The next day is a normal day for me. I got up early as usual to prepare breakfast, give bath to Athena and send her to Dorothy's place before going to work. I was a bit nervous to be at work today because of the guest in room 201 but I don't have a choice but to go to work and face him. I just hope he isn't as grumpy today as yesterday.
I arrived in the motel without Sarah in the reception desk which is uncommon. She normally stays here and reminds me of the things that need to be done during the day. There is a sofa in the reception desk where she usually sleeps at night. Marshville is very safe and residents can leave their houses, even their business open the whole night without having the fear of burglary.
I wonder where she went.
I looked for her in the kitchen then to the linen room but she isn't there. Did she go home last night?
I started checking the guests list and the room service from them. The guests on the 3rd floor didn't ask for anything and they are supposed to check out before noon. The guest on room 201, as expected, ordered food last night. He ordered orange juice and sandwich, requested for cleaning the room again, asked for another towel since he thinks his towel is already dirty and finally ordered a cup of coffee. Corrections: he ordered two cups of coffee.
He is really demanding. Sarah is quite old but he never cared asking the old woman to do many things for him. I really wish he would leave soon. He has three nights left. I wish he would realize that this place is so boring for him and choose another city where he can stay.
My thoughts were halted when the phone rings. I hope it's not from that guest.
"Hello, reception desk."
"Hi, Joan. It's me Sarah."
"Sarah! Where are you? Are you okay? I was looking for you everywhere in the motel."
"Sorry Joan. I had to go home since I wasn't feeling well. I had nape pain and when I checked my blood pressure, it was higher than usual but I am now okay, don't worry. I already called my doctor and she recommended that I take a rest."
"Did the guest in room 201 asked you to do many things? Did he make you feel tired? Should we just kick him out from the motel? He is very bad for not thinking about your condition.'
"It's not his fault. I have been feeling under the weather for three days now even before he checked in. Please be nice to him. I think he just wanted to talk to someone so he always asked for people to go to his room. He asked for unnecessary things so he can have company."
"You're too nice to think of those things. He should be considerate enough in thinking about asking for many things from other people. Being a guest in the motel doesn't give him the right to be rude to us."
"I know you want to go home tonight so you can be with Athena but can you stay in the motel the whole day today? Or you can have a room in 202 where Athena and Danny can stay so you can still be with them tonight. If we don't have a guest then we can have the motel close tonight but since Tony will be staying there the whole week, we cannot leave the motel unattended. I'm sorry Joan."
"Don't think about it. I will stay here until tomorrow afternoon, don't worry. I'm sure Athena will understand and she loves staying with Danny or even with Dorothy so I'm sure she won't miss me." Saying this actually breaks my heart a little. I always want to be with my daughter and sleeping beside makes me feel safe and satisfied with my life.
"Please don't work so hard and take a rest whenever you have the chance. I will pay you extra for your hard work. Thank you so much, Joan."
"Don't think about it for now. What's important is for you to take a rest so you will feel better soon. Don't worry about the motel, I will take care of it."
The call ended and I can't help but blame the guy in room 201. I'm sure he's one of the reasons, if not the main reason, why Sarah had a high blood pressure. Anyone who would be dealing with him will have the same health problem. The phone rings again and I'm sure that the call is from him.
"Reception desk."
"Why is the phone busy? I've been trying to call for 10 minutes now. Does your boss know that you are using the phone for personal reasons?" How could he make such comments without knowing why I used the phone.
"Good morning, sir. How can I help you." I tried to ignore what he said.
"You really don't know how to apologize, do you?"
"I was talking with the owner of the motel sir. She is suffering from high blood pressure which I believe is from stress which she got from one of our guests."
"Are you referring to me?'
"Oh no sir. You're not the only guest we have."
"Is she okay?"
"She needs to take a rest in her home, sir and called a while back just to let me know about her condition and that she can't come to work tonight so I guest you will be staying in the building on your own tonight sir since our guests from the third floor will be checking out today."
"Don't you have other workers in this motel except you and the owner?"
"I'm afraid we don't have other employees sir. And my working time is only until 5 so after that time, you are on your own. If you need anything by that time you can just get them from the motel kitchen and the linen room."
"You are kidding right? How can you leave your guest alone in here? Is that how you treat your customers?"
"Our health is more important than anything sir. Anyway, why did you call the reception desk sir? Do you need anything?"
"I want to ask for a cup of coffee and toast."
"Coming right up, sir. Is that it?"
"Yes, that's it for now."
I can sense fear from his voice and that is so satisfying. I hope he would be more polite and not demanding today. He would be the only guest after lunch time and if he will ask for many things, I am sure I would be very tired until tomorrow.
I headed to the kitchen to make coffee and prepare his toast. After that, I went to the second floor to give him his order.
As always, he opened the door immediately as if he's expecting someone to come behind the door.
"Here's your coffee and toast sir."
"Can you please bring them inside?" Wow! Since when did he learn how to use the word 'please'
I laid the tray on top of the table. "Anything else sir?"
"Will you really go home after 5 p.m. and leave me here?"
"My daughter is always expecting me to go home after 5 sir and she will be disappointed if I can't go home."
"You have a daughter? Are you married?" I was surprised with his question. It's true that I have a daughter and everyone in this town knows my story. I was never prepared giving information about me to other people, let alone to someone as arrogant as him.
"I'm a single mom, sir." I said in a low tone.
"I'm sorry to hear that. What happened to the father?"
"That's too private sir. Sorry but I can't answer your question."
"That's okay. At least you have a daughter. I was married before but she cheated on me and now she wants to have a divorce. I gave everything she wants and needs and I thought if I have enough money and power, she will stay with me but I was wrong. Maybe it was my fault because I didn't spend much of my time for her. And now that she's gone in my life, I don't see any reason why I should still continue with my life. She's all that I have you know."
Hearing this from him makes me envy the woman. How I wish Geoff also felt the same way for me, maybe Athena and I will be happier if we are a complete family.
"I don't know what to say sir."
"Sorry if I give you burden for the past days. I hope your boss is okay. I won't be asking for many things today, don't worry but I hope you can stay here tonight. I don't want to be alone in this building. I'm not scared of ghost if that's what you're thinking. I'm just afraid to be alone for now. I think I will be more depressed knowing that I am completely alone. So please, stay here. You can sleep tonight, I promise I won't be asking for anything. I won't even call the reception desk."
I didn't realize that I already nodded as a reply.