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Chapter Nine
Payton
“What do you mean you don’t see my completed reservation?” I ask, my voice dangerously close to reaching a pitch that only dogs can hear.
“Well, it appears you made the reservation, but a room wasn’t held for you,” the young blond manager says sheepishly with a look of sympathy in her light blue eyes.
“So give me another room.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have any available. There’s three conventions going on this week, and we’re booked solid.”
“Let me get this straight. You took my registration, charged my credit card for the room, but there’s no room available?”
“I’m terribly sorry, ma’am. The hotel will gladly refund the charge to your card for the room.”
“But, I’m attending the convention here. I’m supposed to be here through Friday.”
“Again, I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience. Country Gardens will happily provide you with a voucher for a free stay at any one of our Country Garden Inns in the United States.”
“Really?” I ask, giving her a look of shock. “I don’t want your voucher. I want the room that I reserved.”
“I’m very sorry, ma’am.”
“And stop calling me ma’am!” I exclaim as I grab my bag and turn towards the entrance.
“I could happily call around and see about finding another room for you at a nearby hotel. Unfortunately, with the conventions in town, finding a room in downtown will be rather difficult.”
I almost turn around and give her a piece of my mind once more, but opt to just leave. Keeping my back ramrod straight, I pull my bag right out the front door. I don’t care about the voucher. I don’t really care about the hotel room. I don’t even care about the stupid convention right now. I want to admit defeat and jump back in my car, heading home.
But I won’t do that.
I won’t put my tail between my legs and head home when everyone else helped make this trip possible. Between Rachel, Grandma, and Jaime, the shop is taken care of. AJ and Lexi both agreed to stop in and check on things, and Abby volunteered to stop by my house and water my plants. I didn’t have the heart to tell her I don’t have any plants.
Walking down the street, I step inside the first hotel I come across. Unfortunately, the manager at the first hotel is right: there’s no availability. Not here, not anywhere. Just to be sure, I try four more before backtracking on the opposite side of the street. There’s one more down the block. If that one doesn’t have availability, then I’ll admit defeat. I’ll head home, wasting the money on my ticket and taking a huge hit to my pride. Sure I could stay at a smaller, cheaper hotel out of the downtown area, but then I’ll have to pay double for parking and deal with traffic.
And I hate dealing with traffic.
I stroll into The Freemont hotel, tired and a little sweaty underneath my coat. I wasn’t planning on taking a Sunday stroll when I wore my favorite pair of heeled black boots, resulting in achy feet. Pasting on my best smile, I walk up to the front desk. It’s after ten so the lobby seems cleared out, but there’s plenty of noise coming from the hallway. A bar, if I had to guess.
Damn, could I really use a drink.
“Checking in?” the pleasant man says with a smile.
“Actually, I’m looking for a room.”
“I’m sorry, we’re completely booked this evening.”
Closing my eyes, I drop my head. “Of course you are. Everyone’s full.”
“There are three major events going on this week,” he says sensitively.
“I know. I’m supposed to be at one at Country Garden but they didn’t reserve my room.”
“I’m terribly sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, we don’t have any available until Friday night.”
Friday night. The night after my flower show ends. “Thank you for your assistance. I guess I’ll just head home.”
“You might get lucky and find something on the edge of town, but honestly, most hotels are reporting maximum capacity for this week. Good luck.” His eyes are kind as he reaches for the ringing telephone.
