Heavenly Highland Inn 05 - Suffocating the Sunflowers (2 page)

“
Trust me, you don't want to cause any more friction between those two,” Vicky warned as she hobbled past her sister with the bags. “Just find them a room away from other guests, because I don't think they're going to make it through the night without an explosive argument.”

“
Thanks for the warning,” Sarah murmured before she walked out to greet the Holsteads.

Vicky placed the
bags on a luggage cart. Then she charged a concierge with their care. As she walked back towards the kitchen to check on the meal preparation for lunch, she could hear the Holsteads squabbling over whether they wanted a room that overlooked the gardens or the pool.

When Vicky stepped into the kitchen she found Chef Henry dancing around the large island in the middle of it. He had some lively music playing and seemed to be very involved in preparing the last of the breakfast meals as he dashed them with salt and pepper to the beat of the music. Vicky suppressed a giggle and decided not to interrupt him, but before she could back away and slip through the door, Sarah stepped in behind her.

“
Wow, he's really got some moves,” Sarah said with appreciation and a laugh as she nudged Vicky with her elbow.

“
Oh!” Henry stopped in the middle of a spin to find both sisters staring at him. “How long have you been watching?” he asked with a cluck of his tongue, and narrowed eyes.

“
Long enough to know that you're dancing with me at the next wedding we put on,” Vicky said with a determined grin dancing across her lips.

“
And what would Mitchell think?” Sarah asked reproachfully though her eyes were shining with mirth.

“
He'd probably feel relieved that he wouldn't end up with bruises on his feet,” Vicky laughed and shook her head. “I'm not exactly the most graceful person on the dance floor,” she added in a whisper, as if it was a confession.

“
Oh honey, I could change that,” Henry said with a light wink as a waitress came to take the breakfast plates to the dining room. “Now, what can I do for you two?”

Sarah set her lips into a grim line and Vicky could tell from her straightened posture that she had just shifted into business mode.

“I need you to do me a favor and gather all of the products that contain peanuts in the kitchen. I need you to make sure the kitchen is wiped down and all the utensils and dishes are cleaned,” Sarah said firmly.

“
Why?” Vicky asked with confusion as Henry nodded in response to Sarah's requests and began to gather a few items off the counter.

“
Sandy Holstead is allergic to peanuts,” Sarah explained as she glanced over at Vicky. “If she's exposed to it she has such a severe allergic reaction that she could die.”

“
Oh, I didn’t know that,” Henry exclaimed. 

“
I'm sorry to spring this on you so suddenly,” Sarah added with a frown. “I thought we'd have until this evening to prepare, but they arrived early.”

“
It's no problem,” Henry assured her.

“
Oh, it must be hard to go through life with such a terrible allergy,” Vicky said with a frown. “Yes, we had better make sure everything in the inn is safe.”

“
I am,” Sarah assured her. “I asked Sandy and Gerald to wait out by the pool while I made sure their room was deep cleaned. I just hope she doesn't end up pushing him in,” she added with widened eyes.

“
Well, maybe it would cool off their bickering,” Vicky giggled and ducked when Sarah took a swipe at her with her palm. “Kidding!” Vicky promised, but Sarah set her jaw.

“
It is very important that everything goes to plan during their stay, they could be a great source of high-end referrals for us,” she explained.

“
We can store the non-perishables out in the shed,” Henry suggested as he grabbed a box from the supply closet. He began boxing up items immediately. Vicky was about to ask Sarah if she knew how the Holsteads had come to book a weekend at their relatively small resort. It was luxurious of course, but the Holsteads could afford to go to other countries, or even to rent their own island so, as always, she was interested to know why they had chosen their inn. It was always useful to have this information as it often helped with marketing. Before she could ask, her cell phone began to ring. She checked the caller ID and found that it was Mitchell. She answered right away with a smile.

“
Hey stranger,” she said with a playful southern drawl.

“
Who are you and what have you done with my Vicky?” Mitchell demanded in a playful response.

“
Ha ha,” Vicky laughed into the phone. “You would not believe what I just saw!” she said with excitement.

“
What?” he asked with interest building.

“
A real Aston Martin, in person!” she squealed into the phone as she stepped out of the kitchen.

“
At a car show?” Mitchell asked with disbelief.

“
No, at the inn,” she laughed as she walked down the hall. “The Holsteads are staying at the inn.”

“
Oh, wow,” Mitchell said, genuinely impressed. “You must have your hands full.”

“
Not really,” she said quickly. “Sarah's handling most of it. I was hoping you might be able to meet me for dinner tonight. I know it's short notice,” she added. She and Mitchell hadn't seen each other much lately though they had talked on the phone every day.

“
I wish I could,” Mitchell sighed with disappointment. “You have no idea how much I want to,” she could hear him frowning over the phone and the longing in his tone.

“
Are you working late again?” Vicky asked with dismay. “You've been working late every night for over a week!”

“
Yes, Sheriff McDonald is still angry with me. I questioned him on one of the cases we were investigating, so he has me pulling double shifts,” he groaned. “I can't say that I regret speaking up, but he sure is making me pay for it.”

“
That man,” Vicky said with annoyance but stopped herself before saying too much. She didn't like the way that Sheriff McDonald treated Mitchell, but she also knew how important Mitchell's job was to him.

“
I know, I know,” he sighed again. “But it can't go on forever.”

“
I hope not,” Vicky replied with a hint of a pout in her voice. “I miss you.”

“
I miss you, too, Vicky,” he replied in a loving tone. “Don't worry, he has to let me sleep sometime.”

That's what you think, Vicky thought to herself. She suspected that Sheriff McDonald was trying to see how long it would take for Mi
tchell to break. She also knew that Sheriff McDonald would have a very long wait. Mitchell was one of the most patient and determined people that she had ever known.

“You're not upset are you?” Mitchell asked cautiously.

“
No, I'm not,” Vicky said quickly. “I understand, I do actually have a bridal shower to plan anyway,” she added as she reached her apartment, which consisted of several rooms that had been converted into an apartment for her to live in so that there would always be someone in charge living in the inn. Aunt Ida also lived in one of the guest rooms at the inn but she was not really active in running the inn, she was more active in getting into trouble.

“
Thanks for understanding,” Mitchell said. “I'll see you soon, I promise.”

“
I'm always here,” Vicky pointed out with a laugh before she hung up the phone. She settled down at her work desk in her office and opened up the plans she had been working on for the bridal shower. They were doing it for free for a waitress that worked in one of the restaurants in town. It was a way to generate good word of mouth advertising, and to give back to the community. Vicky was very excited about it because she was going to plan it from beginning to end. Usually she had to make choices based on the input or desires of the client. In this case she was getting to choose almost all of the elements of the bridal shower, which she really enjoyed.

Vicky
was looking over some color schemes when she heard loud voices coming from the pool area. Her apartment was only a short distance from the pool. She couldn't quite make out what the voices were saying, but she could tell that they were angry. She waited a few moments, hoping that the argument would calm down. She assumed it was Sandy and Gerald fighting. When the voices rose even louder instead of calming, Vicky stood up from her desk. Although the Holsteads were important guests she had to think of the comfort of the other guests that were staying in the inn. No one went on a weekend vacation to hear someone arguing. Vicky walked down the walkway to the pool area. She could hear snippets of their conversation as she did.

“
Look at this pool,” Sandy was insisting. “It's beautiful and clear, it doesn’t even smell of chlorine like most of the pools we swim in do. I want to spend the day swimming and tanning tomorrow.”

“
We came here to relax,” Gerald argued in return. “What could be more relaxing than the spa and massage package?”

“
I don't want that, I can have that any place we go. This pool won't be anywhere else we go,” she pointed out with determination.

“
This weekend was supposed to be for us,” Gerald responded heatedly.

“
I'm not the one who chose this place,” Sandy shot back. “This inn I've never heard of in the middle of nowhere, you were the one who insisted we come here. So, we're going to do what I want to do,” she added, her voice raising with every word she spoke. There was so much tension between the couple that by the time Vicky walked up to them, she expected either one to launch a physical attack at any moment. She knew that she needed to say something to break the tension.

“
Excuse me,” she said with a warm smile as she stepped through the gate that led to the pool. “I just wanted to check if you would like to have lunch at the inn? We have a private room that I can reserve for you if you'd rather dine by yourselves, or if you would prefer you can have it in the main dining room.”

Both of the Holsteads turned to look at Vicky with abrupt disdain at having their argument interrupted.

“No, we'll just have room service,” Gerald snapped.

“
Yes, it would probably be best if we stayed holed up in our room,” Sandy sighed and shook her head with defeat. “No one wants to hear us argue over soup or salad.”

Vicky smiled compassionately.

“I'm sure your room is just about ready, and if there's anything either of you need, please feel free to ask,” she added and looked from one to the other. She hoped they would be able to find some kind of peace or relaxation during their weekend at the inn. Most people were swept into a bit of a fantasy life when they stayed at the Heavenly Highland Inn, but it seemed as if these two were going to need something that had a much bigger impact than a weekend at the inn. Though she and Mitchell had their share of disagreements they rarely argued. Then again, they weren't married, or even living together. Vicky imagined that changed the level of arguing in a relationship. Just then one of the maids arrived to walk Sandy and Gerald to their room.

“
Actually, there is one thing I would like,” Sandy said as Gerald began to follow the maid. “I would love a glass of wine,” she smiled at Vicky.

“
A glass of wine? You can't wait until lunch?” Gerald demanded with frustration. “Are you planning to be sloshed by dessert?”

“
Save it, Gerald,” Sandy rolled her eyes and settled back down at the table. “If I want a glass of wine by the pool, I'm going to have it. In case you were wondering, you're not invited,” she added with a flash in her eyes. Gerald's cheeks grew red with anger and Vicky averted her gaze respectfully from the squabble. She wasn't sure what to say to alleviate the tension.

“
We have a nice chardonnay,” she murmured as she glanced at Sandy.

“
That sounds perfect,” Sandy agreed with a nod. She seemed entirely undisturbed by her husband's fury as he stalked off after the maid. Vicky was relieved to walk away as well. She headed for the kitchen to make sure that Chef Henry knew that the Holsteads wanted room service and to get Sandy her glass of wine. Vicky walked into the kitchen to find a relatively new sous chef preparing the salads that would accompany the main dish of the lunch that was being served.

“
Hello, Peter,” Vicky said with a small smile as she met the eyes of the man before her. He was young, maybe in his early twenties. He was new to town and Henry had taken a chance on him because he liked to provide work for the locals.

“
Yes, ma'am,” Peter said and lowered his eyes. He seemed fairly shy, which Vicky found to be endearing.

“
Where's Chef Henry?” she asked as she glanced around the kitchen.

“
He is talking with a few of the guests in the dining room,” Peter replied as he finished the last salad.