about it?”
Rhonda made a face. “He’s totally thrilled. I swear he’s beginning to strut around the house like a frickin’ rooster.”
At the image of tall, gentle Will acting that way, I couldn’t help smiling. “Oh, Rhonda, I’m happy for you both.”
“Gawd! What’s Reggie’s mother going to say now?” said Rhonda, sniffing.
“She’ll probably think you’re lucky,” I said. “I have a feeling a good night kiss is the most she gets.”
Rhonda and I looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Willow stirred in her sleep. Rhonda rose. “Let me give her to Rita and then I want to hear all about those plans.”
Rhonda returned to the porch with two glasses of Consuela’s berry iced tea. She handed me one and sat down beside me on the couch with the other.
I described what Lorraine and I had come up with.
“Beautiful, Annie, and you’ll be such a classy bride. And you and Vaughn together? Wow! How’s he doing?”
“It’s going to take him a while to settle in his mind why he was the only one who survived. But he set up the family fund for the pilot, and that’s making him feel better. By the way, Tina called me.”
Rhonda leaned forward. “Ohhh? What is she up to?”
I filled Rhonda in on the conversation and how Tina credited coming to the hotel as a factor in changing her life.
“You’re the one who really helped her, Annie, but I’m glad to know some of our guests have really benefitted from staying with us. How’s the romance with Bernie coming along? If I say so myself, I had a lot to do with that one.”
I grinned. Rhonda’s matchmaking efforts hadn’t really been needed, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. She loved the idea that, because of her, Annette was moving to Florida to be with Bernie. I made a mental note to include them in the wedding, along with a few other members of our hotel family. Jean-Luc and Sabine would be busy inside before and after the ceremony, but they’d already promised to be present for the exchange of vows.
I left Rhonda’s house feeling very conflicted. I was happy to think of Rhonda’s and Will’s exciting news but worried about the responsibilities that would be left to me. No matter how much day-to-day help our staff was, the tone of the hotel was dictated to them by us and our actions. And that meant overseeing the project.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Syd Green called a few days later to say that everything was set for Robbie’s adoption. In lieu of appearing in court, a telephone interview was being granted, along with a visit by
a local social worker to confirm that our home was appropriate. “It’s just a matter of protocol,” Syd explained when I protested. “My guess is that they will forego that.”
Vaughn had no problem with any of it when I told him. “Just so it’s all legal,” he said, waving away my concerns.
That same afternoon, Mike Torson called. “Ann, we have to meet. We have a strong interest again on the part of the same prospective buyers of the hotel. They want to meet with you to discuss it. It’s something you, Rhonda, and I need to talk about. I’ve come up with a couple of ideas—alternatives you may want to consider. I’ve had only preliminary, superficial discussions with them and have not disclosed any information, of course, without your permission.”
“But, Mike...” I began and stopped. What harm would it do to talk about such a thing? Roger Jamieson, our consultant in Boston had suggested we keep an open mind to the idea. And at the moment, I had no idea how we could continue in our usual pattern.“All right. I’ll call Rhonda and see if we can set up a time to meet with you.”
“How about four this afternoon?” Mike said, making it impossible for me to put it off.
“Okay, if Rhonda agrees, we’ll be there. I’ll let you know.”
I hung up even more conflicted than I was before. Working with lawyers had always brought some pain with it. And the idea of selling the hotel was already very painful.
Rhonda hesitated and then agreed to go to the meeting.
At the appointed time, I picked her up. We drove toward Mike’s office in silence. I was about to ask Rhonda what she was thinking when she said, “It’s my home, Annie.”
“It must be difficult for you to think of selling,” I said. “I still don’t like the idea. The hotel means so much to me.”
Rhonda turned to me. “Will thinks it’s a good idea. It really pissed me off when he said it, but he may be right.”
“Let’s see if this whole idea is real or not,” I said, feeling trapped by our circumstances.
###
We waited in a small conference room for Mike to appear. He entered the room, carrying a large number of documents.
After exchanging greetings, he sat down opposite us. “I’m glad you were willing to come to this meeting today. After learning who this buyer is, I’ve spent some time investigating them. Of course, I haven’t gone beyond that. Without your permission to do so, I wouldn’t. But I have drawn up a list of things we need to discuss in order to decide if we want to pursue this.”
“Who is this buyer?” I asked, suspicious already.
“It’s a group out of Massachusetts. Peabody, Lowell and Logan. Have you heard of them?”
“Actually, I have,” I said. “We bid on a job for them and lost. Robert was furious.”
“Then you know they have a good reputation. I checked their portfolio online. They own a number of small, boutique hotels, mostly out west and in Hawaii. I’m sure your prime location in Florida is one of the reasons they’re interested in The Beach House Hotel.”
“What about their finances?” said Rhonda. “Can they pay? Because if we decide to sell, it’s going to cost them big time.”
“From all I can ascertain, their financial stability is there. Even a big purchase like you envision should be no problem for them. Of course, until we start exchanging information with them, we don’t have the right to actual numbers. This leads me to a matter of great concern. If you’re interested at all in pursuing this, we need to have a CA—or confidentiality agreement— in place. If word got out about your contemplating selling the hotel, it would attract the vultures of the industry to walk the property.”
“And it might hurt our business,” I said. “People might get the mistaken idea that we are in trouble. And if that word got out as the reason we wanted to sell, it could bring the perceived value down.”
“I agree,” said Mike. “We want to proceed carefully. Before I go any further with this, are the two of you interested in selling?”
Rhonda and I looked at each other.
“Can we talk about it?” Rhonda said. “This is a huge thing for us to think about.”
“Yes. We’ve put our hearts and souls into it. I’d hate to think someone would come in and ruin it.”
Mike smiled. “I thought you might feel that way, so I’ve come up with a few alternative scenarios to think about.”
An hour later, Rhonda and I left Mike’s office with a whole lot more to think about.
###
When I drew up to the front of my house, I stopped the car and took a good look at it. It was beautiful—the nicest I’d ever had—thanks to Vaughn. But it was so much more than a structure; it was the place where I knew I was loved, knew I was needed.
I pulled into the driveway and got out. Stepping into the kitchen, I heard the sound of running feet, and then Robbie appeared. “Mommy!” He threw his arms around my legs and smiled up at me.
My spirits lifted. I pulled him up into my arms and laughed as Trudy stood at my feet and barked for attention.
Vaughn came into the kitchen and smiled at me. “Guess the welcoming committee got to you first.”
“Always room for one more,” I said. “What’s up?”
“Liz called. She’s taken the last exam for the semester and will be heading home. She’s decided to stop in DC to visit Nell. The girls are going to shop together for different dresses for the wedding.”
“I’m so glad they get along. And happy Liz has agreed to go back to school in the fall to finish her last year.”
“How was your meeting with Mike?” Vaughn asked.
“Interesting. Very interesting. Let’s go out on the porch and I’ll tell you all about it.”
I settled Robbie on the carpet in front of us and placed several toys around him. While he played with them, I told Vaughn about the basic ideas Mike had presented to us.
“So you’re actually thinking of selling the hotel?” Vaughn asked.
“Only with certain conditions in place,” I said and blinked rapidly to cover the threat of tears.
Vaughn noticed and frowned. “How does Rhonda feel about this?”
“I think she realizes she can’t continue her work there, except on a consulting basis. Not with two babies—two babies she never dared to dream she’d have after all this time.” I drew a deep breath. “We both feel very lucky for the lives we have, for so many reasons.”
Vaughn studied me and nodded thoughtfully. “If this turns out the way you both want, I’ll be happy with your decision. I’ve wanted you with me many times—many times you’ve been tied to the hotel. Without your having that constant responsibility, there’s a lot we can see and do together, even with Robbie.”
A new excitement filled me. Maybe Rhonda and I could pull off the deal we wanted. It was worth a try. If not, we’d find another way to make it all work.
###
Vaughn agreed to go with me to Elise Talbot’s bridal shop for her help in choosing an outfit for him for the wedding. His willingness to try on a number of things touched my heart. He made a game of it, twirling in front of us.
After we’d selected the right things, we left to go to another store to find a similar outfit for Robbie.
We’d just returned home when we got a call from someone in the Family Court in Massachusetts. The woman asked me all kinds of questions about Robbie’s care, the facilities we have and then asked to speak to Vaughn.
I listened as he patiently answered questions. “This is a decision we all made some time ago. We want the paperwork signed and filed now.”
He listened and then said, “Thank you. Thank you so much. We will give him a wonderful home and the best life we can.”
He hung up the call and turned to me. His eyes watered. “Robbie’s ours. She apologized for the delay and said they weren’t even going to pursue a home inspection, that they’d already received approval from a social worker who is a friend of Elena’s. The delay has been one of those things that got caught in the system.
As she said, this decision is a no-brainer from every aspect.”
We hugged and tiptoed into Robbie’s room, where Elena had put him down for a nap. He was asleep on his back, clutching the stuffed giraffe I’d bought him at the zoo.
Looking down at him, I could easily see how much he’d grown. With all the swimming and other activities that kept him busy most days, his legs had grown longer and stronger, and his body had filled out. He was a darling little boy who would become a handsome man.
My thoughts flew to Robert. It seemed so odd that his last gift to Liz and me would be something so precious. Had he had a premonition that he was going to die, like Liz had once felt? Was that why he’d told her he wanted me to help raise his son? We’d never know.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Rhonda and I sat in the office at The Beach House Hotel as if great plans weren’t waiting in the wings. I checked over the sales figures and she checked over the reservations.
“Looks like our summer might not be so bad,” Rhonda said.
“It helps that we’re coming up with special events. And with Sabine in charge of working with Lorraine Grace from Wedding Perfection to do weddings here at the hotel, it’s becoming one of the top places for small, destination weddings.”
Rhonda turned to me with a smile. “Having your wedding filmed here will give the hotel a big boost. You and Vaughn Sanders. Who would’ve thunk it a few years ago, huh?”
I laughed. “Not me. Amazing how things work out.”
Rhonda grew serious. “Are you gonna be all right if we can get the deal we want on the hotel?”
“I think so. No, I know so. Let’s call Mike and see if he has any news for us. He was supposed to talk to the group and get some feedback from the ideas we’re proposing.” As I picked up the office phone to call him, my cell rang.
I checked caller ID and smiled. “Great minds think alike, Mike. I was getting ready to call you. Rhonda’s here with me. I’m putting you on my speaker. Any news?”
“I was able to talk to one of the lead guys in the investor group. They’re signing a CA today, so the confidentiality issue is resolved. Their interest in the property has been very hush-hush so far, and he’s promised to keep it that way. He’s agreed in principle to the idea of your retaining a minority ownership for two years while you act as consultants to the business for continuity and so the quality of guest service and the facilities are not impaired. They’ve also agreed to a re-purchase option, which we can talk about later. I’m about to call Will to let him know what documents he needs to prepare for them. They’ll also need payroll records, forecasts and the like. I suggest you bring Bernie in on this now.”
