Page 3 of Beck & Coll

The space was modern and luxurious but also warm with its white walls and light wood trim.

There were cream-colored boucle sofas and armchairs that I couldn’t imagine how they kept clean set up in different areas of the lobby for lounging and conversation.

The space was mostly lit with recessed lighting, but there were two matching chandeliers on each end that looked like jewelry because they were so stunning.

The floor-to-ceiling windows that lined each wall promoted views of the already snow-capped mountain ranges in the distance, mountain ranges that I planned to hike. The view was breathtaking.

Correction, everything I’d seen so far was breath-taking.

I had to take a second to thank God for the gift of vision.

Having the opportunity to see vistas like the ones before me was something I had never even imagined.

I didn’t even know there was beauty like the beauty I was seeing in the United States.

A smiling Black woman caught my eye from the reception desk.

She had that regal, elegant look that older Black women seemed to have mastered.

Her salt and pepper hair was pulled off her face into a French roll.

There was a curly tendril framing each side of her walnut-colored face.

I walked over to her, my smile matching the one she was giving me.

“Welcome to Manor at Sienna Sunset Resort . Do you have a reservation?”

“I do.” I practically gushed the words. “I’m assuming that you’re a local. I can’t imagine living everyday surrounded by such gloriousness. What a blessing!” I knew I was being sappy, but I was honestly overwhelmed.

Her grin widened. “I agree. That’s why I talked my husband into buying 386 acres back in 1983.”

“Oh my gosh. Are you Beverly Strong?”

I had done my research, so I knew the resort was owned by Beverly and Bradford Strong.

Both husband and wife were from wealthy, well-respected East Coast families.

Beverly was a Sumners from Washington D.C.

. Her family had founded the Sumners Hair Care Products line.

Bradford Strong was from a medical dynasty out of Massachusetts with strong ties to Martha’s Vineyard.

His mother, father, uncles, and all five of his siblings were doctors.

Bradford was also drawn to medicine, but his passion was animals.

He was a very successful veterinarian before he and Mrs. Strong bought the ranch and turned it into a resort.

“I am.”

“What are you doing trying to check me in?” I wanted to kick myself for asking such a stupid question.

“Please forgive me. I’m a business owner, too.

” I paused. “At least, I was until my business caught fire and was deemed a total loss.” There was that phrase again.

I gave my head a forceful shake to clear it of those thoughts.

“I owned a hair salon, and when I was short on stylists, I jumped in and did what needed to be done—washed hair, cut hair, colored hair, styled hair, and even swept the floor if it needed it. I understand what owners do.”

“You owned a hair salon? A girl after my own heart. You know my family?—”

“I know,” I interrupted her. “When I discovered that this resort was Black owned, I was so impressed that I did my research.” I giggled lightly.

“I needed to know more. I’m a Black history buff, and nothing is more exciting to me than getting to experience Black history that’s still being made.

We don’t want to succumb to the idea that Black history stopped being made after Dr. Martin Luther King or Ben Carson. ”

“Oooh… You’re over here trying to become my favorite guest, aren’t you?”

We both giggled.

“Let me see how I can upgrade you.”

“I don’t think you can.” I shared. “I’m not staying in the lodge.” I looked around the lobby once more and let out a small wolf whistle before adding, “But next time, I definitely will. This time, I’m staying in one of the glamping cottages.”

At Manor at Sienna Sunset Resort , they were called cottages as opposed to cabins. The resort coined the term cottages to make sure that guests understood that they didn’t offer camping at the resort… only glamping.

She eyed me thoughtfully. “You just lost your business to a fire?” Her tone was a coo that instantly made me feel seen. “No wonder you want the solitude of a cottage. Was it your only location?”

I nodded solemnly, fighting to hold back the tears that were threatening. I swiped at my left eye. “I’m sorry. I haven’t cried about the fire at all. I don’t know why my eyes are trying to tear up now.”

“Because your body knows that you can let your guard down here. You don’t have to hold it all together. Did you sign up for any adventures while you’re here?”

“Yes,” I admitted with a chuckle, through the melancholy that had fallen over me.

Her fingers moved over the keyboard with the quickness of familiarity. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Collins Kingsley.”

“Ms. Kingsley, you’re in our Sunset Cliff cottage. The cottage literally sits on a cliff overlooking Pakpa’kli River. The locals call it Papa River. Whatever name you call it, just know that the view from the cottage is excellent.”

“Thank you. I hoped it would be.”

“I see you scheduled dinner tonight at Good Ashes .”

Good Ashes was the upscale restaurant that served award-winning American fare located in the lodge.

I nodded.

“Good. Good. Have yourself a nice dinner, get a good rest, and tomorrow… your adventure begins. My son, Beckham, will be your personal guide during your visit. He likes to start early, and he likes to start promptly.”

“Me too,” I assured her.

She made a few final taps on her keyboard then handed me two plastic keys for the cottage.

“You can drive your rental down from the cottage to the lodge for dinner, or you can take one of the complimentary chauffeured Town Cars that we provide. The service is kind of like ordering a ride share in that you go on the resort website and select the time and location of both pick up and drop off. Sometimes, guests take the Town Car because they want to imbibe, so they leave the driving to us. Sometimes, they take it because they aren’t quite comfortable driving the terrain at night.

And while the roadways to all of the cottages are well lit, driving the path can take some getting used to.

If you decide that you want to take a Town Car tonight, just book the ride and you’ll be picked up at your reserved time. ”

“This place is swanky,” I told her with yet another grin. It had cost me a pretty penny to book a ten-day stay, but Mrs. Strong was making me feel like my money was well-spent.

“That’s what we strive for.” She lowered her voice, “We want Black folks to know that this is a high-end, Black-owned establishment. All we want other folks to know is that it’s a high-end establishment.

So, we offer every amenity that the other places offer and more.

Most of them choose to pretend like the Black faces they see here are just the help.

” She shrugged her shoulders. “Makes me no never mind. Enjoy your stay, Collins Kingsley.”

I didn’t struggle with the terrain too much on my ride from the lodge to the cottage, but I could admit that was probably because it was early afternoon.

I would definitely request a Town Car for dinner.

In the meantime, I exited the Subaru and made my way up the front steps of the cottage where both a knotted, wooden rocking chair and porch swing sat facing what I assumed was the forest. The look of the front porch was a bit…

rustic, but I withheld my judgment until I got into the cottage.

The interior of the cottage was everything that the online pictures had promised.

The interior was painted a warm, inviting ivory color.

There was an average size great room behind the door, featuring a cognac-colored leather sofa and two armchairs.

The cocktail and end tables were made of white pine and sat atop a dark brown, organically shaped cow hide rug.

One of the four walls featured floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the woods.

Another wall was fashioned with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace.

The curtains were velvet, the hardwood floors were covered with gorgeous rugs, the walls in the kitchenette featured white shiplap, and the bed in the bedroom was sumptuous and inviting.

I peeked into the bathroom and found that it, too, was luxuriously appointed with dark brown penny tile on the floor, double pedestal sinks, a free-standing shower, and an oversized claw foot tub that sat directly under a window that looked out onto the Papa River.

“It’s everything,” I mumbled as I made my way back to the living room, where the bellman had left my luggage.

I knew I had over packed. I was staying for ten whole days, so I knew I would need a lot of options.

I would need clothes that were comfortable and ones that I didn’t really care about for my adventure activities.

I would need casual items for the times that I wanted to venture off the resort property and explore Jackson Falls.

And I would need dressier items for the times I wanted to have a meal in one of the four restaurants located in the lodge.

I hauled the two suitcases and my backpack one by one to the bedroom. Then I laid back on the bed, only intending to rest for a second before exploring the area around the cottage and checking out the view of Papa River. That didn’t happen. Before I knew what was happening, sleep had overtaken me.

I awoke in the late afternoon, a little after four o’clock. I grabbed my phone and quickly navigated to the resort’s website to reserve a ride for my seven o’clock dinner reservation.

I couldn’t resist going out onto the back deck of the cottage. There was a table set up with seating for four in the center, but off to the side, with a perfect view of the rushing waters of the river, were two wooden Adirondack chairs.

The sun was still holding court in the sky, keeping the late midday temperatures mild, even with the cool breeze coming off of the fast-flowing water. I sat down, taking a deep breath as I made myself comfortable. My first thought was to grab my phone and check my social media.

“You paid all of this money to experience nature. Experience nature.” I chided myself, sitting back in the chair and really taking in the majesty of my surroundings.

From my perch, I could see the racing river below me.

I could see miles and miles of evergreen trees dotting both the valley below me and the hills above me.

I looked up at the great expanse of baby blue sky overhead and couldn’t help smiling and taking another deep breath.

The Caribbean might have been paradise for my sisters, but this…

the Pacific Northwest was paradise for me.

Looking around one last time before I went and hopped in the shower assured me that Manor at Sienna Sunset Resort was the perfect place for me to make some big decisions about my future.