“Right,” Andrea said, taking a bite of the chocolate croissant, giving a little sigh of enjoyment, and retrieving her socks and shoes. “This won’t take me long and then I’ll be ready to go.”
True to her word, Andrea was ready to leave the room in less than five minutes. Hannah picked up her saddlebag-size purse to follow her sister when she realized that Andrea was carrying the bag she usually carried with her when she went to work at the real estate office.
“Why are you taking your work bag, Andrea?” Hannah asked her.
“I’m taking it because I have to run back to the office right after we finish with the buffet and I didn’t want to have to go back up to the room again. It’s okay if I leave it in the kitchen while we’re doing the buffet, isn’t it?”
“I’m sure it is,” Hannah said quickly. “You’re coming back later then, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am. I just need to go in to print some flyers and show one house. I’ll be back in time to watch the weigh-in for the fishing contest and take a couple of pictures to send to Bill. He’s going to call me on my cell phone later and he wants to know who’s ahead on the first day.”
The two sisters walked down the hall, and Hannah pointed to the door on the end. “That’s Sonny’s suite,” she said.
“That’s one of Sally’s bridal suites, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s the same one that I stayed in,” Hannah said, feeling a slight pang of regret. “It’s beautiful, Andrea. The bedroom is huge and the living room has everything you could ever want in a living room. And the bath has its own Jacuzzi.”
“Sounds nice,” Andrea commented. “Somehow, I don’t think Sonny was in any shape to appreciate all that space last night.”
Hannah gave a little laugh. “I’m pretty sure you’re right. Mother told me that Doc gave him something to keep him asleep until this morning so he couldn’t cause any more trouble in the bar.”
“I wonder if he’s up yet,” Andrea said.
“I doubt it. Doc told Mother that he would probably sleep until noon.”
“But Wally’s not here. Who’s going to handle the fishing contest?”
“Joey. Doc warned him that he might have to take over in the morning, and Joey said that was fine with him. Everybody really likes Joey.”
“I know, and I bet they won’t miss Mr. Fishing Star at all,” Andrea said.
“Probably not.” Once the elevator stopped and they got off, they walked through the lobby and headed directly to the kitchen. When they got there, they found Sally sitting at the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee.
“Hi, Sally,” Hannah greeted her. “What do you want us to do first?”
“Have a cup of coffee with me,” Sally said with a smile. “Did you two girls sleep well?”
“I did,” Andrea responded immediately.
“So did I,” Hannah said. “Are you sure there isn’t any prep work you need us to do, Sally?”
“Nothing yet. I’ll get started on the cakes for the lunch buffet. The crew in the other kitchen is making the other dishes for the breakfast buffet, so all we have to do is bake some cookies for the bags the fishermen are taking out on the lake with them.”
“That sounds good to me,” Hannah said, heading for the kitchen coffeepot. “Thanks for the tray this morning, Sally. I’m not sure I would have made it without the coffee you sent up to us.”
“Me neither,” Andrea said quickly. “Thank you, Sally. That was a real help.”
“I told Beatrice to bring the same thing up to you every morning,” Sally told them. “We had ten walk-in late contestants last night and that brings the total up to the contest limit. Joey told me that this is the best-attended event they’ve ever had, and Wally was extremely happy about that.”
“Here you go, Andrea,” Hannah said, handing her sister a full cup of coffee. “When I pour mine, it’s going to drain the pot. Do you want me to put on another one, Sally?”
“Heavens yes! I’m not entirely caffeinated yet.”
“Me neither,” Andrea said.
It didn’t take them long to drink their coffee and then the three women went to work. There were moments of silence when all three of them were concentrating on the tasks they were completing, but there was also some conversation about the fishing competition, the contestants, and the work that remained to be done.
“Break time!” Sally announced when the rolls had been baked, the cakes for the lunch buffet were cooling on the bakers rack, and the cookies had been shaped and were baking in one of the ovens.
“I smell coffee,” Doc said, coming into the kitchen. “Is there a cup for a hardworking doctor?”
“Of course there is,” Sally said quickly, “but would you like a cup too, Doc?”
Doc laughed. “You’re a piece of work, Sally. And so early in the morning, too!”
“I’ve been up since three,” Sally told him. “How about you?”
“Not me. Lori wanted to talk last night and we were up late. She was still sleeping when I left the penthouse, and I didn’t want to wake her by rummaging around in the kitchen.”
“I’ll get you a cup, Doc,” Hannah offered, hurrying to the coffeepot to pour him a cup. “You take it black, don’t you?”
“Yes, but not this morning. I need a little carb jolt.”
“Is that doctor’s advice?” Andrea asked him.
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone, especially Lori. She says I’m gaining weight.”
“Are you?” Hannah asked him.
“I don’t know. I haven’t weighed myself. And just between the four of us, I plan to keep it that way.”
“How’s Sonny this morning?” Hannah asked him.
“Up and getting dressed. I checked on him about ten minutes ago and he said he felt great.”
“Did you ask him if he remembered anything about last night?” Andrea wanted to know.
Doc shook his head. “I didn’t think that would be a good idea. It might be best if he doesn’t remember.”
“Did he mention it at all?” Sally asked.
“No. He just said he felt fine and he was going to wake up Joey and they were going to go out on the lake before the breakfast buffet.”
“Then he won’t be at the buffet?” Hannah drew the obvious conclusion.
“It didn’t sound like it.” Doc took a sip of his coffee and then he gave a deep sigh. “I probably shouldn’t say this because it’s conjecture on my part. I don’t have any real proof, but I have the feeling that what happened last night was not a first for Sonny. I bet he’s done this sort of thing before other fishing tournaments.”
“That wouldn’t surprise me a bit,” Sally said. “As a matter of fact, Dick said the same thing to me last night. Dick thinks Sonny may be a functional alcoholic.”