Page 5 of A Chance Fall

She was going to have to try her best to make it all work. "Hey dad, could you wait for me in the lobby? Have a look around. I'm going to help these people, and then we can talk, okay?"

Though April didn't want to talk to her father, there were more important things on her mind. And she needed a reason for him to walk away so she could focus on the task at hand.

The ocean roared louder than the engine coming closer and closer. "Sure, honey," Richard replied with a smile and walked inside his old family vacation home.

First things first. The couple that came earlier needed their room and a tour of their facilities.

"What's the name?" April asked like she'd practiced a hundred times in the mirror before this day. It was obvious that this was the Miller family. It was one of two reservations, the other being a single man.

"Miller," he said confidently, smiling over at his sweetheart. "It's our first vacation in a year of marriage. Can you believe it?"

"No honeymoon?" April asked.

The woman, whose arm was wrapped tightly inside of his, replied, "No. We were too poor to go anywhere when we first got married. Now we finally get to see the beach like we wanted."

The two kissed just as the car with the other guest came to a halt outside. April felt a twinge in her stomach, maybe jealousy, maybe something else. She couldn't quite tell because her nerves of trying to make everything go right today seemed to take precedence over everything else going on inside her head.

"I'll show you to your room," April said with a smile after electronically signing them into her management software.

Just as they began up the stairs, she saw the man getting out of his car. His fully tailored suit intimidated her. She noted it for when she would check him in.

As April led the couple to their room, she couldn't help but glance back at her father in the lobby. Memories of her childhood flooded her mind. The times he'd show up unannounced and take her on adventures. The good times were always mixed with the bad. The times he'd disappear for months on end, leaving them with no explanation.

She had spent years trying to forget him and his inconsistent ways, but now he was here again, throwing her off balance.

The couple was pleased with their room, and she gave them a rundown of all the amenities. "The beach is there for you to enjoy, though it does close after dark due to the tides. And I wouldn't sit out there early in the morning either. Better to experience it midday."

They nodded, clearly taking notes in their heads for later. "On the nightstand, there's a list of great spots in town for you to visit. I recommend checking that out before you go exploring in case you find yourselves in need of food or entertainment."

It was everything April had been practicing for. She'd spent hours perfecting this exact speech. Now was her time to shine. The smile on their faces meant everything to April.

As she left their room, she noticed her father talking to the new customer in the lobby. They stared at the coffee table beside the couch. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but the man seemed to be unimpressed.

Was her father talking about the furniture, or were they talking about something completely different, like the score of the last basketball game? And did it really matter? The guest was occupied, as was her father. It seemed like a win-win to her.

April quickly made her way downstairs to welcome him and begin the check-in process. Though it didn't go as she had planned.

The man, whose name was David, looked bothered as April greeted him. He handed over his ID and credit card with a sense of reluctance, and April tried to hide her disappointment. She had been hoping for a more enthusiastic guest, someone who would be excited to be staying at her bed and breakfast. But David was different from the Millers, and he knew it.

April created this place to be something new for everyone who couldn't visit the island before. It was supposed to be an affordable, beautiful spot where people of all kinds could vacation.

David was clearly wealthy. She could tell not only by the way he held himself, but by the expensive rental in her driveway and his suitcase and sunglasses, both luxury brand.

"You reserved the King's suite, is that correct?"

His brows furrowed. "No. I reserved the Queen's suite."

Suddenly, April's cheeks felt very hot. "Of course. Right." It took her a minute to find the information on her computer. The silence between them felt stiff. "Ah, yes. Here it is."

"Finally," David said quietly and scoffed. "First I have to wait here while you give the golden guests a tour and now you can't find the right reservation."

"Sorry, sir. I'm just a little flustered today. I assure you that everything will be up to your standards."

He grumbled something under his breath. It only made April more frustrated. Her fingers couldn't hit the right keys, her hands almost shaking from the stress of the day. She felt like she couldn't do anything.

One miss-click and the entire reservation was deleted. Everything she'd been doing was erased entirely. She almost began to cry, but reminded herself that she was a strong woman, prepared to do anything for her dreams.

This was her dream.

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