Lunch at the Beach House Hotel

by Judith Keim

  The kitchen was already a scene of activity when I entered it. Consuela was taking a couple of batches of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. A staff member was chopping onions and mushrooms to add to the huge bowl of bread cubes that would form the bulk of stuffing for the turkeys. Another member of the kitchen staff was pouring a pumpkin mixture into pie shells.

  I grabbed a cup of coffee and went into the office to check messages. Keeping all tables full for a meal like this was as difficult as keeping all rooms filled. I was at my desk when Tim knocked on the office door and entered.

  He looked unusually flustered.

  “What’s up?” I asked, wondering at his state. Tim wasn’t one to get easily upset.

  “It’s the Smythes. I just got a call. They’re checking out. Aren’t they supposed to stay here for Thanksgiving dinner with Rhonda?”

  “Checking out?” I rose to my feet with a sense of dread. Their leaving would be the final blow to Rhonda. She prided herself on providing this meal to her holiday guests.

  “Did they say when they are leaving?” I checked the clock. Eight a.m.

  “Mrs. Smythe said she ordered a limo to pick them up immediately. I know Rhonda will be hurt. And Angela too.” He gave me a worried look.

  “Let me call Katherine Smythe, and I’ll get back to you. But, Tim, I have the awful feeling she’s not going to change her mind.”

  “Me too.” He shook his head. “She’s not a very nice person.”

  As he left, I picked up the phone. Drawing a deep breath, I told myself to remain calm, pleasant and helpful—all those qualities we constantly drilled into our staff.

  Arthur answered the phone. “Good morning,” he said, echoing my greeting.

  “I understand you might be leaving the hotel? We’d planned a special dinnertime event for you and Katherine, and I would hate for you to miss it.”

  “Yes, me too,” Arthur said tersely. “But Katherine is adamant. We discovered earlier that Reggie spent the night at Rhonda’s house with Angela.”

  His voice faded as another voice said, “Ann? This is Katherine. I cannot and will not allow such things to go on. Rhonda knew how I felt about Reggie and Angela being together. She should have respected my wishes. She should have sent him home.”

  “She might not have known he was there,” I said. “She’s pregnant, and last night she left here tired. I imagine she was sleeping. She trusts Angela to do the right thing.” I cringed at the thought of Angela’s pregnancy. Katherine would, no doubt, blame that entire situation on Angela. But I knew it wasn’t her fault alone. I’d seen the look of adoration on Reggie’s face when he gazed at Angela. He loved her.

  “We’re leaving. Nothing you can say will change my mind,” said Katherine. “And Rhonda having a baby at her age, when she has a child in college? Totally unseemly.”

  “Your judging Rhonda and Will that way is uncalled for. They’re in love and thrilled with a chance, a second chance if you will, to make a family of their own,” I said hotly.

  “The limo will be here shortly. I have to go. I’ve asked the front desk clerk to check Reggie and us out of our rooms. Thank you.”

  Katherine hung up the phone with a finality I knew I couldn’t change. I sat back in my desk chair, wondering how I could soften the blow to Rhonda.

  Several minutes later, Rhonda entered the office and slammed the door behind her. “That bitch! She’s ruined everything!” Tears shone in Rhonda’s eyes. “I could kill her! And Angela’s hysterical.”

  “What happened?”

  “Angela got a call from Reggie to tell her that his parents are insisting that he leave with them. He said he had no choice but to go with them. They’ve threatened to cut him off if he doesn’t.” She slapped a hand on the desk. “They hurt my baby, they pay. Somehow, I’ll see that they do.”

  “Have a seat, Rhonda, and we’ll talk about it.” An alarming red hue was creeping up her cheeks. “Remain calm for the baby’s sake.”

  “Oh, yeah, I forgot,” said Rhonda, promptly sitting in her chair. “But, Annie, it breaks my heart to see Angela so devastated. After the call, she was distraught.”

  I nodded, well able to imagine how upset she was. As far as I knew, no one else was aware of her pregnancy. I told myself it wasn’t up to me to make that private announcement, but I wished I could.

  “Have they gone already?” I asked.

  “They were getting into the limo when I arrived.” She lowered her head into her hands and took several deep breaths. “I tried to tell Angela it was for the best, but she screamed at me that I didn’t know anything about love.” She lifted her face. “What in the hell does that mean? Doesn’t she see how Will and I are together? And if that isn’t true love, what is?”

  “She sees you as the old folks, not the young lovers they are.”

  “They were, you mean. I never want to see that young punk with her again.”

  I drew a long breath in and let the air escape slowly. “In the end, it’s their choice. Not yours, or Katherine’s, or anyone else’s.”

  “Angela’s a pretty smart girl,” said Rhonda. “I know she’ll cut it off.”

  I didn’t say a word. Time would tell who’d win this war of hearts.

  Rhonda lifted herself out of the chair, and we turned our attention to the day’s activities. Hotel guests had to be taken care of along with the locals who’d made dinner reservations. A lot of hotel guests, knowing what was coming, opted for a light breakfast. As the bulk of our guests went on to other activities, I talked to the dining room staff about the buffet, which would start at noon.

  Sabine stood beside me, and after my pep talk, she quietly informed the staff that today’s service had to be superb. “One of the travel reporters from Miami is going to be here with his family. This is an opportunity for us to shine. Please remember all the little things I’ve taught you about quiet, efficient service.” Said in her French accent, it was charming.

  Rhonda was busy in the kitchen with Jean-Luc. I waved to her. “I’ll be back shortly. I want to check on Vaughn.”

  She winked at me. “Take your time.”

  I grinned, happy to see her sense of humor return.

  On my way out of the hotel, I noticed Angela talking to Manny.

  She saw me and rushed over.

  “Ann, you heard?” Tears swam in her eyes. Their brown depth held sadness I’d seldom seen in her.

  I nodded. “I’m so sorry. What are you going to do now?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not sure. Reggie doesn’t know about the baby. I may not even tell him.”

  Alarm pulsed through me in nervous beats. “Are you going to keep the baby?”

  She shrugged sadly. “Probably. I can’t get rid of it. But I may give it up for adoption. Reggie and I have broken up for good.” A sob escaped her throat. “It’s clear his mother is going to get her way. Reggie needs his parents’ support to get the job he wants in New York—a job that was supposed to support us in the style he wanted for me. And the family they’re going to visit is the family whose daughter his parents want Reggie to marry.”

  Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  I hugged her to me. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. Don’t you think you’d better talk to your mother? First of all, she’d be crushed, totally crushed, if you placed your baby up for adoption. And then Reggie has rights too. Your baby would have a lot more love than most staying right here in our little family. Remember, you’re not alone. We’ll all be here to help you.”

  Angela wiped at her eyes with a tissue. “I’m counting on that. Ann, I don’t want you to say a word to anyone else. I need to figure things out. Please. Promise me.”

  I gave her a defeated sigh. “I haven’t told anyone and I won’t. But, Angela, I think your mother should know. It’s unfair not to tell her.”

  Shaking her head firmly, Angela said, “I can’t tell her. You know my mother. She’d fly up to New York and punch Reggie in the nose and then pull Katherine’s hair out strand by str
and. And his father? My mother would teach him words he doesn’t know.”

  Though our hearts were breaking, we couldn’t help smiling at one another.

  “Okay, Angela. But by the New Year, you’re going to have to make a lot of decisions about the baby and your life going forward.”

  Her face became a map of unhappiness, from the wrinkles that creased her brow to the downward slope of her lips. “I know.” Her whisper spoke louder than a shout.

  Wishing I could make her life easier, I wrapped my arms around her. But my wishes would not change the difficult position she was in.

  We said goodbye, and I went on to my house.

  Vaughn looked up from the newspaper he was reading. He wore a pair of blue jeans without shoes or shirt. He looked ... well, yummy.

  He stood, and I went into his arms, so grateful he’d decided to come home for the holiday. He was such a steadying force for me.

  I leaned into his embrace and drew a deep breath.

  “What’s wrong?” He tipped my chin up and studied me.

  “It’s Angela. Reggie’s parents left this morning, taking him with them. Katherine was furious when she found out Reggie had spent the night at Rhonda’s with Angela. They’re now on their way to see a friend’s family in Palm Beach. Reggie’s parents want him to marry their daughter.”

  “Well, that doesn’t always work!” The disgust in Vaughn’s voice was satisfying to me. “Reggie is a young adult who should make his own choices.”

  “He’s been told if he doesn’t listen to them, he won’t get the job in New York. Angela says it’s a job he wanted so he could take care of her.”

  Vaughn shook his head. “What a mess. Angela is too sweet a girl to stay with him.”

  “But she loves him. She’s heartbroken he left.”

  “Well, let’s hope it all works out. Meantime, our daughters called. Nell is having dinner today with a friend of hers. A boyfriend, I gather. I’m trying not to jump to conclusions, but I think it may be serious.”

  “And?”

  “And next time I’m home, I’m going to try to meet him.”

  I laughed. “You already look like you don’t approve of him.” Shaking my head, I continued. “It’s hard to see your children make choices you might not like. But Nell is a steady girl. So tell me, what did Liz have to say?”

  “She was happy to know I’d made it here. She says she’s barely surviving her father and Kandie, and she’ll call you on your cell later after the crowd leaves.”

  “Thanks. How about some breakfast?”

  He grinned. “Already beat you to it.”

  “My! How handy you are to have around,” I teased.

  He pulled me to him, giving me the lopsided grin that made some women all but swoon. “You haven’t experienced me at my best today.”

  At his words and the sexy look he was giving me, my heartbeat pranced like a thoroughbred pony. I checked the clock in the kitchen and grinned, eager to put him to the test. He’d be gone too quickly. Unless I went for it, I’d be left with a missed opportunity.

  “Okay, Mister Wonderful. You’re on.”

  His chuckle was a little smug as we walked out of the kitchen, but I didn’t care. I knew what lay ahead.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  At the hotel, I found Tina sitting on the patio outside her room with a book.

  “What are you reading?” I asked, surprised.

  She gave me a sheepish look and held up the book. “Something Troy gave me. A mystery. It’s light and easy. Barbara told me to stay busy to keep my mind off my mother and my career.”

  “Good idea. I wanted to thank you again for arranging to stay here at the hotel. It’s been nice having Vaughn home.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” she said, brushing away my thanks.

  “Will you join us for dinner?” I asked.

  “Can Troy be my date? He’s been just great with me.”

  “Sure.” As much as I was dying to know if it was more than a client relationship, I kept quiet. I’d learned to hold back with Tina as much as possible. She was like a deep river that hid dangerous undercurrents, ready to pull you under when you least expected it.

  I left her and went back to the kitchen. Rhonda looked up at me with a questioning look.

  Laughing, I waved away her curiosity. What Vaughn and I did privately was no one else’s concern.

  In the dining room, Sabine was overseeing the waitstaff dressing the tables for the Thanksgiving meal. Off to one side of the room were long buffet tables. One, I knew, would hold the turkeys, hams, and ribs of beef; another would hold the side dishes. A third would display the apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies, along with the other pastries and sweets Jean-Luc’s sous chef, Carl, was becoming known for.

  I helped place slender crystal vases containing a mixture of mums on each table. Each vase of flowers was accented with a pheasant’s tail feather, adding a unique touch to the small fall arrangement.

  As I stood back to admire the effect of the crisp white linens on the tables, the sparkling crystal, the gleam of silver, I filled with a sense of satisfaction. Our guests were, for the most part, sophisticated people used to the finer things in life. Each added touch that made them appreciate our hotel was well worth it.

  Rhonda came up to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Whaddya think, Annie? Look good enough for you?”

  Smiling, I said, “It’s hard to believe it’ll be our third Thanksgiving together.”

  “Yeah, and our second Thanksgiving as a hotel. A lot has happened to us in that time, huh?” She rubbed her small baby bump. “Sure didn’t expect this little guy.”

  I glanced over at her. “Are you feeling better about Angela?”

  She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “The honest truth? I’m worried sick about her. There’s something going on with her that I don’t like. We have none of the cozy girl-talks like we used to have.” Her eyes flashed with indignation. “Probably a good thing those people have left. They obviously didn’t like Ange or me. Arthur was a jerk to Will, but that was because Will knew a lot more about what Arthur was up to than most people.”

  I tried for a positive outlook. “Maybe it was a good thing they didn’t stay. At least now we can enjoy our guests without worrying about them.”

  “Yeah, and pigs fly,” said Rhonda. “I’ll worry about them hurting Angela until she’s back to her old self.”

  Unable to tell her the secret I’d been forced to keep, I merely nodded. Nothing was ever going to be the same again.

  During a lull between early diners and those who chose to eat in the evening, I sat with Vaughn and the others in our family circle in the small private dining. Looking around the table, I was struck once more by how much my life had changed. Rhonda and Will had become my best friends. Red-eyed, heartbroken Angela was someone I loved like my own daughter. Tina and Troy were new to the family table, but watching them tentatively reach out to one another, I thought they made a nice addition. I missed Liz terribly. And not having Nell with us was disappointing for both Vaughn and me. Though I was pleased Ty was happy with June, I missed getting to know him better. He and Vaughn were close, and that mattered a lot to me.

  Sabine and Rosita served us, taking care to be sure everything was nicely done. Later, they’d do the same for the mayor and his wife, who were hosting a small group in this same dining room.

  After our dinner, Rhonda, who’d been standing on her feet most of the day, went home for a rest, promising to return to help handle the evening rush. Vaughn and I decided to use the last of my free time to take a walk. I checked in with Tim, and then we left the hotel.

  As we walked onto the sandy stretch of beach, an onshore breeze ruffled Vaughn’s dark curls. Observing him out of the corner of my eye, I wondered whether he’d acquiesce and continue in his role in The Sins of the Children as the producers were now begging him to do. If he did do it, they’d simply say that over the past several months, the mayor of his little fictional town ha
d been recovering from the gunshot wound, which everyone thought had killed him.

  I hoped he’d go back to the soap. A regular schedule would be more suitable to me. But I also knew how much Vaughn enjoyed his more creative roles in movies.

  “What are you thinking about, Ann?” he asked me now.

  I gazed up at him. “I believe I’m going to like being married to you.”

  He smiled. “Good. With the kids on their own, I want to settle down with you. And I guess commuting from New York won’t be too bad. Easier than traveling all over the world. And when I’m here, I like puttering around the place. Gets me ready to go back to the hustle and bustle of my life there.”

  It was a good plan. He might talk about liking to putter around the hotel, but it didn’t take long before he became restless to get back to his acting jobs.

  As we usually did when we were on the beach, we took a moment to stand side by side, looking out at the water. Listening to the movement of the blue water was soothing. A trio of brown pelicans flew low over the water. Skimming the waves, their triangle of bodies glided as one, like planes in a Blue Angels air show.

  We were interrupted by the sound of someone calling my name. I turned to find Troy helping Tina cross the sand to us.

  “Hi.” Tina’s smile hovered near shyness. “I wanted to show Troy what you and I used to do on our walks, Ann.”

  Vaughn gave me a questioning look.

  “This,” I said quietly, giving his hand a squeeze.

  He nodded with understanding. I reached my hand out to Tina. Positioning her crutches under her arms, she took it. Troy clasped the other hand Tina offered him. Standing in a line, we gazed out at the water.

  “Close your eyes,” prompted Tina. “And then, Troy, be still and listen to the soothing movement of the waves. It’s sort of like the music you play for your clients when you do a massage.”

  His smile was the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes. After a few moments, my heartbeat slowed, and my thoughts wandered. Holding onto Tina’s fingers, I felt a difference in her grip. Gone was the fierceness of someone who wanted control. I opened my eyes just enough to observe her facial features soften. I was struck by both her beauty and vulnerability. My gaze met Troy’s. We stared at each other for a moment and then I closed my eyes.