She was embarrassed.
Not defensive.
Not rude.
Simply placed in the uncomfortable position of explaining a decision she didn't understand.
I didn't want to make her job harder.
“Would you like to contact the appropriate department?”
She nodded gratefully.
“Yes, please.”
While she called, Noah tugged at my hand.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Are we in trouble?”
I looked down.
“Of course not.”
He glanced toward the supervisor.
“Then why can't we go swimming?”
I smiled gently.
“Sometimes computers need people to double-check things.”
He considered that.
“Like when Grandma forgets her password?”
I laughed.
“Exactly.”
Isabel smiled despite herself.
Then she ended the call.
“Thank you for waiting, Ms. Carter. Your access has been approved.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
She printed the necessary passes and handed them to me.
Then she leaned slightly closer.
“I'm sorry about the confusion.”
I smiled.
“You handled it professionally.”
Her expression softened.
“Thank you.”
I took Noah's hand.
We walked toward the elevators.
I didn't know that Isabel would later become one of the most important witnesses in the investigation.
Or that the management review flag attached to my reservation had been entered less than twenty minutes before our arrival.
By someone in Graham Bellamy's office.
The pool deck was breathtaking.
Turquoise water shimmered beneath the afternoon sun. White umbrellas cast perfect circles of shade over cream-colored lounge chairs, while palm trees moved slowly in the warm ocean breeze.
Beyond a low glass barrier, the Atlantic stretched toward the horizon.
Noah stopped walking.
Then he grinned.
“Mommy!”
I laughed.
“Yes, baby.”
“LOOK!”
He pointed toward the enormous pool.
Then toward a smaller family section where children were playing under the supervision of adults.
I smiled.
“Pretty nice, huh?”
He nodded so enthusiastically that his curls bounced.
“Can we swim now?”
“First we find our chairs and put on sunscreen.”
He groaned.
“Mommy.”
I raised one eyebrow.
“No arguments.”
He sighed dramatically.
“Okay.”
Our reserved lounge chairs stood near the family pool, beside a small landscaped planter and a clear view of the water.
I placed my handbag on the chair.
Applied sunscreen to Noah.
Checked the pool rules.
And reminded him to stay within the designated supervised area.
He listened.
Mostly.
Then he ran toward the water while I followed.
For nearly forty minutes, the afternoon was exactly what I'd hoped it would be.
Noah practiced swimming.
I stayed near him.
We played a game where he pretended to be a dolphin delivering messages from an underwater kingdom.
He laughed every time I tried to imitate a dolphin sound.