Page 90 of Gulfside Girls
“Okay, yes, I’ll be on the lookout for those. It’s 13 Gulfside Wayside Way, c/o Sea Turtle Building #1, Haven Beach, Florida.”
The law firm of Michalak, Perna, and Janco had hammered out a good settlement. With the resort off the table, they’d agreed to Ted keeping the house, and Ali keeping her inheritance from Bruce. Ted kept his stupid car, too.
That meant Ali had some cash in the bank to live on while she did this crazy thing.
It was crazy right, in its way? Trying to make the Sea Turtle Resort work?
But she was doing it. Or trying, anyway.
Ali decided to inhabit Strawberry Hideaway Cottage for the time being. It was the smallest and furthest from the beach. She felt the best about occupying this space as the spring break crowd was about to descend. She had so much to do in the next few days to be ready for them.
She’d heard it was the make-or-break season for a Gulf vacation rental. According to the rental schedule calendar Didi handed over to her, they weren’t fully booked. Ali saw it as a challenge. By this time next year, she’d have each cottage booked, and the entire Inn.
The list of things to do was long. At least the pool was looking better. Silvio, the pool guy, had started cleaning it out. And while there were repairs to make she felt good about the cottages. They were safe enough, clean enough, and well stocked.
The Inn was another story. That place was none of the above. The more she thought about that list, the longer it got. But one at a time, she’d knock it out; she’d make this place magical for every single guest.
Not that people were beating down the door yet. They had a long way to go to get fully booked. But this was the kind of challenge Ali lived for.
Faye had been right! Her little sister had been in the lead on this. She’d been the one to take charge and help Ali see a path forward. It was a good lesson for her to know it didn’t always have to be her. Her sisters were grown, and she didn’t have to be the mom all the time.
Faye had convinced Blair to give her a year. Blair needed the money the most. Ali felt guilty about that. Her first instinct was to care for Blair, not herself. But Faye pushed hard.
“Blair can give you this time. If Sea Turtle is a bust after a year? Two? We still own Gulfside property. We can sell and get the cash then.”
Faye and Ali were working on a plan to appraise the true price of their mother’s clothes. It seemed each dress was more valuable than the one before it. If Blair really needed cash, Ali would give Blair all the dresses and the jewelry to get her through.
She was worried about Blair, though. Her baby sister was going through something but hadn’t shared what it was. Or was Blair the only sane one? Selling the Sea Turtle made more sense than staying. Except when you got here…and staying was all you wanted to do.
Ali was wrestling with her choice to stay. Every night, she weighed the consequences of hanging onto the Sea Turtle.
Was this selfish? Was it vindictive? Was she only doing this because Ted had pushed her to the edge?
Thankfully, Faye was her sounding board, and Faye believed Ali could do this. Didi did, too. And she wanted to do it.
From the moment she’d put her feet in the sand here at Haven Beach, she’d felt connected to it in a way she hadn’t any other place.
Both her children had been ambivalent. They didn’t know exactly what had happened between their father and their mother. Maybe that was okay. Dumping on the kids over the indiscretions and failure of the parents was selfish for certain. There was no debate in her mind on that. And eventually, her children would come here. It was impossible not to. It was paradise.
Ali walked down to the beach; she had purchased a beach cart for all the supplies. Tonight, it would be just the locals, her new friends, and the Riveras.
They had only days to go before the busy season on Haven Beach. Ali was terrified and excited about the onslaught of vacationers. She spent every day and night doing what she could to get ready. Each good experience she offered her guests, led to more guests. Unless they had a terrible time, then the reverse would happen. She needed to start out right with this season.
She had the cheese trays from Moe’s and the wine she’d begun to source at an adorable winery up the coast, and she’dturned on the lights Henry had helped her string for the Hafners and Nobles. Forever the first guests she’d hosted here.
Ali was torn about the lights. Was that every night thing? Or only for special events? Ali eyed a future with beach weddings or retirement parties. This place has so much potential, and she had the background it make it happen.
But tonight, it was her new friends. She wanted them to see how much she appreciated the warmth in which they had enfolded her. A stranger just one month ago. So the lights would twinkle!
Erica was the first to arrive. Her steal gray dreadlocks were tied with a ribbon in the back. She wore overalls, flip flops, and a look of gratitude that it was time to unwind with some vino.
“Oh, my gosh, I need this today! A tour bus showed up at noon!”
Ali handed her a glass.
And then, Patsy Gleaner appeared. Patsy had been momentarily crushed that Ali didn’t want to put the place on the market. But the woman’s quick wit, connections, and honesty had turned her into a fast friend.
“Girl, that’s the most gorgeous kaftan I’ve ever seen!”
