Page 36 of Nightcaps at The Beach House Hotel

“I’d like that,” said Darryl.

“I’ll call Vaughn and check with him to see when he’s coming home. He just left town, but I never know when his schedule might change.”

Rhonda arrived with a message that we would meet with Bernie in a half-hour, and while she was sitting with Darryl and Abbie on the lanai, I quickly called Vaughn.

He answered right away. “Hey, I was about to call you. We’ve got enough sick cast members that shooting has been postponed for a week while other work is being done on the film.”

“Great! Does that mean you’ll come home?” I said, thrilled to hear the news.

“Yes, I’ll fly out tomorrow. I’ll let you know when. It’s chaotic here.”

Vaughn ended the call, and I let out a sigh of relief. Having Vaughn act as host would make things much easier.

I went out to the lanai.

Cindy, who’d been sitting with Darryl suddenly barked and leapt off the couch.

“Oh, that must be my son, Robbie, coming home from school,” I said.

We all looked up as Robbie walked onto the lanai. He gazed at our guests curiously but addressed Rhonda. “Hi, Aunt Rhonda. Willow and Drew didn’t come with you?”

“Not this time,” said Rhonda, motioning him forward. As he neared her, she wrapped an arm around him, pulled him close, and quickly kissed him on the cheek.

He stepped back, and though I knew he was embarrassed, he smiled. He loved Rhonda. Both of my children did.

Liana came into the room, and I introduced her before walking both Robbie and her to the kitchen.

I ruffled Robbie’s hair and turned to Liana. “Rhonda and I are going to leave for the hotel shortly. I want to make sure Darryl and Abbie are comfortable before we do.”

“Yes, I understand,” said Liana, and I thought how lucky I was to have her help.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

After making sure that Darryl and Abbie were comfortable with their plans to swim in the pool and relax at my house, Rhonda and I headed back to the hotel.

“It’s a PR nightmare,” said Rhonda, filling me in on the way. “A Miami television newsperson wants to set up an interview with Everly. Everly said it was fine, but the woman calling wanted to make sure it was okay with the hotel to do the interview here.”

“And what did Bernie say?” I asked.

“He said he would send them an agreement stating what was allowed and what wasn’t. He told her it would have to be signed before they could set a time and date for any interview at the hotel.”

“Good for him,” I said. “Hopefully, it will become a non-issue, but we have to find a way to get Everly to leave.”

###

At the hotel, we joined Bernie in his office.

“Any word from the Miami newsperson?” Rhonda asked after we’d taken our seats.

“I have the signed agreement in my hands,” said Bernie. “It was just sent to me. Now we need to figure out a time and place.”

“I think we should hold off as long as we can,” I said.

“An hour or so ago, Everly called down to the Front Desk wanting to know when she could give her interview. They’re paying her quite a bit of money for an exclusive, and she wants it set up right away.” Bernie shook his head. “Her words were slurred and full of foul language.”

“Why don’t Rhonda and I talk to her to see if she’s going to be reasonable about respecting our rules,” I suggested.

“Let’s give her a while to collect herself, and then we’ll go visit her,” said Rhonda. “I need some time to think about how we want to approach her. I still want her gone from the hotel. Maybe we can work that in somehow.”

---