Page 56 of Canapés at the Beach House Hotel
“She went to a meeting, but she’ll be back a little later,” said Lauren.“She’s booked herself to handle the wedding this weekend.”
“That means you, Philippa, will work with an assortment of people.”I glanced at Rhonda.“See?Everything is all set in this department.”
“Will and I are going away for a few days, and I wanted to be sure I wasn’t leaving at a bad time,” explained Rhonda.“Thanks so much for your help.”
“See you later,” I said.
Walking back to our office, Rhonda said, “I’m going to go home to make sure things are settled there.I’ll check in with you in the morning before we take off.”
“Okay, but you don’t need to.Just relax and enjoy some time off.Vaughn and I will get our chance later.”
Rhonda gave me a long hug.“I knew you and I would be the best partners ever.”
Laughing, I said, “Go.Have a delightful time.We’ll be fine.”
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The next day, I stood alone at the top of the stairs waiting to greet the bride and her family.The space beside me felt empty but I was delighted that Rhonda had called with the news that the small resort where they were staying was beautiful and relaxing.
A white limousine pulled up to the front of the hotel and I drew a deep breath, hoping this weekend would go well.Lorraine had told me that Virginia “Ginny” Collington was very refined and expected the best for her daughter.Her husband, a CEO of a tech company, was well-traveled and had heard of The Beach House Hotel through a senator friend.
The limo pulled to a stop and the driver raced around the car to open the back passenger door.
A striking woman wearing her blonde hair in a sleek bun stepped out of the car in a pale blue linen suit.A string of pearls sat atop a white silk blouse.Matching pearl earrings sat in her ear lobes.
A gray-haired man dressed in a tan summer suit followed her.
They stood aside while their daughter exited the limo.Trim like her mother, she had an angelic, pink-cheeked face framed by honey-colored hair.Sparkling blue eyes met mine as I said, “Welcome to The Beach House Hotel.”
“We’re very pleased to be here,” said Virginia.“This is my husband Clark Collington and my daughter, Audrey.”
“We’ve heard great things about the hotel,” said Clark, shaking my hand.“Nothing’s too good for my little girl.”
“Daddy,” groaned Audrey, smiling at him and then turning to me.“This wedding is really hard on him.”
“I do gain a son,” he said grinning.
“Nate and his family are arriving a little later,” said Virginia.“We were able to fly in a private jet thanks to one of Clark’s friends who was doing business in Florida.”
“Let me walk you inside,” I said.“The bags will be taken care of for you.”
I held my head high as I led them up the stairs and into the lobby of the hotel.I remembered my first sight of the living room that had been turned into a lobby and how impressed I’d been.I still thought it was beautiful and welcoming.
“Oh,” said Virginia.“It’s as lovely as its photographs.”
Bernie walked across the lobby to greet them.
I said goodbye to the family and left it to the staff to take care of them.I loved small, upscale weddings like this one with only forty guests to pamper.
An hour or so later, I was called to greet the groom’s family.
As their limousine pulled up to the front of the hotel, I went down the stairs to greet them.
The driver helped an older woman wearing slacks and a knit top out of the car.Smiling, the woman brushed back gray curls and waited for her son to climb out of the back seat.
Tall and broad-shouldered, a young man with straight, brown hair emerged wearing jeans and a Boston Red Sox T-shirt.
His father came around the car and I saw how closely the two men resembled one another.
