Page 35 of Return to Us
“Let me show you around the desk area and introduce you to everyone.”
The staff is friendly. There is one person who is always at the front desk, answering the phones and checking people in. Stella explains how they have another person who floats and is able to fill in if there are any issues. My job will be to make sure the front desk is handling things, deal with any surprises, as well as making sure guests’ requests are filled, and running reports that Stella or Grayson needs regarding occupancy.
“Do you have any questions?”
“I think I’m set, but if I have issues, who do I report to?”
“Grayson.”
That’s what I was worried about.
“Okay.”
Stella leans against the desk. “You can always come to me if you prefer. We split the duties here and both can handle anything, but he’s much better with the staff and day-to-day running of the place. I do a lot more of the recreation side.”
“Meaning?”
She sighs. “I make sure there’s entertainment and keep the guests happy. So, it’s sort of like he handles the before part of the trip, the stocking of the inventory, staff, and maintenance stuff, and I work on the once they’re here.”
“I can see how that works,” I say with a grin. Stella is social, fun, and loves parties. She’d be an amazing event planner. Grayson is organized and likes order and discipline.
“It’s lucky for me that Grayson is who wanted to stay around here and not Oliver.”
Speaking of her twin brother . . . “How is Oliver? Is he liking wherever he is now?”
“Yes. No. I mean, he wanted to go to the new property after he and his girlfriend broke up. He was in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania for a while.”
I bite my lip, wondering if I should share this. Oliver is Stella’s twin, and they’re very close. It could go either way, but I decide it’s better to put it out there. “I actually know someone in Sugarloaf who knew Oliver.”
“You do?”
I nod. “He was with a girl named Devney, right?”
“Yeah! How did you know that?”
“I’m friends with someone who lives there, and Oliver dated their now sister-in-law.”
Stella grips my arms. “You know an Arrowood?”
“I do.”
“Oh my God! That’s right! Oh! My! God! You know Jacob!” Each of her words gets a little louder as her excitement mounts.
“Shh,” I say as a few guests turn to look at us. “Jacob and I were in that plane crash together.”
“And Oliver dated Devney, who I fuckingloved.”
“I haven’t met her, but the entire family is super sweet and has helped me a ton.”
Jacob has good people in his life. Not only is he an amazing friend but also his family did a lot to get me set up here too. Brenna, his girlfriend, referred me to Dr. Warvel. Sydney, his sister-in-law, was able to get a lawyer to help pro-bono with the legal side of trying to get a settlement for medical coverage, which the airline is fighting me on. And the others sent cards or gifts to thank me. I just did my job, but they seem to think it was more.
“Yeah, I met her when they first started dating and I visited a few times. The Arrowoods weren’t there yet, I guess. I was crushed when they broke up, but”—her voice drops to a whisper—“I love my brother and all, but if I had to choose between him and Sean . . . there’s no choice.”
“I don’t know that any woman would turn him away.”
“Right?” Stella sighs dramatically. “I only loved baseball because of him.”
“You like sports?”
