The day passed by in whirlwind of activities. There was clearing up after breakfast and all the while keeping up conversations with different guests. Raina found it interesting to hear about their planned excursions for the day. She noted the places she hadn’t been to and made a mental note to take the kids to some of the spots the guests were most enthusiastic about.
At eleven, she sat with Rita the receptionist and watched the process of checking out guests. It was a simpler one than that of Del Mar but just as efficient.
“How was your stay?” Rita asked every departing guest, engaging them in conversation about their visit. Raina was happy to see that the girl noted every complaint and dealt with the guests courteously and efficiently.
Then came the housekeeping part of the job, which Raina was efficient at, her skills from the Del Mar kicking in. She tied on an apron and got to work emptying waste baskets and making beds. She even gave a few pointers to Abigail as they went through the rooms together.
By the time they had done the last room, Raina’s back was aching and so were her legs. It was a long time since she had been in housekeeping and even longer since doing the actual physical work of tidying up.
“That’s it!” Abigail announced, looking at Raina for a verdict.
“Very efficient, I like your methods. The housekeeping staff at the Del Mar could learn a thing or two from you,” Raina said.
Abigail smiled in response, clearly pleased by Raina’s praise. Raina for her part was always struck by the woman’s looks every time she saw her. Abigail should have graced a magazine cover instead of changing linen on beds. She had waist length ash blond hair, high cheekbones, and striking green eyes that seemed to twinkle all the time. As they cleaned rooms Raina pointed this out, but Abigail only laughed saying she much preferred physical labor to standing around and looking pretty. Raina had to agree with her—there was something very satisfying in making order out of disorder, and feeling that effort in your bones. At the end of the day she felt tired, but proud at being able to look around and point to what she had done.
Raina left Abigail to throw dirty linens into the washing machines and she herself returned downstairs, to Martha’s small office off the kitchen to help with the books.
By that evening she was beat, hardly able to keep her eyes open. She spent some time with the kids seeing to their homework and just chatting about their first day at school.
“It was great!” Chantal was saying, talking so fast that Raina had a difficult time keeping up with the names of her new friends. Jeremiah and Crystal were also clamoring to tell her about the day’s activities.
After she put the kids to bed, Raina had to return downstairs and help with the clean up from supper. At eleven, the day was finally over and Raina collapsed in a chair in the dining room.
“It gets easier,” Martha said, coming to sit opposite Raina. “You’ll get used to it, I promise.”
“Does it? One thing’s for sure, I won’t have to get a gym membership,” Raina said.
Martha laughed. “I’ll stay for as long as you feel comfortable. I know the adjustment is hard, especially coming from a big hotel. The work does get more physical with a small establishment. You’ll find yourself chipping in a lot so things can move well.”
Raina looked at Martha fondly. “Thank you so much, I really don’t know how I would have done this without you here to hold my hand.”
16
Kelly’s head throbbed and it was only ten in the morning. The reasons for her pounding headache were in the files in front of her. She wished Raina still worked for Del Mar. At the thought of her friend in her B&B, Kelly smiled. Raina was really the bravest woman she knew. Imagine buying a business and just taking a huge leap of faith like that.
Last weekend she had taken a drive and popped in to see how Raina was doing, and was amazed at the efficiency she had seen there. She could never say this to Raina, but Kelly had always looked down on B&B’s, dismissing them as pokey, badly run establishments, for little old lady tourists. What she saw at Cliff West convinced her otherwise. Raina was setting it up like a smaller version of Del Mar, doing construction to modernize the rooms and the grounds, and for a moment Kelly wished that she herself had Raina’s opportunity.
The thought had escaped as fast as it had come. She liked knowing that when the clock hit five o’clock, her work day was over. The weekends were hers alone to do as she wished. She looked at the files again. The kitchen and the housekeeping departments, now headed by a terse older woman called Ann, had requested more supplies.
Yet the records showed that the supplies had been delivered and signed for by the supply manager. She stood up resolutely and took the files with her as she went to Ann’s office.
“Hey there,” Kelly said.
“Hi, what can I do for you?” Ann said.
While she was efficient at her job, Ann had rebuffed any attempts at friendliness, and after a week, Kelly had backed off. It was clear the woman in her early fifties liked to keep her professional and private lives separate. That suited Kelly fine and now, she went straight to the point.
“Can I see the actual figures of the quantities of each item,” Kelly said.
“Sure, they’re right here. Is there a problem?” Ann said.
“No, just double checking,” Kelly replied.
There was no point in alarming the new head housekeeper, besides it really had nothing to do with her, and Kelly did not want her to worry needlessly. She took the file and returned with it to her office. Her intention had been to check them out in Ann’s office, but the way the dark haired woman was watching her made Kelly decide otherwise.
It was then that she had a thought and Kelly felt her blood grow cold.
The actual supplies received were half of the quantity they should have been.