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Andrea plastered on a smile to appease the worried look her mother was giving her.
“Yes, Mom, I’m good. I just came over here to set up my office. The delivery men should be coming by soon to drop off a few pieces I ordered from Staples in town, and I wanted to be in place for when they get here.”
“Okay,” her mother replied. “I was just finishing up my daily visit with Marg.”
At the mention of the receptionist, Andrea’s gaze darted behind her mother to see the raven-haired woman with the large-framed glasses that hid her doe-shaped eyes. Her bright smile could have turned anyone’s frown into one that matched her own.
“Hi, Marg. I’m sorry I didn’t greet you earlier. I was distracted,” she explained as she walked over to the receptionist’s station.
“That’s okay, Andrea. I won’t fault you for missing me this time,” the woman joked.
Her effervescent attitude was so contagious that Andrea couldn’t help the giggles that left her lips. She liked Marg. She was drawn in by her personality, so much so that she forgot about her own worries.
“Marg, please just call me, Drea,” she implored the woman. “All of my friends and family do. I can tell that we will become fast friends,” she predicted.
“Drea, it is,” the woman acquiesced.
Suddenly Andrea had an idea. “Myself, Cora, and some of our cousins are going out this weekend, and it would be great if you could come.”
The slight widening of the receptionist’s eyes signaled that she was surprised by Andrea’s invitation, but she recovered quickly as her grin broadened even more. “Sure, I’d be delighted to go out with you all. I haven’t been out in ages.”
Andrea looked at her in mock horror. “That is shocking… I can’t see it.”
At her antics, Marg chortled. “Believe me, I am not that interesting,” she said in between her laughter.
Andrea gave her a long, weird look. “I still can’t see it,” she replied.
Marg gave her a wry smile. “I just haven’t had a reason to go out in a while,” she replied simply.
Andrea imagined there was more to that statement but chose not to push in case she made her uncomfortable.
“Well, you’re invited and don’t even think about getting out of it. I’ll find your home and dress you if I have to,” she warned. “Everyone deserves some time out from this tedious drab thing we call life.”
At her statement, Marg gave her a grateful smile. “I’ll come. I promise, and I never go back on my promises.”
“Good,” Andrea responded, pleased by the woman’s response. “I’m going to go set up my equipment until the truck gets here,” she informed her mother.
“Okay, honey. Do you need any help?” her mother offered.
“No, that’s fine, Mom. Finish your talk with Marg.”
Andrea spent the next hour fixing up the room she’d rented on the ground floor of the inn. It was one of the only three enclosed spaces on that floor— it and the kitchenette and dining area where the guests could utilize the state-of-the-art appliances for cooking if they didn’t wish to utilize the services of the restaurant. There was also a staff bathroom used mainly by Marg and some maid staff that cleaned the rooms. The rest of the downstairs featured the large foyer with a section designed for the receptionist’s station, a grand double staircase, and further to the back, a sitting area decked with plush sofas and armchairs and a brilliant view of the outside through the French windows and door lining the entire south wall. From there, she could also see the newly constructed gazebo, and she had to admit it was a work of art.
After she’d set up her equipment, the movers came and dropped off two comfortable gray armchairs, a heavy-duty desk and chair, a folding table, and a bright orange ottoman. It wasn’t as vibrant as her old office, but it would suffice.
For the next four hours after setting up her office, Andrea spent the time holed up there working, answering emails, turning down offers to add more clients and referring them to her colleagues who she knew would be a good fit, and simply keeping her mind off the current problem at hand.
Cora had visited her in the past hour, and Marg had ordered lunch from the restaurant for her. She hadn’t realized how famished she’d been until the savory scent of the food triggered her stomach that let out an embarrassing rumble.
It wasn’t until close to the evening that Andrea decided she’d done enough for the day. When she made it back to the house, instead of relaxing, she changed into her running gear.
“I’m going for a run,” she informed Cora, who was in the kitchen preparing dinner.
“Okay,” her sister replied. “Next time, we can go together.”
“Yeah, that’d be great,” Andrea agreed.
As the time ticked away, Andrea’s chest felt as if it was on fire from how hard she was running. The muscles in her legs began to tighten, and she knew it was an indication that she needed to stop. Still, she pushed herself. Just as she made the turn at the intersection of Maui unto Torpedo Road, she hit a hard wall that sent her crashing backward with her arms flailing.
“Eek!” Andrea instinctively tried to twist her body sideways as her arm extended from her side, but with force. Going down, she doubted she would come out unscathed.
However, before her body could make an impact with the asphalt, she felt strong hands wrap around her arms and quickly pull her upward once again.
“It seems you have a knack for getting yourself into accidents,” she heard the raspy voice above her head say.
Realizing that whoever it was that had just saved her from injury was still holding her, she began to step away from the gentleman, and his hands fell away from her. When she finally raised her eyes to see who it was, they widened to the size of saucers at who stood before her.
“You!”
