Once Upon a Summertime by Melody Carlson

your staff, I mean. Did you ever stop to think that the problem might not be with us?” He pointed at her. “But maybe it’s with you?” Naturally this elicited a few giggles.
    She looked him in the eyes. “That’s a possibility, Mickey. The truth is, I am not cut out to run a motel that is substandard. The reason I’ve called you all on the carpet today is so that we can make this place better.” She looked hopefully at them. “Really, wouldn’t it feel nice to work in a motel that had a reputation for quality? A place that people came to not because it was cheap but because it offered great hospitality?”
    Again she got the blank stares, or else the heads bent downward with eyes on their phones. Clearly, these people couldn’t care less. “Well, thanks for coming,” she said glumly. “Keep in mind what I said. I’m not kidding—your jobs couldbe at serious risk.” Without saying another word, she turned and left. She had no doubt that her words had fallen on deaf ears.
    â€œHow did it go?” Jacob asked quietly as she returned to the reception area.
    â€œHow do you think it went?”
    He gave her a sympathetic look. “That bad?”
    She shrugged. “I think it’s hopeless.”
    He glanced at the clock, and although it wasn’t even time for his shift to end, he looked hopeful. “Mind if I leave a few minutes early?”
    â€œWhy not,” she said dismally.
    He looked slightly offended. “I’ll stay if you want.”
    â€œNo, it’s fine.” She waved him away. “I’m just discouraged.”
    He leaned over to peer directly into her eyes. “Anna, this is the Value Lodge . I understand your longing to make it better, and I’m sorry to break the news to you, but this might be as good as it gets.”
    She made a tolerant smile. “Yeah, I know.”
    â€œHang in there.” He waved as he headed for the door. “Remember, it’s just a job—not your personal identity.”
    As she watched him leave, she realized she’d forgotten to ask for his updates. But maybe it didn’t matter. As she went through the morning mail and her usual routine, she reminded herself that her days at the Value Lodge were numbered. Really, why should she feel down or discouraged? She had bigger, better things to look forward to. Still, she knew she had to follow through with the probationary warnings she’d just delivered. She couldn’t just forget about it. Although, she reassured herself, she didn’t have to deal with ittoday. In all fairness, she should give them at least twenty-four hours before she lowered the boom.
    Anna always kept her phone handy while at work, but today she kept an even closer eye on it, hoping to hear something back from Marley. When her lunch hour came, Anna was tempted to run down to Lou’s Café in the hopes of having an informal conversation, where Marley would just happen to mention her brother Max. Then Anna would casually inquire about the hotel job. Yet when 1:00 came around, Anna couldn’t bring herself to do it. She didn’t want to appear anxious or desperate. If this was meant to be, it would be . . . right? Marley would call if she had news.
    By the end of her shift, Anna had not heard a word from Marley. She considered stopping by the café on her way home, but knowing it was the dinner hour and that Marley probably had her hands full, Anna decided to be patient. However, if Marley just happened to pop out as Anna walked by, well, perhaps she would broach the subject with her. But Anna passed the café with no sign of Marley. As she continued on home to Grandma’s apartment, she began to wonder if she’d made a mistake to put so much hope in what seemed like a true long shot. Really, why would some fancy SoHo boutique hotel want an inexperienced young woman who couldn’t even manage the Value Lodge