Page 13 of A New Year In The Presidential Suite

Following Griff’s suggestion, Lori ordered a beer. Instead of a hamburger, she ordered a salad. “I know what’s ahead for dinner,” she told him.

Seeing how relaxed she was, how easy she was with strangers, Griff felt an unexpected pride. Cassandra would’ve pouted to be seen in such a casual place where people didn’t care about the latest fashions or fussed about how they looked.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LORI

After lunch, which Lori thoroughly enjoyed, she and Griff went their separate ways. She intended to find small gifts for family members, and he, as he’d stated earlier, was going to check out some of the restaurants to see what wines they carried.

She loved being on her own, able to take her time in shops finding the perfect gifts for everyone. They weren’t expensive, just items like special alligator hair clips and bands for her nieces and a wooden alligator toy for Hudson, Flo’s three-year-old. In addition to some spa products that she’d already bought for her sisters, she chose T-shirts with palm trees and the sayings “Let It Snow and “No To Snow.” For her mother, she chose a lovely summer sweater in blue that matched the water outside The Beach House Hotel. Her father had a sweet tooth, so Lori picked out a variety of tropical candy from a cute little shop between two upscale clothing stores. Nothing fancy, just little reminders of her thanks.

Lori carried her packages back to the hotel, glad to have time to rest before getting ready for the party. She’d thought about buying a fancy dress for it then decided it would be a waste of money. There was no reason to have something like that back home. Her black one would have to do. She had the string of pearls her parents had given her for her wedding to wear with it.

She entered her room, set down the packages, and went to her patio to lie down for a while. It felt wonderful to be in the warm air and to lie still to hear the sound of the waves kissing the shore. She let out a sigh of happiness and realized she hadn’t been this relaxed in years.

Sometime later, as the sun was going down, Lori awoke and went inside to further pamper herself before dressing for the party.

After a shower, Lori rubbed spa lotion all over herself and studied her image in the mirror. Her newly washed hair, the color of chocolate, had a shine to it from the oil that had been rubbed into it at the spa. Her face had a healthy glow. The few freckles that showed up on her face made her look like a person who enjoyed the outdoors.

Lori put on eye makeup and tousled her hair into a suitable style and then went to put on her dress. Any wrinkles had been smoothed by hanging the dress in the bathroom while she took a steamy shower.

The dress fit perfectly, Lori thought, as she twirled in front of the mirror. Flo had helped her pick it out, and it had been a wise choice. She checked her watch. Griff had said he’d pick her up at her room. He was due any minute.

A sudden feeling of nervousness made her rub her hands together. This wasn’t an actual date, was it? It was simply two people who had a friend to do things with. That’s what they’d agreed.

She heard a knock at the door and knew it was too late to change her mind. Putting aside her anxiety, she opened the door.

Griff’s eyes widened as he studied her. “Wow! You look great!”

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the party.”

“Me, too,” he said and held out his arm. “Ready to go and knock them dead?”

She laughed. “I’m ready for a good time, that’s all.”

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The dining room, which had been attractive before, now looked dazzling. Small, white, twinkling lights hung everywhere on the ceiling, and tables of varying sizes were covered in silver linen cloths. In the middle of the tables, crystal vases held white orchids and greenery. A dance floor had been set up at one end of the room. Staff members were taking orders of drinks, passing out tulips of champagne, and offering hors d’oeuvres and canapes.

Lori remained at the entrance taking it all in. “This is stunning!”

“Very attractive,” said Griff as a staff member approached, took his name, and led them to a table for two along the exterior wall.

After Lori was seated, she turned to Griff. “This is perfect. We can see everything from here.”

A server approached and offered them tulip glasses of champagne. “Happy New Year.”

She and Griff each took one and then he lifted his glass. “Here’s to friends.”

“Yes!” said Lori. “Thank you for inviting me. This trip has been special thanks to having a friend to share it with.”

He grinned. “For me, too. Let’s enjoy the evening.”

She gazed at the stage beside the dance floor. She’d read that a jazz band would be playing later. Now, people were milling around, greeting others they knew.

Lori was surprised when the two women she recognized as the owners approached their table.

“Happy New Year,” said Ann Sanders.