Page 8 of Sea Breezes at The Beach House Hotel

CHAPTER THREE

At home, I found the kids playing on the back lawn with Cindy. Vaughn and Nell were sitting on the lanai.

Vaughn stood when I entered the porch. “Great! You’re home early. I haven’t grilled the steaks yet. You can join us for dinner.”

Lauren and Annette are handling the situation at the hotel and have urged me to come home. They knew how excited I was to have Nell and the kids here.”

Nell beamed at me as I took a seat on the couch next to her.

“Would you like a glass of wine before dinner?” Vaughn asked.

“I’m drinking a delicious pinot noir,” said Nell. “Join me?”

“Thanks.”

While Vaughn went to the kitchen to get a wine glass, I said to Nell. “I’ve arranged an appointment for you at the beauty salon for Monday morning. I figure we can go to lunch and shopping afterwards.”

Nell’s eyes filled. “Thanks. I’ve felt awful about myself, but was too tired to do anything about it.”

“Are you feeling depressed?” I asked. “If so, we can set up an appointment with Barbara Holmes, the family psychologist.”

“Perhaps later,” said Nell. “I think I just needed to get away from home to a safe spot where I can really think. In fact, I’ve brought enough clothes for me and the kids to stay here right through the Christmas holiday.”

“Clint called to tell me that. He seemed upset about it. He wanted me to help you understand that he has no choice but to work on the deal. I told him that I was willing to listen to both you and him, but that’s all.”

“He doesn’t understand how he’s changed,” said Nell. “I knew he shouldn’t have taken this job. It’s been over two years, and my feelings haven’t changed about the people he’s working with. There’s something so artificial about them. In a separate agreement six months ago, Clint invested money in an equity position for the special real estate deal he’s working on by taking out a second mortgage. I reluctantly agreed to it because he was so excited. He’s thrilled to think he might be able to do extra nice things for me and the kids if the purchase and sale of the two properties involved go through. He's even planned a surprise trip for me.”

Vaughn returned to the lanai and poured wine into a glass for me, and handed Nell a plate of cheese and crackers.

“Liz called to see if you’ve arrived, Nell. She’ll come over after dinner to see you and the kids,” said Vaughn.

Nell’s lips curved, highlighting her beautiful features. When we first met, I was startled by how much she looked like Liz. Seeing her like this, excited, reminded me. Somehow, we’d have to keep that smile going.

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The next afternoon, Vaughn, Nell, and I got ready for Arthur's funeral service. Lorraine was hoping it would be a celebration of a life well-lived, but I wasn’t the only one who thought he’d died much too soon after finding a new love with Lorraine.

The three of us arrived together at the church, where a large number of people had gathered. Lorraine was well-known in the community, and for the few years Arthur had lived here, he’d made friends too.

We sat with Liz and Chad. Soon after, Lorraine, Reggie, and Angela walked into the front of the church and sat down. Lorraine, who didn’t have children of her own, sat between Angela and Reggie.

The service was short and sweet, as both Lorraine and Arthur had requested. There was no casket as Arthur had chosen to be cremated. Instead, a poster-sized photo of Arthur’s smiling face was on an easel at the front of the church to remind us of the vibrant man he was.

Staring at it, I thought how fleeting life was and put my arm around Nell’s shoulder in a comforting gesture. She was in a bad place. Hopefully, being in Sabal would help her straighten out her life.

Later, I joined the others as they exited the church, and we headed to Lorraine’s home, where a reception had been arranged. True to her calling, Lorraine made sure the gathering was as elegant as any wedding she had planned. She offered champagne, canapés, and a variety of sandwiches and desserts, each one as appealing as the other.

The moment I found Lorraine free, I went to her and gave her a warm hug. “Again, I’m very sorry. I don’t want you to feel pressured into returning to work until you’re fully ready. Annette and Lauren have already spoken to me, and we have a plan to cover for you. We’re all here for you.”

“Thank you. This has really upended my life.” She clasped her hands together as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “Oh, Ann, we were so happy together.”

I hugged her again.

Rhonda came over to us. “Lorraine, if you need anything, please let us know. We’ll be checking in on you.”

Lorraine wiped her tears away. “I know, and that makes me very grateful. I’m going to take your advice and give myself lots of time off. I’ll let you know when I get everything sorted out. I’m relieved you already have a plan in place.”

Lorraine left, and Rhonda turned to me. “A plan in place? We do?”