She stopped the spray on the hose and yanked it down to the pot in front of room fourteen with me following all while advising, “Hon, you look sweet. Be yourself. Only thing you can be.”
I filed that away but still figured I should up my t-shirt inventory even though Tonia and Jonelle didn’t wear tshirts. When I met Tonia, she was wearing a tan piece of soft, triangular suede covering her breasts held in place with nothing but a thin strap around her back and another one wrapped around her neck. Jonelle was in a sparkly, purple tube top. No way was I going to ever be able to wear a backless, suede halter top or a tube top. Never.
If I wanted to fit in, tshirts were my only way to go.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said to Betty while she sprayed her barrel. “Gotta go get coffee and breakfast.”
Betty nodded and looked at me. “You ever wanna come over for breakfast, you just come on over and ring. Ned’s usually still asleep when I open at seven but I always get me a good breakfast in, the whole shebang. Eggs, bacon, toast or pancakes and sausage. Gotta set yourself up for the day right. Even if you ain’t a big eater in the mornin’, we always got a good pot o’ joe on and you’re always welcome to a mug.”
I had to admit, waiting until ten thirty to get my first hit of caffeine wasn’t working for me. I’d intended to ask Betty or Ned if I could put an electric kettle in my room but hadn’t had the chance. The first night after work I’d been dog tired. I wasn’t run off my feet until the end of the night when it got busy but I was still recovering from my swim. I’d just gone to the hotel room and crashed. Didn’t even get any dinner. The second night after work I’d walked straight to the diner and had a burger, got my second wind and went to the hotel and had a swim. Then I’d crashed.
“Do you mind if I buy an electric kettle for my room?” I asked. “It might take me awhile to get myself a place and –”
I stopped talking because she stopped the spray on the hose and turned to me.
“Sure thing, Lauren, that’s a great idea. And we got one ‘a those little, mini fridges. We ain’t usin’ it. I’ll get Ned to put it in your room. You’re gonna be around awhile you’ll need somewhere to store your milk.”
“That’s very kind of you, but –”
She talked over me. “In fact, I’ll get Ned to go out today and get you a kettle. You’re on your feet all day, you don’t need to be runnin’ errands at night.”
“I really couldn’t –”
“Maybe we’ll get two or three. Offer ‘em to customers with some of those little packets of instant. Rent ‘em out. Nice little extra.” She tipped her head to the side. “How you take your coffee?”
“Milk and sugar,” I answered. “But, Betty –”
“I’ll get Ned to pick some ‘a that up too.”
“Betty –”
She waved me quiet. “I like this idea. Kettles. Little mugs. Prolly could rent ‘em out for five dollars a go. Could put that in the brochure. An extra amenity. I’ll get Ned to make a sign for reception.” She wandered to the side of the hotel, preparing to roll the hose where there was a holder. “Thanks, hon. Always lookin’ for ways to improve service.”
Weirdly, Betty thought her and Ned doing me a favor was me doing her one.
Yes, you could say I liked Betty.
“I’ll give you my five dollars when I get back,” I told her.
“You. Gratis seein’ as you’re a long timer.” She looked up from rolling the hose and grinned big at me. “And you like our pool.”
I decided to let her kindness go, even though it was generous and considering there were only two other vehicles in her parking lot (one mini-van, one Harley), she and Ned weren’t exactly rolling in it. Then again, my father always told me if someone offers a kindness, take it. Just be the sort of person who does the same on a regular basis so you can be certain to even things out in your way.
“Who wouldn’t like your pool?” I teased, “I hear it’s the best in the county.”
She laughed, shook her head and muttered, “My Ned. He’s a bragger.” She threw me another grin. “Get to work, hon.”
“See you later, Betty.”
“Maybe tomorrow for coffee?”
“Yeah.”
Her grin got even bigger. “I’d like that.”
I smiled at her, walked into town and went right to La-La Land. I’d done the bakery and their coffee and donuts the first day. I’d tried La-La Land the second. La-La Land’s coffee was far superior and their banana bread was, if it could be believed, better than any donut I’d ever tasted and therefore definitely by far the best banana bread I’d had in my life.
I walked in and the man had purple-tinted, round framed glasses on this time. The woman had a tie-dyed kerchief shielding some but not all of her frizzy ash blonde hair.
“Hey!” the man cried, “You were in here yesterday!”
He said this like it was a miracle and he was considering calling the Vatican.
I felt my face go soft as I gave him a small smile and walked to the counter. “Yes.”