Page 33 of Gulfside Girls
“Really, well, uh, we just run it. I mean, we’re notin chargein charge, so I can’t help you there. In fact, never met the owners. Until now.”
Ali shook her head. That didn’t make sense.
“Who pays you? What’s the name of the company?”
“Oh, Jorge handles that. We just manage the cottages, six of them here, and of course, the Inn.”
“The Inn?”
“Yes, Sea Turtle is a resort property that includes that building right there. Six hotel rooms, each can accommodate a family of four! And the penthouse! Though, we’re empty right now. No new calls these last two weeks because, uh…well, I have phone issues.”
“Your phone is off.”
“You figured that out, eh? I wish I had.”
Ali hesitated.Should I keep sharing? Is this woman’s job in jeopardy now that I’ve arrived?She plowed ahead, hoping she wasn’t some sort of Ebenezer Scrooge in this current scenario. She should have realized that a change in management or ownership or whatever was happening here would worry the staff. Ali felt bad for being so blunt in her first encounter with this nice lady.
“We—that is, my attorney—called for two weeks. The phone is disconnected.”
“Yeah, we just, uh, realized. It slipped through the cracks. I’m so sorry. Payment is on the way.”
“Yeah, out of service.” Ali bent down and picked up the toolbox. It was heavy. This little elderly lady shouldn’t be hauling it around, she decided.
“Let’s go in and have a spot of lemonade,” Didi said, recovered somewhat. “We seem to have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes. Good, yes. I have questions.”
They turned from the water and back toward the cottages.
The woman seemed a tad bit shaky the first few steps but got her bearings and was soon confidently leading Ali back to the office building she had first explored.
The questions piled up in Ali’s head by the dozens, and soon, the question of how Didi knew there were three Kelly sisters was replaced by ten others.
It would take more than one cold glass of lemonade to sort this out.
Thirteen
1974
Belinda
The Gulfside Girls, as they were called by just about everyone, sat on the beach together like they’d done just about every day the last few weeks.
The sisters’ love of this beach started when they were tiny. It was one of Belinda Bennett’s first memories.
Their grandparents owned the cottages and brought them here to play. Grandpa did grownup things like collect papers and things. And Grandma walked on the beach to collect shells with them.
Their parents never came here, preferring the pool at the club. There were no waiters or bathrooms, or whatever it was that mommy wanted.
It was harder to get here after their grandparents died. But Grandpa and Grandma had left the Sea Turtle Resort to the Gulfside Girls. Their granddaughters. So, technically, they owned it. But Daddy did the grownup things. “I’ll hold it for youtwo. Consider it a dowry.” Belinda suspected Daddy liked the place too, but Mommy was in charge.
They loved spending the day at the beach! Boy watching, dolphin spotting, and collecting shells were their chief occupations. Every time they collected shells now, they thought of Grandma.
Mommy hated the shells.
“They smell,” was her complaint. Belinda knew that anything associated with the cottages was tacky to Mommy. But luckily, Mommy had other worries. Like shopping and socializing and decorating and making Daddy dress a certain way.
Now that Belinda could drive, they were back in business! Her driver’s license was brand new. She’d just got it in the mail. Starting in February, she’d been driving them out here whenever they wanted! Joetta had her learner’s permit. Next year, they’d take turns behind the wheel.
