The Navy Hotel

Chapter 13 The beginning of the next stage

Well it had been three whole weeks of Martha and Dad being on their honeymoon. Sarah thought she would give me sometime to cool down from the wedding before getting stuck into another wedding. But honestly I was to excited to start planning .
I didn't take Sarah's advice and wait, I started already . Well just beginning to plan her bridal shower .
The boys had to go back three days after the wedding. Which was harder to say goodbye. I guess I don't have Dad or Martha to keep me busy. I am kind bored now with out them .

But on other notes , I was excited to update our website and add wedding venue to our list of things we provide at the hotel . We even have a honeymoon sweet for the first night after the wedding . Well honestly we have started the plans for one and are hoping to have it up in the next 6 months hopefully . I want to use one of the back rooms off of the pool for the honeymoon room . But are waiting approval on it . Witch could take months . But the only way of knowing is by praying and that's all I can do for now .

As I was just about to do a check on inventory the phone rang , "Hello Navy hotel , Cass speaking."
"Hello Miss, just letting you know you will be getting a listen in the next 5 minutes about two ships coming in tomorrow at 0600 . Thank you goodbye ."
I rolled my eyes . Great all an nighter. I blew a whistle and every staff member was by the deck before you could say the word chicken.
"Well everyone , it's going to be a long night ." One of the Maids piped in, "I don't think it will be miss . Ann already knew about the ships from her husband messaging her this afternoon . We have been clearing and cleaning all rooms all day . Just a couple more todo ."
I wanted to kiss the girl . "Oh my, what would I do with out you guys . Thank you."
"Well I will go check inventory of the kitchen and Ann can you please give me any list of things we need in the rest of the hotel . Thank you ."

As I came to the kitchen there was chatter coming from behind closed doors. As I opened them our chef Brooke stopped laughing and spun around to greet me. "Oh! Hey Cass. What brings you in here so late."

I glanced around the room, I loved the warm feeling of the kitchen after everything was cleaned up after a day of cooking. The Memory of that sweet moment when I need pain meds after I hurt my shoulder and Michael found trying to take them in the kitchen. What cute memories, I wish I could live once more. I smiled and looked back at Brooke who was looking at me confused. Oh man professional much Cass not. "Sorry I was day dreaming. This kitchen always brings back memories of the good old days. I just need a stock list please. Oh and we are getting a ship in tomorrow. By the way."

Brooke smiled, "You do know I order all my stock and food on my own. right?" I look at her and was like, "What do you mean?"

"Martha has been letting me do that for that past year. Whats the big problem?"

Oh boy, what have I got myself into. Brooke and I haven't never really seen eye to eye. She doesn't believe in working for a boss that is younger then her. So Martha and her made an agreement a couple of years ago to let her run the kitchen but Martha would have the finale say. I crossed my arms and said, "Ok Brooke, I know the whole deal. But you have spent a lot of money on things we don't need right now and Martha said, while she is away I am in charge. So I have the finale say. Can I please have the stock list please."

"Whatever, Here is the list. Oh and I need next Monday off please."

"Brooke, you know a ship is coming in tomorrow. So you know all hands on deck, until they are gone. No one has a day off while a ship is in."

She look at me and said with a mad expression, "I need to go to the doctors for a check up."

I was confused, "Are you sick?"

She breathed heavy, "I am having a baby."

"What in the world. Why haven't you told me this. I could have been finding you more help in the kitchen. "

She smiled, "I lost a baby six months ago and so that is why I haven't said anything because I was worried I would lose this one. And don't worry, Martha knew about the last one. After this check up, I would of told you. Why I was laughing when you walked in, was that my husband was sending me a picture of the new cot we got today. He video himself trying to put it together. It was so funny."

I felt so silly. "Brooke, thank you for telling me. I am so sorry for sounding rude. Give me every appointment you need off and you can have it off. I will call around to find more kitchen help for you. Right away. "

Brooke beamed, "Thank you so much. But I have someone in mind. My sister needs a job and she has all the qualifications for a kitchen help and when have the baby. A chef to fill my place. I spoke to her and she is happy to get paid half pay until she takes my stop when I have the baby. Her is her details. Martha knows her."

I looked at the picture and then looked at Brooke. "Ok, I would love to meet her soon. I mean, why doesn't she try out tomorrow when we get a ship in."

She smiled, "Really, I will call her right now. Thank you."

As I left the kitchen with a smile. I felt good about what Just decided.

two days later, Brooke came walking up to the desk with a women walking behind her. "Cass, this is my sister Indy." She was a tall build with dark brown curls and the greenest eyes I had ever seen. She had pulled half of her hair in to a top knot and round hipster glasses on. I shook her hand and said, "Hello Indy, welcome to Navy Hotel."

She smiled and said, "Hello Cass, I have heard lots about you. Thank you so much for this chance." She looked at Brooke who nodded towards me, She took a deep breath and said, "I am cafe trained and realised as I came to this Hotel you didn't have a cafe inside. I am a barista by trade and have my own machine etc. I was looking around with all the trades men and other business people walking by you Hotel. I think having a lunch special and cafe style setting with coffee deals would bring you business up a lot. I don't want to push you into anything I just noticed these things when i came up the hill. And I am trained with three years experience in hotel business and that New trend is having cafes inside of the hotel. From memory no other hotel intros area has a hipster cafe inside. This could change you whole setting a look and bring lots more foot traffic in your doors."

I was taken by surprise by how bold Indy was with sharing her idea before I even knew her own hired her. She seemed to know what is new and hot in the hotel world. I have felt like our hotel was a bit dated. And I loved coffee and could use a better machine in the hotel. I glanced over to the dinning area and imagined the idea. I smiled and looked at her, "I am very interested in the idea. Why don't you write up a blue print or just show me in the next week what you think would be the best Idea. I honestly want to bring this hotel up to modern day leaving a bit. So that means can you make me a menu and samples by the end of the week?"

She beamed and giggled with excitement, "I sure can Miss. Thank you smooch for this chance."

I smiled, "I think we are going to get along just fine." Indy nodded and Brooke smiled, "I told you so."

As the weeks went on Indy tried and tired different recipes coffees etc on me and I fell in love with this idea. So three weeks later we began to make changes. Indy brought her machine in and set it up in a hipster kind of way and then we moved the tables the benches etc around to make it look like a cafe style setting. I hired a designer friend who helped us with the lego and getting best prices on cups and take away dishes for our lego. This took three months in the planning to have a fresh start to the hotel.