seemed turned off by all of the wedding preparations and activities. It was unfair to Cora because Leslie was very helpful when Grace married Derek. Grace was beginning to agree with Cora regarding Leslie’s dissatisfaction with Brent’s choice for a wife.
Nevertheless, Grace put her opinions aside and prepared for the party. Grace put on her mid-length mauve dress, pinned up her hair in an elegant bun, and drove to the Cliff House. From her house, Grace could have practically walked there. It was relatively close.
Whenever Grace could fit in a run, she often ran over by the Cliff House. Not only was it a historic landmark, it also sat near the infamous ruins of the Sutro Baths. Grace enjoyed climbing down into the few remaining ruins from the baths. She would look at the concrete in the ground and mentally re-create how the baths once looked based on the cement rectangles and the old pictures she saw. Patrons must have once enjoyed the saltwater and fresh water pools, she thought. It was a shame that they had been destroyed.
Grace parked her car and took a moment to ponder the structure of the Cliff House. It was properly named. It was perched high on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The view to the left was of a long beach which stretched for miles. Behind the beach sat small condos where Playland, a popular beach amusement park, once thrived. Further down the beach was the beginning of Golden Gate Park. Beyond the park, rows and rows of homes stretched out as far as the eye could see. The view was delightful to Grace. She enjoyed the rich history of the city and spent hours in museums, guided tours and books soaking in everything she could learn about San Francisco.
Grace once took a tour at the Cliff House and remembered what the guide said about its own special history. The original Cliff House was built in 1863, a modest restaurant compared to its descendants. The rich and famous would dine at the establishment to be seen, until what they termed ‘riff raff’ chased out the local elite.
After a change of ownership and a destructive fire in 1896, an extravagant second Cliff House was built. It was fashioned after a French chateau with eight stories, four spires and an observation tower. While it was never a hotel, it once served as a restaurant, entertainment venue and meeting place. Grace had a framed picture of the second Cliff House in her home office. The presence of the building was remarkable. It carried within it a magnificent darkness that brought out many visitors to enjoy its rare style. Presidents and dignitaries from all over the world came to experience its unique beauty. Everyone was amazed when it survived the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906, only to burn to the ground one year later from a destructive chimney fire.
“Grace, are you waiting for someone?” Leslie asked, placing her hand on Grace’s shoulder. “You’ve been out here for a few minutes. Robert and I saw you when we were looking for a place to park.”
“No, I am here alone. I was just taking in the splendid view. I love feeling the ocean breeze on my face,” Grace said, as she took in a deep, cleansing breath. The ocean did wonders for her downcast spirit.
“At least someone is enjoying themselves. I have this terrible cough from my allergies, but Robert made me come out tonight. I should be at home resting. I could have pneumonia,” Leslie said in a pathetic tone, hoping for some sympathy.
Grace was very concerned. “Have you seen a doctor? Are you taking any medicine? Come here; sit down on the bench.”
“Don’t play into her games,” Robert said as he approached the women. “She is exaggerating her symptoms.” Robert gave Leslie the evil eye as unspoken words passed between them.
“I don’t understand,” Grace said, quite confused by the conversation.
“Let’s just say that Leslie is having an allergic
Nevertheless, Grace put her opinions aside and prepared for the party. Grace put on her mid-length mauve dress, pinned up her hair in an elegant bun, and drove to the Cliff House. From her house, Grace could have practically walked there. It was relatively close.
Whenever Grace could fit in a run, she often ran over by the Cliff House. Not only was it a historic landmark, it also sat near the infamous ruins of the Sutro Baths. Grace enjoyed climbing down into the few remaining ruins from the baths. She would look at the concrete in the ground and mentally re-create how the baths once looked based on the cement rectangles and the old pictures she saw. Patrons must have once enjoyed the saltwater and fresh water pools, she thought. It was a shame that they had been destroyed.
Grace parked her car and took a moment to ponder the structure of the Cliff House. It was properly named. It was perched high on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The view to the left was of a long beach which stretched for miles. Behind the beach sat small condos where Playland, a popular beach amusement park, once thrived. Further down the beach was the beginning of Golden Gate Park. Beyond the park, rows and rows of homes stretched out as far as the eye could see. The view was delightful to Grace. She enjoyed the rich history of the city and spent hours in museums, guided tours and books soaking in everything she could learn about San Francisco.
Grace once took a tour at the Cliff House and remembered what the guide said about its own special history. The original Cliff House was built in 1863, a modest restaurant compared to its descendants. The rich and famous would dine at the establishment to be seen, until what they termed ‘riff raff’ chased out the local elite.
After a change of ownership and a destructive fire in 1896, an extravagant second Cliff House was built. It was fashioned after a French chateau with eight stories, four spires and an observation tower. While it was never a hotel, it once served as a restaurant, entertainment venue and meeting place. Grace had a framed picture of the second Cliff House in her home office. The presence of the building was remarkable. It carried within it a magnificent darkness that brought out many visitors to enjoy its rare style. Presidents and dignitaries from all over the world came to experience its unique beauty. Everyone was amazed when it survived the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906, only to burn to the ground one year later from a destructive chimney fire.
“Grace, are you waiting for someone?” Leslie asked, placing her hand on Grace’s shoulder. “You’ve been out here for a few minutes. Robert and I saw you when we were looking for a place to park.”
“No, I am here alone. I was just taking in the splendid view. I love feeling the ocean breeze on my face,” Grace said, as she took in a deep, cleansing breath. The ocean did wonders for her downcast spirit.
“At least someone is enjoying themselves. I have this terrible cough from my allergies, but Robert made me come out tonight. I should be at home resting. I could have pneumonia,” Leslie said in a pathetic tone, hoping for some sympathy.
Grace was very concerned. “Have you seen a doctor? Are you taking any medicine? Come here; sit down on the bench.”
“Don’t play into her games,” Robert said as he approached the women. “She is exaggerating her symptoms.” Robert gave Leslie the evil eye as unspoken words passed between them.
“I don’t understand,” Grace said, quite confused by the conversation.
“Let’s just say that Leslie is having an allergic
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