Luckiest Man In The World - 4. Home

When we landed in Charleston and took another limo to the Charleston hotel. It was the only place that had the proper security downtown and accommodations. What bothered them, as in the hotel and government people were irritated, is that we didn’t let them know we were coming. The suite was not what we’d had in New York or Las Vegas, but it was nice. Two rooms, a living room, and a bedroom. Okay, three, if you include the bathroom. We’d only brought enough for a couple of days. Kyle went to get his car from the holding garage and went home to secure things there. Then he was going to Poole to check in.

“Come on.” Rain said softly in my ear from behind with his arms around me. “I would love to see where little Eric grew up. I’m going to show you mine. Show me yours.”

I laughed. “You’ve seen mine.” I went with the joke. “Okay. We’ll go, then we’ll go to my favorite restaurant.”

“Deal.” Rain kissed me on the neck.

 

So we went to the island I grew up on. James Island. I had security drive us by the elementary school I’d gone to and the high school. Then by the house, I grew up in. It was a modest middle-class neighborhood. Nothing fancy. Then we went back downtown to my apartment. Remember it had been two weeks since I’d been there. Now the street had news vans and people waiting outside. The security people with me had to clear a path! Literally! Then I found out a member of the security team had sent to stay there to keep it safe. Smart move. It was also when a woman I didn’t know came up, and she was clearly from the Powerball.

“Now, you go and tell me what you want to keep and we’ll send to Manhattan. Then we’ll close the lease with your landlord.”

“Okay.” I nodded. And since my divorce, Susan had enough sense not to want to keep things that had meaning for me, why would it have meaning to her? The only things she had wanted was my great-grandmother’s antique sewing machine, you know, the pumping kind? I had that written up in the divorce. I got the sewing machine.

“This isn’t bad.” Rain commented as he looked around.

“It ain’t Vegas.”

As he usually did Kyle burst into the room. “Hey, guys!”

“Hi, Kyle.” Rain greeted and planted a wet kiss on Kyle.

Kyle pushed him back. “Ewe! Save those for him.” He grumbled whipping his mouth with his hand.

Rain laughed at him. “Just checking.”

“So, what are we doing on my last nights with you guys?" Kyle asked grabbing a towel from the sink and rid himself of any slobber Rain had passed to him.

I smiled. “I was taking him to Boden’s Island.”

Kyle literally bounced at that. “Can I come, or is this going to be a private dinner? I have to be at the office tomorrow.”

I looked at Kyle in disbelief. “You know you can.”

“What’s Boden’s Island?” Rain asked.

I started to tell him but stopped. “You kind of have to see it. It’s hard to explain without a lot of talking. Better to see it for yourself.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Mitchell.” A security man I had never seen before said from the door. “There’s a woman to see you, she claims to be your wife.” He said in disbelief.

I sighed. “Ex-wife.” I corrected. “If she has dark red hair and answers to Susan, let her up.”

“Tell her to park her broom outside,” Kyle grumbled.

The security man nodded and went back outside. It just took a few moments for Susan to arrive. Either she was waiting for me to arrive, or she dressed really quickly. She was wearing a black dress I had liked her to wear and she was just as pretty as before, only now I felt nothing. No attraction at all.

Kyle who never made qualms about the fact he hated her, groaned. “You have got to be kidding.”

I stifled the chuckle that tried to come from me. “What do you want, Susan?”

She looked very uncertain, then at the security man at the door and then us. “Can we talk? Alone?”

“No!” Kyle stated.

Susan turned quickly. “I was talking to Eric.”

“Whose’ answer is also, no,” I stated. “What do you want?”

“I was hoping we could go get something to eat, talk maybe.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, I already have plans. I’m already having dinner, but…”

“With me.” Rain stated a little angry. He might not have known her or what was happening, but he knew it wasn’t good. “His boyfriend.”

Susan looked startled that he would say that. And unashamed.

I held up my hand. “Susan, you made chooses, bad ones. You thought you could do better by fucking your boss and you divorced me to get him.” I stated calmly. “Now, I feel nothing for you except pity. Escort her out, please.” I motioned to the door. “You will never have open access to me again. Stop acting like all you are is a piece of ass and giving it to the next rich guy.”

“He’s just using you…Eric…I made a mistake…” Susan called out as she was taken out by force.

“A big one.” Kyle spat. He really did.

“If she says a word…” I began to Kyle, my mind going a few steps ahead. “You do the transfer after all. Have her sign a nondisclosure agreement saying she has to give the car and house back if she says one word about me and I’ll distribute the wonderful photos of her on the internet. Please.”

“With pleasure.” Kyle nodded. “I’ll go right now, there are reporters here, so…” he dashed off to catch her.

“What a stupid bitch!” Rain said in amazement looking at me. “You married that!?”

I sighed again, sad. “I don’t know what I was thinking. The person she introduced me to was not that girl. She was a damsel in distress. What guy can resist the chance to be the Prince Charming charging into rescue? Then again, that that just came here wasn’t her either.” I smiled at Rain. “Boyfriend, huh?”

Rain chuckled putting his arms around me. “Aren’t I?”

“And how.” Yes, we were kissing again.

The items I wanted to keep I told the woman from the Powerball and she assured me it would be done. The photo album I took with us. Kyle came back as we finished.

“I caught her.” He smiled a little out of breath. He really did run after her. “I told her what the plan was and if she said a word about you, she would forfeit everything, she would have to sign a contract that I would draw up and that it would include things said since the win.”

“Great.” I bounced as Kyle had. “Now, we’re off to Boden’s Island. The tide is going out.”

“Yea!!” Kyle shouted knowing what that meant.

 

Now Boden’s Island needs explaining, so here goes. Tom Boden was a third generation fisherman on one of the shrimp boats. He’d gotten injured and couldn’t fish anymore. He owned a house on a small island between the row of barrier islands and the mainland. Small, very small. It had enough room on the island for three houses all had Bodens in them. Parking was the challenge. Driving to the island was an even bigger challenge. The island was surrounded by marsh. At low tide, you drove across the marsh as it was hard enough to drive on. High tide, forget it. You’d sink and get stuck. So he would open his place right before the tide went out and closed again when it came in so you had to know the tides to come there. The only other thing he knew and loved was to cook the seafood. He did extend the porch and knocked down a wall to put tables in. He had no overhead, as in no china plates, silverware or glasses. You brought your own drinks and what you ordered was given on paper chinette plates. Made his own tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. There were table and chairs, yes, but he’d gotten them from various garage sales all over Charleston, same with the chairs, nothing matched. The sheetrock in the addition was not painted. In fact, he encouraged people to sign the walls and ceiling where they could. Kyle’s and my signatures were in various places. You bussed your own table and cleaned it off as necessary. He had no wait staff. Sound dismal? He had, in my opinion, the best seafood in the South! He didn’t advertise and you only knew about it someone told you and he did have loyal customers. Oh, yes he did. And he was gruff. It was all for show. He was really a nice guy.

Rain watched as we drove onto the island. His eyes widened when we stopped. “Here!?”

“Here,” I said getting out. I waved at the security and we all went in. This time there were no cameras with us.

“Who let you in here!?” I heard the booming voice I knew well as we came in. “And who are these people?”

Unfazed I grinned. “Tom!! It’s so good to see you!” Going over to hug the man, who squeezed me hard. “Gotta breath.” I gasped from the intensity of his bear hug.

Tom was equally unfazed. “My god, boy. You’ll be causing all sorts of people to come here now. You’re pretty important now.” Tom was in his early sixties.

“No camera crews here and not a word…” I said to the security men. “To anyone.” I got nods of understanding. “They are with me, of course.”

“Yeah?” Tom snorted. “If you don’t eat seafood, you’ll be hungry. I don’t serve anything that doesn’t come out of the water but hushpuppies and French fries.” He said loud to the men. “I know what you two want…what about you?” He asked Rain.

“I don’t know, fried shrimp? Maybe some fried oysters?” Rain said hesitantly.

“Got it.” Tom went back behind his stoves. “You want fries and that stuff.”

“Sure.” Rain nodded.

“You fellas? Or are you just going to stand there and look pretty?” Tom groused.

Kyle, Rain and I sat, there were a few people starting to come in. Startled to see us there, but saying nothing to us as they were kept at bay by the security around us. Most I knew. A friend from high school came over, looking at security who were looking at him, not quite severely.

“Debbie said to leave you alone.” He started.

“Doug!” I greeted, standing to hug the man. “It’s good to see you!”

“I’m surprised as hell to see you, buddy.” Doug was back to being the friend from high school. He clapped Kyle on the shoulder. “Good to see you, too, Kyle.” Then back to me. “What the hell are you doing in Charleston? Aren’t you supposed to be in…where was it? Tokyo?”

“The end of next week,” I answered. “Doug Hurly, this is Rain Stevens. My boyfriend.”

Doug knew I was gay, and if he didn’t he did after seeing the TV. It didn’t faze him a bit. “Rain? Odd name.”

“You have no idea.” Rain smiled shaking his hand. “My whole life has been odd.”

Doug looked back at me. Then waved Debbie over. They had gotten married shortly after graduation. Doug did flooring, carpets, wood… “Come on, Deb. He doesn’t bite.” Then looked at Rain. “Do you?”

“Not unless asked.” Rain didn’t miss a beat.

Deb came over, still a little scared, but hugged me. “Hey, Eric. Kyle.” As she had a swell in her stomach.

“My god!” I grinned at them. “You knocked up the cheerleader.”

“Twice!” Debbie laughed. “This is number two.” She gave me a little shove. “You know that!”

“How old is Little Dougie?” I asked.

“A precocious three,” Doug answered proudly.

“This is my boyfriend…” I was introducing Rain.

“Rain Stevens!” Doug announced for me.

“Rain?” Debbie smiled shaking his hand.

“Long story.” Rain grinned.

“Sit down.” I pulled a chair for Debbie. “Debbie has been a friend since…what sixth grade?” Debbie was nodding. “Doug here met her in ninth grade.”

“When I found out he was bisexual, that threw me into a tizzy.” Doug laughed. “First I thought he was after Debbie, then I was worried about me.”

This was old news but I laughed. “And you might have been right.”

“Order up!” Tom announced. “Get it before it gets cold!” He looked at Doug and Debbie. “Same for you two?”

“Yes, sorry, Tom,” Debbie answered.

“This ain’t no social club,” Tom grumbled. “And don’t blame me if you get stuck by the tide. You know I won’t put you up if you do. You’ll have to wait in your car.”

We cut our visit short. There were a few others that came in, some I knew casually, others strangers to me, but they knew me. But with security sitting at tables by us, no problem.

Rain took the first bite of his shrimp. “Oh, my god! This is awesome!”

“Told you,” Kyle said laughing. “Never seen a freezer, all fresh off the boat over there.” He pointed to where he knew the shrimp boats came. “The other stuff he gets fresh locally.”

“Stool!” Tom suddenly shouted out of the blue.

“Coming, Granddad.” A female voice called back. A young lady came from the back and then dropped the stool. “Eric!” Security or not, she launched herself at me hugging me. She turned to her grandfather. “Why didn’t you tell me Eric was here?”

Tom grinned but shrugged. “Ya know now.” He picked the stool up and sat, still cooking.

The young woman stood back. “You came back to marry me, right?”

I laughed at her. “Well, that would be hard to do, considering.” I looked at Rain. “This lovely thing is Andrea, Tom’s granddaughter. She’s been helping out Tom for what…ten years?”

The girl was a teenager but had matured well. Long blonde hair and blue eyes. Beautiful. “Besides, your grandfather would kill me.”

Tom had to laugh at that. “Damned straight. But she’s breaking hearts now. Senior year of high school now.”

I grinned. “Really? A senior?” She nodded.

Rain cleared his throat.

“Oh, Andrea, meet my boyfriend, Rain Stevens, and one of the reasons I can’t marry you. Rain, Andrea Boden.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Rain grinned at her.

Andrea just shrugged. “I don’t care that you’re gay. I love you anyway.” Then she winked at Rain. “If he’s going to be stolen from me, at least it someone good looking.”

Rain shook his head. “You have interesting friends, Eric.”

I had to nod. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

 

It was later when Kyle looked at me. “I was going to Aunt Pearl’s tomorrow. And since you’re everyone's' favorite, apparently…I think you should come.”

I nodded. “Absolutely. In fact, I should have kept in touch with her.”

“Aunt Pearl?” Rain asked.

“Well, she’s neither Kyle’s or my aunt, but she’s sort of like…a grandmother to me,” I explained. “She lives in this…wonderful old plantation house. I was going to see if she would sell it to me, then restore it.”

“Aunt Pearl O’Grady. The only daughter and the only survivor of the late Harland Beaumont’s two children.” Kyle provided. “Eric and I met her when we were about six. We went to Bonnie Glenn twice a month, Eric sometimes more.”

“Bonnie Glenn burned down twice. Once in 1862 and again in 1920. Rebuilt in 1925. But the mansion that’s there now is a grand structure. I was going to make it my home if I can.” I answered. “You’ll see.”

 

To get to Bonnie Glenn, you went down highway 61. A wondrous road that led to other prominent plantation homes like Drayton Hall, Middleton, and others, but don’t do it drunk. Not that you should drink and drive at all, but this road was lined with these massive oak trees, many hundreds of years old, so cutting them down was out of the question. It was called the scenic highway with good reason. Spanish moss laden trees were beautiful, but the trees would win if you hit one. A fully loaded semi-truck would only scratch it. Hurricanes couldn’t knock these monsters over, a car is nothing. And, like most plantations, Bonnie Glenn was near the river, making it easier to transport its goods like rice and indigo to Charleston, so it was a mile or so off the road. When we pulled in, I was appalled at how the dirt road to the plantation was overgrown. The road now was barely allowing our SUV through. And when the house came into view, I nearly cried. Once, and since I knew it, this grand brick structure was so run down. The front had a light fixture that was missing, the shrubby was uncut, many of the shutters were gone. Two stories, but most look abandoned. A lone car, a Nova that was a great car in the seventies and eighties, was the only thing that said someone was still here. The columns in the front were cracked and aging. Still, as bad as it looked, it was still a grand house that needed love.

“You want this?” Rain asked in disbelief.

I nodded. “Oh, if you could have seen it. Many days I would come here and help Aunt Pearl in her garden, mow the lawn…I loved this house.” Getting out of the car, I climbed the steps to the large patio entrance. I pressed the doorbell, and of course, heard nothing. So I used the knocker and the bang I could hear echoing from the interior. For a while, I thought no one was coming, I began to worry. Then I saw the sheer drapery that hid the interior move aside.

“Yes?” I heard a lady’s voice.

“Aunt Pearl? It’s Eric Mitchell, remember me? Can we talk to you?” I shouted at the eye that peered at me.

The door opened slightly and an elderly woman stood there. A flowered dress long out of style and double-barreled shotgun greeted us. “Who?”

“Eric Mitchell. You remember Kyle Walters. This my friend, Rain Stevens. I wanted to talk to you if I can.”

Then her whole face changed to delight! She hugged me. “Eric Mitchell! Oh, my god, it’s been years!!” Then she looked at Kyle and hugged him. “Haven’t you both grown? How nice to see you.” Then she looked at Rain. “I never met you, have I?”

Rain nodded to her. “No, Mrs. O’Grady.”

She threw the door open. “Come in, come in. Don’t mind the mess…but welcome.”

A mess was right. The grand entrance was neglected and dusty, the wood floor had lost any shine that once had been there. The great stairs that had gone to the second floor had parts of the railings missing. The walls had been wallpapered, now coming down in places. The upstairs was not used anymore, but Aunt Pearl had made her home in what had been the formal dining room, a bed was there and a space heater. And it had access to the kitchen. Here she could shut the door and keep the heat in. It broke my heart, more because no one should live like this. Whether she let me buy the house or not, I was going to fix this.

“I read you won the Superpowerball.” Aunt Pearl said as we sat in the dining room. I noticed a lack of TV, but there was a newspapers on a table.

I nodded. “I did, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. The other is…” I felt a sadness in my heart looking at what had been a nice lady, now aging alone in this house. “I want to restore this place.”

“Restore it!?” She repeated in shock. “You have the money now, but…it’s a wreck!” She waved at the unseen portions. “I have bees in the fireplaces and god knows what else in this house. The bedroom that had been my mother’s and father’s has holes, in fact, one whole section is gone. It will be a massive undertaking!”

“I’m sure,” I said, knowing it would be. “If nothing else, I want to get you somewhere safe and clean. This place was such a wonderful place, I knew the whole thing! I used to imagine the grand parties you had and the people who came here. I want to make it a showplace again.”

Tears actually formed in her eyes. Looking around, her memories were clearly going through her mind. “Restore her.” Now they were flowing down her cheeks. Looking at me, she smiled. “When Margaret brought you here the first time, I could see it in your eyes, the magic of this place had you.”

I got up and went to her. “It did.” I agreed. “Now let me help you. I want to help you and get this place back.”

“And that’s all?” She asked knowing it wasn’t.

I gave a shrug and a nod. “Well, I was going to ask to buy it, but this is your home and always will be. I would never force you away.” I hurried on. “I am the only member of my family alive. You were like my grandmother. I would never force you away. Hell, you are my grandmother. I want you in my family.”

She nodding thinking. Then she turned with resolve. “No. I won’t sell.” Then smiled. “But if you want to restore it…I’ll leave it to you in my will.” I was stunned, but she held her hand up. “With one condition.”

Now Kyle was paying attention.

“That being?” I asked.

“There’s an Overseer’s cottage in the back, as you know. Restore that, too. That will be my home, you will live here.” Aunt Pearl said flatly. “My father died in his forties, but my mother lived to her nineties. I don’t plan to die anytime soon, but when I do, the whole thing will be yours.”

I sat down hard. “Oh, my god.” I had hoped to buy it, but this was unexpected.

“What?” Aunt Pearl asked seeing my shock. “I’ve rarely known a person, who was not part of the family, to love the place as you or I did. I have no heirs. When I die, it will go up for sale and I’d rather will it go to you than have someone come in who doesn’t know the place. You said I was family to you, you were family to me years ago”

“Agreed.” I nodded. Then hugged the woman. “Now know this. You leave today. In fact, right now with us. I’ll put you up somewhere while I get crews out here to clear the way and start setting things right. I’ll not let you die here alone.”

She laughed. “I don’t intend to die, but I will.” Then she got this mischievous look. “But I’m not going without Sally. She goes, too.”

I hadn’t seen anyone else, and I had no idea who Sally was. “Sally?”

Aunt Pearl nodded and went into the kitchen area and returned with a black cat. Then looking at her, I saw she was black, with white on her nose and on two paws and on her chest. “Sally.” Aunt Pearl kissed the cat who was purring loudly.

Of course. “Nice to meet you, Sally.”

Aunt Pearl handed me that cat. “Wait here. I’ll get her carrier.”

The cat wasn’t too sure at first, but I spoke softly to her and she calmed down. A very sweet cat. Kyle walked up.

“I’ll start the paperwork for the will,” Kyle stated. “I guess you want the crews here soon, I mean you’re leaving in a week.”

I nodded. “Exterminators, someone to engineer reconstruction…” I thought. “We’ll need a landscape engineer for the grounds. A path widened and cleaned to allow trucks in.”

Kyle nodded. “I’ll phone around and have it done.”

I stopped him. “Bill me as a client,” I told him. “I want it.”

At first, Kyle looked offended but nodded. “That will satisfy Danny Boy.” Kyle laughed. “He still thinks I had a vacation the last two weeks.”

“And you did.” I nodded chuckling with him.

Aunt Pearl came in with a pet carrier and put her cat in it. Now was the time, to be honest.

“Aunt Pearl, this is Rain Stevens…” I began. “My boyfriend.”

Aunt Pearl didn’t even blink. “Oh thank god.” She sighed in relief.

The answer surprised everyone. “Excuse me?” I asked.

She looked back as if it were obvious. “I wasn’t sure at first, but any young man who loved this house as you did and the way you treated me…but you didn’t have that many mannerisms…and you married that woman.” She frowned as she spoke of Susan. “Wrong, wrong, wrong.” She shook her head. “I knew she was up to no good.”

Flabbergasted, I smiled. “But you never said…”

“And what was I going to say?” Aunt Pearl asked me. “She was going to cheat on you? That you would be happier with a man? Who was I to say one thing or other?” He eyes narrowed. “She did, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

She nodded gathering up the carrier but looked at Rain. “Rain? Interesting name and I’m sure there’s a good story to it. Don’t break his heart.” Then she looked at me. “And you don’t break his.”

“No.” Rain and I said as we watched as she headed out.

Rain stopped her. “How’d you know, then?”

Aunt Pearl studied Rain a moment. “Just a feeling. My brother, Harland Junior was like Eric. I finally asked, why he’d remained a bachelor for so long. Then I asked if there was someone he loved that maybe society would frown on. He answered yes. I told him to love this person anyway, to hell with society. It took until he was in his fifties before he agreed to it and he and Randolph were happy the last years. That is Eric. I’m just glad he found someone early.”

 

I put Aunt Pearl in a suite at the hotel we were staying in. They were pet-friendly, so no problem with Sally. I arranged for Aunt Pearl to have a week after I was gone, and Evergreen, a top hotel, and spa near Charleston and the only five-star resort, spa in the area. There she was to have a makeover and the works. I also had dresses sent up and helped her get things together. They were instructed to treat Aunt Pearl like royalty. The workmen were coming the day after next, three men, one an architectural engineer, one an exterminator and the other a landscape engineer were coming. I showed Rain around the house. Even as dilapidated as it was, it hinted that once, it had been so much more. Eight bedrooms, all with baths upstairs, the master bedrooms, men and women didn’t sleep together, apparently, they had divided rooms. Each had their own bedrooms. The master bedrooms were over that grand ballroom. The kitchen was huge, also divided into a cooking area and prep-kitchen. A walk-in refrigerator. There was a huge vault. A living room for the servants, who had three bedrooms upstairs over the kitchen and a second staircase from the kitchen to the bedrooms above and bath. There was a cellar, well, like many plantations and other structures here in the South, the first floor was only the first floor lived on. The whole thing was raised about one floor with what they referred to as a cellar on the ground. There was a hunting lodge down there. Stone floor with a bathroom and showers for the guys to bring their kills in and clean themselves up before going upstairs. The blood could be washed from stone easier. There was an old generator down there, too. A solarium between the main house and ballroom. A parlor, an office, a formal dining room where Aunt Pearl had chosen to live. A library-music room opposite the dining room. A stone patio that had a view of the marsh and river when outside the ballroom. Fireplaces in all the rooms! Stoves in the servants quarters of the house. A walled garden was Aunt Pearl’s pride where she’d grown roses was now overgrown and full of weeds. There were two other structures, an Overseer’s cottage. Two bedrooms, a living room, and kitchen. A carriage house where the buggies were kept. There had been a barn, but that had fallen down before I was born. And sad to admit, there had been slave quarters, but to my pleasure had also fallen apart. Hey, we lost the war and deservedly so. Get over it. Owning humans? Wrong. The avenue of oaks that lined the entrance before the house needed repair, but the ancient trees were still there.

Now, in the back of my mind, I knew what I was going to do. We went by the hotel I had worked. The hotel was nearly a hundred years old! But there was a whole section of it that was sealed off. It had been once the place you stayed when in Charleston, but it had hit some hard times shortly after the turn of the century, the twentieth century, that is. I wanted it.

The SUV and limo pulled into the front and I guess someone told the manager, because when we walked into the lobby. Tom Perriguex greeted us. No matter who I had become, he was still intimidating to me. He was in his mid-forties, a former marine (I should be used to that by now, I liked marines) and had that force behind him when he spoke. Tough as nails. Hair, what little remain below the top of his head was black. The bald spot growing as the years passed. A nice looking man to guests, a little stern. To employees that pissed him off, his marine bearing came down hard. That’s why I tried really hard not to piss him off. Who would want to!?

“Eric.” Tom smiled as he shook my hand. “I heard you were in town from the news. What brings you here?”

“To solve the problems I know have been with the hotel. I want to buy it.” I said.

Tom’s eyes widened. “You want…Aaron Winehause owns it.”

I nodded. “And he’s past retirement age. None of his children are interested in the hotel business. I am.”

He was nearly speechless. “I…I will tell him.”

“Do that,” I said looking at the place. It had been art deco and a lot of wood. The lobby was still as lovely has it had been, but needed work. The whole hotel needed work. “I will repair and update. We can make this the place to stay in the South again.”

 

Those things were in motion, then the meeting the next day with the workmen. I was upstairs with Rain and Aunt Pearl when the front knocker echoed. Opening the front door, three men were there looking at the place. A well-dressed man with glasses, black hair in his thirties, a very tanned blonde man with a face that had seen a lot of sun in his forty years and another man with salt and pepper hair with a mask around his neck was in his fifties.

The preppy looking man with the glasses was Rick Berry, the architect. The tan man was Donald Shaw, the grounds landscaper and the man with the mask was Emmett Browder, the exterminator.

Donald Shaw was a happy man and according to what I’d been told, the best at what he did.

“The entrance road needs clearing.” Mr. Shaw stated the obvious. “The rest can be done. Clean up the yard and grounds.”

“And there’s a walled garden just off to the side I would like redone.”

Mr. Shaw nodded. “This is going to take a few weeks, maybe months to do the whole thing.”

“Understood.”

Rick Berry stomped on the wooden floor. “Cedar?”

I nodded.

“Good wood.” Then he looked around. “Other than that, wouldn’t you prefer to just knock it down and start over?”

“Bite your tongue, young man!” Aunt Pearl’s voice came from the upstairs landing. She descended the stairs grandly. She was back to being the queen of the manor.

“This is going to take a lot of work,” Rick stated.

“Gentlemen, this is Pearl O’Grady.” I introduced. “This is the woman who will tell you if you’re doing it wrong. She is the one to ask before you do anything.”

All three shook her hand.

“This place was the place to be at one time.” Aunt Pearl stated. “And if I understand Eric. He wants it close to the way it was, only made better. Isn’t that right?”

I nodded with a smile. “You heard her.”

Emmett shrugged. “My job is easy. I’ll have the place covered and gassed. Nothing will survive, then get it gutted out.”

“Agreed.” Then I pointed. “But start with the Overseer’s cottage. Get that done first and then the house.”

Donald Shaw clapped his hands ready to work. “We can start tomorrow morning.” The other men nodded.

I looked at them a bit surprised. “You guys can drop everything to do this?”

Rick Berry looked like I should be used to it like he didn’t understand why I didn’t know. “The Luckiest Man in the World wants us to do something. Why do you think I flew from Atlanta? Hell, yes we’ll drop whatever. To say we did work for you? Yes!”

I’d forgotten again. “Oh, yeah. Got it.”

 

At the hotel suite that night, Rain laid across the bed next to me. I was exhausted. He had to be.

“You’ve had a good day.” Rain observed.

Realizing I had been so consumed with things I was doing, I had neglected him. “Oh, Rain…I’m sorry.”

His brow came together in a frown. “Sorry? For what?”

I ran fingers through his hair. “I’ve been doing what I wanted and paying no attention to you.”

Rain laughed. “You’re kidding.” His eyes searched my face. “You’re serious? Really?”

“Yes, I’m serious.” I sat up a bit. “I don’t want you to think I would ever take you for granted.”

Rain sighed as he pulled me back down and put his arms around me. “I don’t think that. I won’t.” He kissed me. “I’ve watched as you took in a lady, who is not related to you, and get her somewhere without bugs, rodents or any other vermin. I saw you offer to buy the house, which she could use to go away almost anywhere she’d want to. You’re willing to spend millions to buy a hotel. You were kind of busy. Not once did I ever think you were taking me for granted.” He chuckled. “Jealous, maybe.”

“Of who?”

“Donald Shaw.”

“Who!?” I balked. “The landscape guy? Why?”

“You weren’t looking when he was looking at you.” Rain said with a grin. “I know he plays for our team.”

“He’s….blonde!” I dismissed. “I’m not attracted to blondes. Male or female.”

“Still…” Rain objected lightly, “he wasn’t a bad looking man…”

I kissed him. Then pulled away. “I fell in love with you. You. Your looks were only a part of it. And nothing will take me away.”

“Good to know.”

 

We were due out the next day, but Aaron Winehause readily agreed to meet us. Tom Perriguex was there, too. I’d only seen Mr. Winehause a few times since I started to work here. He was a smaller man, maybe five feet and six or seven inches. Hair was black and starting to grey on the edges, well dressed and had an old world look of elegance he wore well. In his late sixties or even early seventies…it was hard to tell. I came to the meeting dressed in a suit as well. And sitting across the conference room table, me and Kyle, the elder man looked at me.

“I don’t understand.” He admitted. “You have all this money, you could build any hotel you want. Why do you want this one?”

I was ready for this. “This hotel was why I went into the hotel business in the first place. I was brought here for Sunday lunches as I was growing up. The splendor that I saw here. The elegance…it was such a great day when I was hired to work here. I even saved my money and stayed a couple of times to stay here a night or two and I lived just over there!” I pointed across the harbor toward James Island. “I wanted to be a part of it. This hotel is family owned, one of the last ones…I know your grandfather and father mortgaged their homes and put all the money they could into this wonderful hotel. You certainly tried to do the same thing. Now, the storm a few years ago did some damage you didn’t expect, that’s why you shut down the East Wing. With profits going down, repairs weren’t fiscally available. Well, I am.”

Mr. Winehause nodded. Then he took out a piece of paper and slid it over. I took the paper and saw the amount. Kyle’s eyes grew.

“You’re joking.” Kyle balked.

I held my hand up. “No, he’s not. Done.” I slid the paper back. “I’ll pay it.”

“Eric…” Kyle groaned.

“Kyle,” I said. “This man has worked his whole life here. This is his home. You expect him to sell it, the real estate value alone is half that. He’s selling his life to me.”

Aaron Winehause smiled. “I’m glad you see that.” He rose. “This hotel means a lot to me. My children had other interests. And lacked vision. I’m glad you have it.”

“And I’m keeping the Winehause name on it,” I said rising. “How’s Charleston Winehause Palace sound?”

Aaron winced. “You need to think of another one. The Winehause part if fine, but…it’s too much.”

I shrugged grinning. “It’s a work in progress.”

Aaron nodded with a dreamy smile. “Well, now Sylvia and I will take that month long trip we’ve been talking about for years.”

I nodded. “You should.”

Tom Perrigeux looked very uncertain. “Are you going to replace anyone?”

I smiled at him. “Absolutely not. In fact, Mr. Perrigeux, I’ll be depending on you a lot.”

That made him relax a little. “Oh?”

I nodded. “While I may have the school knowledge. You have the practical job experience and have for what…ten years here?”

“I think the Mr. Perriguex can go.” He said. “As I’m working for you now, Tom would be better.”

I wanted to be sure. “Can you? Work with me?”

Tom looked confused. “Why shouldn’t I be able to?”

I shrugged. “You were kind of scary when you yelled. Sexy, but scary.”

That surprised him. “I turn you on when I am yelling?” But he didn’t seem to believe me.

“Sure do.” I grinned. “Will it bother you work with someone that’s bisexual or gay?”

He smiled. “In the hotel business? Please.” He laughed at the idea. “I’m surprised when they aren’t.”

“Good.” I nodded. “But that will explain my former marine at home.”

"I read.” Tom nodded as we walked out. “So I turn you on?” He was smiling at me as we walked.

“Yeah, but Rain has a better ass.”

 

Kyle and I spoke before I left, setting up our contacts when I was overseas. We were using a secured interface so we could video chat. So was Tom. We had a stop to make before we left for Tokyo.