Page 90 of Sea Breezes at The Beach House Hotel

CHAPTER THIRTY

The four months following Christmas flew by in a flurry of hotel activity. With each passing day, we became more focused on Nell and Clint’s upcoming event. They’d chosen Saturday, April 24th , as their wedding day.

Rhonda and I were walking on the beach a few days before Ty and his family were due to arrive for the ceremony.

She turned to me. “Ya know, Annie, it’s sweet to see you this excited about Nell’s wedding. It doesn’t seem that long ago that you were worried about her and her marriage. I think I’m as proud of Nell as you are. Our three daughters building a life together makes me feel very confident about the future of The Beach House Hotel.”

“They’re bright, smart, and hard-working women. More than that, they’re supportive of one another,” I said, feeling the same way about the future.

“I’m not quite ready to retire, but it’s comforting to know that when the time is right for the two of us to step back, we’ll have our girls ready to take over,” said Rhonda.

“I’m pleased that Nell is part of it. I love having her here in Sabal at last.”

“Uh-oh,” said Rhonda, her whole demeanor changing. “Guess what slimy, lying, pest is approaching.”

I turned to see Brock walking toward us, bouncing on his feet as he approached with a swagger.

“ ’Morning, ladies,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Guess you heard, the fire department has cleared me and my company of any responsibility for that condo fire on Christmas Eve.”

I studied him, trying to figure out why Brock was such a snake. He was a handsome man, but an unpleasant person. “What I heard is that Christmas lights were at fault, with a concern about the flammability of the decorations.”

“Guess you won’t be selling more of those,” said Rhonda.

“I’ve got something even better. I just brought in a line of decorative pottery from Italy. It’s something I thought you might be interested in for the hotel,” he said. “I can give you a deal.”

“Not on your fuckin’ life,” mumbled Rhonda.

Brock shook his head. “Aw, that’s not neighborly, Rhonda. Can’t we be friends?”

“I don’t believe you know what the word means,” I said. “Let’s just go our separate ways.”

He blocked my departure. “You know, as president of the Neighborhood Association, I can make your lives miserable.”

“You already do,” Rhonda said. “So, what’s the threat in that?”

Brock glared at Rhonda. “If you try to interfere with my business, I’ll get you for it.”

“Oh, my! Is that a threat?” asked Rhonda.

I took hold of Rhonda’s elbow and led her away from Brock before Rhonda completely lost her temper.

“That man makes me so damn mad,” said Rhonda. She looked back to make sure he wasn’t following us. “I know he was behind the recent story exposing certain guests hiding out at the hotel.”

“No doubt about it,” I agreed. “But the one thing his ego doesn’t like is us ignoring him. Let’s go inside. I hear Consuela is making her chocolate chip cookies.”

“Well, then, let’s hurry,” said Rhonda, winking at me.

I laughed, and we headed inside.

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The next day, Vaughn and I waited at the airport to pick up Ty, June, and their kids, seven-year-old Bo and his five-year-old sister, Rosie. We saw them as often as possible, but with them living on the West Coast, outside of San Francisco, it could be difficult. Vaughn’s schedule allowed him to visit more often than I could manage, but that didn’t mean I was any less excited to see them.

We waited at the appropriate place inside the terminal. When I saw them walking toward us, I waved frantically and waited for the kids to run to greet me.

“Hi, Gammie,” cried Rosie, lifting her arms to me. She was small for her age with a gracefulness that came from her mother.

I picked her up and twirled her around. “How’s one of my favorite girls?”