Essie glanced down at herself. A workout wouldn’t hurt her once in a while, although she and Frank did walk the beach a few times a week. Maybe if Cece went again, Essie would go with her. Going to a thing like that with a friend sounded much less intimidating.
Maude chimed in next.Client thinks they got hacked. Maybe next time.
Then, finally, Blaise.I can come for a bit. Thanks!
Pleased with that result, Essie got in the golf cart and drove to the Northside pool and clubhouse. It was a large complex with a lazy river that linked to the main pool, which was twice the size of the Southside pool. That one, next to the Fitness Center, wasan Olympic regulation pool, with half of it set up for those who wanted to swim laps.
This was the pleasure pool, meant for lounging, floating, and hanging out. You could get an alcoholic beverage at this pool, along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The best you could do at the Southside pool was a smoothie or a salad.
At least that’s what she’d heard. She’d seen that pool but never spent any time there.
She parked the golf cart and walked through the gate, greeting the attendant who was handing out towels from the tiki hut. She took two, then asked him, “Are there any cabanas available?”
He looked on the tablet at the counter. “There are a few. Would you like one?”
“Yes, please. Ten, eleven, or twelve would be nice.” Those were at the end of the first row and because of how they were situated, more private.
“Twelve is all yours.” He had her sign for that cabana. “Someone will be right over to get your drinks.”
“Thanks.” She made her way to the cabana. They weren’t free, but the small cost to rent one was well worth it. She knew they were popular because there was talk about adding a few more.
As soon as she arrived, she put her bag on one of the loungers and sent out another text.I’m in cabana 12.
She immediately got herself situated. Her bag went next to her lounge chair, but she hung her caftan up inside the cabana. There was more seating inside, along with a small round table, a small flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, and a ceiling fan, which was already on.
She spread her towel over her lounger and settled in to get some sun. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to get a lot ofreading done with company coming, but she didn’t care. She could read tonight.
Getting to know the Queen Bees better was more important.
Paige showed up first, in a gorgeous one-shouldered one-piece suit covered in a bright floral print. And, of course, she had a matching sarong. She looked like a movie star in her big sunglasses. “Hi, Essie! This is so fun. I love that you got a cabana.”
Essie smiled. “It was Frank’s idea. He’s coming after his golf lesson.”
“Is it all right if I take the lounger next to you or do you want to save it for him?”
“You can have it. If I know him, he’ll be in the cabana on his phone doing business when he gets here.”
Paige put her towel and bag down. “I look forward to meeting him.”
A young woman with blond hair in a ponytail and the pool staff uniform of tropical print camp shirt and khaki shorts arrived. “Good afternoon, ladies. I’m Krissy and I’ll be taking care of you today. What would you like to drink? Menus are attached to the chairs.”
Essie found the laminated menu card attached by a stretchy, old-fashioned telephone-style cord. She glanced at it. “I’ll have the pina colada mocktail cooler.”
“Great choice.” Krissy looked at Paige. “And for you?”
“I’ll try one of those, too,” Paige said.
As Krissy left, Paige leaned in. “My daughter is coming in for the weekend tonight. It’ll be so nice to see her.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Is she coming to meet Graham?”
Paige quickly shook her head. “It’s too early for that. She’s just coming to hang out and decompress. She works so hard. She’s bringing her dog with her.”
“What does she do?”
“She works for an insurance company.”
Just then, Blaise rolled up in a snakeskin-print bikini with a sheer black coverup. The bikini had wide straps and modest hip-hugging bottoms, but Blaise looked phenomenal in it.
