Gordon appeared freshly laved, shaved and garbed. Deborah wasn't impressed, she had just hung up from the gardening company who were contracted to trim the palm trees.

"That was Benjamin from Branch Out Tree Service. The only day they can come is Friday, which means the patio will be off limits while they trim the palms."

"Rebook, we can't have lumber crashing down at the start of a weekend; we're nearly all filled for Friday night."

"Can't. His company won the contract for the Colonial Palm. They won't be free for almost a month with the forest around that place."

"They can't just bump us off like that! We already have a contract with them and it's for the beginning of a week not the end."

"You tell him then, he won't bend for me."

Gordon applied a different meaning and she immediately saw it in his face. "You are a real pig sometimes."

"Oink." He sat at the desk and placed a call to Branch Out.

"Buenos dias, Branch Out Tree Service."

"Benjamin please."

"Momento, senor."

"Si?"

"Benjamin? Gordon Hardy at Posada de Jardines. Deborah tells me you won't honour our contract as arranged."

"Ah, Senor Gordon. As I explained to the senorita, we have an obligation to our contract with the Colo—"

"Wait a minute. What about your obligation to us? We were clients first, remember?"

"Si senor, but this is a big, big contract. It will take many days and all my men."

"Benjamin, you either have your team here on Monday or Tuesday of next week or your time will be spent in court and not at your big, big contract."

"I am hurt by your threat, senor."

"Well I'm hurt by your breaking of our contract, Benjamin so who is hurt more; you have enough men to start your big contract without ignoring old clients." He waited as the line stayed silent.

"I will have a crew there Monday morning, senor Gordon."

"Thank you, Benjamin and I'm sorry it had to be so unpleasant but you know I'm right."

"We will be there and that will be the final time, senor. Your business is no longer welcome." The line went dead and Gordon swore loud enough to attract attention from a couple on the patio.

"Well?" Deborah came back to the office.

"They'll be here Monday morning-- for the last time." He told her what happened and held up a hand for silence when she looked like she was going to start in on him.

"Just let's move on here. Look up another company and get some prices. I have to take the pool pump down to Ryan for some work. The gasket on it's perished."

"I have an appointment at ten-thirty so don't dawdle." She looked at her watch and went into the house.

Don't dawdle? Yes, mother. He went out, climbed down into the pool pit, and collected the pump he'd taken off the previous day. The town pool tester would be around in the morning and he had to get it all back together and working before then.

********************

Ryan wiped his greasy hands on a rag and examined Gordon's pump.

"Gasket's shot."

"I know. That's why I'm here. I can't get the damn thing apart or I'd fix it myself."

"Don't think you'd fix this, threads are all corroded."

"Okay, Ryan. Can you please take it apart and put a new gasket in."

"Might have to replace that housing if I get it off; the threads will be mangled."

"Is that necessary? Don't you have some chemical or something for loosening the threads up?"

"You want it now or next week?"

"How much for a new housing?"

"Whole job... one twenty-five. Pay me in cash and I won't charge you tax."

"Try and save the housing, Ryan. When can I get it?"

"After lunch."

"See you then." Gordon slumped out of the repair shop and wandered back to his car. It was only nine and he didn't feel like going back to the hotel. On an impulse he decided to take a run out to the Colonial Palm and check it out, see just what Benjamin deserted him for. He had an hour before Deborah would begin to simmer.

The drive from the road to the hotel parking area was almost as long as the drive from town and Gordon soon appreciated Benjamin's choice of clients. There must have been a hundred Royal palms lining the pink, crushed stone drive alone. He pulled into a vast guest parking area and climbed out of his car, standing and taking in the massive area the hotel took up, with its small walking bridges that spanned a man made waterway winding through the grounds.

He could see couples sitting on the sculptured lawns with umbrella replicas of Royal Palms propped in stands to provide shade. He wandered up to the entrance and just shook his head. Wide white stone steps tapered up to the column-framed entrance. The columns themselves were cement formed into the shape of palm trees with LED lights cleverly sprinkled among the concrete fronds.

Inside he groaned out loud. It was the epitome of over indulgence. Almost choking in its extravagance of colour and garish décor. He couldn't believe people actually sought this ambiance as a destination other than to say they were there—the in place for narcissistic egos.

Gordon strolled around admiring the guests more than the hotel. One thing he appreciated was the bevy of pulchritude swishing through the massive lobby in the skimpiest of bathing attire. Apparently a dress code had no place in the Colonial Palm. He looked for the bar and made his way down a long set of shallow steps to a garden of rocks, babbling waterfalls, more palms and the longest bar he'd ever seen. It matched the driveway.

A small glass of beer cost him twelve dollars and with another closer look at the clientele, Gordon saw immediately what wealth on the hoof looked like. As he sipped his beer and ogled the women he heard a familiar voice address him by name and he turned to find Jeannette smiling at him. The smile was the last part he noticed acknowledging her greeting.

The dress was pale green, short, snug and it seemed to slither in the reflected light from the waterfall. Long legs in beige sandals on tippy heels and silver accessories on wrists, fingers and ears. She did the trademark shake of hair and Gordon's beer grew warm as he squeezes the life out of his glass.

"What brings you to the Palm?"

"Just checking out the competition, what about you?"

She grinned widely. "Competition? You are a funny fellow, Hardy."

"Why, because I covet the same free spending guests? That's competition."

"Can you join me for lunch?"

"Sorry, Deb has an appointment and I have to be back before ten." He automatically looked at his watch. "I've got about half an hour if a coffee will compensate."