Never walk alone - 28. Chapter 28

The summer season proved to be a very lucrative one for all of the Devlin-Major interests. Both lodges were running at occupancies of between 90% and 95%, and Belle Catherine was averaging three charters every two weeks, which Andrew was very happy with. All the guests were very happy and the only concern was several comments from guests at both lodges over the festive season being disturbed by persons unknown requesting to complete surveys. Andrew initially thought it might have been staff members being a bit over zealous in getting guests to complete the normal questionaire which all guests were requested to complete prior to departure, but upon investigation, this proved not to be the case.

The guest questionaires were forwarded to him, unopened, at the start of each month and he, and Ryan if he was not on charter, would meticulously go through every questionaire. Any problem areas were addressed with Paul or Claude, compliments were passed on and where necessary, the guest was contacted and the issue dealt with. Nothing was ignored.

He visited both lodges to see the general managers, who essentially told him the same thing. It seemed to have started just as the festive season began and about the same time as the opening of The Cameron.
A few guests at each lodge had complained about being hassled, but in all cases the culprits were never discovered. It was a bit of a mystery as to exactly who they were and what they were up to. Andrew drew up a letter to every guest they had over the season and apologised to them should they have been inconvenienced in any way. Apart from that, the season had been very successful.

Ryan, Darren and Kerry carried the burden of the charters, while Andrew was kept busy with overseeing the overall operation. His other big project was a personal one - making the arrangements for Cameron and Elizabeth's christening.

He and Ryan had discussed the christening in depth before Ryan left on one of the charters and Andrew was tasked with organising the event. They had ultimately decided to hold the christening at the house as they both felt that there were too many guests for 'Belle Catherine', and both felt they didn't want to have it at either of the lodges, although both would have a hand in the catering and set up.

And so, on the first Saturday of February, the big day finally arrived. The service was scheduled for 11am, followed by a buffet lunch. The weather was stunning - an almost wind free, cloudless day, so typical of the latter part of summer.
A marquee that Paul had purchased for a company function at The Cameron held during the week after the opening, had been erected in the garden beside the pool, and was where the meal would to be served.
Andrew and Ryan had elected to leave the sides open with the support poles draped in white fabric to allow what little breeze there was to cool things down and the garden was relatively private anyway.
Round tables seating eight guests, borrowed from The Cameron were arranged in the marquee with comfortable upholstered banqueting chairs, the tables covered with a white tablecloth and a baby blue overlay.
Posies consisting of pink roses with sprigs of baby's breath formed the centrepieces with specially printed and laminated placemats with a collage of photographs of the twins and a message of thanks for those attending the event. The crockery from Blue Bay was plain white and the cutlery was the silver plated service from The Cameron. The chairs were covered in white covers with alternate chairs having either a baby blue or pink sash. The buffet table was set up at the end closest to the pool, completely draped in white.

The lounge, dining room and patio seating was informally arranged in the living area, where the actual christening would take place with a podium from The Cameron at the guest room end of the room. A small table stood beside the podium on which stood a delicate crystal flask containing water from the River Jordan that the pastor would use to anoint the toddlers. As per the pastors request, no alcohol was served before the service, so sparkling grape juice was available for the guests on arrival and sparkling wine would be served afterwards before lunch.

The guests included mom and dad Major, Donna and Craig, who flew down from Johannesburg for the weekend, Beth and Nicky, Paul, Marie and Jonathan, Claude and François, Yvonne, her husband Jeremy and her two children, Darren and Kerry and Kevin, Vanessa and Simone from down the road. The pastor and his wife would also stay for lunch. A nice surprise was that Dan and Joan had contacted Andrew and requested to be Skyped in for the service even though it would be 2 am in Miami.

At 11am, with everyone gathered in the living room, Andrew and Ryan came downstairs with Cameron and Elizabeth. They had decided to let them walk rather than carry them and the twins, somehow instinctively knowing that the day was all about them, were on top form. The walked between there dads, both holding a finger, towards the podium and the waiting pastor, smiling at everyone and when Janice waved at them, they enthusiastically waved back and their arrival was greeted by many 'aaah cute's'.

Cameron was dressed in pair of white satin short pants, short sleave shirt and a baby blue satin waistcoat with mother of pearl buttons, white socks and tiny, very shiny, black shoes.
Elizabeth was in a pretty white satin dress with pale pink lace bodice and underskirt. She had white socks and white babydoll shoes on her feet.
Paul and Marie, and Donna and Craig who had agreed to be joint god -parents were standing with the pastor, all smiling happily and Darren stood to one side with Andrew's laptop to keep the Kinleys up to date.

When they got to the podium, they turned to face the guests and the twins promptly both got stage fright.
They took one look at all the people and turned to their dad's, their arms reaching out to be picked up. They quickly recovered their composure once they were safe in Andrew and Ryan's arms and the service commenced. It was very short, just a brief address, and a run through the responses to the order of service that Andrew had printed, then after the charge to the godparents and the congregants to always watch over them, the pastor uncorked the flask, drizzled a little of the water into a small silver bowl, dipped his fingers into the bowl and made the sign of the cross on each of their foreheads, intoning the blessing at the same time. He closed the service with a prayer and it was all over.

As everyone stood up, two waiters appeared with trays of sparkling wine and grape juice and everyone gathered around Andrew, Ryan and the twins to congratulate them, as well as Dan and Joan who signed off immediately after to go back to bed,
Everyone began moving out to the marquee for lunch where James, the executive chef from The Cameron was keeping an eye on things along with one of his staff and two from Blue Bay. The Cameron was responsible for the hors d'oeuvres and the main course vegetables, while Blue Bay had the main course meats and desserts with the exception of a large goblet shaped bowl of cranachan that Andrew had insisted on.

James had done his signature whisky cured salmon, a cold avocado and langoustine soup and a warm biltong quiche as well as a selection of cold meat cuts with a selection of garden salad ingredients for guests to compose their own green salad and a potato salad. There was homemade health loaf and bagettes to go with it.

The entrée consisted of a carvery with roast lamb and chicken, jacket potatoes, roasted butternut, green beans, and cauliflower mornay, a lasagne and a chicken breyani with all the accompiaments.
Desserts had been kept to a minimum with the cranachan, fresh fruit salad, ice cream and a christening cake consisting of chocolate sponge cake with a filling of chocolate mousse and glazed with a chocolate ganache.

Lunch was very leisurely, no one seemed to be in a hurry to go anywhere, and it was late afternoon before the catering staff began packing up with James leaving the waiters to assist with drinks service and tea and coffee, but eventually everyone said their thanks and goodbyes and the house returned to normal.

The twins however were very tired and more than a little grouchy. Both were very unhappy while Andrew and Ryan bathed them and they barely managed to get some dinner into the little munchkins before they started nodding off, their little heads drooping even while they were being fed. Andrew made them each a bottle of camomile tea with formula and he and Ryan sat cuddling them while they drank their bottles and until they fell asleep, before laying them on one of the other couches with a light blanket over them.
He and Ryan sat close, leaning in slightly towards one another and Andrew had his head on Ryan's shoulder. Neither of them were particularly hungry, yet, but they both knew they would need to eat something at some stage or wake at zero dark thirty with grumbling stomachs. But for now they just sat and relaxed, watching the TV that was showing one of the featured matches from the English Premier League for the day and chatting quietly about the day.
As much as they both enjoyed entertaining and having family and friends around them, these were the times they cherished most. When it was just them and the twins. It was even better when the toddlers were awake and interacting with them, but just hearing the soft breathing and occasional snuffling noises emanating from the other couch gave them both great comfort and joy.

Over the next two mornings they received two surprising bits of news.

Andrew was sitting at the desk he had used when planning The Cameron, once again studying the financial reports. He had moved the desk from the guest room after the lodge had opened and it was now in a corner of the lounge with a fantastic view of the bay and Table Mountain. It was a sight that never got old and when he needed to think something through, he would just sit and stare at it as he mulled things over . However, he was finding it rather difficult to concentrate due to the noise from the area in front of the couches where Ryan was cavorting with Cameron and Elizabeth who were squealing in excitement accompanied by laughter all the way from their bellies and growls from Ryan as he played with them. Rascal was adding to the din, barking as he joined in the game. So much for a peaceful Sunday morning. His mobile activated, indicating an incoming call and he reached for it noting that the call was from Paul.

"Morning mate, how's it going? Are you working?", Andrew said

"Morning Drew. No, I'm weekend off for a change", he replied

"Good, I'm very glad to hear you're taking time off and spending time with Marie and Jonathan. So if you're not at work, what are you phoning me on a Sunday morning for?"

"I've got you on speaker so Marie can hear as well. We just wanted to thank you for a lovely day yesterday and tell you that we are pregnant".

"Oh my god, guys. Wait, let me get you on speaker so Ryan can hear. Say that again".

"We wanted to thank you for yesterday and to tell you that we are pregnant"

Ryan extricated himself from two bundles of energy and walked over to Andrew with two squirming, squealing toddlers in his arms.

"That's amazing news you two. Congratulations. When is the baby due?", Ryan asked.
Marie replied.

"Morning, Ry. Morning Drew. It's due around the second half of August. So with Paul's birthday on the 17th and the twins on the 16th they might be getting to share birthdays".

"We're both so happy for you. Why didn't you say anything yesterday? Wait, I noticed you weren't drinking wine yesterday. I should have realised then", Andrew said.

"We didn't say anything, because it was Cam and Elizabeth's day. We didn't want to steal the spotlight off them", Paul said.

"Well thank you. We appreciate your sentiments. But it's fantastic news. And thanks for sharing it with us," Andrew told them. Marie came on again.

"There's something else!. Would you two mind being the godparents?"

Andrew grinned happily at Ryan who nodded vigorously and answered for them.

"It would be our pleasure and honour, Marie. Thank you"

"Okay, great. Thank you guys. Love you both. Bye, see you soon".

Andrew closed his laptop and stood up.

"I'm way too keyed up now, and I won't get anything constructive done with all the noise you four are making,", Andrew said looking pointedly at his husband, children and Rascal, "So if I can't beat them, I might as well join 'em"

The rest of the Sunday was spent just having fun as a family, interrupted only by the maintenance team from The Cameron coming to dismantle the marquee and Craig and Donna popping in to say goodbye on their way to the airport to take their flight back to Johannesburg.

The second bit of news came on the Monday morning, also in the form of a phone call, this time from a number Andrew did not recognise. Ryan had gone to buy fresh milk and taken the twins and Rascal with him."

"Andrew Devlin-Major, good morning", he answered when his mobile rang.

"Good morning Mr Devlin-Major. This is Michael Gibson. I'm the editor for Lodge Inn magazine"

"Yes, I know it. What can I do for you, Mr Gibson".

"Please call me Michael. Do you mind if I use your first name?".

"No, not at all. How can I help?"

"I was wondering whether I might be able to do an interview with you for an article in the next edition?".

"I'm very flattered, Michael, but why would you want to interview me?"

"Not only you, but your partner Ryan as well. Your two properties have been nominated for awards in three categories in our annual review of lodges and B&B's, and we want to do interviews with a few of the powers behind the thrones so to speak".

"Wow, that is a nice way to start a Monday morning. What categories have we been nominated in?"

"Blue Bay has been nominated in the 'Best Luxury Small Lodge', that's 30 rooms or less and 'The Cameron" has been nominated in the 'Best New Lodge' category."

"That's fantastic news. You mentioned three categories".

"Yes, If they win their category, they are automatically eligible for the 'Lodge of the Year' Award

"Heavens, I had no idea. We're honoured. How are the establishments nominated?"

"In two ways. The first is by first hand experience. I, and a panel of reporters and contributors, visit the various lodges, spending a couple of days at each one. We have a score sheet which covers every aspect of the operation from the initial impression of the exterior, right up until the final farewell.
All the score sheets except mine are gathered by our auditors, the highest and lowest scores are discarded to prevent favouritism, and the points are tallied.
Then for two weeks leading up to Christmas, we do a guest survey which I cannot reveal the details of in the interests of maintaining secrecy. The replies on surveys are transposed onto a score sheet and tallied, added to our score and the top six lodges in each category are nominated. Which is the point we are at now.

"Ah, so I have you to blame for complaints we received from guests about being harassed to do surveys",
Andrew told him.

"Oh dear. I really must apologise. We had no intention of making your guests feel harassed. Our people were specifically told to keep it as low key as possible. The establishments are not supposed to even realise what is taking place. So I apologise profusely. I hope there was not major problems".

"No, nothing major. Just a handful of guests who mentioned it in our own in-house surveys. So when do the awards take place?"

"The awards will be presented at a gala evening on 29th March at the CTICC (Cape Town International Convention Centre) and the week before, my scores, which our auditors have in safekeeping, will be added to the scores on the guest questionaires for each nominated lodge and the winners names placed into sealed envelopes, Oscars style, to be announced on the gala night. Of course you and your team will be sent invitations to attend".

"Thank you. It all sounds very exciting. As to your request for an interview. I cannot see any reason why not. Allow me to just confirm it with Ryan when he returns and I will be in contact asap. But I really don't think it will be a problem. The only request I have is that Paul Mason and Claude Dubois, our two general managers, are included in the interview, as the success of the lodges is as much due to them as myself and Ryan"

"That will not be a problem. However we intended interviewing both of them for a separate article, but if you feel you want them to be present, then sure, no problem".

"Thank you. As soon as I have spoken to Ryan I will confirm a date and time with you. Your publication appears every two months if I remember correctly, so I assume this is for the April edition".

"Yes, that is correct. It will appear in the same edition as the feature on the winning lodges, so you can be assured of maximum exposure to the industry".

"As long as the lodges get the exposure, I'm satisfied. Michael, I will be in touch shortly to confirm with you. And thank you for including us in your surveys".

"You're welcome. I look forward to hearing from you. Goodbye for now".

Andrew put his mobile on the desk and moved to the sliding doors staring pensively out at the bay and the mountain, his hands in his pockets.
He watched as Ryan's SUV turned into the driveway, and walked down to meet him and help him get the twins out of their car seats.
Andrew filled Ryan in while putting on the kettle to make tea.

"I just had a very interesting phone call from the editor of Lodge Inn magazine", he began.
Ryan glanced at him with raised eyebrows.

"Oh yes, and what did they want?"

"They want to do an interview with us for the April issue. But even bigger news is that they run an annual competition for lodges and Blue Bay and The Cameron are both in the running for awards. Best Luxury Small Lodge, Best New Lodge and possible Lodge of the Year" if they win their category.

Ryan gaped at Andrew and then broke out in a huge smile.

"Oh wow, babe!. That's amazing! You deserve it after all the hard work you've put in. We'll done!"

"Ry, my love. Not me, we! You, Paul, Claude and all the staff deserve just as much credit as me. It's a team effort".
Ryan took Andrew in his arms and held him, looking at him.

"If you say so my love. But we all know that without you, both places wouldn't exist. Now, what about the interview?"

"Well, I told Michael, the editor, I would check with you and get back to him".

"Thank you, I appreciate the thought, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a no-brainer. Of course we must do the inter-view. It's fantastic exposure and free advertising."

And so, just over a week later, they sat with Michael at home and did the interview. Paul and Claude were also present and Michael had taken some photographs of them together and with the twins, who had been taken for a walk by Yvonne while the interview was being conducted. They covered everything from the beginning up to the present day, mentioning 'Belle Catherine' and the yacht charter arm of the company. They made it quite clear that they were gay, as did Claude, joking that Paul was the thorn among the roses.

Yvonne had set the coffee table for with tea and coffee and two platters with savoury and sweet snacks before she left and the interview was conducted in a light, convivial atmosphere. It took almost an hour and Yvonne returned just as Michael was leaving.

The four men sat back down , discussing the interview and the upcoming awards night. Michael had brought their invitations with him, advising that an entire table had been reserved for their party, which would include Marie, François, David and Janice. Andrew had also insisted that the twins attend as well, enforcing his belief that they would never be neglected due to business.

In the run-up to the awards night, Andrew and Ryan met with all their staff at both lodges to tell them about the nominations and thanking them for all their hard work in making it possible and that they would be back after the ceremony, no matter what the outcome, to see them again.

Andrew had requested, and received, a list of the lodges that had reached the final three in each of the categories they were nominated in, and having studied the list, felt they were in with a very good chance.

The event was due to take place on a Friday night, so on the Tuesday before, they both had their hair cut and on the Friday morning, the entire delgation were treated to facials and manicures at the spas.

Andrew had arranged a limousine for the evening that picked them up at the house, along with David and Janice, before collecting Claude and François at Blue Bay, and Paul and Marie at The Cameron. He had arranged it this way so that everyone at the lodges could also feel involved as well. At both venues the staff who could, sent them on their way with good luck wishes and applause.

The conference centre was ablaze with light when they coasted to a stop at the main entrance, a long red carpet laid out from the curb to the doors. There was a large contingent of press in attendance and they were blinded by camera flashes as the emerged from the vehicle. They were all in formal dress including the twins who became the centre of attention.

Cameron was dressed in black pants with a soft white shirt and a black satin waistcoat, while Elizabeth wore a pretty long white dress with pale green lace over the skirt. At first they seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the hubbub and light flashes and after momentarily clutching at their dad's trouser legs, accepted their fingers and walked slowly up the red carpet next to them.

They had arrived just before dinner was due to be served, so they went straight in, were shown to their table and settled down. A waiter came to take a drinks order and when the hors d'oeuvres of goats cheese and roasted baby tomato tartlets was served a few minutes later, they had their aperitifs in front of them.

The dinner was a bog-standard banqueting meal with a choice of roast beef or grilled fish for the entrée and a creme brulee for dessert. After coffee had been served, the lights were dimmed slightly and Michael stepped up to the podium on the stage to begin the proceedings. There were roughly a dozen categories with B&B's done first, then the lodges, and the first category they were nominated in, Best New Lodge, came up halfway through the ceremony.

A montage of the three candidates was shown, and even though they appeared relaxed, the occupants of the table were tense as they waited for the winner to be announced.
The envelope was handed to Michael and he opened it with agonising slowness. He looked at the card in the envelope and grinned.

"And the winner is.......... The Cameron, a Devlin-Major Portfolio Lodge of Distinction"

The table erupted as the room broke out in cheers and applause. They were hugging one another with huge grins and one or two watery eyes. As Andrew, Ryan and Paul made their way to the podium, acknowledging the congratulations of their peers along the way, Michael continued

"The Cameron is elected winner in this category for the sympathetic remodeling of the original structure, to the execution of the overall theme and upmarket decor in what is fundamentally a family focused establishment, that has raised the benchmark for all new projects in the country. The guest surveys were astounding. There was not one single negative comment. For an establishment that had barely been operating for two weeks, that sort of response was, in my opinion, nothing short of extraordinary and speaks volumes of the three men you see coming up here now. Ladies and gentlemen, Andrew and Ryan Devlin-Major and their general manager, Paul Mason"

Andrew pushed Paul ahead of him to accept the award and stepped up to the microphone, stunned to see the entire room on their feet. He waited for them to all settle down and took a deep breath.

"Oh wow, this is amazing. I want to thank Lodge Inn magazine and Michael for acknowledging all the hard work that went into the conception and opening of The Cameron. It was a project that became a part of our lives and continues to do so. Thank you to Paul and our dedicated staff. We appreciate you all" He lifted Paul's arm, raising the award into the air. "This is for all of you. Thank you"

They left he stage to more warm applause and returned to the table where champagne had already been poured. The evening continued and three categories later came the 'Best Luxury Small Lodge' in which Blue Bay was nominated.
Once again there was expectant silence as Michael said,

"And the winner is Blue Bay Lodge, Bloubergstrand, a Devlin-Major Portfolio Lodge of Distinction".

Andrew stared at Ryan, astounded and mouthed " Oh my god!". Ryan hugged him and when he pulled Ryan to take him up with him, he shook his head.

"No Drew, Blue Bay was your baby. You accept the accolades"
So Andrew and Claude made their way to the podium as Michael said ,

"Blue Bay is awarded this honour for its outstanding consistency and for striving to always improve every aspect of the guest experience. The lodge has become a destination in Bloubergstrand and runs at an annual occupancy of 90%, almost unheard of in the category. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Andrew Devlin-Major and Blue Bays general manager, Claude Dubois."

Once again Andrew urged Claude to accept the award and took the microphone.

"Blue Bay was our very first baby, as Ryan just said to me. My first thank you must go to my parents, who, even in death, provided the means for me to buy Blue Bay". He was quiet for a moment as emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Claude stepped up to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. He continued quietly,

"Thank you mom and dad. I wish you could have been here for this. Then to Paul who joined me to run Blue Bay for her first two years. Thank you my friend for all you did and are doing at The Cameron now."
He looked at Claude and drew himm forward.

"And huge thanks to our present GM, Claude Dubois. We stole Claude away from a resort on Mauritius and have never regretted it. He originally came to Blue Bay to head up our VIP Butler service in the new suites and took over as GM when we moved Paul to the new lodge. It is his continued commitment and training of the butlers and staff at Blue Bay that has enabled us to win tonight. Thank you Claude and thank you to all my loyal staff at Blue Bay. This award is well deserved".

As Andrew and Claude turned to leave the stage, Michael stopped them.

"Please don't leave gentlemen. We'll go straight into the 'Lodge of the Year'. Would all the category winners please join us on stage?.

It took a few minutes for everyone to get organised while a montage of all the winners appeared on the big screen at the back of the stage. Ryan and Paul joined Andrew and Claude as Michael announced,

"Friends, I give you all our winners tonight. Give them all a huge round of applause".

The room erupted with applause and they were given a standing ovation. When the applause subsided, Michael listed the winning lodge in each category and drew a big breath.

'I want to reiterate that even I do not know who the winner is. The only people in this room who know are our auditor and his assistant. Peter can I have the envelope please".

The auditor walked on stage and handed the envelope to Michael. He took another deep breath and said,

"And the award for Lodge of the Year goes to..................... ", he opened the envelope and partly pulled the card out to read the name.

"The Cameron!"

Andrew found himelf swept into Ryan's arms and he whirled him around with joy.

"Yes! We did it."
Michael continued.

"The Cameron is in my opinion, the new star of our hospitality universe. I had the honour of being able to attend the official opening, and from the outset, I was impressed. For those of you who have not been to The Cameron, I urge you to take a drive and pay them a visit. You will not regret it. We were told at the opening that it had been inspired by a castle in Scotland. Let's just say, that inspiration was perfectly transplanted from Scotland to Cape Town. As one guest commented,

"I felt, and was treated, like a duchess, staying as a guest in a Scottish baronial hall. The decor although modern, managed to convey the aura of olde Scotland, and nothing was too much trouble for the staff"Michael continued,
"My wife and I managed to get one of the last available rooms for a few days just before Christmas and I can confirm the sentiments of the guest I just quoted. As I said earlier, the quality and level of service we received, for an establishment to had been open just one week, one week, was nothing short of extraordinary. We returned a week later to experience the New Year Hogmanay celebration and were astounded. The evening will reside in my memory until my dying day. The only thing missing was the snow. Otherwise, I was in Scotland.
For a lodge aimed squarely at the family, it is luxuriously comfortable without being stuffy or pretentious. And the size of the rooms are simply awesome. Ladies and gentlemen, the man with the vision, Andrew Devlin-Major"

When Ryan put him back on his feet, he accepted the trophy from Michael. Once again he stood behind the micro-phone.

"Will someone please wake me up. I think I'm dreaming!. Wow, just when I thought the evening couldn't get any better, this happens. I would have happily gone home with our first two awards". He took a deep breath to compose himself.

"The Cameron, for me was a fun project, even though it was a lot of hard work. When we first saw the building it was a sad empty place, ultimately destined for demolition, but something clicked in my brain and I could instantly see what it could be. We were lucky enough to get it at a bargain price on auction and our architects and builders transformed my vision into reality perfectly. Our twins, Cameron and Elizabeth have Cameron blood flowing in their veins through their mother who is the grand niece of the head of the Clan Cameron or the Lochiel of Cameron as we call him. And the Cameron tartan is used quite extensively in the decor, particularly in the lobby and restaurant. But that is only a small element of what The Cameron has become. Our biggest asset is our young staff and their enthusiastic dedication. Our staff are more than just employees. They are part of our extended family. I know that sounds trite and contrived, but it's the truth. Not just at The Cameron, but at Blue Bay and on "Belle Catherine", our charter yacht as well. Almost every member of staff at Blue Bay have been with us since day one. And I have every confidence that I will be able to say the same for The Cameron. And the reason is this. At Blue Bay, everyone of them, except two at this time, are entitled to 1% of the profit at the end of the financial year. And the same will be done at The Cameron within the next week. Why you ask? Simple! They have an invested interest in the company. They get a little bit extra every month and just before Christmas we pay out a lump sum of 40%. We look after our staff. That is our secret and one I urge you all to consider. How many teaspoons and dessert spoons have you had to write off in the last year? At Blue Bay, I can tell you right now, it was three. Why? Because they know that every replacement that has to be purchased means just that little bit less for them in their 1% payout, so they look after the operating equipment. So care for your staff. They are your biggest asset. Treat them like the hired help, and they can become a mill-stone around your necks. If any of you want to find out more, feel free to contact me. You can see me afterwards to get my mobile number and Email address. I thank you all for listening".

It was a very euphoric group who finally left the conference centre just before midnight. The twins were dead to the world, cradled in their dads arms and they accepted the accolades from so many people, they would never remember all their names. Anyone who wanted to chat about what Andrew had said, were referred to Janice and Marie who took their details and told Andrew would be in contact with them during the following week.

When the limousine arrived at The Cameron, it was obvious that word had somehow already got out, as all the late shift staff, who should already have left for home were still there waiting for them. Many of the guests were still up as well, also having been told the news and the lodge was ablaze with light. Richard, who was the Duty Manager had wisely kept them in the lobby to cut down on the noise factor for the other guests and surrounding area, so Andrew and Ryan went in to speak to them. They were greeted by applause and dancing from the men and ululating from the women.
Andrew held up his hand for silence.

"I want to thank you all for waiting up so late. You have all obviously heard the news that The Cameron won two awards tonight including the top award, Lodge of the Year. For those of you who are here now, we want to thank you all for your hard work. The win tonight would not have been possible without you. Most, if not all of you would have spoken to your colleagues at Blue Bay while you were training and are aware of the incentive scheme the company has with them. That same scheme will be implemented here at The Cameron, but we will meet with you all during the coming week, to explain it fully. But right now, you need to go home and rest. I have a feeling some of you will need to be back here for the early shift. So go home and thank you again. Sleep well"

With a final round of ululating and dancing they headed for the waiting transport to go home, passing Paul and Marie on the way and admiring the two award trophies they held.

Andrew and Ryan returned to the limo for the short drive to Blue Bay, where a similar scene waited for them. Once again, Andrew briefly addressed the staff and sent them on their way before heading home themselves., still somewhat shell-shocked by the evenings events.

They gently undressed the twins, opting to just leave them in their vests and diapers instead of manhandling them into night clothes and threw an extra blanket over them to compensate. Ryan went downstairs to lock up and turn off the living room lights and came back with a bottle of sparkling wine and two flutes. Andrew let Rascal out into the garden through the bedroom patio door while Ryan popped the cork and poured the bubbly into the glasses, handing one to Andrew with a grin.

"To you, to us, to The Cameron and Blue Bay. Happy days!"
They clinked glasses and took a sip of the bubbly.

"What a night!. I cannot believe it really happened", Andrew said, sitting down on the side of the bed. I knew our product was a good one. I just didn't realise it was that good", he added looking up at Ryan.

"You better believe it, my love, Because it did happen!. It's going to be interesting to see the results of what you said tonight in your speech. I think you made a lot of friends, but there were some who were less than happy. I could see it on their faces. Maybe it was just sour grapes from losing, but I have a feeling a lot of it had to do with greed and not wanting to share their profits".
Andrew shook his head sadly.

"If only they realised how it can revolutionise their businesses".

"Drew, what's the old proverb - You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink".

"I know. I know".

"I have a feeling that after tonight, things are going to get a little crazy around here. Plus, just to add fuel to the fire, the magazine will be shipped to all the subscribers next Monday. So I vote we get as much R&R as we can this week-end so that we're ready for whatever next week has to throw at us"

"Good idea. Our son and daughter are probably going to want attention within the next six hours, so I think some sleep is called for.".

They undressed and used the bathroom, moving around one another with the practiced ease that comes with familiarity. Ryan let Rascal in, making sure he was comfortable for the night in the nursery, activated the alarm and crawled into bed behind Andrew, spooning his body against Andrew's, breathing in his unique scent.

"Thank you, my love", Andrew spoke softly.

"For what", Ryan asked, his smile evident in the timbre of his voice.

"For being their for me when I most needed it and believing in me. That week we spent on Santorini after my parents were killed was a life changing time for me, even more so than losing my parents. I felt so lost and never thought I could be happy again. But here I am, with a man and two beautiful children whom I love more than anything in the world, and a company that at this very moment is at the pinnacle of success. Without you my life might never have been the same. You made it all worthwhile. And I know, with you , I will never have to walk alone". Andrew was quiet for a moment then he whispered, "I love you", squeezing the hand that rested on his stomach.

"And I love you more" came the whispered reply.

THE END.