Chapter 53

• The hotel was a pink, ten-storied behemoth in the traditional Caribbean motif. It sat on the side of a mountain, with every room overlooking the beautiful azure waters below. There was a giant Olympic swimming pool in front of the hotel with private south-sea-island type cabana's circling it. To our left was a set of long cement steps winding upward to the first level where the pool was located, and then another set of steps that led to the front of the hotel. On the right side and below us was the beach with beautiful white sands and more cabana's. The cab driver circled the long driveway around the pool and pulled up in front of the hotel, where bellhops hurried to open our door and greet us with a friendly island, "Welcome."
• I felt comfortable in taking my mother's hand to lead her up the red carpet and into the hotel lobby. It was early in the day and the lobby was almost empty.
• "Welcome to our island paradise," said the distinguished looking man behind the check-in desk. He was dressed in a full tuxedo, which seemed out of place considering the humid island weather.