8
“What do you mean I have the day off? I’m scheduled all week,” Brooke said.
“Mr. Henderson asked me to tell you to take the next few days off with pay. There was no explanation, not that he has to give one. He does own the resort, you know,” Janet stated.
“Janet, I don’t understand why.” She hadn’t asked for any time off. Brooke also didn’t want special treatment. Everyone here worked hard.
“Maybe the question is why you don’t want to take it. Mr. Lawson is only going to be here a few more days. I’d think you might want to spend some time with him.”
“Is that what this is all about?” Damn it, Gareth. Did you do this? Not that it wasn’t a really nice gesture, but she didn’t want anyone manipulating her life. Not even if it was something she wanted.
“I really don’t know what made him give you the time off. It’s not my place to ask either. If you don’t want to take it, I suggest you take it up with Mr. Henderson. Otherwise, consider yourself on vacation for a few days and enjoy. God knows I would,” Janet sighed.
Brooke knew she was being foolish arguing over something like this. “Okay, Janet. I guess I’m on vacation for the next few days whether I like it or not. But if something changes, I’ll probably be hanging by the pool or at the beach. I have to finish Alex’s book.”
“You’re still reading it?”
“I’ve been busy,” Brooke said.
“I don’t care how much time you give me, that book is too . . .”
“I know, real. But I feel horrible not finishing it.”
“Not as bad as you’re going to feel without any sleep for the next few days,” Janet teased. “There has to be something better to do than torture yourself.”
That was horrible, but so true. “I’m sure I’ll find something to do. I’ll see you around.”
“I hope not,” Janet warned before she ended the call.
There wasn’t much she could do with only a few days. It wasn’t like she was going to fly back home for a visit. Most of the time would be spent on a plane. She’d rather be working than doing that. Besides, she’d be seeing her parents again in two months. A surprise visit actually would make them worry more than make them happy.
The one thing she knew she could do right now was strip out of her uniform and get comfortable. The thought of putting on her pajamas again and staying in bed all day was definitely appealing. This past week had been a rollercoaster. Either she was out late with Gareth or in her room unable to sleep because she was thinking of him. A couple days off might be exactly what she needed to rejuvenate.
That and a hot cup of tea.
There was no way she was calling down for room service, and if she showed up in the dining room now, it’d feel too weird. So how exactly was she supposed to enjoy this time off? Trapped in my room and hungry. This is great.
Brooke knew Alex meant well by giving her time off. But she liked to be active. Sitting in a room was boring. So she made up her mind. All those fun activities she’d been trying to get Gareth to do . . . she was going to do them. From scuba diving to fishing to parasailing. She might not be rested when she returned to work, but damn it, she was going to have some fun.
She quickly changed out of the uniform and into her shorts, T-shirt, and sandals. Then she rummaged through her suitcase to find her sunglasses and large wide-brimmed white hat. She peeked in the mirror and laughed. If she put these on, she’d look like she was auditioning for a role in an old classic movie. At least it was practical.
It was early, but the sun was already up. Most people would still be in bed or enjoying the indoor facilities. She didn’t bother bringing a beach blanket because she just wanted to walk the shoreline and enjoy the waves breaking on her feet. An early morning dip was out of the question. She considered herself an average swimmer, but never would go out alone or without a lifeguard keeping an eye. Tabiq was known for having some strong rip currents. Brooke wasn’t planning on starting or ending her vacation dead.
Sure enough, when she made it to the beach, it was deserted. Someone had left a towel lying there, but that wasn’t uncommon since they belonged to the resort. The cleaning crew would be around soon and retrieve it. She was on vacation and going to try really hard not to work. As she began to walk by it, she couldn’t resist. Damn it. She bent down, picked it up, and walked over to dispense it in the dirty linen bucket back by the gate.
That was it. No more. She wasn’t going to clean the entire beach. Focusing, she made a beeline for the shore. Brooke slipped off her sandals and let the ocean run over her feet. It felt so much warmer in the cool morning air. It actually was never cold in Tabiq, but the mornings were what she’d consider comfortable. It was the temperature that made you want to sit on a porch and drink raspberry iced tea and talk with friends.
Although she didn’t want to admit it, she was beginning to miss home. She loved traveling all over the world, and was looking forward to the next adventure, but so much had happened while she was away.
Gareth’s mention of his brother’s wedding reminded Brooke of how many weddings she’d missed. No one bothered asking her to be a bridesmaid, as they all assumed she wouldn’t be around. They were right. That didn’t mean she didn’t hate missing out, or being asked.
For the first time she hadn’t planned her next job. What had caused her to delay? Maybe she needed to take a year off and regroup. Normally she only took a month between jobs and got all her visiting in then. An entire year might be too much. Not only would her parents get sick of her, but so would her friends. Three months might be her max. It’d also provide time to job hunt, since she’d been dragging her feet on doing that while in Tabiq.
She could blame the spotty internet service, but that would be a lie. The Hendersons were able to set this place up better than many big cities in the States. When she had asked about it, they said staying connected to loved ones was very important to them. That was good, because it seemed to benefit everyone in Tabiq too.
New Hope not only was a place for tourists to come and relax, but adjacent to it was a sports bar that was very popular with the locals. She’d gone in a few times, but it didn’t matter what channel they had on, nothing held her interest. She remembered there were race cars going around and around and she asked one of the men what the score was. Brooke practically got thrown out of the room. That place was too . . . serious for her.
Another wave broke, this time higher, hitting her knees. She was daydreaming and hadn’t noticed she was stepping into deeper water. It was so refreshing, and the feel of the salty breeze made her close her eyes again. If she wasn’t standing, she might actually fall asleep. It was so . . . peaceful.