Chapter 3 - the coral dress by the water
Claire reached the pool deck before the elevator doors reopened.
She found Vanessa spreading sunscreen across Noah’s shoulders beside a row of white loungers.
The pool area was crowded with families, resort employees, and guests carrying drinks beneath wide umbrellas. Music played softly from speakers hidden among the palms.
Claire crouched in front of Noah.
“I have a meeting for forty-five minutes.”
“You said you weren’t working.”
“It’s a family meeting.”
“About me?”
Claire glanced at Vanessa.
“Yes, but you don’t need to worry.”
Noah touched the blue wristband around his wrist. Every child at the resort received one with the name of their registered guardian and an emergency contact number.
“I can stay with Aunt Vanessa.”
Claire lowered her voice.
“If you need me, ask any employee to call the number on your wristband.”
Noah nodded.
“Who stays with you?” Claire asked.
“Aunt Vanessa.”
“Where do you stay?”
“At the pool.”
“What happens if she leaves?”
“I go to an employee.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“He’s going swimming, not crossing a desert.”
Claire stood.
“Answer your phone.”
“I will.”
Claire walked away twice before finally leaving the pool deck.
The board meeting was held in a conference room on the eleventh floor.
Marcus Lane sat at the far end of the table with three directors from Bennett Hospitality. Margaret’s attorney appeared by video call.
Claire took the empty chair beside Marcus.
“Where is my mother?”
“She declined to attend,” Marcus said.
“Then why are we here?”
One director cleared his throat.
“Mrs. Bennett submitted concerns regarding your ability to exercise voting authority on behalf of Noah.”
“Based on what?”
A folder was passed across the table.
Inside were the same photographs from breakfast, along with reports describing Claire’s work schedule, Noah’s school attendance, and several evenings when Mrs. Palmer had watched him.
At the bottom was a draft petition for emergency guardianship.
Claire looked at Marcus.
“Can she do this?”
“She can file. Proving it is another matter.”
“She invited me here while preparing a petition.”
Marcus lowered his voice.
“She may be trying to pressure you into signing before a court examines the trust.”
Claire checked the time.
Ten forty-two.
She sent Vanessa a message.
Everything okay?
No response.
The board’s attorney began discussing the company’s upcoming shareholder vote.
Claire called Vanessa.
The call rang six times before going to voicemail.
She tried again.
No answer.
“Excuse me,” Claire said.
She stepped into the hallway and called the pool desk.
A resort employee answered.
“Good morning, Sapphire Dunes recreation.”
“I’m trying to reach my son, Noah Bennett. He’s at the pool with Vanessa Bennett.”
“One moment.”
Claire heard music and distant voices.
Then the employee returned.
“I don’t see anyone registered under that name in the children’s area.”
“He’s not in the children’s area. He’s with an adult wearing a coral dress.”
“I’ll ask the deck team.”
The line went quiet again.
Claire called Vanessa from her second phone.
This time, Vanessa answered.
“What?”
“Where is Noah?”
“Near me.”
“Put him on.”
“He’s playing.”
“Put him on the phone.”
Vanessa sighed.
“Claire, you’re being impossible.”
“Let me speak to my son.”
A long pause followed.
Then Vanessa said, “I need to call you back.”
The line disconnected.
Claire ran toward the elevators.
At the pool, Vanessa sat alone on a lounger with a fruit drink in one hand and her phone in the other.
Noah’s towel lay folded beside her.
His shoes were gone.
Claire pushed through the gate.
“Where is he?”
Vanessa looked up.
“He went to get ice cream.”
“With whom?”
“He knows where the café is.”
Claire stared at her.
“He is six.”
“It’s twenty steps away.”
Claire ran to the café.
Noah was not there.
She checked the restrooms, the children’s pool, and the path leading toward the beach elevators.
No one had seen him.
When Claire returned, Vanessa was standing now.
“He probably wandered into the arcade.”
“You let him leave alone?”
“I told him to wait.”
“Where?”
Vanessa looked toward the far end of the pool.
“Near the towel station.”
Claire hurried there.
A pool attendant shook his head.
“There was a boy in a blue shirt, but he left with a woman from guest services.”
“When?”
“Maybe fifteen minutes ago.”
“Where did they go?”
“I’m not sure.”
Claire called Vanessa again while running toward the lobby.
The call was declined.
Then a notification appeared on Claire’s screen.
Vanessa had posted a photograph.
She was smiling beside the pool in her coral dress.
The caption made Claire stop in the middle of the corridor.
Missing Child Vacation Package. Apparently I’m the emergency babysitter now.
May you like
The post had been uploaded three minutes earlier.
Three minutes after Vanessa claimed she did not know where Noah was.
