I Should Have Smelled A Trap

*** continued from previous post ***


Back to our story.

Leeza and Stacey, and a few staff members that I hadn't met yet, walked amongst the tables taking drink orders and making small talk with the guests. Leeza came to our table and said, "So, I hear you two play a wicked game of Cribbage."

"It's true," I replied. "We are the Cribbage Masters."

"So who won?", she asked as she filled our water glasses from an ice-filled pitcher.

"Well, Suzanne may tell you different, but I believe were it not for her cheating I would have taken every game."

"Oh," Leeza grinned, "so how did she cheat?"

I looked at your Mother. "I have no idea. Possibly mirrors, or a second deck cleverly concealed behind her back. Some of the staff may have been in cahoots with her. But it was obvious there was something amiss, something not quite kosher about the whole affair."

Mom patted my arm. "He's saying that because I beat him seven out of eight games. He won the eighth because I took pity and let him."

While this was true it also stung.

"Wait until tomorrow. I was simply lulling you into a false sense of security. Tomorrow. . . no quarter!"

Leeza giggled. "Well I'm glad you folks found a way to occupy yourselves." She put the pitcher on the table and rubbed her hands together. "Now, as for tonight's menu. . ." Whereupon she launched into a glorious description of the gustatory delights awaiting our palettes. Salads and breads. Duck. Crusted Salmon. Both of which had received extensive counseling before their demise from old age. My eyes glazed over during the description. I was in paradise and Leeza was the heavenly chorus. She went on and on until, and I'm not proud of this, I may have drooled. "And for dessert we have white-chocolate brownies drizzled with a wild Raspberry-chocolate sauce and a dab of fresh whipped cream with a bare hint of mint."

"Oh, that sounds good," Mom said.

Leeza picked up her pitcher. "You have no idea. It's like the best of all possible worlds on your tongue”. Addressing the group she said, "If you folks are set I'll be back in a minute with fresh bread and salad." Then she swayed ever so gently back to the kitchen.

So far this was shaping into a very pleasant evening. We talked amongst ourselves for a bit enjoying the gentle pulse of words and laughter that filled the room. I recognized a few faces here and there from breakfast or Tea, but owing to the nature of the Lodge the clientele was in constant rotation. Mom, for maybe the first time since we had left home, was relaxing minute by minute. Life was good.

I should have smelled a trap.

*** the journey continues ***