Royces had done a lot of work since I'd visited last, and I could tell as we pulled into the driveway that their work was almost complete. Robert gave me the grand tour, taking me from the sitting room to the office and then showing me some of the guest suites. All of them were beautifully decorated, bright and airy, especially the rooms that looked out at the beach and ocean. With its new paint, flooring, wall covering, fixtures, and furniture, the Sea Marina now ranked up
there with some of our finest inns.
"We're advertising in the big newspapers and
magazines," Robert explained. "Mom and Dad are
very hopeful."
"As they should be," I said. "You and your
parents did a wonderful job, Robert."
"Thank you."
Being alone in the refurbished, sparkling new
inn made us both somewhat nervous. Without
realizing it, we were being formal and very polite.
Robert opened doors for me and kept his hand on my
back as we climbed the stairs. We avoided each
other's eyes and talked only about the inn, the
grounds, and the upcoming tourist season. It was
almost as if we were strangers who had just met. "I guess we should think about dinner. I bought
everything you told me we'd need," he said, and we headed for the kitchen, where we both worked on the preparations. I had him peel potatoes and heat up pots of water for vegetables while I breaded and sauteed
flounder fillets.
Robert had already set the dining room table.
He had their finest china and silverware laid out, with
linen napkins and crystal goblets beside them. There
were tall, white candles in the two candelabra in the
center of the table. Over the new sound system that
had been piped into most rooms downstairs, he played
soft romantic music.
"Do your parents know all about this, Robert?"
I asked.
"Oh sure," he said. "Mom suggested I use our
nicest stuff. Although, I didn't tell them about this," he
added and produced a chilled bottle of Portuguese