Chapter 4

　　FIRST NIGHT IN SAVANNAH 　　I booked a room at the closest hotel from the airport to spend my night. I entered the hotel which was not a very luxurious one because I had a budget I was supposedly adhering to, but it was definitely a comfortable hotel. 　　After a long sleep that night, the next morning I arrived at the host hotel I would be working in for six months to gain the experience of travel and tourism industry here. I was pretty excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 　　The first day had everyone checking me out in all possible ways. Some were checking my dressing as I was wearing a formal suit in that boutique hotel on the first day, others were asking me personal as well as hospitality-related questions to understand the level of stuff I was aware of to decide my role for the department. 　　Gradually, I had made a lot of friends and understood the diverse culture they belonged to. In just two months of working in the food and beverage department of that hotel, I gained the manager's trust then, George’s trust, and we had become pretty close in terms of hanging out to eat post work for quite a few days. 　　For the first time we met was by accident as he decided to have dinner at the same restaurant I used to go to most of the days after shift. I was sitting on the barstool at the bar, and George came and sat on the stool right next to mine. 　　Firstly, I got a little scared on seeing my manager noticing the Cosmopolitan I was drinking holding it in a Martini, but then I realized it was no harm as I had signed out for the day, and George could sit a little away if he wanted to, so I relaxed and continued to enjoy my evening by myself. This happened a couple of days before he started a proper conversation with him at the bar. 　　“Hello there, Amelia. Today we meet again outside of work.” He said to which I replied, “Hello, George. The restaurant was very busy today, and I needed to relax post an extended shift.” 　　“You seem to be working more than you are expected to, which is an attractive quality and you will rise wherever you work.” 　　“I am away from home and in a different country. I need to make the best of this situation and learn as much as I can.” 　　“Very good, your goals are correctly set in your mind, Amelia. Tell me about your family.” 　　“I have my mom and dad. My dad is a Chartered Accountant, and my mom is a fashion designer. I also have a two years old younger brother who is in an engineering college for his Bachelor's degree in Electronics.” I answer with pride because it gives me a sense of belonging to a decent family. 　　This plays in my mind even today, just like how it happened three years ago. With a smile on my face, I see Mabel has fallen asleep, and I place her in the crib. I then get ready to start my work as the share market would start exactly in 20 minutes at 9 am. I switch on my laptop, have a pen and notebook on the table and also keep a calculator with me to estimate the profit I make, dealing small in intraday positions. I don’t make as much money as George does, but I make enough to support the family and also save some for rainy days. 　　After having Mabel, George didn't want me to go back to working eight hours a day because then I wouldn’t have been able to give proper attention and my hundred percent to Mabel’s upbringing, which even I would not have liked knowing how badly I craved for my mother’s attention as a child. So, here I am doing my best and waiting to see what more life unfurls. 　　While I am busy doing my thing for that day, my phone rings and seeing my mother-in-law’s name show on the screen, I immediately answer it. 　　“Hello, Brittany” 　　“Hello, Amelia. I hope George isn’t around because I want to speak to you about something important.” 　　“Go ahead. George left to work at his usual time. It is just Mabel and I at home.” 　　“Good." Amelia, will you be fine with letting me use your bedroom for a couple of hours on Wednesday morning?” 　　That sounds a little strange to me like we used to fix a hook-up spot when we were in college. Perplexed, I ask her the motive behind doing this to which she very reluctantly answers, “I need some time alone with a friend who is coming from Minnesota.” 　　She senses the confusion in my mind and before hanging up the call, she tells me, “I will be coming home to meet you before my dentist appointment at 5 in the evening today, and then I’ll explain it to you. But please don’t tell my son about it. Let it be a secret between you and me.” 　　I still don’t understand what just happened, and why would she want to meet a friend alone keeping that a secret from everyone? Why did she include me in her plan because she very well knows I am bad at keeping secrets? Now I will have to be extra careful in front of George because he understands from my expressions when I am hiding something from him. 　　I get weird thoughts of her having an extra marital affair, but then I instantly stop to think on those grounds when I see an email from a travel company about an affordable 4-day, 5-night package to Miami. I have always wanted to visit Miami, and I have only travelled up north with George. I think of this being a good time to explore the south and add on a few more stuff to the list of crazy things I have done in life. 　　I call the number listed on the mailer to understand the inclusions and the other things. My heart is throbbing for an exciting adventure that I am keen to do with George, hoping he may also be as thrilled as I am. Everything else could possibly be figured out in time. 　　Brittany, my mother-in-law can return the favor of letting her use my bedroom with her friend and keeping it a secret by taking care of her granddaughter for a week, and Gordon stays with his mother all week; he comes to stay with us only on weekends mostly. 　　Things start falling into place, and once I get done with the call, I forward that email to George to see his response. Things could be discussed once he is back home at night, and I wait in anticipation to finally go on a holiday after almost a year.