“Excuse me?”
“The listing showed a beautiful blue pool. This is a green mess. The listing showed the courtyard filled with tropical foliage. There’s a frigging lake-sized puddle of water in the center of an overgrown jungle that is breeding mosquitos with goodness knows what kind of diseases. My little Claxton was bit so bad he’s got a welt the size of a baseball on his arm. Full refund. Full.”
“We apologize for the pool; we are in the midst of contacting our?—”
“—It’s too late; we have seven days of vacation, and it’s ruined. Completely and utterly ruined.”
Didi winced. She felt each word like a knife in her chest. They’d prided themselves on running this little gem. The Sea Turtle Resort had been hosting visitors to Haven Beach, Florida, since 1948. It was a resort before Haven Beach was even a town!
She knew they had let a lot of things slip. But she took it seriously, the accusation that they’d ruined anyone’s vacation. Or their impression of Haven Beach.
“I know the pool is out of commission, but Mrs. Ort, the beach, the sand, I am sure Claxton would enjoy that even more.”
The Sea Turtle Resort was directly on Haven Beach. The Gulf of Mexico provided a spectacular sunset show every night. How could anyone see that as ruined?
“Really? Well, since we don’t have clean beach towels or a working air conditioner, I’d say a day at the beach isn’t quite enough to make up for it.”
Didi nodded. It wasn’t what was promised. She knew it. All she could do now to please this guest was to refund her money.
“I’ll put it all back on the credit card we have on file.”
“As you should. And we need help with the bags.” Karen turned and walked away.
Jorge would normally help with the bags. He tried to get out of the lounge chair. Didi saw him grip the handles to gather the strength to withstand the pain of it.
“NO! You sit. I’ll get the roller cart and get Karen out of here. We’ll regroup after she’s gone.”
“Honey, you need to be careful, too, your blood pressure.”
“My blood pressure, your hip, this green pool. We’re in a little bit of a pickle. But you know what? We’ve got the best view in Florida, and that’s what I call a blessing.”
She bent over the lounge chair and kissed Jorge.
“Well, I’m not sure it’s the best view. Second best.”
“What?” She was appalled; theydidhave the best view, the best beach here!
“I’ve got the best view watching you walk away.” He raised an eyebrow to let her know he was referring to her seventy-five-year-old backside.
“Jorge, you’re terrible.” Didi’s face got warm. Still, after all these years, he could make her blush.
She turned around and felt a swat on that same backside as she went off to find the luggage cart they kept in the laundry building.
She could hear Karen barking orders to Claxton and her entire family.What an unpleasant woman.
Didi tried not to smile too broadly. If Karen et al. didn’t see what a gem Haven Beach was, that was her problem. Didi knew. And so did Jorge.
Four
Faye
Faye looked at her sister, Ali.How was she so unruffled?In the middle of a hurricane, Faye’s big sister Ali was a rock. Always.
“Thank you for coming.” Ali smiled and accepted hug after hug. The American Legion Hall was packed with mourners.
Ali was the big sister in all things, a substitute mother in a lot of ways, even though they were only two years apart.
Ali seemed to have everything under control in all scenarios.
