“I can’t believe that Uncle George still keeps that ridiculous bunch of keys with a label on every single one.” Linda gave a soft laugh, picturing it.
Rosa’s smile widened, and she laughed. “He does still have it. There is a spare key for every door in this hotel, as well as one for every door in Heart House, and the workshop. All fully labeled.”
“Has he ever heard of keycards?” Linda sighed and shook her head.
“Mr. George is not a man for modern technology,” Rosa said fondly. “He prefers good old-fashioned things that work and don’t rely on electricity or computers to function.”
“I know,” Linda agreed with her. “It would make things a whole lot easier.”
“The staff all say that they know when Mr. George is approaching because of the keys jangling,” Rosa told her.
“Yeah, I know,” Linda agreed, nodding. “It used to be a great bonus when Michael, Maggie, and I were young. We knew when he was coming.”
“Yes, and then you would stop whatever mischief you were up to,” Rosa remembered. “Let me go get the keys for you.”
She left, and Linda poured herself a fresh cup of coffee from the French press, broke off a piece of warm croissant, then spread on some butter, which melted into the soft layers as she chewed. The morning had started to take on the gentle, warm rhythm of a Sweet Blossom Bay summer. Outside the window, the bay was the soft pearl color it took on at sunrise. A pelican drifted across the line of palms at the edge of the parking lot.
Linda turned to the computer and began to log in. She knew Uncle George’s password as most anyone who worked on his computer probably did, and he hadn’t changed it in years. She shook her head, making another mental note to start giving Uncle George lessons in computer security.
Linda had just opened the booking system when the thunder of running feet came through the back hallway, followed by the joyful skitter of dog claws on wood. Suddenly, Buddy’s golden head appeared at the office door, followed by two breathless grandchildren already freshly changed into the clothes they had chosen for the day.
“Good morning, Gran!” Sophia barreled into the office and gave her a hug. “You were up early. I heard you leaving.”
“I’m sorry that I woke you, honey,” Linda said.
“Nah, I fell right back to sleep,” Sophia assured her.
“Hi, Gran,” Jake said, standing on her other side and kissing her cheek. “Whatcha doing?”
“I just came to see what I could do to help Uncle George run the hotel while he’s in the hospital,” Linda told him. “What are you two going to do today?”
“We’re going to start with a pancake breakfast, Rosa and Cook promised us,” Jake told her.
“I have to do some work here,” Linda explained. “And then I have to go back to the hospital to see Uncle George.”
“Can we go see him?” Sophia asked.
“I thought I would take you two to see him at visiting time this afternoon,” Linda replied. “He’ll have recovered a bit from surgery by then.”
“Sure,” Jake and Sophia agreed in unison.
“Is Toby coming over today?” Jake asked about Maggie’s grandson, who lived with her.
“Maggie said she’d bring Toby around later this morning.” Linda smiled warmly at her grandson.
“Good,” Jake said.
“I wish Uncle Michael were here already,” Sophia added with a small wistful sigh. “Then Lily would be here, and I wouldn’t have to hang out with Jake and Toby.”
“They’ll be here in a few more days, sweetheart,” Linda assured her. “Uncle Michael said he’d be here as soon as he sorted out a few things at his work.”
“Breakfast is ready.” Cook popped her head around the door. “Hello, Linda dear. How are you?”
“Hello, Molly,” Linda greeted the chef who had been at Hearts for many years. “Thank you for the breakfast.”
“Would you like anything else?” Molly asked.
“No thanks, Molly, I’m full,” Linda told her. “But these two need to go eat.”
