August 05, 2015
August, and Myrtle was sweltering.
The first week of August was a series of glorious high summer days. There were still plenty of tourists enjoying the summer heat at the beach area. Among them were guests of the Palace.
The MTL Palace has been on its last few weeks stretch of busy schedule before summer ends. Marco and Landon have their hands full with multiple events hosting to fulfilling the requirements for star certification. Thankfully, they found someone new to fill in the job left by Theresa, someone who could work side by side with Mr. Connolly. The search for the right person wasn't easy. There were a number who wanted the job but none has the qualification that Marco and Landon was looking for.
Initially, they have offered Abby the position, as she was already acquainted with the hotel management, something they were looking for as to not make the transition smoother. However, she had declined the offer as event planning has really been her joy, which she couldn't see letting go anytime soon. Fortunately, the person who took the job wasn't entirely new to MTL Palace. It's Jenny, one of the assistants of Abby.
At first glance, it's disadvantageous for Abby to see Jenny working at the hotel rather than working with her. However after some thinking and convincing from Landon and Marco, she decided to let her go as it would greatly help her friend. She also took into consideration of the advantage of having Jenny in-charge at the hotel rather than someone new.
Having Jenny at the Palace took some pressure out from Mr. Connolly. It also brought stability back at the hotel with Marco concentrating on the star certification and Landon with the restaurant.
Though the Palace has gained its stability, stress hasn't left Landon's side. No matter what he was doing, no matter how he kept himself busy, Landon could always feel the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. On the surface, everything seemed back to normal: In the last seven weeks, he'd gone back to work at the restaurant, reoriented himself with the programs of Sea Heaven, and though exhausted with his hands and arms often ached, he managed to squeeze some time visiting some beneficiaries of Sea Heaven.
It hadn't been all-perfect, of course. Four weeks ago, he was trying to create a new dish for the restaurant but couldn't even find his mojo to do so. Most of the time, he was able to keep his focus and the memory of Lea locked away, but every now and then, at odd times especially when his at the hotel, it all came back to him with visceral force. The image of Kevin talking about his relationship with Lea never faded, the image never blurred around the hotel edges.
"So how's your event going?" Landon asked as he bumped into Abby who just came out of the ground floor hall.
While they walked going to the restaurant, "They're having a blast," Abby proudly replied. "Having a hard time?" She noticed the documents Landon was carrying.
"We're at the peak of our preparation and I still can't think of new dishes."
As they passed by the lobby, a hotel staff handed an envelope to Landon.
"Oh, a love letter," Abby playfully teased, "Open it."
Landon raised an eyebrow. It would be a miracle for him to receive a love letter at the moment. He hasn't dated since Theresa died maybe except for Lea. She's the only woman whom he had thought for a possible romance but ended terribly.
Landon's friends had been cautious of Landon's feeling since he found out about Lea and Kevin. The flow of their conversation has always been soothing. They did their best to keep Landon's thought away from Lea. By talking about something else, anything else, they thought he would be able to start over, at the very least be able to concentrate.
Landon took time to scan the envelope. It was somewhat bigger to be a mere letter. From the size alone, Landon could tell that it might be a pamphlet or an invitation. Then something hit him. He guessed that it might be the invitation from the South Carolina Board of Commerce. Mr. McMillan had been trying to convince Landon to be one of the speakers for a conference at the convention center. Other that such thought, Landon couldn't think of any other person or organization, which would send him an invitation.
Slowly, Landon opened the envelope and pulled out the much-handled invitation. It's an invitation but not from the South Carolina Board of Commerce like he anticipated. It's a wedding invitation. Who could it be from? Was it a mistake? Landon saw his name inscribed on the front page of the invitation. It's for him. The invitation was for Landon but who's getting married?
Abby quickly perceived what it was from the design of the invitation. She knew it was a wedding invitation. Like Landon, the question that popped out from her mind was whose getting married? Could it be a wedding invitation from Lea and Kevin?
Suddenly, something caught both Abby's and Landon's attention. Two letters were inscribed on the invitation. Two letters that brought sign of relief on their faces as they entered the restaurant.
The invitation was from Lea but not for her wedding rather her sister's. Landon suddenly remembered that she asked him several times while she was still a guest of the hotel if he could make the wedding cake of her sister. Again, he's confronted with a dilemma. Would he fulfill a promise with a chance to see her again or just forget about it?
As they sat on one of the empty tables, Abby curiously stared at him. "Will you go?" She was aware about Lea's request. She was one of his friends who gave him an advice to give it a try knowing the fact that he hasn't made the same cake for a long time. He had tried to duplicate it before but it wasn't as great as the one he made at The Regal Mansion.
Landon blinked. Her voice, soft and sultry, was convincing. He definitely knew Abby was serious whenever she sounded like that, and he thought it was her way of imposing things. Abby has always been like that. She frequently uses her social skills to confront her friends like she always does.
"Go! You have given her your word. Stand by it regardless what happened before. Don't do the most dumbest, most moronic thing by not fulfilling your promise," Abby said matter-of-factly.
Abby felt a pang of hesitation in Landon's eyes. Chiding herself for her thought s, she reminded herself that as a friend of Landon and Theresa she has to be harsh if the need arises just to wake him up from his fears. If she has to use hurtful words to do it just like what she just said, then, she's fulfilling a promise she made to Theresa.
Whenever Landon's in trouble, whenever he's sizing his options, whenever he needed someone to talk to, someone who would be able to help him make sense of the things that's bugging his mind, Abby has always time to lend a word or two. Many times though, her words pierce deadlier than an arrow, sharper than a sword but it's just the way she shakes things up.
Landon didn't answer. It's not that he didn't want to. It's just that he couldn't. Thinking about it, the consequences of his action whether he would go or not would affect him greatly. Abby's words weren't new to his ears. They're the same words Deanna used to say to him whenever she answers calls from Lea days after she and her friends left Myrtle.
Lea had been calling Landon seeking clarification why he didn't show up the day they left the Palace. Unfortunately, Landon didn't want to talk with her. He neither answered her call nor replied to her messages. She tried everything including contacting Deanna. However, Deanna had been making excuses for him. She didn't like it but she had to do it. Seeing Landon's troubled face reminded the promise she made with her daughter, to embrace Mavis and Landon especially when they're in a tight situation.
Landon knew there were no ulterior motives behind Abby's and Deanna's words, it was just natural advice, but even so, he was never quite sure what to say, other than to state the content of his heart.
Be a man!
Do it!
Live up to your principles!
Landon steeled himself, knowing he wanted to do it... but... but... he's hesitant. Good God, it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. The last time was probably when Marco and Theresa were persuading him about the hotel concept. Should he go or not? Or maybe just send Chef Roselle to recreate the cake? Or...? As Abby was enjoying the snacks prepared for them, Landon's mind was sorting and searching frantically, trying to come up with a decision.
"Where and when will it be?" Abby curiously inquired.
Instead of answering, Landon slipped the invitation on the table for Abby to see the detail. She quietly browsed the invitation. She was impressed by the design of the invitation particularly how simple yet elegant it was. Being an event planner that specializes in wedding, Abby could tell, at first glance, that the invitation was well thought of from the kind of paper used to the curves and designs including the font of the texts.
She placed back the invitation on the table and glance at Landon. "Will you go?" she asked again. "I can't see any sense why you wouldn't. If you really want to start over, then, start with this one." She slid back the invitation to him. "Fulfill your promise. Sometimes starting over is painful but it's exactly what a person needs. And I think it's admirable. A lot of people don't have the courage it takes to confront one's fear and start over."
"You think so?"
"I know so," she said. "So what's gonna be?" Abby's expression was as serious as he's ever seen it.
Landon sighed audibly as her question brought him to seek deeper the content of his heart. He opened his mouth to say something, but he could think of nothing to say as an answer to her.