Page 374 of Seasons of Love
When the day came, I didn’t see Jake at the resort, nor on any of the following days. A search on the HR database didn’t yield any results.
As the weeks went by, and I settled into my new job and our apartment, Jake became an almost mythical creature I thought I’d imagined.
Griff didn’t talk about it, so I didn’t talk about it.
The waves crashed onto the silver sand. It was still too cold to swim in the ocean, but it didn’t stop our current guests from walking along the beach and dipping their toes in the chilly water.
“What do you think, boss?”
“Huh?” Shit, I should have been paying more attention.
Pete got up and walked to the window. “Look out there. The maids have finished the main building, and they’re heading toward the cabins. Would you get that kind of speed with new people?”
Hailey let out a frustrated groan.
Most of my team got along well enough, but for some reason, Pete and Hailey seemed to rub each other the wrong way.
“Okay, let’s look at this from a different perspective,” I said. “Maria started as a maid when she was sixteen. She’s thirty-five now, and she’s a supervisor.”
“That’s my point,” Pete interrupted. “She’s learned the job, and she did it well until she got a promotion.”
I raised my hand. “You’re right, Pete. But what if Maria wanted to work at reception. Do you know she speaks four languages fluently?”
“Does she?” he asked, looking doubtful.
“Yes,” I said. “English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. How many other Marias do we have out there in the resort, who are great at their job but have no prospects of growth in their section because we only have space for one Maria?”
Pete looked at Hailey, who straightened her shoulders and crossed her arms.
I continued, “My point is, this is a small island. Nowadays, kids have access to opportunities they never did before. The mainland is only a ferry away. Let’s create the opportunities here on the island so we can retain them.”
What I didn’t say was what a lot of staff in the resort were thinking. My job should have been given to a local too.
It had been clear from day one. Some of the longtime service staff didn’t like change. The old manager had been a born and bred Catarinian, while I’d come from Florida to steal the job of a hardworking local.
At least the community didn’t seem to mind much that I was gay and married to a man. If anything, Griff had been well-received and had made friends even before he stepped a foot on the island.
Which reminded me that it was time for my daily wander around the resort before going home.
“I’m going to leave you to come up with a plan. See you in the morning,” I said, closing my laptop and putting it in the bag before heading out of the office.
For me, one of the most important parts of my job was connecting with the staff, knowing them as people and not just the jobs they did. I knew as soon as we entered the peak holiday season, the most they’d have time for would be a wave from afar, so I was keen on making the most of the time I had.
I smiled as I walked down the steps and out of the building, remembering Griff’s words about being nice to my staff.
A little movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I walked slowly as I approached the garden path, knowing any sudden movements tended to scare the cutest inhabitants of the island.
Long, floppy ears and cream fur popped from behind a small bush. Light-blue eyes stared at me, daring me to make a move.
“It’s only me. Look, I’ve got treats,” I said to the rabbit as I put my hand in the trouser pocket to retrieve the bag with a handful of pellets. I crouched and placed a few on the ground in front of me. “I know, it’s not green, but I didn’t want to risk stained pants if you missed our date.”
The rabbit approached slowly, stopping to look behind him.
“Did you bring any friends today?”
He sniffed the air in my direction. We’d been doing this little dance almost daily, ever since I discovered the island was home to thousands of fluffy rabbits.
Tourists came to the island every year to see the rabbits who were so used to humans that some even let themselves be petted in exchange for food.
