Page 1 of A New Year In The Presidential Suite

CHAPTER ONE

LORI

Loralie “Lori” Hamlin stared at the summer wardrobe lying atop her bed and wondered if these clothes would be suitable for the trip to Florida her family had planned for her as a Christmas present.

It was sweet of them to pool their money so she could start off the New Year at a luxurious hotel on the Gulf Coast of Florida. She’d read about The Beach House Hotel and the two dynamic women who owned it, but she’d never dreamed she would actually travel there from upstate New York. Her idea of a splurge was a two-scoop ice cream cone from Love’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Shoppe, a favorite of hers.

Her beloved husband, Nick, had died from cancer at thirty-two, leaving her without much. His life insurance had, thankfully, paid off the mortgage on her house. Beyond that, her income came from both her job as a preschool teacher and a side hustle as a Virtual Assistant helping two authors and three small businesses with marketing. She’d never heard of a VA until one of the other teachers at school mentioned it. Medical expenses had finally been paid off after two years, but it brought her no satisfaction. Nick was gone forever, and she knew in her heart no one could ever replace him, no matter what her two older sisters told her.

Lori held up a sundress and stood in front of the long mirror in her bedroom. Her gaze fell on her brown curly hair, which she found hard to tame. Nick had called it chocolate brown and had loved to tangle his fingers in it. With her hair now shorter, her sisters declared that it made her green eyes look bigger, and the pink floral dress was a perfect choice for her to take to Florida.

She turned away with a sigh. Her feelings were torn. She owed it to her family to go on this trip and try to have fun. But it would, in a way, mean a break from her past life with Nick, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to let that go.

A moment later, her sister, Aurelia, came into the room. “Sorry, I’m late. I had to drop Sara off at ballet class. But I’m here now to help with your wardrobe. We must send you off in grand style.” She handed Lori a gaily wrapped box. “Florence and I got this for you. Just in case.”

“Thanks,” Lori said, eying the familiar pink wrapping. “Do I dare open it?”

Aurelia winked. “It might put you in the mood for this trip.”

“Uh-oh. What have the two of you done now?” Lori asked. She removed the mauve silk ribbon and tore the paper off. She knew the store and could well imagine the slinky nightgown inside.

“It’s sexy but classic,” said Aurelia, beaming at Lori.

Holding it up before her, Lori realized how sheer the red fabric was and held back another sigh. Her sisters had such high hopes for her. Aurelia was six years older, happily married to a successful doctor in town, and the mother of two adorable girls. Florence, “Flo,” was three years older than Lori and was married to the high school principal in the next town. They had a three-year-old boy and a baby on the way. Lori was the last of the three to get married and had thought her life would be full of loving Nick and the three children they wanted together.

Flo arrived looking flustered. Together, the three of them went through Lori’s wardrobe and selected the best choices for the trip. Lori had read about The Beach House Hotel and knew that though it was small, it was upscale and unique, exactly like the two women who owned it had envisioned. The fact that she would be among the kind of guests the hotel attracted was both thrilling and terrifying.

Aurelia gave her a steady look. “I can see those tiny little worry lines start to form, Lori. Stop it. You’ll be fine and have fun. It’s good for you to get away and not have to worry about Mom trying to fix you up with someone totally unsuitable just so she can say all her chicks are happily settled.”

Hearing the way Aurelia talked about her mother, Lori glanced at Flo, and they burst out laughing. It was true. Their mother was desperate to have Lori paired off with someone. This compulsion was done out of love, of course, but Lori would wait until she found someone she truly loved as much as she’d loved Nick. The possibility that it might never happen didn’t frighten her.

“Okay, that’s it. I think you’re ready,” said Aurelia, standing back and giving her a nod of satisfaction.

Lori held up a checklist. “I’ve had a mani-pedi, shaved my legs, and washed my hair. Anything else?”

“No, honey. You look beautiful,” said Flo. “That bikini mom gave you will be striking on you.” Flo patted her round stomach. “I hope I’ll look more like you come summer.”

“You will,” said Aurelia. “Remember how well you did to get back in shape after having Hudson.”

“I guess,” said Flo. “But I have to admit, as excited as I am about this baby, I’m envious of the trip Lori is taking. Just think. No snow and ice. Instead, palm trees and sandy beaches.”

Aurelia gave Lori an encouraging smile. “Hopefully, all that warmth and beauty will work its magic on you and help you make some changes in your life.”

Lori shook her head. “Now that the medical bills are settled, I’ll have to begin work on fixing up this house like Nick and I planned. I’m moving ahead regardless of what happens in Florida.”

“Okay,” said Aurelia. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning to drive you to the airport for your flight.”

“Are you sure you want to do that? My flight is so early,” said Lori, then laughed when she saw the look of determination on Aurelia’s face. When her eldest sister decided something, it was pretty much a done deal. “Okay, thanks. And thank you both for helping me pack. I have plenty of clothes for the trip. I’ll be gone only a week.”

“A lot can happen in a week,” said Flo, grinning and wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

“You two. let your imaginations go wild while I relax on the beach alone,” said Lori, laughing. But inside, she wondered what would happen if she met someone interesting. She’d probably turn tail and run. In the last year, every time someone “found” her a date, it had been a disaster. She doubted dating would ever work out. Her soulmate had died, leaving her to live alone for the rest of her life. Like a female swan.

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The next morning, Aurelia helped Lori get her suitcase and carry-on bag into the back of her SUV. It might seem like too much luggage for such a short time, but Lori wanted to be dressed properly at such a luxurious hotel.

Later, when Aurelia dropped her off at the terminal at the Westchester County Airport, the realization hit Lori that she was actually leaving. Nervous twinges raced through her body. She hated flying, was fighting the thought of this being her last day alive, and told herself she should call an Uber and return home.