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Kelsey raised her eyebrows in surprise, and then smiled. “Let’s see if we can find a shuttle.”

They fell in step next to each other and rolled their bags the short distance to the exit. Outside, Kelsey looked both ways and then saw the shuttle for her resort.

“Thank God!” the woman exclaimed as she started towards the small bus. She turned back to Kelsey and smiled. “Thanks again for the help.”

Kelsey returned her smile. “I think we may be going to the same resort.” She nodded towards the bus and followed the woman.

“I’m going to The Coral Bay Resort,” the woman said.

Kelsey nodded. “Me too. Let me get on the bus and I’ll help you with your bags.” She didn’t wait for the woman to reply. Instead, she stepped onto the bus, smiled at the driver, and rolled her bag into the empty space in front of the first seat.

She turned back just as the woman was lifting her first bag onto the bus.

“Here, I’ve got it,” the bus driver said, quickly getting up from his seat.

He took the first bag and rolled it in front of an empty seat then took the second bag and rolled it into the space across from where Kelsey had left her bag.

“Thank you,” the woman said, taking her seat next to the bag.

Kelsey sat down and smiled.

The woman leaned over, extended her hand, and said, “I’m Isabella Burns.”

At that moment the driver revved the bus and Kelsey barely heard the woman's name.

“I’m Kelsey Kenny.” She took her hand and shook it.

“Thank you again for your help, Kelsey.” Isabella smiled.

“You’re welcome, Bella.” Kelsey appreciated her nice, firm handshake.

The driver pulled away from the curb and Kelsey leaned back to glance out the window. What a beautiful place. If her girls didn’t want to be with her at Christmas then surely this little piece of paradise would keep her from missing them.

She sighed and shook her head. It wasn’t necessarily that her girls didn’t want to be with her; they just wanted to do their own thing, which didn’t include her. They knew she wanted to spend Christmas at a beach somewhere instead of skiing in the mountains like they’d always done in the past. But this wasn’t what she’d had in mind; she wanted her daughters to be with her.

Kelsey had planned to stay home and work, but she knew the girls would feel guilty. When the opportunity arose to spend Christmas at one of her client’s resorts, it seemed like a good idea. The folks at Coral Bay were so excited she was coming so that she could see and experience the resort at its best.

Once she was in her room, she’d give each of her daughters a call, and then try to enjoy the experience. She watched as the palm trees whizzed by.

Kelsey sighed, then glanced over at Isabella and saw her gazing out the window as well. She wondered if she was meeting her family here. Surely she wasn’t traveling alone with all that luggage. Just then Isabella looked over at her and smiled.

“It’s gorgeous,” Isabella said, gesturing towards the window.

“Yeah, it is,” Kelsey replied.

“It feels a little strange to be spending Christmas on a tropical island,” Isabella remarked.

“It does to me, too,” Kelsey agreed. “I noticed a Christmas tree in the airport, though.”

“Oh, I missed that.” Isabella chuckled. “I was hurrying to baggage claim. Maybe that’s a sign I need to slow down and enjoy this beautiful paradise.”

Kelsey nodded and smiled. Perhaps Isabella was right. It shouldn’t be hard to enjoy these beautiful views, the crystal clear water, and island breeze. She’d wanted to spend Christmas at the beach and here she was, only minutes away.

This was an opportunity to get to know her client and their product better, so it was a plus for her work life. As far as her personal life, she was at a beach resort on a tropical island. Come on, Kelsey! she chided herself.

“Are you okay?” Isabella asked, drawing Kelsey’s attention back to her.

Kelsey grinned. “You’re right. What’s not to enjoy? Merry Christmas.”