Lunch at the Beach House Hotel by Judith Keim

Author:Judith Keim [Keim, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: contemporary women, contemporary romance, Women's Fiction, Women's Friendships, Women's Challenges
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Published: 2016-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Thanksgiving approached in a flurry of pre-holiday business. The new spa packages received good reviews from the guests who took advantage of them. I waited and watched for any sign of retaliation from Tina’s mother, but nobody served us legal papers, and nothing showed up in the news about Tina’s accident.

Tina moved into my house and was much more comfortable getting around. Troy was helping her, giving her exercises to strengthen her body and massaging sore muscles when she overdid it.

As Thanksgiving grew closer, Angela kept reminding us that everything had to be perfect for Reggie’s parents. Rhonda and I decided to put them in the Presidential Suite.

“They’d better like this,” grumbled Rhonda as she walked through the suite with Ana and me, checking its condition.

“I’m sure they will.” Even the fussiest of guests fell in love with this space.

“You’ve got Reggie’s room set aside?” Rhonda snorted with irritation. “Don’t know why he can’t stay at my house. They’re all but living together at school.”

“His mother insisted that he have his own room. I told her I’d take care of it.” They hadn’t even arrived at the hotel, and I was already feeling their demanding presence.

###

Angela and Reggie arrived on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. After picking them up at the airport, Rhonda dropped them off at the hotel.

I noticed them by the pool sunning themselves in the unusually warm temperatures and went outside to say hello.

“How are you?” I asked Reggie.

He sat up to greet me. “Good, thanks. Glad to be away from the cold in Boston.”

Angela smiled at me. “Hi, Ann. We can’t wait for his parents to see how nice the hotel is.”

Reggie reached for Angela’s hand, and they exchanged happy smiles.

“We’re going to do our best to give them a good time,” I said, dreading the visit.

Later, when Angela came inside alone, I took her aside. “What’s going on with you? The last time we talked alone, you were worried about something personal.”

She glanced around the empty hallway before facing me. “I redid the test, and it turns out I am pregnant, after all. But I haven’t told anyone,” she whispered. “I’m not that far along, and up ’til now, I haven’t been really sick. I’m not saying anything to anybody including Reggie until I know what the situation is with Reggie and me. I’d never want to force him into marrying me.”

I hugged her. I knew very well how unsatisfactory a forced marriage could be. Robert might never have married me if I hadn’t gotten pregnant.

When I went into the office, Rhonda beamed at me. “Doesn’t Angela look wonderful? It’s so good to see her. And Reggie’s been real nice to me.”

“I’m glad,” I said. Whether Rhonda liked it or not, Reggie might soon be part of her family.

“I’m fixing veal piccata for dinner. Reggie told me he could eat that.” Rhonda grinned. “Maybe there’s hope for him yet!”

I laughed. Nothing meant more to Rhonda than feeding people who loved her cooking. Will had always been one of her biggest fans.

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