The Hotel Nantucket (77)

“Welcome to the Hotel Nantucket,” she says. (Adam always sings this; it’s a fun touch, but Lizbet can’t pull it off.) “May I help with your bag?”

“Thank you,” the woman says. She follows Lizbet to the desk, where she pulls out her Washington, DC, driver’s license and a Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express, both in the name of Claire Underwood.

Claire Underwood. Washington, DC. House of Cards! Lizbet thinks. (Lizbet and JJ watched all six seasons.) Here’s what Lizbet has been waiting for: an inside-joke alias. Lizbet tries to act natural. She wishes that she could let Edie and Alessandra and Raoul and Adam and Zeke know that Shelly Carpenter is in the house! They should have come up with a secret signal word, like Amsterdam or unicycle. Why did Lizbet not think to do that? They all knew this day would come. Shelly posted her review of the bed-and-breakfast in Hyannis Port only five days earlier. Maybe she popped over to the Vineyard to check out the Winnetu or the Charlotte Inn and now she’s here on Nantucket. She’s purposely arrived at eleven in the morning, which is the most frenetic time of the day because of guests checking out. Lizbet quickly reviews the reservation: three nights in a standard deluxe room, paid in full, booked on July 5 (the day of Lizbet’s first date with Mario, she can’t help thinking). “Claire Underwood” booked long before all the brouhaha about the ghost.

Lizbet says, “It’s so wonderful to have you staying with us, Ms. Underwood. Are you visiting Nantucket for any special reason?”

Claire/Maybe-Shelly smiles. “Just a quick getaway,” she says. “I was curious about the hotel.”

Lizbet bites her lower lip to keep from giving Claire/Maybe-Shelly an unhinged grin. “There are a few things you should know about our property. Technically, checkin is at three—”

“I understand,” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says.

“But I’ll try to get you into your room as soon as possible.” Lizbet goes on to tell Claire/Maybe-Shelly about the adult pool and the wellness center, and then she hands Claire/Maybe-Shelly a copy of the Blue Book. “This lists all of our recommendations for shopping, restaurants, beaches, galleries, bars, and nightlife. If you have any requests, please let me know.” Lizbet realizes with horror that she has forgotten to introduce herself. “I’m Lizbet Keaton, the general manager.”

“I do have some requests, actually,” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says, pulling a piece of paper out of her cute woven clutch. “First off, would it be possible for me to get a room upgrade?”

A room upgrade? Lizbet thinks. The hotel is full! But she understands that Claire/Maybe-Shelly has to ask; it’s what savvy travelers (and famous hotel bloggers) do. How will they ever get the fifth key if Lizbet can’t accommodate this request? They won’t is the answer.

Then Lizbet realizes that they do have one free room: Xavier’s suite, which is awaiting his arrival on August 24. Richie has asked Lizbet why she doesn’t rent the room out, since they know Xavier’s dates, and Lizbet said she wouldn’t feel right. Xavier asked her to hold it for him; he’s been paying the nightly rate all summer. Lizbet is certain that the day she agrees to let someone take Xavier’s suite, Xavier will appear out of the blue for a surprise visit.

But Shelly Carpenter is a special case. I bought the hotel to impress two women. If Lizbet doesn’t offer Shelly the owner’s suite, she reasons, Xavier will be furious.

“I can upgrade you to the owner’s suite,” Lizbet says, and she watches Claire/Maybe-Shelly’s eyebrows lift.

“Excellent, thank you,” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says. “I also have these requests.” She slides the piece of paper across the desk.

Thursday 7:30 p.m. Pearl bar seat

Friday 7:00 p.m. Nautilus bar seat

Saturday 8:00 p.m. Blue Bar bar seat

Four-door Jeep Wrangler hardtop Saturday, please also arrange pickup of charcuterie platter from Petrichor

Stand-up paddle lesson, Friday noon

Tour of Cisco Brewers, Friday 5:00 p.m.

Yoga class before 10:00 a.m. Friday through Sunday



“I’ll handle all this right away,” Lizbet says. She’s relieved the Deck isn’t on Claire/Maybe-Shelly’s list. “Do you have any other luggage? I’ll have Zeke, our bellman, bring it up to you right away.”

“No,” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says. “Just this.”

“Well, then, give me a few minutes to have housekeeping prepare your room and I’ll walk you up myself. We have complimentary Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee in the percolator.”

“Fantastic!” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says. “I missed my coffee this morning. And I love percolated coffee. It’s such a nice touch.” A cheer goes up from the chess match: Louie has beaten Mr. Tennant. Lizbet takes this as a good omen. The hotel will win Claire/Maybe-Shelly over. They will get the fifth key.



What’s not a good omen is the icy silence on the other end of the telephone line when Lizbet calls Magda to tell her to prepare the owner’s suite, 317, for a guest checking in.

“That’s Xavier’s suite,” Magda says.

“Mr. Darling’s, yes,” Lizbet says. “But since he’s not here…”

“I would strongly advise against putting anyone in Xavier’s suite,” Magda says. “He’s paying to keep it empty.”