Tomorrow, It's Time To See The Doctor

She was able to get an appointment with the doctor who saw her in the hospital after she described how she had been feeling. The nurse was afraid she might have an infection from the bullet also. Setting a quick appointment Niesha drove her and sat holding her hand as they waited to see the doctor. Feeling ridiculous for being so concerned, they sat and made fun of her for the twenty-minute wait. She left Niesha in the waiting room; she would deal with the outcome on her own. She had to be a big girl now. She was on her own completely. The doctor came in, looked her over, and had the nurse draw blood and a urine sample. Tomorrow sat back and waited for the results. 

The doctor came back forty-five minutes later, "well you don't appear to have an infection, your white blood cell count is good, but you are pregnant."

Tomorrow sat stunned and smiled, "well, we did it baby." She whispered to the world. However, he already knew, people in heaven know these things. 

"Here is a prescription for prenatal vitamins, take one a day and get plenty of rest. Your energy level should pick up soon. It was just your body telling you, something was going on in here. Of course, no drinking or smoking."

"No Sir, I know that much," Tomorrow offered as her head spun. Lord, she has to add this to the list of things she has to confess to her mother. She is going to shit a brick.

"We only tried for three days," she told the doctor.

"Well, once is all it takes. I hope this is good news," he asked, unsure of her situation. 

"Yes, this is good. I will have something of him to remember him by. This is good," she reiterated. His Christmas wish would come true except she will be doing the holding.

"So, what was the time frame of those three times?" The doctor asked.

"First week of January."

"Well, that will put you due… the end of September. So, congratulations," the doctor told her. 

She walked out of the office, smiled at Niesha and kept going. Niesha grabbed her purse and scrambled behind her.

"Well," Niesha asked, she spent the last hour and a half waiting for her, and she got nothing. 

"Well, I'm not sick, but I am pregnant," Tomorrow told her, waiting for her to pop the locks so she could sit in the very nice BMW Lucas left her. It was one of the newer cars on the island. Still having DC tags, she wondered how he got it here. 

Niesha slipped into the driver's seat, turning to look at her. "Well, this is exciting news," she said, not sure if it is now that she is single.

"It is. I will have something to remember him by. I am happy, just shocked. We only tried three times, but when Lucas has a goal, he goes all in. He wanted a baby by Christmas. I just wish he were here. He would be doing his happy dance." Tomorrow said sadly. 

"We all miss him, but Tomorrow you need to cheer up. This mood is not good for you or the baby."

"I know it is just so difficult to go on."

"Do you have family that could come here for you," Niesha asked.

"NO, but once Ty is on board I plan to go home at least for a few weeks. I have to deal with that old boyfriend's family estate then I will return," Tomorrow told her. "I have a prescription to fill," she said, showing her the slip of paper. 

They entered a chain pharmacy while waiting. Tomorrow perused the baby aisle. Selecting a tiny pair of socks, she planned to keep them in her hand as a reminder to cheer up now she knows she is pregnant. All this crying cannot be good for her or the baby.

Handing the socks to the clerk, she paid for them and the big bottle of vitamins. Taking them out of the bag, she pulled the price tag, tucked the soft reminder in her hand, and smiled.

Tomorrow felt as if everyone was waiting for her return. It appeared she was right as Diego opened the door to the car. 

The staff stood in the lobby and the restaurant staff rushed to line up in the doorway of the dining hall. 

"Well," Rocco yelled as she made her way to the front desk. 

"I'm pregnant," she called out, raising her hand showing the white socks. The place went up in cheers. 

"When are you due," Rocco called out.

"The end of September."

"No, we need a date," someone called out.

"Ok, so what is the pool and why didn't anyone tell me that y'all thought I was pregnant." 

"Some thought August," Rocco said as he walked forward. 

"Ok the twenty-eighth of September, who wins," Tomorrow called out.

One of the housekeeping staff started jumping in place. "It's me," she shouted. 

Tomorrow smiled and said, "I'm glad I made your day. Seriously, someone could have told me their suspicions. In my mind, I was dying of lead poisoning."

"Well, we did have a few who thought that too," Diego told her, draping his arm around her shoulder as if to protect her.

"OK, well the answerer is known, and you all need to go back to work," she said and looped her arm around Diego's waist as he hugged her. She needed a big masculine hug. She knew she could settle in and stay there the rest of the day. She patted his chest and stepped away before she decided to. 

Back behind the counter, Laurel gave her a hug as they got back into a normal day. "How was the lunch crowd?" Tomorrow asked, getting back to business.

"Good the way people look around when they come in to eat, I do believe they will make a reservation here on their next trip."

"Did Dan and his friends get off Ok?" 

"Yeah, he sent his love and said he would be back with Gavin," Laurel said with a smile.

"So, they got in contact," Tomorrow asked.

"Yeah, I gave him his number and he told me this afternoon they would be coming back together."

"Kind of an expensive weekend, isn't it?"

"He said he could spend that on a drinking spree over the same span of time. He seemed happy when he left so don't point out the cost, silly girl. He is a good customer, leave it at that," Laurel chastised her.

"I know he is a handsome guy too," Tomorrow pointed out. 

"Look at you, you did spend a lot of time in his arms." Laurel pointed out.

"Not like that Laurel, it just felt good to be hugged."

"I know what you mean, big muscular arms around you do feel good." 

The phone rang and she got busy making reservations for a June guest. Tomorrow waved bye and went to take a nap. It was well after lunch, so it was past time. 

She rolled to her side and her laptop sat on the bed calling to her. A quick check of her emails she found one from her sister in the spam along with them trying to sell her Viagra from Mexico and Christmas decorations at half price.

Hey girl, I see it's only forty-seven today, poor thing.

Mom says we can't call you that you call us. Hmm, what are you hiding? Well, I'm going crazy here. I can't find a job so what good does a degree do for me? Look at you having to go to Siberia to find one. Anyways, I like Frank. He is good with mom, or she is trying to be someone different with him. Maybe both, but she has been nice. Chance worked at Jones's, he seems happy too, he is back at school now. Of course, he doesn't say, but I think he has a girlfriend. Me, nobody to speak of. One guy flirted with me last week at the grocery store, but he didn't work up the nerve to ask for my number. Oh well, I'm going to die a virgin. I guess it is better than being a whore. Have you found being beautiful runs men off? Anyways, call me when you can and look around for me a job. I have to get out of here. 

Love Yesterday. 

Tomorrow laughed, sat in Indian style, pulling the computer into her lap. 

Yesterday, I feel for you. I'm also glad to hear Frank is still around. I asked mom not to call me because she drives me crazy with questions. I'm going on vacation in two weeks to the Virgin Islands, a perfect place for you to find a man. I'll send you my itinerary, why don't you come, and we can party together.

 I have to deal with Billy's will. I'll come home soon but would love to see you without mom to butt heads with. Not that I don't love her, I wouldn't be here without her. Anyways, make plans and come on vacation with me. 

Love you, Tomorrow. 

She looked over what she wrote debating whether to send it. Once she meets her here, everything will come out. Is she ready for that? Letting out the breath she had been holding, she pressed send. She wanted to see family, they hadn't been close in years, both off doing their own thing. But now they could become close again. Before she could close the lid, another email came in.

"Oh, it is from Ty," She almost squealed as she opened it.

Tomorrow

I gave my notice, and my boss freaked out, offered me ten thousand more a year. It felt good to know I would be missed but hell no I won't go. I asked to leave early, and he almost popped a vessel but agreed. I have two people who are interested. One works the reservation lines and the other works the front desk at another hotel. Both young and single. One is a gay male. I hope it would not be a problem. They could leave in a week given notice gladly. Let me know ASAP. I'm going to start packing tonight. 

Ty Bancroft

New Manager of the Paradise Hotel the U.S. Virgin Islands

Thank you so much for the opportunity.

Tomorrow wrote back quickly.

I'm ecstatic.

Send me the date you all want to come, and I will send the tickets. Have them pack their stuff in boxes and UPS them here. Let me contact UPS and have the charges put on my charge card. Pearson will be pleased to know another gay person is on the island. Safety in numbers. I'll be here for calls or e-mails. 

Waiting anxiously. 

Tomorrow 

The desperate owner waiting for you all.

She pressed send and reached to close the top as her sister's message chimed.

Sounds wonderful, let me know when.

Yesterday

 She sent.

Let me work it out and I will send it to you.

Tomorrow

She quickly closed her lid and relaxed back reminiscing over the e-mails she and Lucas had exchanged. His face loomed large in her memory as she closed her eyes. "Well, you did it," she whispered as she rubbed her stomach. "If you have any say so make it a boy and come back to me in your next life. I miss you so badly."

  Two hours later, she stepped out of her Apartment and a stiff wind caught her back, sending her down the walkway towards the hotel side entrance. Stepping into the hotel, Diego and Quashawn were scrambling to close the big glass doors as dark angry clouds raced toward them. 

"Perfect timing it won't last long, but they say the winds are fifty miles an hour with driving rain," Laurel called out as she watched them get ready for the storm. Sammy, one of the bellhops, came in with his 'room check' drawing. Lucas had drawn it up so you could stand outside and look at the curtains billowing, mark the drawing to know which balcony doors still needed to be closed. 

"We only have four open doors," he announced as Laurel handed him the door tags that informed the guests their room was entered and why. Making a dash for the elevator to the third floor was his destination. The decision to keep the fourth floor empty unless absolutely needed was made earlier in the week. Spreading the guest around only added to the work that housekeeping had. With one hundred rooms on that floor, they should be fine with the off-season in full stream. The second floor was mostly the smaller rooms and the first floor, they only had four rooms, opening out to the pools. They were large executive rooms fit for a CEO, as Lucas described them. Sammy came out of the elevator beaming, 

"I beat it," he announced. The sound of rain coming off the overhang drew her to the front. Tomorrow loved the sound of rain. This was more like a downpour, reminding her of hanging in her car. The roar and cool breeze brought a number of the wait staff to the front. 

"Well, there goes the dinner crowd," one of the server's complained. 

"Nah, you know those all-in-one place resorts serve the worst food on days like this. It is easy to catch a cab there and come here to ours. Wait and see they will come," Diego said as a cab pulled up. 

Two couples piled out of the small island cab laughing. The restaurant staff assumed they were coming to eat and went back to work. Tomorrow, greeted them at the door inviting them in, "Next trip, think about staying here, you may find it is cheaper to pay for just what you consume, not what the pig in the next cabana eats." She offered as they walked to the restaurant. 

"We'll check with the front desk when we finish eating. We haven't eaten all day," he said, flipping a wave as he walked away.

"Enjoy," Tomorrow called out.

"Good soliciting Boss," Laurel teased. 

"Just pointing out the truth. Our normal customer has a bill half of what those other places charge. Most customers don't want to swim with dolphins or fly above a boat so why pay for it in some package. If you want to, we will have it in the summer."

"Good point you might want to point that out on your website," Laurel suggested. 

"That, and maybe we should make flyers and place them on the tables of guests in the restaurant. That would give them something to think about as they enjoy their very good meal," Tomorrow said thinking about what she could put on the flyer.

"Yeah, not fish tacos and sliced fruit sitting out on a patio for the flies to eat." Laurel threw in.

"Gross Laurel,"

"Why? That is how it is. I've been to a couple of those places checking out the competition. I was not impressed. There are people grazing over the food tables like monkeys." 

"You know this is the first hotel I have ever been to so I wouldn't know. Maybe I should do some hotel hopping. I asked my younger sister to come here and visit. Maybe we will do that during her visit in the off-season. But not until Ty comes. Oh yeah, he has asked two people to come with him. A girl for reservations and a guy that is a front desk clerk."

"Good, I could use a few days off." 

"I know sweetie and I appreciate all your hard work. I would have fallen completely apart if it hadn't been for you, Pearson, and Diego. Y'all are life savers," Tomorrow told her as she walked away. "Would you have dinner with me when Pearson comes in tonight?"

"Sure, I'll come and get you then." 

"Perfect," Tomorrow said as she went to the office. Turning the computer on she scanned the desk for something to entertain her for the few minutes she had to wait. David had copies of the wedding pictures and left them on the desk. Looking at the picture, she found one of Lucas as he stood talking to the preacher. He looked so happy and handsome. Next was one as she came into the room. The angle caught his reaction to seeing her and the hem of her dress. Tears dripped down her cheeks as she ran her finger over his handsome face. 

An hour later Laurel came after her. She had three pictures left. Coming in to see what she had, Tomorrow handed her the stack of photos. They sat and looked at them again. After a few oohhs and aahh's she began to cry also. 

"I know, one second he is so happy and the next he is dead. Life is too short. I want to spend some time with my sister as friends, not siblings. My childhood was not too easy for us. My younger brother and sister had to cope with my mother by themselves for a long time after my father died. She is just back home after graduating from college. I want to give her a nice vacation and come clean with my life to her. I want to see how she reacts so I can gauge how my mother will react. I have lied to her a number of times in my life, but this deceit of living here is way above anything I have ever done."

"How old are you?" Laurel asked.

"Ha, ha twenty-five. I know, but you don't have my mother." 

"Apparently I don't want to either," Laurel teased. 

"No, you don't, let's go eat," Tomorrow suggested putting the pictures back where she found them. 

Going to the section closest to the kitchen, the designated area for the staff, Laurel collected the menus. "So, what are you in the mood for?"

"Something not too spicy I don't think my stomach would take it," Tomorrow complained and rubbed her stomach.

"Isn't it too early for morning sickness," Laurel asked, concerned with the green tinge to her face. 

"I have no idea, but something just curled my stomach, so leave it to me to find a problem." 

"He would have been so excited about the baby," Laurel said, all sweet and gushy.

"He would have been. He got all nurturing when I agreed to have one soon. He would be rubbing my feet and holding my arm to steady me. He would have driven me crazy. I'll miss that," Tomorrow said with a faraway look in her eyes. 

"Do you plan to stay here or go home?"

"No, I'll stay here. I have planned to go home for a while, but I'll be back quickly. This baby will live on the island his father loved," Tomorrow said, fighting the urge to rub her stomach. It had always bothered her when she saw other women do that. How Today went around rubbing her belly all the time. But she now sees it is more a comfort for the mother than anything else. Kind of a reassurance it is still there. She took a menu and picked out something bland. Tossing it back on the table, she realized she didn't have a passport and that will limit her singles hotel hopping even in this area. 

"So, any suggestions on where to go without a passport," Tomorrow asked.

"Well, there are a lot of places in the Virgin Islands, pick and island and there is Florida, or you could fly to Hawaii otherwise not really. But there are a number of places around here to go to, to get the flavor of the different set ups," Laurel said as a rowdy group entered the restaurant. They were all in their mid-twenties trying to show their respective girls a good time. 

Tomorrow shook her head; that had never been her out for a good time. Not once in her life had she gone out on a date like that. An arm slung around her neck showing possession that this is my woman. Oh well she thought, maybe after the baby comes, I'll go looking for a new man. I will go on an actual date. 

With Billy, who had money for a date, it had been all about school. Dante was all about Mandy and stolen moments. Lucas had been all about the hotel. Yes, they went out to eat, but it had been all about the hotel then. Once it became romantic, it had been all about the wedding and crazy people wanting to kill her. She rolled her head and shoulders to try to ease the tension. 

She owed Dante a call she had to tell him about the baby. Knowing him his answer would still be moving in with him. He is all about that booty call. Water was finally placed on the table, Tomorrow snapped at the waiter, "is this the service our guests are getting. I own the damn place." 

"No, ma'am we just got swamped is all," the waiter told her.

"Then get the busboys to put out water," she snapped again as dishes hit the floor two tables away, "this is ridiculous," she mumbled as she stood to survey the place. Yes, the place was packed, but damn they had to do better. She knew this was the quickest way you lose customers is to make them wait. Billy and she had quit going to many restaurants for slow service. 

"Calm down sweetie. We are always the last to be served, we eat for free." Laurel cooed to try to pacify her.

"Ok, I'll calm down. It has just been a hell of a day, and I am hungry," she complained. 

Three days later Tomorrow had the itinerary for the three new employees coming from Austin. Her sister will come the following week. Emails have been going hot and heavy the last few days. She received the resumes of the two, but she was not impressed. They were both young and not a lot of experience, but she had none either. She also knew another employer would not have put up with her only working four or five hours a day as Lucas had. He babied her. 

She made reservations around the islands for a day or two in the best hotels and resorts for Yesterday and her. Getting a lot of ribbing about their names. For the reservations, she used her credit card and her maiden name and the Angleton address. 

She had plenty in her account and no concerns for more to come. Pearson was keeping track, and he assured her she was making money. She had a blow out with Rocco and told him he had to expand his staff and add one or two more servers. She was not going to wait to be served, as the guest should not have too either. She knew he was trying to keep as much money as he could, but this was not New York and people expect service.

She sent off her email to her sister with the flight information. She told her to catch a cab; she would meet her at the hotel. Now she had a week to wait and worry. 

She went out to check on the apartment situation and they had two small ones empty and then Lucas's old one for Ty. She would have housekeeping do a once over on them all to get rid of the dust and make sure the linens were clean. Otherwise, they were ready for them. She was lucky that most of the employees live at home or with a family leaving the small apartments empty. She was excited to have new blood in here and to have Texans too. Rocco and his superior New York attitude was getting on her nerves. He seems to think that since Lucas is gone, he is in charge, and he is just the cook. Something she has to keep reminding him of. With Laurel and Pearson's help, she was running the place just fine thank you. 

Thank God, Ty was coming hopefully that will make him back off. She knew he was concerned they were going to go out of business. That was stupid, look at the customers they have even during the off-season.