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As the couple began to walk towards the door, hand in hand, a sound got April's attention. Another car was speeding down her driveway.
She assumed it must be the other guest, though she wondered why they would be going so fast when it specifically said on the welcome instructions to go slow down the drive.
Hopefully, they wouldn't be ignoring all of her other rules for the stay. Like don't drive on the grass, walk carefully down the steps to the beach and no parties without approval.
Even the couple turned to look at the screeching car. They looked over at April. "Sorry, I'm sure they just forgot to read the travel instructions," she reassured them.
They smiled back at her, but their expressions looked full of pity more than anything else.
April welcomed them into the lobby with wide open arms and then slid past them to step into the driveway. She wanted to remind the next guest that there were wild animals around, children, people walking the streets.
The island was supposed to be a place of quiet beaches, not revving engines.
As she walked down the driveway, April could feel her heart begin to race. The sound of the car grew louder and louder, and she wondered who could be driving so recklessly.
The car screeched to a stop in front of her, kicking up dust and small rocks. The driver side door opened and a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out.
"Excuse me," she said with a fake smile. April opened her mouth to talk again, but was silenced by the man getting out of the driver's side door. Something about him caught her attention.
His suit was tailored, but from years ago the shirt pressed against his chest tightly. The sandy brown hair was familiar, but of something from her past.
It wasn't until she examined the man's face that she finally realized who she was staring at.
The wrinkles were new, along with the wear on his rough hands. She realized now why the hair was so familiar. It was in the style she knew, but sparkled with slivers of gray hair.
"Dad?"
The man looked up at her with a sly grin. "April. Good to see you."
CHAPTER THREE
"Dad, what are you doing here?"
He looked April up and down, something April hated. She didn't want him making any assumptions about her. In fact, she didn't want her father thinking about her at all.
With a smile, her father replied, "I'm happy to see you, too." He put out his arms to hug her. Unsure of what to do, she allowed him to come in, but weakly wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
They stepped apart, and April felt her heart begin to race. After seeing his daughter's uneasy expression, Richard said, "I heard you were updating the 'ole place. I wanted to see it again."
He looked up at the house, taking in all of its glory. "And you, of course," Richard added after the fact.
It was just like her father to show up at the worst time. April hadn't seen him in years. But that was what he did. He was around for a bit, then left again. Her entire childhood was filled with him coming and going.
"Sorry, I would have called, but I didn't have your number. And the trip was kind of last minute. You know how it is."
Richard smiled at his daughter, who still stood in shock. The wind whistled through the trees, which April noticed more now that she was confronted with the silence between them.
She didn't know what to say to his excuses. They were just that, excuses. And she hated them.
"You've done a great job with the place," he said, peering out at the estate. "It looks like you've done a lot."
April shrugged, not sure what to say. She didn't want her father's approval, but at the same time, she couldn't help feeling a sense of satisfaction at his compliment.
"Thanks."
She had worked hard for this bed and breakfast. Remembering that it was opening day, she peered behind her at the customers waiting just inside the doors. Thankfully, they made themselves busy by checking out the lobby and first-floor bathrooms.
Another car began to make its way down the drive, less chaotic than her father's arrival. Her other guest for her trial opening was here, but her mind felt like it was going a hundred miles a minute.
