Welcome back at the Bluewater Inn!

The first weekend is coming to an end. What will our guests take away from their stay?

You know… I want to share with you that this is my 60th story. :WUB: In marital years that would be diamond! I also want to and have to say thank you to so many people! Maris for creating Bubbles, Nora, Wesley and Barry. You did a wonderful job! April… My English teacher 😀 Thanks! And of course all of you GREAT CC creators out there. I would not be playing this game if it weren’t for you!

*****

It had been a restless night. The sun was just up when some of the guests went to get some sleep.

Jozef crashed on his bed and was in dreamland in a second… and a half. That half second he thought of Nora Winters.

Barry woke up with a sore back. He was still wearing his shades… He must have been really tired after spending half the night in the hot tub. He had been thinking about Wesley Damen. That guy was certainly not his type, but… he was just a sweet man with a good heart. Barry had a plan. He had to check something first though… Time to hit the shower and get to work!

No one was up yet. Barry heard some noises coming from their private bathroom. Bubbles was up and would be making a start at breakfast soon. He found Wesley at the pond.
“You are up early…”
“ Yeah! Have to catch them when they’re fresh! Before 6 am is the best time I reckon… Read that somewhere…”
“We’ll cook our catch tonight… whaddaya think?”

“I think I could eat fish every moment of the day. But hey… sounds good. We grill them?”
“You sure love to fish don’tcha?”
Yeah… I think it’s my Life Time Wish… to catch all them perfect fishies… Too bad I stay in the city though… I should be making new plans about my next trip…”
“OK… Let’s go in… I’m hungry.”

“I gutted and cleaned all fish already Bubbles… It was perfect to sleep in the tent. I could hear them fish wake up!…. AH! Good morning Jozef!”

“Good morning! Did you have a good time chatting with Nora last night at the campfire Jozef? I saw you two getting along pretty well!”

Nora stiffened…
“Oh yes, Miss Bubbles … ahem… had a lot to talk about .”

“Morning all you lovely people… Oh… I slept great!” lied Nora.
“Morning Jozef, I hope I didn’t keep you up too long last night?”

Barry thought it was wise not to mention he had seen them two hugging the night before. It seemed they wanted not to share with the group. Hmm… oh well. It was not any of his concern either.

“It’s nice Nora… I see you are wearing some color! Love that scarf you are wearing…”
“Thank you Bubbles… I think it’s the Tropical atmosphere of my room I am exposed to.”
Wesley felt he needed to join the chit chatty conversation, but couldn’t think of anything to say…
My… everyone was so friendly and polite!

“What are your plans for today Nora? Maybe you care to join me shopping? I do have an extra bike…”
“Oh… erh… I think I was going to do some reading up. Tomorrow afternoon I should be on my way. I have an important meeting coming up on Monday. I hope you don’t mind…?”

“OK… Wesley… Say it? You’ve been chewing on it… I have seen it. It was not just that grilled cheese sandwich… you were chewing on something else too. Now… Tell Nora… be a dear… what’s on your mind?”

“I think you look lovely this morning Nora. You must have had a wonderful nights rest.”

Barry knew where Bubbles kept Dr. Enqvist’s phone number… now might be a good time to tell her where it was.
“Jozef! Please pick up that fork! “
Oh dear… Yes… he was going to take Wesley out today. He had to show him something.

“You know Nora, I know it’s not any of my business, but you seem a little edgy around our other guests. Is there something that’s bothering you? …Oh Hi Jozef!”
“Well… Nora began to say… You are right… It’s none of your business really…”
Bubbles tip toed out of the kitchen… Geez… Now, she should not worry about that. They were just ships passing in the night… her guests… Maybe she should really give Evan a call. She needed to arm herself against this kind of behavior and not let it get to her.

“Sooooo….. Nora….”
“What!?… Are you going to hear me out again?”
“It seems to me you have a hard time listening. You hear us speak, but you are not listening at all.”

“Wow…. The way you just insulted that lovely Bubbles… I am really sorry you have no one at home whom you can talk to. No one who ever puts an arm around you. I know why you are like this… It’s to shield yourself. You don’t want to get hurt, and therefore you will hurt others. Ever thought about therapy?”

“Hey… I am a grown man. Been there, seen it all… So hit me OK? Leave other people alone! I really think you should apologize to Bubbles.”

…. Nora was dumbfounded. Jozef just gave her an icy stare.
She went to her Tropical room and took a nap. She packed the clothes she had been wearing and wouldn’t need anymore.
She sat down and thought long and hard…

“… I must say I was kind of shocked when you lashed out at me. But I figure now that you apologized I will forget all about that. You only have one more day Nora, I really hope you are enjoying your stay. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“…No Bubbles. There’s nothing you can do more than you already have. I was wrong, I am really sorry.”

“…. So….. What do you think Wes?”
“Wow…. Lots of water Barry… Lots of it. I can see fish jump out of it. Let me get my rod…”

“Have you looked around Wesley?”
“Huh?…No! I am focused on the fish!”
“What if I told you this place here is for sale? It might be a great start for you. Setting up a Fresh Fish Distributor Center for all restaurants and Hotels and Inns here in the neighborhood… What do you think?”
“I can’t afford that Barry… Simple as that.”

“But see… here’s the plan. I could afford it. Me and Bubbles could. If you would pay us rent until you are ready and earn enough with your business you could buy it from us.
We would get fresh fish for the Bluewater Inn for free from you. You pay us Monthly rent, as you are doing now too. And make a future for yourself… How about that?”

“I could live here… That’s for sure. I think that’s a very good plan… Is it for sale? Really?
Oh… yes… I could go fishing every single day! I …I…! YES!!! Would you??? Would you do that for me?”

Barry glanced over the ocean. He could hear Wesley think.
“Sure Wesley. Let’s sit around the table and talk business tonight. I talked to Bubbles about it this morning. I also know the owner is selling cheap. The cabin needs a lot of work, but you are a handy man… It has everything you need, we have some furniture if you like. You can use that. How about it?”

Yes… Wesley was ready to make a commitment. He would commit to a regular life and a job. He would fish, make money with that and have his own place… well… first he would pay rent… But eventually, it would be his.

They talked business… They signed papers. Wesley paid them 4 months in advance.

Here’s to your future Mr. Damen! That all your fish may be fresh and good! I will need some Lobster next week. How about it?

“STOP! …. That’s close enough! Any closer and you’ll see my wrinkles!
JOZEF!!! How about a goodbye hug my friend! I feel like the rainbow touched my soul!”

Jozef was sad. How he despised that Winters woman at first, but then how she crept under his skin. Yes… they kissed. It happened just like that. It was like a magnetic field you couldn’t escape. He felt less bitter after that. As a matter of fact, he called his old buddy Jeff Haily about putting together a band, maybe with that awesome drummer Tadd Pole. They had been playing together before. There was talk about forming a band before. It was time… the band would be a fact. They would perform at every club, every lounge and every bar. That was his destiny, not writing some dull autobiography. That could wait until he was older and grayer. If he had only learned one thing this weekend, it was that life was too short not to follow dreams. And he intended to do so…

“Hey Blue Girl… what’s with all that luggage!?”
“Oh… Jozef… let me get that!” Wesley added. Nothing ever could get him out of his euphoric mood.
“I’ll be on my way too. Just let me say good bye to you now!”

They said their goodbyes, and Jozef found himself alone with Nora then.

“You take good care of yourself, colorful girl!”
“Oh… Jozef! Yes… Yes I will. Be sure to send me an invitation to your first gig. I am definitely going to be your groupie!”
With those last heartfelt words, Nora left.

“Are you OK Jozef?”
“Oh yes… I sure am Bubbles”
“OK… let’s say goodbye to our fisher man then!”

Wesley had mixed feelings… He felt like he had kin now. This was his family. But then again, he was very, very anxious to start his new life! And… He could come back and visit his family any time he wanted. It wasn’t tears in his eyes, it was the bugs …and the sunlight… oh, and the wind…

“OK Bubbles… Now let me ask you how to get to your Bluewater Inn…”
Kenny heard the man say “Bluewater Inn”, He saw the taxi leave. It probably dropped that man off here. He was apparently calling someone to ask for directions.

“… Bubbles… there’s a new booking… He’s a 3 nighter… GREAT! Name is Kenneth Steel. Oops… That email is from some days ago. He will be here tonight! We need someone to check bookings regularly! We didn’t even confirm! “
Panic… At least they had rooms available.
Car pulling up on the driveway… That’s him already?

It was after midnight, when two new guests arrived at the Bluewater Inn.
No time to sit back and relax for Bubbles and Barry. Their B&B was becoming a hot spot!

To be continued…