“You don’t have to listen to me. I mean, I don’t know why you would, but don’t buy either hotel. Keep this a place you love. Don’t make it about work. Let it be pure and good, so you can bring someone you care about back here someday.”
Adam gives me a small smile. “That’s good advice.”
“Will you follow it?”
He shrugs. “I guess time will tell.”
He gives me a little wave, and then he’s gone. Nika comes through the office doors to reception.
“You found Adam?” she asks.
“Yes. Listen, Nika, I don’t know what’s going to happen with Adam and Marco and the hotel, but can you do me a favor?”
She nods.
“Do you invest? Does the hotel? The stock market, I mean.”
Nika’s eyebrows knit together. “We have a man who manages the finances. Marco usually speaks to him, but I do, too. That’s how I know we need Adam.”
“This is going to sound crazy,” I tell her. “But just trust me, all right? Can you do that?”
She nods.
“Invest in Apple. Starbucks, too. But next year, around the summertime.”
“Starbucks?”
“I’m going to write it down, okay?”
I take out a pen and paper. I make the notes.
“Promise me.”
She nods. “I will.”
Just then Carol appears in the doorway. “Hi,” she says. “I was hoping I’d find you here.”
She has a package tucked under her arm. She sets it on the desk.
“Carol, do you know Nika? Nika, you know Carol.”
“Of course,” Carol says. “Hi, Nika. Would you mind? It’s all paid for.”
“Yes, naturally,” Nika says. “Did you…” she starts, and I know she is going to ask about the letter. I quickly jump in.
“Would you like to have a drink?” I ask Carol.
Carol looks from Nika to me. “Sure,” she says. She hands off the package. “There’s a little spot up the way,” she says. “It’s a good place to sit. I’ll show you if you haven’t been.”
“Great,” I say.
We wave goodbye to Nika, and I follow Carol out of the hotel. No more than forty paces up, we come to an outside restaurant on the left-hand side of the road. It’s strung up with ivy and flowers and has a spectacular view of the water. There are only four tables: it’s like sitting in your own private gazebo overlooking the sea.
We sit.
Carol orders an Aperol and soda.
“Can I have a coffee?” I ask the server.
