The hotel manager explained that Blue Harbor had refunded the unused portion of the room stay but not the food and beverage charges incurred before the removal.
Vanessa nodded.
The manager slid several personal items across the table.
A pair of sunglasses.
A phone charger.
A child’s swimsuit.
A paperback novel.
A bottle of sunscreen.
Then Daniel placed something else on the table.
A gold plastic wristband.
Vanessa stared at it.
“I thought I still had mine.”
“You did,” Daniel said. “That one belonged to your daughter.”
Vanessa picked it up.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“Did I really make Emily cry?”
Daniel’s expression changed.
He had not expected the question.
“She was upset.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked at the wristband again.
“I don’t remember everything I said.”
“She probably does.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“Is she working?”
“Yes.”
“Can I apologize?”
Daniel considered it.
“If she wants to speak with you.”
“Okay.”
He stepped out.
Several minutes later, Emily entered.
Vanessa stood.
Emily stayed near the door.
She looked younger than Vanessa remembered.
That disturbed her.
Vanessa had turned Emily into an opponent that afternoon.
Now she looked like what she actually was.
A twenty-two-year-old college student working weekends at a hotel bar.
Vanessa held the wristband in one hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Emily said nothing.
“I was drunk.”
Still nothing.
Vanessa continued.
“And angry. But that doesn’t make it okay.”
Emily nodded slightly.
Vanessa took a breath.
“I treated you like you were beneath me.”
Her attorney glanced toward her.
Daniel remained silent.
Vanessa looked directly at Emily.
“You were doing your job. I made it personal.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“You called me stupid.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
“I know.”
“You told me you could get me fired.”
“I know.”
“You said you spend more money here in a weekend than I make in a month.”
Vanessa closed her eyes briefly.
“I didn’t remember that.”
“I do.”
“I’m sorry.”