Caroline’s eyes drifted across the lobby’s Spanish-style decor toward the courtyard situated between the two huge wings of the hotel.
“Wait till you see this place. There’s an enormous pool and the most gorgeous garden restaurant. Plus a kiddie pool, and of course, the ocean…” Becky waved her hands in its general direction.
“And the rooms are so beautiful,” Peggy added.
“Are we all on the same floor?”
Rain scoffed. “Not even the same wing. You guys are on this side.” She pointed to her right. “The rest of us are all the way over there.” She spun to her left.
“Mommy, I have to pee.”
“I know, sweetie. Can you hold it for a few more minutes?”
“Don’t forget to sign Michelle up for the kids’ club,” Steve said pointedly.
“What’s a kids’ club?” Michelle asked.
“Oh, you’re gonna have such a good time,” Becky enthused. “Every afternoon you do arts and crafts or search for buried treasure or go hunting for crabs…”
“I don’t want to hunt for crabs.”
“Well, then, you can swim or build sand castles or play games with the other kids.”
“I don’t want to play with other kids. I want to play with Mommy.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Caroline said. “We’ll have lots of time to play.”
“Is Samantha going to the kids’ club?” Michelle asked.
“No, sweetheart. She’s too little.”
“She’s not little. She’s big.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Hunter said as the receptionist handed him the keycards to their room.
“Suite 612,” the young woman said, dark eyes sparkling.
“Oh, you have a suite,” Becky said, a hint of envy in her voice. “Can’t wait to see it.”
“Thanks for making the rest of us look bad,” Fletcher joked to Hunter as everyone crowded into the waiting elevator.
“There’s too many people in here,” Michelle complained loudly.
Caroline couldn’t help smiling. She’d been thinking the same thing.
The theme from Star Wars escaped from someone’s pocket to fill the small space.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Becky said, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling as Steve extricated his cell phone from his jeans. “Again?”
“Hello, Mother,” Steve said, holding the phone to his ear with one hand while lifting his other hand into the air, as if to say, What can I do?
“She just called an hour ago,” Becky announced to the group.
“Yes, they just got here. Did you want to speak to Caroline? No? Okay. Yeah, I’m sure she’ll call you later.” He looked to Caroline for confirmation. Caroline shot him a look that said, Thanks a lot. “What? Yes, I know it’s dangerous. Believe me, I have no intention of parasailing.”
“Bless her little black heart,” Becky said. “The woman never stops.”
“No. Not interested in horseback riding on the beach either. You never know what those horses have been drinking. No, I’m not making fun of you. I totally understand your concern. Yeah, okay. Talk to you later. Love you, too. Bye.” Steve returned the phone to his pocket. “What can I tell you?” he said with a laugh. “She’s just looking out for her little boy.”
“Does Grandma Mary have a black heart?” Michelle asked.
“No, darling,” Caroline said. “Of course not.”
“We’ll have to wait for the autopsy to find out for sure,” Hunter said.
“You must be kidding,” Becky scoffed. “She’ll outlive us all.”
“Nice talk, you guys,” Steve said. “This is Caroline’s and my mother you’re talking about. Show a little respect.”
Becky’s snort of derision filled the small elevator.
“Not exactly what I had in mind,” he said.
“Sixth floor,” Fletcher announced, to Caroline’s great relief. “Everybody out.”
—
“So, what do you think?” Hunter asked Caroline after everyone had finally cleared out of their two-bedroom suite.
Holding Samantha in her arms, Caroline cut across the brightly furnished living room to the window overlooking the courtyard and stared down at the garden restaurant directly below. Bright red umbrellas shaded tables covered with white linen. Flowering coral and white shrubs grew at appropriate intervals. An enormous amoeba-shaped pool was situated off to one side, surrounded by red-and-white-striped lounge chairs. Everything was literally a stone’s throw away. The world at her fingertips, Caroline thought, turning back toward her husband, taking in the room’s bright yellow walls, the red velvet sofa and red-and-gold wing chair. “It’s beautiful. Everything. You did good.” She walked around the dark wood coffee table into his waiting embrace.
“Were you really surprised or were you just pretending?”
“Are you kidding? I was absolutely shocked.”
“Yeah? Well, I just might have a few more surprises up my sleeve, Mrs. Shipley.” He nibbled the side of her ear.
“Mommy,” Michelle called from the bathroom. “Mommy, I’m finished. Come wipe me.”
Caroline lowered her head to his shoulder.