Once Upon a Summertime (7 page)

Anna had been puzzled when
Marley
told her she'd booked her flight to New Jersey. “I thought I was going to
New York
,” she'd said with confusion.

“Newark is so close that we consider it a New York airport,” Marley had explained. “It's a relatively short taxi ride from Newark into the city. It's really your best option. Trust me.” Since Anna really had no choice, she had trusted Marley—with everything.

As the plane began its descent into Newark, Anna peered out the little window to discover that it did look like one huge city below them. It was impossible to tell which part was New Jersey and which part was New York. As they got closer, it simply looked like a lot of massive buildings sitting right on top of the water. Oh, she knew New York was made up of islands, but from this vantage point it looked more like floating skyscrapers. Hopefully they weren't about to sink.

Marley had not only booked the ticket and instructed Anna on how and what to pack (to avoid checking a bag)
but also emailed her an explicit list of directions. Anna had these readily available on her phone now, a huge comfort as she climbed into the taxi, reading off the address of where she wanted to go. “My friend told me to ask the taxi driver to point out the Statue of Liberty when it comes into sight,” she said hopefully. “I'd love to see it.”

“No problem,” he said with what sounded like a Russian accent. “Your first time in New York?”

“Yes. It's so exciting.”

Anna watched everything with interest as the taxi zipped in and out of traffic, and it wasn't long before the driver was telling her to look to her right. “See there,” he said. “That is the Statue of Liberty. The beautiful green lady.”

Anna spotted it, but too soon it was gone. Still, she felt a thrill to think that she'd actually seen it with her own eyes. Perhaps if she had time, she'd take a trip to view it up close. But, she reminded herself as the taxi went into some sort of tunnel, her primary focus was to find gainful employment. She suspected this tunnel was going beneath the water—not something she felt overly comfortable with. Blocking feelings of claustrophobia, she stared at her phone. She would use this time to memorize the names of Marley's roommates. Tia, Sophie, and Kara. That wasn't too hard. Then, seeing what Marley had written down regarding the taxi expense and how much to tip, Anna extracted the right amount of cash, carefully counting it a second time just to be sure.

“Velcome to New York,” the taxi driver announced as the taxi emerged from the tunnel.

Anna felt a rush of excitement as she looked at the tall buildings all around. This was it—she was really here. She watched with wide eyes as the taxi driver zipped down one
street, turning on the next, honking if someone was in his way, and after just a few minutes more, stopping. “Here you are.” He read off the address she'd given him.

“Which building is it?” she asked, peering up at the row of brick buildings.

“Right there.” He pointed directly out the side window as he pushed something on his taxi meter and told her the amount, then hopped out to get her carry-on bag.

“Thank you.” She handed him her money, surprised at how close Marley's estimate had been. “That was a nice taxi ride.”

“Enjoy your visit.” He tipped his head as he handed her the handle of her carry-on.

“I'm sure I will,” she said as she began pulling her bag up to the building. Marley had told Anna the security code to get inside and given Anna her own key to get into the apartment until Marley came home on Tuesday.

After a couple tries, Anna got the security code to work, and soon she was nervously riding the elevator up to the fourth floor. Marley had told her the elevator was fairly dependable and that they used it when they had baggage. “But a lot of times we just take the stairs. Good exercise and no chance of getting stuck.”

Thankfully, the elevator didn't get stuck, and soon Anna was slipping her key into the tall wooden door of apartment 408. She had no idea if anyone would be in there or not, but Marley had promised to advise her roommates of Anna's arrival and that she would be using Marley's bed. Anna knew it was a two-bedroom apartment and that Marley shared her room with Tia while Sophie and Kara shared the other room, but she wasn't prepared for how small it was once she got inside. Although there was a window, the shades were
down, so the small space was dimly lit—and very cramped. Besides a love seat and a pair of wicker chairs, the room was filled with boxes and plastic storage containers. Clearly this was only a stopping place.

“Hello?” Anna said quietly. “Anyone home?”

Marley had warned her that due to their differing schedules, someone was often sleeping in the apartment, even in the middle of the day. She had also told Anna that her room was the door to the right. “It's away from the street, so it's a little quieter.”

Anna quietly tried the doorknob. Worried that Tia might be sleeping in there and not wanting to disturb her, she barely cracked it open, cautiously peeking in. But to her relief, both twin beds in the tiny room were empty. Anna set her carry-on next to the bed on the left side of the room, let out a long sigh, and sat down. She had made it!

Before she unpacked or did anything else, Anna called Grandma. “I'm here,” she said happily. She told her about seeing the Statue of Liberty and how the neighborhood she'd been dropped off in seemed perfectly charming. She even gave her a description of the tiny apartment. “Looks like I have the whole place to myself.”

“You're off to a fine start,” Grandma told her. “Good luck with your interview tomorrow. I'm sure you will impress them.”

“I hope so.” Anna felt some of the wind going out of her sails. How do you impress someone with no references for the past two years?

“You'll be in my prayers,” Grandma continued.

“Thanks . . . I'll need it.” As Anna hung up, she thought once again that she'd probably come to New York on a fool's errand. Even so, she would make the most of it!

After settling into the apartment a bit—mostly just unpacking her carry-on bag and hanging and steaming her dark blue interview suit—Anna set out to explore the neighborhood. Marley had given her directions to Elsie Dolce, and Anna intended to “happen” by to pick up a pastry and hopefully get a sneak peek at the Rothsberg hotel. She didn't want to be too obvious, and if she saw anyone who looked like owners or upper management, she would keep a low profile. But she was so curious to see this place, she couldn't help herself. Wearing sunglasses, casual-looking khaki capris, and a T-shirt, she carried a walking map (hoping to look more like a tourist than a spy) as she strolled around the Greenwich and eventually SoHo neighborhoods.

By the time she located Elsie Dolce, Anna was in love with New York City. At least with this section of New York. According to her walking map, she'd only seen a teeny-tiny percentage of the huge city. But she was definitely in love.

As soon as the bell tinkled against the door of Elsie Dolce, Anna could smell an intoxicating mix of aromas: chocolate, cinnamon, and other scents she couldn't even identify. With its black-and-white checkerboard floors, white Carrara marble countertops, and sweet pink walls, the shop was adorable.

“Welcome,” a petite blonde wearing a pink chef's apron called out from behind the glass case that was filled with fabulous-looking treats.

Anna looked around in appreciation. “What a delightful shop,” she said as she approached the counter.

“Your first time here?”

“My first time in New York.”

“Well, I hope you're enjoying yourself.”

“I absolutely am,” Anna assured her.

“Anything in particular you're looking for?” The blonde woman held out a silver tray with some bite-sized pieces of chocolate arranged on a paper doily. “Care to sample a lavender truffle?”

“Thanks!” Anna reached for a small piece and slid it into her mouth. “Oh my.” She nodded with approval. “That's fabulous.”

The woman smiled. “One of my specialties.”

Anna blinked. “Are
you
Elsie?”

She laughed. “Yes, I am. The way you say that makes me feel like a celebrity.”

Anna grinned. “Well, owning this shop should make you feel like a celebrity. But as it turns out, I sort of know you. Marley is my—”

“Oh, you must be Anna!” Elsie came around from behind the counter, extending her hand. “Max said you were arriving today.” She looked Anna up and down. “But he didn't tell me you were such a gorgeous girl.”

Anna smiled nervously. “Well, Max probably still remembers me as his kid sister's scrawny little friend who was always in the way. Marley and I used to drive him nuts. We'd sneak his video games when he was gone, and if he caught us he'd threaten to throttle us.”

“Yes, well, he's still protective of his electronic stuff.” She laughed. “Have you met the Newmans yet? I just saw Vincent about an hour ago.”

“No, my interview isn't until tomorrow.” Anna waved down to her casual outfit. “I was going incognito today. You know, playing the tourist. I just wanted to get a sneak peek at the hotel. Marley made it sound pretty grand.”

“It is pretty grand. Denise has pulled out all the stops.”

Anna nodded. “Yes, even from the outside, it's impressive. I can't wait to see more tomorrow.”

“I wish Max were here to see you. He's working at home today.” Elsie glanced to the door as another customer entered the shop.

“Tell him hi for me. I was surprised that he actually remembers me.”

“Oh, sure he does. And if you're here for a while, maybe we can have you over for a meal.”

“That'd be great.” Anna moved aside, making room for the woman who was behind her. “I'll just look around a little. There's no way I'm leaving here without something.”

As Elsie waited on the woman, boxing up two dozen assorted pastries, Anna decided on what looked like a chocolate éclair. She was just paying for it as well as some more lavender chocolate truffles when several more customers came in.

“It always gets busy this time in the afternoon,” Elsie whispered. “People need their three o'clock sugar hit.”

Anna nodded, clasping her little pink bag. “Makes sense. Thanks, Elsie. I'll see you around.”

“Good luck tomorrow,” Elsie called.

Anna thanked her and exited. Trying not to look conspicuous, she slowly walked alongside the hotel, taking it all in. From its restored brickwork to its gleaming glass windows to the big, beautiful mahogany and glass doors leading into a foyer with rich-looking travertine floors, it was all perfection. She wished she could just stand there and stare at it, but she did not want to accidentally run into the owners. One thing she remembered from school was that first impressions are
lasting, whether it's the first impression of a hotel building or an employee.

As she hurried on her way back to the apartment, she wondered if the suit she'd picked for the interview was really going to work. Marley had assured her that it was perfect, but Anna had gotten the Ralph Lauren suit more than two years ago. What if it was dated and she just didn't know it? Marley had suggested adding a scarf, even offering to loan one from her own closet. Perhaps Anna should do some browsing there. Anna considered her shoes. She'd brought the black Nine West pumps, but she'd been wearing them a lot lately. What if they showed it more than she realized? She reminded herself that she'd used Grandma's shoe polishing kit on them only yesterday. They were probably fine. She was just being too hard on herself.

The real problem, she knew, was her lack of references. She could dress impeccably and say all the right things, but without references, what good would it do?

The apartment
was still uninhabited
when Anna returned around 5:00. She'd stopped by a little grocery store that Marley had mentioned and picked up a few things to tide her over. As she put them in the small fridge, she was surprised at how sparse it was. The few things in there, mostly leftovers in take-out cartons, looked a little old. She was tempted to clean the whole fridge out and give it a good scrubbing, but she was concerned that might be stepping over a line. Besides that, putting outdated food cartons in the garbage might result in some bad smells. Best to leave well enough alone.

Still, she decided as she looked around the tiny kitchen, it probably wouldn't hurt anyone's feelings if she did some cleaning in here. It certainly could use it. As she scrubbed the grimy porcelain sink, hoping to get it clean enough to wash the dirty dishes that were piled up, she imagined the weary flight attendants coming and going on their busy ways, worn out from long flights and waiting on demanding passengers.
She could understand how it might be easy for them to overlook the general squalor in here.

With the sink gleaming white, she proceeded to wash the dirty dishes. Too bad this apartment had no dishwasher, but as she looked around the small space, she could see there was no room for one. She dried the dishes and found their places in the narrow cupboard, then scrubbed the laminate countertop. Since she was making such progress, she continued her cleaning frenzy by washing the faces of the painted cabinets. By the time she finished, the whole space looked much more inviting and rather sweet. Even better than that, she felt happy that she'd made herself useful.

It was strange having this apartment all to herself, and as she made a little dinner of yogurt, banana, and a bagel, she was curious if any of the flight attendants would be coming home tonight. She was just finishing up when she heard her phone ringing. She ran to get it, pleased to see it was Marley. After she thanked her for all her help and the use of her apartment, she mentioned that no one was home.

“Well, Tia might be out of the country. Possibly for the whole weekend. As for the other two—it's Friday night.”

“Oh?”

“At the most, you might see Sophie and Kara pop in to change clothes, but then they'll leave again. Sometimes if they're on a late flight, they just go out straight from the airport. We girls always carry extra clothes and shoes in our bags so we can do a quick change if we want to go have fun.”

“That makes sense.” Anna told Marley about meeting Elsie and how much she liked the neighborhood. “The hotel is awesome.”

“Well, I'm crossing my fingers that you get hired, Anna. It would be so fabulous if you were in New York. And I got to thinking, you could probably sleep on our couch if you wanted—until you found another place. Maybe you and I could share an apartment, just the two of us. That would be a huge improvement.”

“That sounds great.”

“So knock their socks off tomorrow,” Marley told her.

“I'll do my best.” Anna felt that familiar feeling of hopelessness washing over her.

“Let me know how it goes.”

Anna promised she would, then hung up. Marley sounded so hopeful and optimistic, but then, she had no idea that Anna was walking into this interview with no real references.

Because it had been a warm day and the apartment had no air conditioning, Anna opened the living room window. Hearing the noise out on the street, she decided to go outside. She wanted to get a feel for what it was like in New York on a Friday night. The way Marley had talked about it made it sound like a holiday. She'd seen a gelato shop near the grocery store, so she decided that a cool treat might be just the ticket for helping her battle the blues.

As she walked down the street, watching people coming and going, she could imagine herself turning into a real New Yorker. Oh, she knew the odds were stacked against her, but it didn't cost anything to entertain a dream. She got a raspberry gelato, found a vacant chair out on the sidewalk, and sat down to slowly eat her treat.

By the time she finished her dessert, she had made a decision. In her interview tomorrow morning, she would simply
tell the truth. She would explain that she could provide no references for the past two years—and the reason why. She would do her best to convey her enthusiasm for being hired. She would point out her outstanding school records and even encourage the interviewer to contact the manager at the Pomonte Hotel, where she'd worked in college. Sure, it wasn't managerial experience, but if she'd stuck around she might've been managing by now. They had appreciated Anna's work ethic there.

As she walked back to the apartment, she felt hopeful and energized by the general vibe of the city. The sights, sounds, and smells all seemed strangely familiar to her—almost like déjà vu. Almost like she truly belonged here. Oh, if only it were true.

After a restless night of sleep and being awakened at odd hours by the sounds of people coming and going from the apartment, Anna got up early. To her relief the bed beside hers had not been slept in. Tia probably was out of the country. Anna tiptoed out of the bedroom and through the quiet living room. She suspected, thanks to the pair of carry-on bags by the door, that Sophie and Kara were home. She continued into the kitchen, trying not to feel too disappointed by the messy take-out boxes and dirty dishes now cluttering what she'd cleaned yesterday, and she got a yogurt and an orange from the fridge. After all, this wasn't her place.

She went back to the bedroom to eat her breakfast, and as soon as she finished, she decided to take advantage of the unoccupied bathroom. Marley had mentioned how it could get crazy in there with four women. “Fortunately, we're
usually on different schedules, but occasionally we all want a shower at the same time.” Anna took a fast shower and decided she would do her hair and makeup in the bedroom, just in case the other girls needed the bathroom. It wasn't ideal, but then again, this wasn't her apartment.

By 9:15 Anna was carefully dressed in her dark blue Ralph Lauren suit with a simple white blouse underneath. She'd dressed it up a little with a pretty blue and green silk scarf, borrowed from Marley's closet. She kept her jewelry minimal with a pair of faux diamond studs and a sleek silver bracelet. With every hair in place, she slipped into her recently polished pumps, picked up her matching black purse, and proceeded out to the street.

She knew it only took thirty minutes to walk to the hotel from here, and that was at a leisurely strolling pace, but she wanted to be there at least fifteen minutes early. A manager was punctual—and, she thought wryly, preemptive and positive. As she walked, she decided to focus on the positive. Really, why shouldn't she be optimistic about her upcoming interview? She had a lot going for her. She was a hard worker, she was dependable, she was efficient, she was a people person, she was creative . . . With each step she mentally listed all the qualities she possessed that made for a great manager. Finally, she told herself as she paused by the tall mahogany and glass doors, she was honest. Hopefully that wouldn't kill her chances this morning.

The door to the lobby was unlocked, but the lobby itself was dark and quiet. Although it looked as if everything was in place, or nearly, the hotel was obviously not open yet.

“Can I help you?” a young man behind the reception desk asked.

“I have an appointment with Mr. Newman,” she said politely. “Not until ten o'clock. I'm a few minutes early.”

“Right.” He pointed to a hallway that started just past the reception desk. “The business offices are that way. Mr. Newman's is at the end. You'll see his name on the door.”

“Thank you.” She continued on down the dimly lit hallway. She wasn't sure if she should just stand outside his door, waiting until her appointment time, or perhaps go back and wait in the lobby. But seeing the women's restroom, she decided to make a short layover there. It wouldn't hurt to give her hair and makeup one last look. Because she knew in this business—especially in an upscale hotel—appearances mattered.

She smoothed her strawberry blonde hair into place, wondering if it had been a mistake to wear it down. Putting it up did make her look older, but it was too late for that. She knew it was a good cut, and it barely passed her shoulders. It would have to do. She leaned forward to check her teeth and finished by freshening up her lipstick, a warm peachy shade that was both natural looking and attractive.

“This is as good as it gets,” she whispered to her reflection. “Now, don't blow it.” She glanced at her watch—five minutes till 10:00. “Here we go.”

She exited the restroom and continued to the end of the hallway. She knew it was silly to feel this nervous. It was just an interview. Mr. Newman was just a business owner. And she had much to offer.

“Are you Miss Gordon?” a young woman dressed in a dark suit asked.

“Yes.” Anna nodded. “I have an interview with Mr. Newman.”

“I'm Patricia, Mr. Newman's executive assistant.”

Anna shook her hand. “I'm pleased to meet you.”

“Mr. Newman can see you now. Go ahead and go on in,” Patricia told her.

“Thank you.” Anna took a deep breath and pushed open the large wooden door.

“Hello,” a dark-haired man called from where he was standing next to a bookcase. “Come in, come in.” He walked over to shake her hand, smiling warmly. “You must be Anna Gordon. It's good to meet you. Go ahead and take a chair and we'll get right to it.”

She thanked him and sat down, holding her purse in her lap. He seemed friendly enough. Very personable, actually.

“You might be surprised that I'm not having our personnel director conduct this interview,” he began as he sat down at his desk. “But, you see, my wife and I are so involved in all this, so invested, that we're still being very hands-on.” He smiled. “It's kind of like our baby. You know?”

“Absolutely.” She nodded eagerly. “It's a beautiful hotel. I can understand why you'd want to be hands-on. I have great respect for that.”

“Good.” He picked up what appeared to be her résumé but then set it down again, looking at her with interest. “Tell me about yourself, Miss Gordon.”

Trying not to sound arrogant, she launched into a positive accounting of her skills and abilities. She talked about how much she loved the hospitality industry. How she had excelled in college. How she had enjoyed working at the Pomonte Hotel. “It was nothing compared to the Rothsberg,” she said finally. “To be honest, I've never been in a hotel quite this grand. But I would love to work here.”

“As a manager?” He studied her carefully, and she wondered if this was a trick question.

“I trained in management,” she told him. “I believe I have managerial qualities. And I've been working in management”—she sighed—“for the past two years.”

“Uh, yes.” He cleared his throat. “I see that.” He looked curiously at her. “To be honest, that part was a bit confusing to me. Frankly, if my good friend Max hadn't told me about you, you wouldn't be sitting here right now.”

She nodded. “That's understandable.” Knowing it was time to lay her cards on the table, she started to tell him about her grandmother, including how she had raised Anna and sacrificed to help her through college. “My grandfather passed on during my last year of school. I knew my grandmother was lonely and depressed, and I felt I owed it to her to stay with her awhile. Just until she adjusted to her loss. The Value Lodge was in my grandmother's town, so I took the job there to be with her. At the time it seemed a good idea. I could garner managerial experience as well as be there for my grandmother. I had even hoped I might be able to help turn the economy motel into something more.” She made a slightly bitter laugh. “I was wrong.”

He gave her a sympathetic smile. “Well, it might not have been a great career move, but your motives were honorable.” He looked down at her résumé again, his mouth twisting to one side as if he was deep in thought.

“There's one more thing I have to tell you,” she said meekly.

“Yes?” He looked up.

“About the Value Lodge,” she said slowly. “You won't be able to get references from them for me.”

“No references?” He gave her a puzzled look. “After two years of employment?”

“No. I mean yes. I
did
work there. Full time as head manager for nearly two years. I worked very hard the whole while.”

“Then why wouldn't they give references?”

“Because I was fired.”

His dark brows arched slightly. “Fired?”

“Yes.” She nodded glumly. “You see, the owners employ a nephew. The young man is supposed to be in charge of janitorial, but he is a lazy bum.” She grimaced over her careless words. “I'm sorry. But really, that's the truth. He was not motivated to work.”

“What did you do about this unmotivated employee?”

“I gave him warnings—both verbally and in writing. I had a meeting to encourage him and some of the other staff. I encouraged them to step up and do their jobs. I even held training sessions. But the morale in that motel, well, it was so low. Honestly, it was like beating my head against the wall.”

“I see . . .”

“So I fired the nephew. His girlfriend too. Well, the owners didn't appreciate that. They fired me. Just this week.” She looked down at her purse. There, she'd said it. Let the chips fall where they may.

“I can understand how frustrating that must've been for you.”

She looked up. “Oh, it was. It really was.”

“You say you're looking for a management position now?”

“Yes. Absolutely. It's what I trained for. I know I can do it. Especially in a hotel where the owners are committed to
quality and hospitality.” She made a nervous smile. “You can't imagine what a refreshing change that would be for me.”