Page 4 of Moonshine and Magnolias
They all did, but Wendy didn’t bother stating the obvious.
A hitch formed in her throat as she looked down on her cousin. Everyone grieved in their own way. Maybe avoidance and sleep was Brandi’s way of dealing. She was used to being taken care of, not the one working.
Wendy forced down her annoyance and softened her tone. “Are we going to see you downstairs?”
Brandi heaved herself up and scrubbed at her face. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
“Aunt Eulalee and Mom are going to need support. There will be a lot of people.”
“I saw the legions at the cemetery.”
“Do you want me to come up and—”
“For Christ’s sake, Wendy, I said I’ll be there!”
Wendy nodded and left her cousin alone. She leaned against the wall and waited for the tightness in her chest to subside, taking slow, deep breaths.
By the time she was back in the kitchen, her mom had taken over peeling duties. Wendy checked the clock on the microwave and glanced at the printed agenda posted next to the dining room entrance. If the morning was to remain on schedule, the salad should be finished and the biscuits about done baking.
“Wendy, stop making sure everything is all on time.” Her mom lifted the colander of naked crawfish and slid them into a bowl. “I swear, you’d want minute rice done in thirty seconds. Fountenoy Hall’s been running just fine for the past century and a half without a written itinerary. We’re not your big, fancy hotel in Atlanta.”
“I know, Mom.”
Leslie placed the strainer in the sink and stared at it. She gave a sniffle, then enveloped Wendy in a hug. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I just need to get through today, okay?”
Wendy held on to the scent of lemons and sunshine in her mom’s embrace. “I know. We all do.”
“You’re going to be great here.” Leslie smiled down at her daughter and brushed her hair away from her face. “You and Brandi, running the Hall together. Imagine that.”
She didn’t want to imagine it. She wanted Steward Hotel. She wanted the promotion for the project in Indiana. The papers shoved into her dresser drawerthat declared her new immediate future weighed her down like an albatross after a seafood buffet.
“With your experience and Brandi’s charm and ease with people, this here is going to become the place to be for Georgia vacations.” She kissed Wendy’s forehead and went back to the crawfish.
Sure. Only Wendy had put her own planned career track on hold. Abandoning her cousin and the Hall was unthinkable, at least until Brandi could keep up with the finer points of managing it. Wendy’s job as a project manager was more behind the scenes, but taking into account the day-to-day of hotel employees when planning made everyone happier.
“I found the serving plate, Ms. Eulalee.” Dr. Upshaw came through the swinging doors, holding the large silver platter Grandma had used during family gatherings. “Where would you like it?”
He stopped when he saw Wendy and gave a casual shrug. The lines at the corner of his eyes crinkled with the smile he gave her. “I couldn’t stay in my room knowing I could be useful down here.”
She ignored the heat that settled in her stomach. “Dr. Upshaw—”
“Call me Rob.”
“Dr. Upshaw,” she repeated. “Really, as a guest, you shouldn’t be doing our jobs for us.”
“I couldn’t leave two ladies in need when I have the ability to help,” he countered. “What kind of gentleman would I be then?”
“Wendy, we could use the extra hands,” her mom said. “At least until Sarah gets here.”
Her argument strangled in her throat. It was only family, and with her cousin burrowed upstairs and her grandma… “Fine. Just keep your eyes on him.”
“Leslie, can you get that husband of yours to pick about ten peaches?” Eulalee stretched for a basket high on the shelf, but Dr. Upshaw towered over her to easily reach it. “We’ll have Maybelle’s signature pie for dessert tonight.”
“Sure thing.” Wendy’s mom gave her another quick squeeze and took thebasket before leaving the kitchen.
“And you.” Aunt Eulalee dipped her head at Wendy and pointed to the large refrigerator. “Get out those green beans and start snapping.”
Just as Wendy had calculated, cars started pulling into the parking lot two hours later. She had just enough time to change into a nicer top and put some food dishes in the parlor. She stood in the lobby along with her mom and dad, greeting the guests as they entered. Brandi hung near the registration desk while Aunt Eulalee flitted between groups of people. Dr. Rob Upshaw had finally disappeared.
