Margaritas at the Beach House Hotel by Judith Keim

Author:Judith Keim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary women's fiction, Women's romance fiction, Contemporary romance, Family relationships, Women's domestic life fiction
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Published: 2021-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

On this early May morning of the Spring Brunch, blue skies shimmered above us like a blessing. To prevent the Neighborhood Association from grumbling about too many cars parked alongside the road, vans we’d hired were delivering guests from the nearest grocery store parking lot to the hotel. Manny and Paul directed traffic for those who’d chosen not to take a van or who’d walked.

Rhonda and I stood together on the front steps of the hotel, welcoming the locals who’d been forced to share their town and beach with snowbirds for several months. Now that things were quiet again, they were ready to settle down before some of them traveled north to mountains and lakes for a respite from the summer heat.

It was a quieter time at the hotel. During this “shoulder season” between winter and summer, we were still busy, but not at the usual hectic pace of the high season. It was a time of year I liked.

“Another brunch,” said Rhonda. “Remember our first one?”

“I was a nervous wreck, hoping people would love what we’d done, hoping I hadn’t made the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Second biggest mistake after marrying that A-hole of a husband of yours,” said Rhonda.

I laughed. Rhonda had an unmistakable way with words. As a group of people headed our way, I gave her hand a squeeze of encouragement. “Let’s hope this party is as successful as the others.”

“Uh, oh. Brock is headed this way.”

“We can’t let him ruin this,” I said, pasting a pleasant smile on my face for the people in the neighborhood who deserved my best attention.

As I spoke to each new arrival, I marveled at how many friends I’d made in the last six years. I’d come to Florida without knowing anyone in the area.

After most of the guests had arrived, I went inside to check on things. The buzz of pleasant conversation filled the air. Staff members circulated among the guests with trays of food or drinks, and the delicious aromas caused me to fill with pride. Those guests with bigger appetites headed into the dining room, where a buffet table displayed a wide selection of appetizers, salads, and entrees.

I noticed Brock in a corner of the living room talking to a gentleman whose back was turned to me. The eager expression on Brock’s face was unsettling. What is he up to now? I glanced at Rhonda in conversation with Father Donnelly and Dorothy and decided to let it go.

In the kitchen, Consuela was in charge, working with others to keep the food coming. One of the big reasons why our brunch was so successful was the delicious food everyone loved.

I went into the office I shared with Rhonda to check on the latest reservations. Bernie had told me about a last-minute one that had come in last night. Every “head in a bed” reaped rewards for us.

I checked the reservation. T. Hyde from Virginia, not a regular.

A tap sounded at the door, and a middle-aged gentleman entered the room.

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