Free DASHED DREAMS by Susan Worley-Bean

have a call on line four. Her name’s Mrs. Bertie Walker. Do you want to take it?”
    “Thank you.”
    “This is Dr. James. May I help you?”
    “This is Mrs. Walker, Tucker’s Entertainer’s Concierge. We met on Monday.”
    “Good morning. How are you today?”
    “Mr. Montgomery asked me to call and ask if you’d be his guest for this weekend’s Celebrity Gala. ” She paused, awaiting Jillian’s reaction. Nothing.
    “It’s a charity event sponsored by Edgewood Country Club, Common Down Golf Clubs, Negative Approach, King Vineyards, and Tucker’s. Porsche is donating a car for a hole-in-one on the 17th. This event’s for the benefit of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and Tucker’s Koncerts for Kids program. At last count I think we have 43 celebrities signed up. The gala events will include an opening dinner on Thursday evening. And on Saturday evening is Mr. Montgomery’s concert. The golf tournament’s Thursday to Saturday evening. On Friday, there’ll be a one-day women’s tournament, if you’d like to participate. And the closing ceremonies will be Saturday evening with another dinner and prize awards, then the concert.”
    “I don’t know. Usually my friends and I spend our weekends together.”
    “Well, bring them with you. We have a block of rooms reserved for guests.”
    “Let me check. May I call you back?”
    “Just call Tucker’s, and my extension’s 1374. I’ll let him know.”
    “Thank you, Mrs. Walker. Goodbye.”
    Luckily, all three girls were eager and able to rearrange their schedules to be gone on such short notice. Emma was over the roof with excitement, as she’d been reading in the newspaper about the upcoming celebrity tourney and was extremely excited about meeting some of the stars.
    The car arrived at Jillian’s house at one o’clock Thursday afternoon. Jillian introduced her friends to Lionel. He opened the back door and the three girls climbed into the limousine. Emma, Lynda, and Jillian discussed the upcoming weekend. When their bags and golf clubs were loaded, Lionel started the car, looked in the rear-view mirror, and said, “Miss James, if there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”
    “Thank you, Lionel.” He closed the window. The ride up to Lake Tahoe was almost exactly as a week before, but this time Jillian felt better, as she wasn’t alone.
    Once at Tucker’s and leaving the limo, Lynda took a deep breath. A thick pine scent hung in the air. She said, “You know, as many times that we’ve been coming to Tahoe, this fragrance is always delightful.” Jillian smiled, thinking the same thing.
    Jillian saw Bertie, nodded and Bertie smiled back.
    “I’d like to introduce my friends…Lynda Brockhurst and Emma Elliott, this is Mrs. Bertie Walker.”
    “How nice to meet you. Welcome to Tucker’s.”
    The girls smiled and each shook hands with Bertie.
    “I’d like to show you around Tucker’s, if you’d like?”
    “Oh, yes please do.”
    Bertie showed the girls, Calming Effects, the hotel’s spa and beauty salon. Emma took a long look around to get some ideas for her shop. Working on clients were masseuses and several beauticians. Bertie showed them saunas and the pool area. She then took the girls down to the second floor, where the shopping pavilion was located. “In the shops here you can find almost anything you’d want,” Bertie said.
    “Boy, I can’t wait till I can browse through here!” Emma exclaimed.
    Bertie looked at her watch, which hung from a gold bow on her dress, then realized that the time was quickly passing. “Shall I show you to your suites?”
    “Suites? Hot dog! You mean we have more than one?” Emma asked. For an instant, Jillian was embarrassed.
    “Yes, we’ve reserved three suites for your party, compliments of Tucker’s. You’re also scheduled for a ten-o’clock tee time. I hope you don’t mind, but the tourney staff will assign someone to your group to complete the foursome.”
    “We aren’t good.