Taking the Plunge Page 5

  She looked crestfallen. "Then there's nothing we can do?"

  He shook his head. "I hate to spoil our dinner, but I don't see how."

  "I won't be able to teach successfully relegated to the shallow end. You know that."

  "I know. But without the funds to match any of the estimates, we can't take the risk. We have payroll to make—and not just yours and mine. We have the staff to think about."

  The waitress delivered roasted chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes covered in creamy brown gravy, and buttermilk biscuits slathered with butter.

  "I'd need an entire team to finish this plate." Delphina's eyes stared at the heaping servings. "Wait." She looked up from the mountain of steaming potatoes. "A team. That's it!"

  "What's it? Our team can't sew."

  "No, they don't need to sew." She giggled at him raising his spirits. "We start with the girls. The families have the funds for the swimming costumes. If we create a reason to need them quickly, say a water pageant, we could provide the pattern and all three seamstresses as references to have the costumes made."

  "A water pageant?"

  "One of my duties is to teach ornamental swimming. How better to build interest in the opportunities at the natatorium than a water pageant?"

  Their chicken cooled in front of them. But the excitement of the idea built. Hugh realized Delphina stumbled on a bigger solution than just the women's costume dilemma. She'd found a way to bring in repeat crowds.

  "With water pageants, we can hold regular events from recitals to bigger extravaganzas." Hugh grasped her hand and kissed it. "You, Delphina, are brilliant!"

  "I only thought off a pageant to start the change in fashion. You thought of the rest."

  "But I couldn't have without you." He hadn't let go of her hand. Now he covered it with his other one. "How long would it take to build an entertaining presentation?"

  "If we give the seamstresses time to make the more simple costumes for the girls, I could put a show together in a couple of months with three practices a week.

  "What if we planned an event for May Day?"

  "If we work together, hold an open house for the parents, and allow the families to use their own seamstresses we could start in the shallow end learning the basic floats. By the time their new outfits are ready, we could move to the deeper water safely."

  Hugh maneuvered their hands into a handshake and held them over the table. "I'll work as hard as I can to make this happen including getting you some live musicians."

  "You could do that?"

  "You bet I can. How do you feel about a pipe and drum corps?" He smiled into her eyes. "Do we have a deal?"

  "Absolutely." She started the handshake and they accidentally bopped the top of his potatoes. "Oops," Delphina pressed a finger against her mouth, obviously trying not to burst out giggling. But the corners of her lips flickered, as did the humor in her eyes.

  He broke their handshake and tasted it. "That's good gravy. I was about to pass out from starvation." Hugh wiped away the mess as they laughed together. "Please, eat. We have a short time to get our plans in motion."

  Delphina slid her warm apple pie in front of her dinner plate. "Then I vote we eat our dessert first."

  Could there be a more perfect woman? Any man would—Hugh sat up tall and looked around the restaurant. Though more women populated Helena, Montana in the last few years, men still vastly outnumbered marriageable females. A pretty woman could cause a stir anywhere she went. Since she'd arrived, Delphina hadn't been out and about to garner much notice. Until today—he'd brilliantly assisted his competition. He scanned the room. Easily two-thirds men. Too many heads tipped in their direction. Delphina had caused a stir…

  Hugh raised his hand to signal the waitress. "Check!"

  Chapter 5

  The girls from two classes, the little ones aged six to ten, and the older girls, ages eleven to sixteen, lined up for the dress rehearsal. They'd practice together for the early segment of the ornamental water pageant and then the older girls would morph into their own recital while the women's newly formed team joined them on the edge of the plunge. But the first thirty minutes today belonged to the younger gals.

  Delphina walked barefooted along the wooden plank complimenting each girl. Their knee-length jumpsuits skimmed, but didn't hug too tightly, much like her new outfit. The black merino wool sported three black nautical stripes on a wide, white V-neck collar sewn onto the button-down blouse. The short sleeves didn't restrict arm movement. Two stripes ringed around the cuffs and the leggings gathered just below the knee. Instead of beribboned sashes, each girl wore a slim knit belt around her waist with a decorative button—and no stockings or slippers. The costume gave enough room for the routine's maneuvers while safe and modest. Delphina spoke with all the parents, female participants, and many guests. She managed to convince everyone slippers were meant for beaches, not indoor swimming pools.

  As teacher and ornamental swimming team coach, Delphina offered an encouragement to each of her students. "You look so nice, Mary." She plucked a six-year old Eugenia, whose name was bigger than the little girl, off the metal railing. "Let's be a lady now." Then she waved at the little girl's mother above on the observation deck. "She'll be fine, don't worry."

  "Miss O'Connor?"

  The nine-year old's Irish lilt gave Delphina a sense of homesickness for her family. "Yes, Lea?" She bent down and put her hands on her knees leaning into talk to the child.

  "My mama says she'll bring cookies for a reception after we recite."

  Delphina enjoyed getting to know Calista Shanahan. They'd hit it off. Calista wasn't afraid to make choices different than the norm either, something they admired in one another.

  The titters and giggles added a frivolity to the excitement building.

  Lea rocked forward and back rolling heel to toe. Then she cupped a small hand around her teacher's ear and whispered, "I'll ask her for frosted ginger ones. They're my favorite."

  "Oh, what a lovely idea." Delphina thought for a moment. A reception usually followed music recitals. She glanced at the boys setting out chairs near the candy shop. This aquatic theatre would host both a water dance and concert. Didn't they all deserve a recital party after? "How many of you would like to bring cookies or treats for a reception tomorrow evening?"

  Every little girl's hand shot into the air. A light buzz from the watching mothers floated down to the fidgety girls covering them all in happy sweetness. Most of the mothers signaled their approval.

  "How wonderful. It's settled then. I'll be sure to let Mr. Thomas know we'll need a salon in the hotel." He'd been acting as an assistant lifeguard since their show grew to so many participants.

  "He's there." Lea called out.

  "Where?"

  "Here." He spoke over her shoulder.

  She startled and jumped backward into him, landing her bare foot on his instep.

  He hopped around as if she'd broken his leg making nonsense sounds to the delight of the children.

  "I'm so sorry." Delphina raised her hands to her warming cheeks. But as she realized his antics escalated, she folded her arms and made a show of staring at the ceiling.

  Then Hugh, feeding off the giggles of her team, hammed it up as if he were a peg-legged pirate. "Ahoy, me maties, I fear I've been harpooned!" He stumbled and zig-zagged over to one of the wooden slat benches against the wall and spent the longest time play-acting a beleaguered death at the hands of a mutinous first-mate. By the time he'd finally collapsed dramatically for the fourth time, half on and half off the bench, little girls were gasping for air, they'd been laughing so hard. "Blub, blub, blub. At last, my fate is sealed."

  Delphina echoed, "At last."

  He opened one eye in a quick peek.

  "Oh no you don't, pirate. We have a rehearsal—"

  His impromptu audience burst into applause. "More, more!"

  Sauntering over, Delphina couldn't help but join in the tragic comedy. If not, she might not gain cont
rol over the group again. She placed a foot over his chest and clasped her hands above her head. "I claim victory!" One more win couldn't hurt after the croquet game she'd beat him at the other day.

  Even the observation deck joined in the clapping as Hugh disengaged himself and jumped up. He grabbed hold of Delphina's hand and they bowed like two thespians on stage.

  Delphina tossed him a happy smile as she whispered, "Now scootch." They did make a good team in both work and play. A team engineered by Mr. Broadwater. Did he see something in them—as a couple? She snuck another glance. Did she? A flutter tickled in her stomach. She might.

  "And that, ladies, is entertainment. Just have fun and your audience will too. I look forward to enjoying your show tomorrow night." Hugh gave a bow over Delphina's hand and traipsed off to continue preparations, leaving sighing the moony-eyed adolescents and their smitten teacher to practice. Hugh didn't interfere with Delphina's coaching after observing her skills as she taught her first class.

  "A bit smug there, my boy, aren't you?" Colonel Broadwater stood inside the door to the grounds surrounded by newly set chairs. The audience would fill the observation deck, the lower deck, and a few more chairs fit between the benches down the length of the building.

  Huge clapped him on the shoulder. "I do believe she's coming around, sir."

  "Considering the efforts you've put in to impress our ladies teacher, I'd wonder if you've done anything else these last weeks." His laugh caused a rough catch in his throat.

  "I assure you—"

  "I know, son."

  Hugh took the door as a fit of dry coughing struck the colonel. When it ended, he walked toward the hotel, matching the colonel's slower pace. His coughing had picked up by the day. The employees whispered concerns for their boss' health. Hugh stayed at the ready should he need to help as they entered the homey hotel lobby.

  His voice a little hoarse, Colonel Broadwater asked, "Hugh, I think we're in need of a talk." He looked up the polished grand staircase. "Why don't you make sure I make to my office and we can visit there over a cup of coffee?"

  "I'm concerned for you, sir," Hugh admitted as he took his chair across the desk from the older man.

  "Hugh, things are getting tougher for me." He coughed on and off through every sentence now. "I'm going to need to rely on you a bit more."

  "Anything, Colonel. I hope you know I'll do anything I can to help."

  "I'm not going to get better."

  "Of course you are." Hugh leaned forward, putting his arms on the desk. "You're just in need of a rest. You take the time you need to recuperate and I'll watch out for your business in the meantime."

  Broadwater took the spectacles off his nose, cleaned them, and replaced the lenses. "Listen to me, son." He reached out and put a hand on Hugh's forearm with all the pressure he could muster. "I need my affairs in order for the sake of not only my family, but all the families who need what the resort provides."

  Hugh sucked air into collapsed lungs. "What do you need me to do, sir?"

  "My last public event will be the water pageant tomorrow night. After that, I'll turn over the management to you until I have a purchaser. Would you be agreeable to that?"

  "Of course, sir. You can count on me."

  "That, Hugh, I know. I'll be sure to suggest you stay on. In the best of circumstances, the new ownership would do well to keep all my staff. But, as you know, it's not something I can promise."

  "But I can promise to see you and your family through until you no longer need me. I believe the same of the vast majority of your staff."

  "Your Miss O'Connor?" Broadwater patted his arm and then leaned back, with his head on the chair. "What of her?"

  "I think she'd be the first to stay."

  "I'm asking what will become of your relationship with her?" The coughing took over again. "You're not required to tell me." His eyes softened. "I'm just an old man with a romantic bent." Another cough crackled under his handkerchief, now a constant companion that rarely made it back into his vest pocket. "I see a spark between you."

  "I don't mind, sir. I'm planning to ask her to marry me."

  " That little gal has no lack of choices in our fair city. I'd hate to see you miss out on the joy of a good wife."

  "I'll take your advice to heart. But she has expressed the idea that she may not want to marry and have children."

  His mentor stared at him in surprise. "Have you watched her with her students? Egads, son, have another talk with Miss O'Connor. Just don't wait too long or some other fellow might be having that talk for you." His energy expended, Charles Broadwater waved Hugh out of his office. "Another day for us. Go have that chat."

  Chapter 6

  Every light blazing to fill the aqua theatre, Delphina could feel the hum of anticipation for the water pageant buzzing through the throng. Her team of girls pranced around one another, feet constantly in motion, behind the giant waterfall. Now and again, one or another of the children would peek around the huge rock formation to try and wave at a mother or father.

  Hugh's team of young men would end the evening with a full out race. But the way they started it would be quite exciting itself. Delphina would show an entire arena that women could not only be athletic, but they could create daredevil feats.

  Walking to the shallow end, at the shorter one hundred-foot length, Hugh opened the extravaganza with a megaphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!" Polite applause echoed off the natatorium's walls and high ceiling. "With great pleasure, we present the Broadwater May Day Celebration featuring our own women's ornamental swimming team, the Helena Pipe and Drum Corps, and the men's competitive swimming team." More applause. "Without further ado, ladies take your places."

  A line of adorable little girls marched out from behind the rocks formation to a smart drum cadence and lined the edge of the pool, hands in the classic opera pose. Delphina counted just loud enough for the girls to hear. "One, two, three!"

  All at once, the line of miniature swimmers snapped their hands to their sides and took a step dropping into the pool with a half spin. They landed standing in their line facing the wall, laid arms across shoulders to connect everyone and leaned back into a float as they kicked toward the central fountain.

  The older girls performed the same entry move, then floated on their sides with arms raised, and curved mimicking a swan neck, until they circled the little ones around the fountain. The cadence switched with them to a drumroll until they'd circled the fountain. Sliding arms down to clasp hands without disconnecting, the smaller girls kicked backward, letting go of hands when swimming under the bridges the older girls created when they stood and dove forward. The effect of a flower blooming continued as the girls of both circles traded places again. Then the little girls on the inner circle, both sets of swimmers twirled in opposite directions, arms reaching to the massive rafters high above, before the older girls kicked into a floating wheel that spun counter clockwise to the smaller wheel's clockwise turn.

  As their kaleidoscope-style movements enthralled their audience, the women's team joined the designs. One-by-one, they linked together in another float, feet to shoulders, and created a large star pattern.

  Quickly, as the audience watched the patterns in the pool, Delphina climbed around and then inside the forty-foot boulder tower. The ladders, built inside for maintenance, gave her access to the top waterfall thirty feet above the plunge. She stepped out as the music built to a crescendo and the entire pool of swimmers framed the deep end, youngsters in the center of the arced line still able to stand in the shallow water with the women nearby protectively. Two of the older girls stood on plank diving boards, arms outstretched toward their teacher on the rock platform. The lights behind her, Delphina posed for a dramatic moment, as she swung her hands into position, the girls on the platform boards did the same. Synchronized, all the lower level divers performed a forward dive at the same time while the girls in the water ducked under the surface. As the four swam underwater, they came up with
the rest of the team, feet pointed toward the center of the pool.

  A quick glance and Delphina saw the men's team had taken their race positions at the far end of the pool. The girls splashed their feet in time with the band's music, creating an oval white cap around the entry point meant for their teacher's landing. The drumroll started again, but this time incorporating the bass drum as the signal for Delphina to lift off into a swan dive. A collective gasp of the crowd and she vaulted up first, and then tipping downward to the water below.

  For a moment, the peace under the water enveloped her. Joy and air filled her lungs as she broke the surface and led the charge for the girls to swim as fast as they could to the side before the boys bore down on them. The energy in the aqua theatre was palpable. Moments later, the men's team finished their race to a roar of approval.

  Delphina led both teams to line up along the sides of the plunge, facing out first, to take their bows. Every swimmer then swooped an arm to draw attention to the band at the far end of the auditorium. The Helena Pipe and Drum Corps, grown from the original eleven newsies two years ago to double the size, stood and also bowed to the audience.

  The crowd rose to a standing ovation as the teams all turned to face the opposite side and bowed again. The joy emanating from every participant exploded into excited chatter.

  Hugh quietly made his way, dripping from the swim, back to the top of the pool. Delphina joined him there. Taking her hand in his, he smiled. "And that, is entertainment." He winked before lifting the megaphone to his mouth. "We hope you enjoyed our first water pageant at the Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium. May there be many more." Thunderous applause met his announcement. Hugh had to wait several minutes to continue. "Our swimmers will join you in the hotel shortly. The dining rooms and salons are open for a reception where you can sign up for swimming instruction or one of the teams you enjoyed during tonight's extravaganza. We hope you'll continue to enjoy the extraordinary entertainment available at the Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium."