Catherine Clark - So Inn Love

And you are?

Why do I get the feeling this room is reserved

Vacuuming. I hate vacuuming.

Miss Crossley met me outside the door to her office.

So hows the new job? Josh asked me when Claire

Kind of slow at the front desk this morning? I

That night I ran up to the shuttle van just

Would you like that toasted?

Be careful what you wish for. It just might come

Excuse me. Excuse me. Miss?

We should have more days off, Josh said as we

The next night, there was a party at Crandalls Point.

We jumped apart. If that was Miss Crossley, or anyone

My last bite of wheat toast stuck in my throat.

My grandfather peered at me through half-awake eyes. My aunt

I found Hayden in his room later that night. His

So Id go to another beach, I decided once Miss

Thats the second time you havent responded to a page.

The champagne glasses tumbled off my tray and onto the

Hayden was sitting in the hallway outside my door when

But Miss Crossley

I ran into Claire this morning, in the hallway, Zoe

I walked out onto the Inn porch the next morning

A nd you are?

Youve got to be kidding me.

I was the last person to arrive. I hate walking into a room thats already full of peopleeven if the room is the front lobby of a gorgeous seaside inn on the coast of Rhode Island, where I was lucky enough to be starting a great new summer job.

Being late wasnt the impression I wanted to make on my first day, especially since Id barely gotten this job to begin with, and had found out only a week before that it was mine.

Hi. Im Elizabeth McKenzie, I said to the woman standing in front of me. She had short, reddish hair and a stocky, athletic build. She was wearing khaki pants and a white Tides Inn polo shirt that looked as if it had been ironed. The short sleeves had actual creases. But please, call me Liza, I said. Sorryam I late?

Just a minute or two. Miss Crossley. She held out her hand to shake mine, and gave me a quick once-over glance, as if she was deciding whether to approve of me or not. I was relieved that Id removed that pink streak from my hair before I got hereshe didnt seem the type to appreciate things like that. Her handshake was so strong, I nearly winced from her grip. So youre the last-minute hire, Miss Crossley said.

She didnt sound all that happy with the decision, which was funny considering she was the Inn staff manager and she had to be in on hiring me, at some level. I wished she hadnt announced that I was last minute like that to the room. Everyone kind of looked up and focused their gaze on me, as if there might be something wrong, or suspect, about me.

As if Id only made the security clearance by the skin of my teeth. As if I were only good enough when there was no other option.

Or at least thats what their faces told me. That I was being snobbed.

Yes, its a verb. Especially useful around exclusive communities like this one. I actually hadnt known that much about it until three years ago when, because of my mothers job as a professor, we moved to a new town, where Snobs R Us was the name of one of the after-school clubs.

Just kidding. But moving right before sophomore year had been a little traumatic for me. Just when I was working my way up from being a lowly freshman, I had to start all over again, and the cliques at my new school didnt make it easy. It was like everyone had lived in the same town forever and I was the sole new person. That wasnt true, but thats how it felt until I made some friends. Now I was wondering if Id just walked into the same situation here, at my perfect summer job.

One girl flashed me a sympathetic smile, so at least there was that. The room was filled with about forty people, taking up nearly every seat in the large, spacious lobby. It was starting to hit me that I was actually on the Tides Inn staff. I couldnt believe it. Everything had happened so fast, since I got the summons a week ago. My dream job, coming through. I might be late and I might be a little uncomfortable, but at the same time I knew I was lucky to be here.

I finally spotted an empty white wicker chair by the window, so I nodded to Miss Crossley and scooted past her to take a seat.

Now, well do some introductions later on, once youve had a chance to get settled. But the Inn opens for summer seasonthe only season we have around herein two days, she said. That gives us two days to get completely perfect at everything we do. We dont accept less than perfection here at the Tides Inn. Our customers expect it, and we demand it. Youve all been hired because of your extreme trustworthiness.

She made it sound as if we were about to go into battle, and we were the elite soldiers. The Green Beretsalthough I didnt think the Inns color scheme was green. More like a blue-gray, the color of a whale you might see if you went out far enough in a sailboat. And instead of berets? Wed probably wear floppy bucket hats.

Now, Miss Crossley went on, some of you are new to me, some are old friends She stopped as the screen door creaked open and slammed shut with a bang.

A tall guy with brown hair, wearing long khaki shorts, flip-flops, and a navy T-shirt ripped at the neck, stepped into the lobby. He glanced behind him at the door, then turned back to Miss Crossley and smiled. He had the kind of smile that made you like him instantly.

Someones going to have to fix that before the guests get here, he said.

Thanks for volunteering, Hayden. Nice you could make it, the manager said. She cleared her throat as she glanced at her watch.

So I wasnt the last one to arrive, after all. Victory! Or at least not total outright failure. I looked at him; his T-shirt said, Mapleville Academy on it, a place Id only vaguely heard of but probably should know about. I thought it was one of those elite private schools in New England.

Sorry, Peach. I got lost, he said.

Peach? several people repeated.

Id only met Miss Crossley a minute ago, but I didnt get the impression that she was very peachy at all. Apple, maybe. Granny Smith Apple. Sour.

In case the rest of you are wondering, Haydens the only one allowed to call me that. Miss Crossley narrowed her gaze at Hayden. And even then Im not so sure, actually. And what do you mean, you got lost? Youve been here the past two summers, plus I picked you up from the New York train yesterday. So where have you been?

I was trying to clean up the beach. I picked up some bottles and trash, then I was raking the sandI lost track of time, I guess. Sorry.

What, are you going for Employee of the Month already? someone in the crowd called out.

Hey, if the plaque fitsthen put it on the wall, Hayden replied with a smile.

The guy sitting behind me groaned.

Miss Crossley didnt look impressed or amused, either. Hayden, why dont you hurry up and take a seat so we can get startedor restarted, rather.

Sure thing. He smiled at her.

Theres room here, Hayden. Two girls scooted over on a sofa to make a space for him.

Now. As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted Miss Crossley looked at Hayden and smiled. Its great to have you all back this year. I know there are other summer jobs that might pay more, might be more exciting, or might be closer to home. We at the Innthe Talbot family and I, and the rest of the adult employeescertainly appreciate the sacrifices youre making to be here. Living away from home

Thats a sacrifice? the guy sitting behind me on the window seat joked. He was leaning forward onto the back of my chair, and he was sort of pulling my hair. I moved a little to tug it free from under his arm.