Once Upon a Summertime Read online

  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.”

  He nodded. “Well, thank you, Miss Gordon. My assistant will be in contact with you.” He stood to shake her hand again.

  “Thank you.” She returned his handshake with a firm grasp. “I really appreciate your time, Mr. Newman.”

  “And yours.” He made a polite smile.

  A lump grew in her throat as she looped her purse strap over her shoulder.

  “Is this the number you can be reached at?” He pointed to her résumé still laying on his desk. “Even while you’re here in New York?”

  “Yes.” She started to leave, then stopped abruptly, turning to look him in the eyes. “I know you’re not going to hire me, Mr. Newman.”

  He only looked partly surprised, but she could tell by his expression that she was right. He had no intention of hiring her. Who could blame him?

  “I understand completely. Just for the record, I think your hotel is going to be an amazingly wonderful success. I wish you the very best with it.” She forced a final smile. “In the future, after I get some really good experience under my belt, I hope you’ll allow me to apply here again. I would love to work for you . . . someday.”

  “Absolutely, Miss Gordon. I encourage you to come back and apply . . . whenever you feel you have the references.”

  She thanked him again and quickly turned and left, feeling precariously close to tears. As she walked down the dimly lit hallway, she told herself she was not going to cry. But when she remembered how hopeful Grandma and Marley had been for her, how they’d asked her to call them as soon as the interview ended, she just couldn’t help herself. She saw the door to the women’s restroom and hurried inside, hoping to find a quiet refuge where she could hide her tears.

  9

  Since another woman had just entered the restroom ahead of her, Anna ducked into the first stall. Taking in several slow, deep breaths, she attempted to compose herself. Really, it was not the end of the world. She would get past this in time. Besides, all of New York was out there waiting—why was she cooping herself up like this?

  Finally, she was ready to emerge and get on with her life, but a pair of women were chattering in front of the mirror. They sounded like newly hired employees. Not caring to speak to anyone—especially a new employee—Anna remained cloistered in the stall until she heard them leave.

  When the coast was clear, Anna stepped out and went over to the sink area to wash her hands. As she did, she noticed that the stone countertop had been carelessly splashed with water and that some splats of liquid soap had slopped onto one of the gorgeous glass vessel sinks. Anna automatically reached for some paper towels and began to mop it up. Cleaning and drying and even polishing the elegant surfaces, she worked at it until it all glistened like a showroom.

  “What are you doing?”

  Anna turned to see a woman dressed in blue jeans and a gray T-shirt leaning against a bathroom stall door and watching with what seemed amusement. Anna gave the vessel sink one last swipe. “Just cleaning.”

  “In your business suit?”

  Anna frowned down at her good suit. A lot of good it had done.

  The woman frowned. “Are you on staff here?”

  “No . . .” Anna gave one last buff to the gleaming stone surface, nodding with approval. “It’s just such a beautiful restroom.” She made a slightly apologetic smile. “Seems a shame to leave it looking messy.”

  “But it wasn’t your mess.”

  “I know.” Anna tossed the used paper towels into the trash.

  “Yet you cleaned it up?”

  Anna shrugged, ready to change the subject or at least get out of here. “Do you work here?”

  “I do.” The woman finished washing her hands and, following Anna’s example, used her paper towel to wipe up her own drips.

  “Well, you’re lucky to be employed here.” Anna adjusted her purse. “It seems a lovely place to work.” She turned to leave.

  “What about you?” the woman asked.

  “Me?” Anna turned back to the woman.

  “Yes. If you’re not on staff here, what are you doing at the Rothsberg?” She tossed her paper towel in the trash, then, with her head tipped to one side, shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and waited. Anna wondered what this woman had been hired for—if it was housekeeping, they might be sorry. She seemed too nosy and chatty.

  “I just interviewed for a job. I was on my way out.”

  “Oh? So maybe you will be working here then?”

  “No.” Anna sighed.

  “You mean the interview wasn’t so hot?”

  “I guess it was okay. But I, well, I’m just not what Mr. Newman is looking for at this point in time. That’s all.”

  The woman’s expression grew even more curious. “Did you interview for the managerial position—the day manager?”

  Anna was surprised. “Yes, as a matter of fact.”

  “But you say you weren’t what Mr. Newman was looking for?”

  Anna simply nodded. Who was this woman anyway?

  “What about applying for a different position?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I understand it’s probably disappointing not to land the day manager job. But did you ever consider applying for a different position? There are still a number of management jobs.”

  Anna was confused. How could this woman—especially as a maid—know so much about the hotel’s personnel needs?

  “Forgive me.” The woman stuck out her hand with an apologetic smile. “I’m Denise Newman.”

  Anna blinked with realization as the two shook hands. “I’m Anna Gordon,” she said meekly. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Newman. I, uh, I just met your husband.”

  “Do you have a minute?” Mrs. Newman asked as she pushed open the door.

  “Sure. Of course. What can I do for you?” Anna followed her out of the restroom.

  “Let’s talk in my office.” Mrs. Newman led Anna back down the dim hallway and into an office that was a few doors away from her husband’s. “Have a seat, Miss Gordon. Let’s talk business.”

  Anna sat down, wondering where this was leading. On one hand, it seemed likely that Mrs. Newman might be about to offer her a job—poss
ibly as a maid since she’d just caught Anna cleaning the women’s restroom. Actually, Anna might even accept such a job simply for the opportunity to work here. But what would happen when Mrs. Newman discovered Anna had been fired and had no references? For all Anna knew, she would change her mind and rescind her offer. Best to go carefully—not get her hopes up.

  “I know that you’re a friend of Max and Marley. I saw your résumé, and I’m the one who talked Vincent into interviewing you. I’ve been worried that he’s getting us overly loaded up with male managers. I told him we need some good women too.”

  Anna just nodded. “That makes sense.”

  Mrs. Newman leaned forward with an intense gaze. “So, tell me, Miss Gordon, what went wrong in the interview? What made my husband send you away?”

  Anna took in another deep breath and explained the whole situation, trying not to go into too much detail but talking so fast that when she finally paused, she was practically breathless. “It was stupid of me to think I could get hired without any references from the Value Lodge,” she said slowly. “Stupid for me to waste money on a trip to New York. But Marley had already sent you guys my résumé, and she was so eager to help me. My grandmother was all on board too. I just thought, why not?” She held up her hands in a helpless gesture. “Because the truth is, I know I’m a good employee. I know I have a lot to give. I was top of my class. The hotel I worked for in college gave a wonderful recommendation. I even think that in time, I could get an honest recommendation from the Value Lodge too. Once Mickey’s aunt and uncle see what his work ethic is really like and how he influences the other employees . . . well, they might see things differently.”

  “Might even give you your job back?”

  “I wouldn’t take it.” Anna firmly shook her head. “I’d rather flip burgers at a greasy spoon.”

  “What about working here?”

  Anna frowned. “But what about my references? Rather, my lack of them?”