Page 34 of Sea Breezes at The Beach House Hotel

Later, Nell and Vaughn joined the kids and me at the pool.

The accident had taken a toll on us all.

###

After playing in the pool with the kids, Vaughn and I settled in front of the television on the lanai to watch a kids’ television show with them while Nell went to check on Clint and get some rest for herself.

“How much help do you think Clint will need for daily activities?” I asked Vaughn after the kids had decided to work with their new Lego sets.

“He was able to take his right arm out of the sling to use the bathroom,” Vaughn said. “That arm has a splint on it. That’s a big relief for him. But he’ll need help in many other ways. It’s smart for Nell to push the idea of the family staying here, where he and the kids can be looked after.”

“I think it would be selfish of him to ask Nell to go back to D.C., where neither she nor the kids would have the support they have here,” I said.

“Agreed,” said Vaughn. “But they have to work it out for themselves. He’s worried about the project he’s working on.”

“Nell was upset about the phone call with Claudine. Claudine is one pushy lady.”

They’ll work it out,” said Vaughn. “But I’m concerned that Clint has this idea he needs to make a lot more money in order to make Nell happy. She’s told me she doesn’t know why he feels that way except that he knows I’m financially secure. She’s tried to explain that she needs his presence, not his money.”

“We’re both successful, and I believe he feels he has to measure up. He took this new job to prove himself.”

Vaughn shook his head. “Nell is a sensible person who was raised to believe that you don’t judge a person by how much money he or she has.”

Nell walked into the room and plopped down on a chair next to the couch. “Clint is sleeping peacefully.”

“How about you? Did you get any rest?” I asked her.

“No, my mind is spinning. You don’t object to having us here, do you? Clint will need lots of help. And I still want to work at the hotel like we planned.”

“You can stay for as long as you want,” I said.

“Yes,” said Vaughn. “There’s plenty of room and lots of help available. It’s what you planned all along.”

“But Clint is worried about completing the project he’s working on,” said Nell. “I told him that he’s not going back to D.C. until after his first post-op appointment, and that I needed him here with me and the kids. We didn’t resolve that issue, but at least we know where we stand on it.”

Nell’s cell phone rang. She looked at it and rose. “That’s Clint buzzing me for help.”

After she left, I said to Vaughn. “This is one time I’m going to defend Nell. It’s crazy to think she doesn’t need support, too.”

Vaughn patted my back. “We just need everything to settle down.”

###

A short while later, Nell walked onto the lanai, her face an ugly red.

I got to my feet. “Nell, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Claudine. She called Clint’s cell while I was with him. She’s suggesting that Clint fly to D.C. tomorrow. She said he could stay with her where she has help. I told her that Clint was staying right here with my family. Then she suggested she come stay at the hotel, allowing Clint and her to work in Sabal. I told her that Clint wouldn’t be working for a few days, as per the doctor’s orders. Now, both she and Clint are mad at me.”

“Let me go talk to Clint,” I said, being careful not to show how angry I was.

Nell shrugged. “Fat good it will do. But, sure, go ahead and try to talk some sense into him.”