Page 2 of The Hotel Nantucket
“Oh,” Jill says. “Okay, so…”
“I was hoping for more of astory,” Jordan says.
“I’m not sure thereismore of a story,” Jill tells him. “The hotel was falling to pieces and Xavier Darling bought it. He hired local—”
“Yes, you say that.” Jordan sighs. “I wish there were another angle…” His voice trails off. “I’m not going to run it this week. Let me think on it for a little while.” He smiles at Jill. “Thank you, though, for going to get a ‘behind-the-scenes first look.’” He uses air quotes, which makes him seem likesucha boomer. “I appreciate it.”
Privately, Jordan Randolph suspects that the Hotel Nantucket will be like a work of art by Banksy—after it is unveiled, it will shine for one glorious moment and then self-destruct. One person who agrees is a ninety-four-year-old resident of Our Island Home named Mint Benedict. Mint is the only child of Jackson and Dahlia Benedict, the couple who owned the hotel from 1910 to 1922. Mint asks his favorite nurse, Charlene, to push him all the way to Easton Street in his wheelchair so that he can see the spiffy new facade of the hotel.
“They can fix it up but it won’t succeed,” Mint says. “Mark my words: The Hotel Nantucket is haunted, and it’s all my father’s fault.”
Mint is talking nonsense,Charlene thinks,and he definitely needs a nap.She spins his chair toward home.
Haunted?we think.
Half of us are skeptical. (We don’t believe in ghosts.)
Half of us are intrigued. (Just when we thought the story couldn’t get any better!)
2. The Fifth Key
Lizbet Keaton’s Breakup Playlist
“Good 4 U”—Olivia Rodrigo
“All Too Well” (Taylor’s version)—Taylor Swift
“If Looks Could Kill”—Heart
“You Oughta Know”—Alanis Morissette
“Far Behind”—Social Distortion
“Somebody That I Used to Know”—Gotye
“Marvin’s Room”—Drake
“Another You”—Elle King
“Gives You Hell”— The All-American Rejects
“Kiss This”—The Struts
“Save It for a Rainy Day”—Kenny Chesney
“I Don’t Wanna Be in Love”—Good Charlotte
“Best of You”—Foo Fighters
“Rehab”—Rihanna
“Better Now”—Post Malone
“Forget You”—CeeLo Green
“Salt”—Ava Max
“Go Your Own Way”—Fleetwood Mac
