Page 116 of Rise After Fall

I need this vacation. The wedding season completely depleted me this year. I’m ready to relax and soak up some downtime with family and newfound friends, but the thought of talking shop doesn’t bother me in the least.

“You’re in room 205. It’s on the second floor to the left. Dinner is served at six, and I think I caught a whiff of our chef, Alice’s, famous apple dumplings baking earlier, so you are in for a treat. They’re Keller’s favorite,” Willa informs.

My mouth waters. Dinners usually consist of takeout for one from one of the restaurants in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino that houses the office of Perfect Princess Event and Concierge Services.

“I can’t wait. Uncle Bob raves about Alice’s and Trixie’s home cooking. Where is Keller anyway? Aunt Trixie said he would be here.”

“He is. He and his friend are outside somewhere. I conned them into doing some maintenance work for me today.”

“Conned, huh?”

She grins. “More like I very politely asked Keller, and he conned Bran.”

Uncle Bob comes bounding down the hall with my suitcase, and Willa asks him to take it to my room.

A petite woman rounds the corner from the office.

“Wait,” she calls.

“Hannah, this is Annette. She works here at the inn,” Willa introduces her.

“Hi,” I greet.

“It’s nice to meet you. Trixie told me you were coming, but I had you marked for arriving on Saturday.”

“Yeah, my Friday afternoon wedding canceled because the groom ran off with one of the bridesmaids, so I flew in a day early. I hope that’s okay?”

She gasps. “That’s awful.”

I nod. “It happens more often than you’d think.”

“Well, we’re happy to have you here an extra day. I’ll just move some things around.” She starts typing on the keyboard.

“I’m sorry to cause trouble.”

She waves me off. “No trouble at all. I’ll put you in room 310 since the Jenkins just vacated 205, and it still needs a good cleaning. I’ll move the Georges to that room for their stay.”

“Thank goodness I have you to keep me straight, Annette,” Willa says.

She takes the key I have and switches it for the new key. “You’ll love it. It has a much better view of the lake, and it’s so quiet on the third floor. Plus, all the bathrooms up there have already been upgraded.”

“An upgrade? Lucky me.”

“The tree and ornaments for your room will be delivered tomorrow,” Annette states.

“Tree?”

“Yes. We have a big tree down here by the fireplace, and we all trim it together, but each guest room gets its own miniature tree, and we supply a wooden trunk of ornaments, so you can decorate it yourself. We also deliver fresh-baked gingerbread cookies every night at turndown service. If you want milk or cocoa though, you have to come down to the living room and mingle with everyone,” she adds.

Willa leans in and whispers, “That one is Trixie’s rule. She wants everyone to feel like a part of the family.”

“That’s quite festive. Thank you both,” I say.

“You’re welcome. You’re going to have the best time here,” Willa assures me.

I make my way up the staircase behind Uncle Bob. The inn is so quaint. With its warm tones and comfy decor, it is the opposite of the opulence of the resort hotel where I spend most of my days off in a bikini, sipping cocktails in a cabana by the pool.

I’m not complaining. There are worse ways to spend time than lounging at a luxury resort. I have a great life, but lately, I’ve been stuck in a rut. Every day is the same. Booze, gambling, glitz, and glamour. Dapper men throwing spa days and shopping sprees at their young paramours, so they can spend their days and nights in a dark room, full of sunglasses-wearing, cigar-smoking high rollers. That, and the frat boys losing their money either at the slot machines or the strip club and expelling the rot-gut liquor, which they consumed during a seventy-two-hour drink-a-thon, into the potted plants by the pool as I try to relax.