Jack Thornton never thought that he would find himself like this, driving out of Chicago like a bat out of hades. While he was not obnoxiously speeding, his foot was heavier on the gas pedal than necessary. On a whim he turned back around and boarded a plane. An hour later he was in the air, heading for Ontario. It wasn't like he had planned this. On the contrary, he didn't even expect to board a plane this morning. What the heck, he had the miles, and more than enough money from the sale of his book to buy this same trip more than a hundred times over.
A few hours later, Jack was driving a rented Land Rover out of the city and into the countryside. It was beautiful out this way, the kind of beauty that makes one's heart soar and glad to be alive. Jack chuckled darkly at the thought, 'glad to be alive'. Give it time Thornton, he thought, you won't even remember that you even existed.
Jack didn't know what made him turn off the highway. Maybe it was something he saw; or maybe, it was the sign indicating a historic building. Whatever it was, he found his rented Land Rover pulling up to the most beautiful hotel he had ever seen.
Resting on a prominent hill, painted white, as large as a castle, with a spire rising from the middle, was a building that declared "The Grand".
The Grand Hotel, Jack thought, chuckling, a little too on the nose. Driving to the front, he got out, gave his key to the valet, and walked inside. Funny, up until now he had always been Leary of valets, always subconsciously he always feared that they would steal his car. Again, he chuckled, thinking, I guess dead men don't care.
The desk clerk smiled as she checked the register. It was a nice smile, Jack thought, genuine. It's a shame people don't smile that way anymore.
She informed him that room 213 was available, but would not be ready for another thirty minutes. Jack nodded, thanked her, and left to walk around the lobby.
Jack soon realized why it was called The Grand Hotel. It was indeed grand, from the red carpet, to the guilded chandelier, everything shome and was immaculate. As he walked he found himself beginning to fall in love with this little bit of paradise. He found a sign at the end of the lobby, indicating the direction where lay a "Hall of History". With twenty eight minutes to spare he went outside and followed the path to the Hall of History. Hall was a very inappropriate word for the building that Jack found, museum was a better fit, but still not quite right. He was greeted by the caretaker of the hall, an elderly man with a kind face and deep eyes that seemed ageless.
"Welcome sir", the man said, extending his hand. Jack shook the man's hand and asked if tours were given.
"Well, normally people look around on their own, but if you'd like, I can show you around. I don't mean to brag, but I'm the man for the job. you see, I've been here since 1910".
"That long"?
The man chuckled at the question.
"I was only three years old then. Here", the man said, indicating the first item on display, "this is the first photograph of the Hotel in 1896. Of course it's older than that, but the owner, Noah Stanton, spent his entire life's savings to build it for his wife, Abigail. It was her dream to open up a hotel, of course she didn't dream of one as grand as this. It wasn't until the second year when he could afford to hire the best photographer in the province to have The Coronado photographed".
"The Coronado"?
"That was the first name, the wife named it after the Spanish explorer. The name changed when a man by the name of Gowan swindled Noah out of everything he had, including the Hotel. Noah was so furious that he confronted Gowan. Pity it was near the bay. The tide came in and swept both men out towards the Labrador, never to be seen again".
"That's..quite a story", Jack said, gazing at the picture. He couldn't quite explain the feeling that was growing inside.
"It's quite the Hotel. And this", he said, indicating a playbill with the date 1910, "is where I come in".
Jack couldn't help but find himself entranced by all of the stories the man...it suddenly occurred to Jack that he didn't know the man's name.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've introduced ourselves, I'm Jack Thornton".
"Cody Stanton".