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“It’s all right, Rita. These kinds of things happen from time to time,” Melissa assured her. “Just look a little closer next time to make sure there’s an opening at the time requested by the guest.”
Rita was beginning to gain more confidence and improve her managerial skills, and Melissa was hopeful that would continue. She knew the woman was a single mother and needed the job to support herself and her son. She certainly didn’t want to cause Rita any more stress by having to replace her.
“Ready to go?”
Looking up, Melissa smiled at Avery as she entered the Tranquility Spa’s reception area. “Would you mind if we have lunch in the Sky Lounge today?” she asked. “I only have an hour or so before I have to be back.”
“Problems?” Avery asked.
Giving Rita an encouraging smile, Melissa shook her head. “Not really. I’m afraid there was a mix-up and we’re overbooked this afternoon. It seems all of the Jarrod Ridge guests want a spa treatment before this weekend’s dinner honoring the investors. I’m going to have to do a couple of the massages and at least one of the facials myself.”
“Wow! You are busy,” Avery said, her eyes widening. “But that actually works out better for me, too.” She grinned. “In fact, I was going to ask you if the Sky Lounge would be okay. I wanted to stop by and talk to Guy for a few minutes after we eat.”
“What about Erica?” Melissa asked, grabbing her purse. “Is she going to be able to meet us?”
Avery nodded. “I called her this morning and asked her to get a table by one of the windows and that we’d meet her in—” she looked at her watch “—oops. Five minutes ago.”
“Then I suppose we’d better get going,” Melissa said, laughing. She loved that in the past couple of months she had gained a sister and a future sister-in-law that were also quickly becoming her best friends.
A few minutes later, as they got off the elevator and entered the Sky Lounge, they immediately spotted Erica and hurried over to the table she had been saving.
“I’m sorry we’re running late,” Melissa apologized as she slid into one of the empty chairs.
“You can blame me for that,” Avery said, seating herself. “Guy was running late leaving to go to the restaurant this morning because I…that is we…I mean—”
Grinning as they watched Avery squirm, Melissa and Erica both propped one elbow on the table, cupped their chins in their hands and asked in unison, “Yes?”
“Uh, never mind.” Avery’s cheeks were pink as she shook her head and quickly picked up a menu. “I think I’m going to have the tuna melt.”
“Nice save,” Melissa said, laughing as she picked up her menu.
After they placed their order, the conversation turned to plans for the baby shower. “I won’t know for a few more months whether to decorate in pink or blue,” Melissa said, shrugging.
Erica smiled. “What are you hoping for? A boy or a girl?”
“I haven’t really given it much thought,” Melissa admitted. “But it doesn’t matter to me as long as the baby is healthy.”
“That’s all that’s important,” Avery said, nodding.
Choosing a date in February for the shower, they discussed nursery themes and shops where Melissa should register. By the time they finished lunch and left the restaurant, she had only a few minutes to get back to the spa.
“I suppose I’ll see you both on Saturday evening at the dinner?” she asked as they got off the elevator in the lobby.
“Christian and I wouldn’t miss it,” Erica said.
“We’ll be there.” Avery grinned. “I’ll probably have a hard time keeping Guy out of the kitchen, though. You know how he is about wanting every dish to be perfect.”
“Since Guy took over managing the resort’s restaurants and brought in Louis Leclere as chef, the efficiency of the kitchen staff has improved greatly,” Melissa said.
“The new items they’ve added to the menu seem to be a big hit, too,” Erica added.
Melissa checked her watch. She had only a few minutes to make it to the first massage appointment. “I’m really sorry, but I have to run. See you on Saturday.”
As she hugged them both and headed down the hall toward the spa entrance, something Erica asked her at lunch kept running through her mind. It didn’t matter to her whether their baby was a boy or a girl. But did it matter to Shane whether they had a son or a daughter?
Like most men, he would probably prefer to have a boy. But she didn’t think he would be disappointed either way. Unfortunately, it was hard for some men to hide their feelings. She had always suspected that her father had been disappointed she was female.
