Page 85 of Bubbles at the Beach House Hotel

“Stephanie had a very frightening scare. Apparently, Randolph just fell to the floor. She thought he was dead. Luckily, Randolph came to quickly, and she called 911. Then she called me.”

“It’s lucky she knew you were home and that you weren’t sailing,” I said. “I’ll go back to the hotel and wait for a call from either her or you.”

“Elena knows I’m here. She’ll wait at the house for Robbie to return from Brett’s. I asked her not to mention anything to him about Randolph until I could talk to him. I know he’ll be upset.”

“Maybe he can visit Randolph tonight,” I said.

“How are things at the hotel?” Vaughn asked me.

“Busy with the Christmas decorating, but it’s going to look lovely. And Rhonda and I are greeting the five women of the book club who are returning this afternoon for the wedding of one of them.”

“Don’t worry about things here. We don’t expect bad news, but I’ll be here to support Stephanie.”

I hugged him. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“Not since last night,” he said, grinning.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The housekeeping staffwas cleaning the lobby from the remnants of Christmas decorating when I got a call from Jane Sweeny that the book club group was close to their arrival.

Rhonda and I went to the front entrance to welcome our special arrivals.

Grinning, Rhonda nudged me. “How many times do you suppose we’ve done this? Waiting to greet guests has always been exciting for me because we never know what will happen with each visit.”

“Life is full of surprises and none more so than here at the hotel,” I said to her and looked up as a white stretch limo rolled between the gates of the hotel property.

We waited until the limousine had stopped and then hurried down the front steps to greet our guests.

Jane was the first out of the limousine.

I was startled by the change I saw in her in just a few months. Gone was the streak of gray, replaced by a new soft brown color like the rest of her hair, which was cut into a more flattering style. Her wardrobe had been updated, and with makeup, she looked years younger.

“Hello,” she said. “It’s fantastic to be back here. And for such an exciting reason.”

We hugged, and I turned to Caro, who looked as stunning as ever. Her previously reserved manner was much more open, and her blue eyes sparkled with happiness.

---