Page 86 of Bubbles at the Beach House Hotel

Amy, Lisa, and Heather approached me as a group to exchange hugs. Talking and laughing all at once, it seemed more like a homecoming of family rather than guests we hadn’t known several weeks ago.

When we were finished greeting one another, Rhonda said, “Let’s get you signed in, and then we’ll take you to the guesthouse. You’ll see, not much has changed.”

“I hope you have some bubbles waiting for us,” said Amy.

“That and some other things,” I said. “The bellman will take care of your luggage.”

The young man stepped forward. “I’ve brought the cart right here so we can transfer everything from the limo.”

“Please be careful with the hanging bag,” said Caro. “It’s my wedding dress.”

He bobbed his head, and we left him to his work.

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As we approached thehouse, I saw a member of the kitchen staff leave and silently thanked him for his timing.

When we entered the house, seven tulip glasses and a charcuterie board were displayed in the kitchen.

“Yes!” cried Heather. “I’ve told my friends all about the service at the hotel. This is excellent.”

The bellman arrived, and he made quick work of placing suitcases in the right rooms. This time, Caro would have the master suite, and the others would share the two other suites. It gave them all plenty of room.

As soon as the bellman left, Amy said, “Okay, I’m opening a bottle of bubbly. This calls for a very special celebration.” She turned to Caro. “We’re so happy for you. You and Henry make a terrific couple. We knew it right after you met.”

Amy took out a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator and popped it open.

She poured some into each of the glasses and then lifted her own in a toast. “Here’s to Caro.”

We all raised our glasses, and then we each took a sip. Though I didn’t drink every day, I’d come to love having champagne on certain occasions. This was one of the sweetest celebrations.

Rhonda said, “Caro, tell us how Henry proposed. Were you surprised?”

Caro set down her glass and faced Rhonda. “It was very touching, but I wasn’t surprised. We’d pretty much decided from the first time we met that there was something special between us. My ex-husband destroyed my self-confidence, but just talking to Henry made me feel very different. Henry is on the shy side, but he has a lot to say when he speaks.”

“And apparently, he’s very talented when he doesn’t need words,” teased Amy, and we all chuckled as Caro’s cheeks grew pink.

“It’s probably a matter of timing, but we are both so ready for this,” said Caro. “We decided there was no reason to wait. We felt that strongly.”

“I think it’s adorable,” said Heather. “After a failed marriage, I knew how right and how different things were with Craig soon after I met him. Happily, he felt the same way about me.”

“But this is more than a celebration about me,” said Caro. “Jane, don’t you have something to say?”

Jane clasped her hands in front of her. “The vacation here and these ladies encouraged me to make some changes.” She patted her hair and smoothed down her short skirt. “And I’ve begun dating a very nice man.”

“He’s a doll,” said Lisa. “A widowed teacher at the school where I’m a guidance counselor.”

Jane beamed at us and then turned to Amy. “Your turn.”

“Ann and Rhonda, you know how helpful Slade was to me as I went through a difficult time with the death of my ex. We’d been attracted to one another from the first time we met. Even after he and Henry left to help the vice president with an issue, Slade has been in my life. After many talks and discussions, I’ve agreed to move in with him in Washington D.C., after the new year. We want to see where our relationship can take us.”

“How does your son feel about that?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“He’s all for it. Life with my husband these past several years has been awful for both my son and me. He knows the marriage wasn’t good. I kept thinking I could help my husband until I learned only the person who is addicted can make the necessary changes in his life.”

“What will you do in D.C.?” asked Rhonda.

“I’m an accountant, so it won’t be hard to find work there. After spending so much time worrying about others, it’s freeing to do something for myself. Sure, I’m taking a chance that things will work out. But I want to grab hold of this opportunity for true happiness and see where it takes me, takes us.”

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