Hotel Candelabra: Chapter 39
Almost to the Conclusion of Hotel Candelabra!
Ending to Chapter Thirty-Eight:
What I found in the Lobby almost brought me to tears. It was no longer dark. Nine walked over, grabbed her candle, and set it in the missing spot on the lower tier.
Then I saw Alden holding my candle.
The top spot was empty and waiting for my candle.
Day #6: Chapter Thirty-Nine
Dashing to my room, I grabbed clothes, changed, and headed back out the door while I lifted my backpack on my shoulders and grabbed the handle of the suitcase. The wheels would be of no use without an elevator, but the adrenaline rush of the morning was helping. I was absolutely convinced that this experience should have occurred much earlier in my life.
Walking by the candelabra, I saw my candle was the last one. I thought I had been moving faster than that, but I was the oldest person in the hotel—well, except for Alden and I had no idea how he was doing all this. I grabbed the candle and headed downstairs.
Reaching the Lobby, I deposited my luggage and asked the closest available person to hold my candle. I sensed that mine needed to be placed on top last.
I then headed to the kitchen passageway. I was surprised to see Alden and Nine standing in front of a cupboard door. I could hear something clanking behind the door and paused long enough to see Alden open the door and unload Nine’s bicycle.
He looked at my surprised expression and said, “It is a dumb waiter. Now you know another piece of my magic.”
Shaking my head, I left them and headed up the stairs to help get the other children to the Lobby. When I reached the room, the teens all stood ready to descend the stairs with luggage and candles in their hands.
“Wonderful! Go ahead and put your luggage in the Lobby. Put the candles at the bottom of the candelabra and then come back to help with the younger ones.”
And they were off.
Before long the room was empty…and the crack in the floor was widening. I noticed one candle left on the candelabra and realized Nine had taken the bicycle instead of her candle. I grabbed it and headed to the Lobby.
What I found in the Lobby almost brought me to tears. It was no longer dark. Nine walked over, grabbed her candle, and set it in the missing spot on the lower tier.
Then I saw Alden holding my candle.
The top spot was empty and waiting for my candle.