“I can man the reception desk until you get back,” Rory stepped in.
“Are you sure?” Marg asked hesitantly.
“Yeah, go. I don’t mind. Plus, Mom will be close if I run into any problems while you’re away.”
“That’s right. I’ll be in my office all day. If she needs help, I’m just right down the hall,” Andrea confirmed.
“All right. I’m gonna go. I need to pick up some ointment for the rash on my elbow,” Marg spoke, raising her casted forearm to show them the red splotches at the back of her arm just above the top of the cast.
“You definitely need to take care of that,” Andrea voiced her concern.
Marg inclined her head in agreement. “Thanks again, Rory. You’re a Godsend,” she smiled at her.
Rory returned the smile.
After Marg left for Target, Andrea returned to her office in the back and Rory stationed herself behind the reception desk. Within fifteen minutes of being there, Rory had greeted seven of the nine guests that currently occupied six of the eight guest rooms. She’d made suggestions to two couples who wanted to go out to dinner later in the evening, giving them a rundown of the ones she’d been, and she’d even suggested that one of the guests who’d wanted something a little more exhilarating than hiking and water sports that he could try ziplining on the Kristofersens’ farm.
By the time an hour had passed, she’d interacted with eight of the guests. Just as she was settling down to take up the latest Daniel Steel novel she’d been reading, a man and a woman came through the open door. They looked pretty young, but what caught Rory was how they couldn’t take their eyes off each other and how bright their smiles were that seemed a permanent trait. Then she noticed the female’s hand on the man’s chest; it sported a huge rock on her ring finger.
“Hi, welcome to Willberry Inn and property,” Rory greeted with a bright smile.
“Thank you. We made a reservation under Mr. and Mrs. Flemmings,” the woman replied cheerily. Her husband offered Rory a cursory nod and polite smile before his eyes were back on his wife, shining with affection.
“We’re newlyweds.We didn’t want to do the hotels or resorts…been there, done that, you know?”
Rory nodded her head in understanding as she listened to the woman.
“We just wanted to have our honeymoon where we can get to focus on each other while still enjoying the ambiance of a beautiful town. We just got here, and we already love it.”
“Wonderful,” Rory responded. “Oak Harbor is truly a magical place. I’m sure you’ll love all of it.”
The woman smiled appreciatively.
“Okay, let’s see…here we are. Mr. and Mrs. Flemmings, you are booked for room eight, it’s on the last floor. I’d be happy to help you guys get settled,” Rory offered, but the couple had already gone back into their own bubble; whatever her husband had whispered in her ears caused Mr. Flemings to giggle, her cheeks flushing red.
A wave of longing came over Rory at their open display of affection, and her mind flashed to James.
“We’ll take it from here, but thanks for your help,” The man turned to say to Rory.
“Okay. Here you go.” She placed the key for the room in his outstretched hand. She watched them walk arm in arm up the stairs, Mrs. Flemmings’ giggles filling the hall as they slowly disappeared from view.
She decided to take a break, then put up the sign to ring for assistance and made her way out toward the back patio. The sky was a bleak gray tone, devoid of any of its usual blue and so reflective of her mood. She was pretty sure that the rain would follow soon, as the temperature had also dropped even further. Rory pulled her sweater closer around her.Her cell vibrated in her pant pocket. A wave of nausea washed over her at the name on the screen. Slowly she brought it up to her ear.
“Hi, Lenora. So nice to hear from you,” she greeted as pleasantly as she could muster.
“Hello, Aurora. I can’t say the same, but I will get straight to the point.”
Rory’s heart dropped to the bottom of her stomach.
“Are you planning on jilting my son at the altar?”
ChapterTwenty
“Lenora, why would you think that?”
“It's been almost a month! The wedding is only a month away, and yet I have not heard a peep out of you,” Lenora spoke, her tone boiling.
“Everything is under control,” Rory replied calmly while her heart beat erratically against her rib cage and her breathing became shallower.
