Page 57 of Bubbles at the Beach House Hotel

“You’re right,” admitted Rhonda. “Having Arthur in town with all his big New York clients has been unsettling. I get the male ego thing, but it’s something more than that.”

“Getting back to Will’s health, have you been given information about what happens after this procedure?” I asked her.

She handed me a bunch of pamphlets. “They wanted me to be prepared for the time we go home. They told me they’d probably keep Will overnight to make sure everything went well, but that I should be prepared for lifestyle changes he should make and possible emotions and feelings that he might be dealing with.”

“I can understand that. Will must slow down now or face worse consequences,” I said.

“I think this wake-up call is going to be difficult for him,” said Rhonda, frowning. “He already feels threatened by Arthur. And Reggie’s eagerness to take over and run the office is another issue. Will’s not ready for retirement, but he’ll have to make some changes.”

I got up from my chair and moved around. I remembered when Vaughn’s plane went down over Alaska and the awful emptiness that I’d felt at the thought of his not being found. I glanced back at the worried look on Rhonda’s face, how her shoulders had hunched up, and vowed to be with her every step of the way. The months ahead wouldn’t be easy.

“This couldn’t come at a worse time,” said Rhonda. “The holidays are coming up and then high season. I want to be able to support you as much as possible with the hotel, but I have to make sure Will is all right and able to take care of himself.”

I sat down beside her. “I agree. The hotel staff does a wonderful job for us. We’ll handle it.”

“On the other hand, I can’t babysit Will every day. He’d kill me, or I’d kill myself,” said Rhonda.

“We’ll do this together like we always do.”

As we were talking, a man wearing green surgical clothes approached. “Mrs. Grayson?”

Rhonda glanced at me and stood. “That’s me, and this is my friend, Ann Sanders. Is everything all right? How did my husband do?”

“Hi, I’m Dr. Hamblin. He did just fine. He’s had three stents put in, which was one more than we’d initially thought we’d need. We’ll keep him overnight to make sure everything’s fine, and then tomorrow, before he’s released, we’ll have him meet with one of the rehab nurses. I’d like you to be present for that, as he will need to change his diet and lifestyle.”

“I’d love to be there for that,” said Rhonda. “I’ve been a voice in the wilderness, so to speak, for a long time. I need someone else to tell him what he can and can’t do.”

“I agree it will be helpful for that meeting. You should be aware of the emotional impact something like this can have on a patient. Your husband might become very frustrated with the changes required.”

“I’m sure of that, so I think we need to be in this meeting together. May I see him now?”

“Yes, he’s in the recovery room. He’ll remain there for a short time, and then he’ll be moved to our cardiac unit. Ask the nurses on that floor, and they can tell you when he’s brought there. It should be any time now.”

“Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much,” said Rhonda, trying not to cry.

I put my arm around her.

The doctor gave a little bob of his head to both of us and moved away.

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After Rhonda had seenWill and spent a few minutes with him, she and I headed to the Palm Island Club. This small resort was unique in that it was situated on a small island off the shore of Sabal and was approached by a short boat ride. It was a favorite relaxing spot for Vaughn and me.

The clubhouse was a light-stained log cabin-style building which, from the outside, didn’t reflect the elegance inside. In addition to guest rooms in the main building, ten cabins lined the sandy beach, offering upscale privacy to those inside. Vaughn loved lying on the beach in front of one and then using the small private pool behind to cool off. We’d spent many happy hours there.

While Rhonda checked out, I began packing up for her. It was easy to fold things up. Staying at the resort meant wearing nothing very dressy, just simple clothes for an easy getaway.

As I closed Will’s suitcase, Rhonda walked into the bedroom.

“Have you done my stuff yet? I don’t want to leave behind the sexy nightgown I bought for the occasion.”

Rhonda’s smile disappeared, and she plopped down onto the king-size bed. “Oh, Annie. What’s going to happen to Will and me? Will he be the same as before, or will he think he’s too old or fragile to make love like we used to?”

“Those are questions that the rehab center can answer. I’m sure other women have wondered the same thing. I remember a guest of ours talking about how great it was for her husband to recover from stent surgery and that it positively changed his life. He felt so much better, more alive.”

Rhonda sighed. “I won’t worry about it now. The important thing is that Will has been saved from a heart attack. With all the stress he’s been under, it’s a wonder he hasn’t dropped dead.”

“He’s always been a strong, active man. I don’t see that changing,” I said.

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