Page 10 of A New Year In The Presidential Suite

“I’d like the company, and I wouldn’t ask a seventy-year-old man to do much shopping with me,” she said.

He laughed. “We still need to find a willing person to take a picture with you. I’ll make that my task when we go to town.”

“He has to have a friendly face,” she said, chuckling at the idea.

“Got it,” said Griff. “Why don’t I meet you in the lobby before lunch and we can eat downtown?”

“That sounds wonderful. It’ll give me a chance to relax and read,” Lori said.

As Griff took off in the opposite direction, Lori headed back to the hotel. She’d been shy about telling Griff that she had a morning appointment at the spa for a facial.

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After a light breakfast of coffee and the best cinnamon roll she’d ever eaten, Lori headed to the spa to enjoy a treat from her mother.

The minute she walked inside the spa she inhaled a mixture of citrus and lavender.

A pretty girl behind the desk said, “Welcome. How may I help you?”

“I have an appointment for a facial. The name is Loralie Hamlin.”

“Oh, yes. We’ve been expecting you. Anna will be taking care of you. Please come this way, and I’ll direct you to the dressing area.”

Lori was led to a locker room.

“After changing into a robe, please make yourself comfortable. Anna will be with you shortly,” said the receptionist.

Lori took off her outer clothes and put on a white terrycloth robe, then slipped into the spa slippers provided for her.

In an area off the locker room, comfortable chairs were placed in a seating area. A clear glass pitcher of water containing a few cucumber slices sat on a table in the middle of the circle of chairs. Pretty cut-glass goblets sat beside it.

Lori sat, gazed around at the potted plants, and noticed how spotless everything was. A woman sitting across the circle smiled at her. “Is this your first time here?”

“Yes,” said Lori. “It looks inviting.”

“It’s one of the best,” said the woman. “I come here as often as I can to feel refreshed and healthy.”

Lori couldn’t guess her age. She didn’t look old enough to have gray hair.

A tall, broad shouldered woman entered the room. “Loralie?”

Lori stood. “That’s me.”

“I’m Anna,” the woman said. “I’ll be taking care of you today. Please come with me.”

Lori followed her to a private room where a massage table covered with sheets awaited her. Scented, lit candles emitted an aroma of lavender in the dimly lit room. Soft, soothing music filled the air.

“I will be massaging your neck and shoulders. You might want to remove your bra if you’re wearing one under the robe,” said Anna. “It’s up to you. In any case, I want you to remove the robe, slip under the sheet and blanket, and lie on your back. I’ll leave the room while you do that.”

Lori did as she was asked and waited for Anna to return.

Moments later, Anna quietly slid into the room. “I’ll begin by rubbing a cleansing lotion on your face. You can relax and close your eyes. Listen to the music and allow the tension to leave you as I begin my work. Many times, my clients fall asleep. Feel free to do that.”

As strong as Anna appeared, her hands were as gentle as feathers on Lori’s skin.

Thinking of the past couple of years, Lori closed her eyes and told herself to let go.

She didn’t realize tears had slipped onto her cheeks until she felt Anna gently pat them off with a soft cloth.