With Carson Wheeler at the helm of Thunder Bay Houseboats, I was able to concentrate on the business of banking. Centennial Bank, a family owned business since its inception, was doing great with assets in the billions. As President of the bank, my highest priority was monitoring every penny, a job I'd been doing when I was the Vice-President.
I thought my new position would prove more challenging but it wasn't. I seemed to actually have more free time than I did in my former position. Cole Bannister, the bank's new Vice-President was working out really well. He was a little on the pretentious side, informing everyone he came in contact with that he had a PHD in Finance and a Master Degree in Management from Harvard University. His attitude was to be expected. I'd met a lot of well-educated people in my lifetime and boasting about their education seemed to be their favorite pastime.
Cole's wife, Nicole was the exact opposite of her husband. She was warm and bubbly with a down-to-earth personality that you couldn't help but like. She was drop-dead gorgeous with a fantastic figure, coal-black shoulder length hair and bright, emerald green eyes. I doubted Cole was taking care of business at home. Nicole usually stopped by my office, just to say hello, after visiting her husband. She frequently suggested we have lunch together sometime, which led me to believe she wanted to talk. Maybe I was reading between the lines, then again, maybe I wasn't.
Connie Marshall, my new secretary, was working out well. She was quite proficient at her job and always ready to do as I asked. Connie rarely had any male employees stop by to chat. Her work area, just outside my office, was probably too intimidating for most male suitors.
The Labor Day weekend was just a week away. I was planning on driving down to Lake Cumberland, wanting to see how things were going for myself. I hoped the weather would cooperate with my plans so I could enjoy some time out on the lake. I'd prompted Connie to clear the entire week before the holiday off my schedule. Since she didn't have any vacation time left, I offered to let her take time off but she declined my offer.
Returning from a quick lunch at a nearby fast food restaurant, I went about cleaning up any unfinished business before leaving on vacation. Connie was busy at her desk, typing up a financial report for me.
"Just finished the last report." She declared, rushing into my office. "They're ready for you to sign."
"I proofread them." She stated, before I could ask. "I didn't find any mistakes."
"Are you sure you don't wanna take next week off?" I asked, thinking she might want to change her mind.
"Nah. I don't have anything to do." Connie replied. "I'd rather be here than cooped up in my apartment."
"Well, you're more than welcome to go with me if you want." I suggested. "Lake Cumberland's really beautiful and the weather's supposed to be nice for the entire week."
"Oh....yeah! I'd love to go!" Connie exclaimed. "Are you sure I won't be a bother?"
"You won't be a bother." I replied. "The drive gets a little boring with just the radio to listen too. I wouldn't mind a little company."
"What do I need to take?" Connie inquired, showing her excitement. "A bikini or two I guess. Maybe something dressy in case we go out for dinner. Better take some casual clothes too."
"Take whatever you think you'll need." I asserted. "There's shopping malls and stores at the marinas for anything you might forget."
Connie's excitement about going down to Lake Cumberland was a reward in itself for me. I was sure she had boyfriends even though she never mentioned anyone in particular. If getting away to the lake worked wonders for me, I was sure it would have the same effect on her.
Early Saturday morning, I picked Connie up at her apartment complex. It was still dark, at least an hour or two before sunrise. I knew the interstates would be packed with traffic going both ways but I hoped to beat most of it around the Chicago area.
Connie and I chatted about anything and everything during the eight hour drive to Lake Cumberland. She avoided talking about anything personal, which I thought was a little strange. Even so, the drive was much more pleasant having her along.
It was approaching 1:00pm when we finally arrived in Somerset. Traffic on the four-lane divided highway was heavy but moving along at the posted speed limit. Crossing over the new bridge, Connie got her first good look at the lake. Her excitement was like that of a teenage girl about to go out on her first date.
Turning onto Smokehouse Road, Connie noticed the sign for Whiskey Creek Marina.
"Is that where we're going?" She asked excitedly. "Whiskey Creek?"
"Eventually." I replied, feeling my excitement rising along with Connie's. "I've got to stop at Thunder Bay first."
Seeing the mammoth houseboats, perched on their concrete stanchions just inside the chain link fence at Thunder Bay, the young woman practically jumped out of her seat.
"Oh My God!" She shouted. "Would you look at those! They're huge!"
"Yes, I know." I responded, noticing there were only three houseboats on the lot.
Driving up to the building, I saw Robbie's pick-up, Rebecca's mini-van and Carson Wheeler's Cadillac Escalade along with a couple of other vehicles with out-of-state plates on them.
Carson was chatting with a middle-aged couple, standing alongside one of the houseboats. Rebecca came out of the building to greet us, noticing I had a traveling companion.
"And who is this?" She questioned with a warm smile.
"This is Connie Marshall, my secretary." I answered introducing the two women. "I thought she'd get a big kick out of coming down to the lake and getting away from Chicago."
"Welcome to Thunder Bay." Rebecca greeted Connie, shaking her hand. "I'm sure you'll like it down here with us country folks."
"How's sales doing?" I asked, noticing two fairly new powerboats sitting along the front of the building. "Looks like you've sold two of the new ones."
"If that couple Carson's talking to buy the one they've been looking at we'll only have one new one left." Rebecca answered. "The one on the end is already sold. They're launching it Tuesday morning."
"Wow! That's great!" I exclaimed, overjoyed at hearing the good news. "What about the used houseboats? How many of those are left?"
"Just two. But I think that couple's wanting to trade theirs in." Rebecca replied. "If they do, we'll have three."
"Sounds like Carson and I oughta get together and discuss Thunder Bay's future." I remarked. "If sales are this strong, we should keep on building houseboats."
"Wait'll you see the new one!" Rebecca exclaimed. "It's just about finished. Robbie's thinking the guy's will have it all wrapped up by Wednesday."
Entering the construction building, I was astounded at the progress that'd been made since the last time I'd seen it. Robbie and another guy were putting the vinyl decals on the sides of the houseboat, which really set it off. All the canvas trappings were done in a bright blue to offset the basic tan color of the houseboat.
"How big is it?" Connie inquired, looking quite astonished.
"A hundred and ten foot long by twenty foot wide." Rebecca proudly proclaimed. "It's the biggest Thunder Bay houseboat ever built."
Climbing the steps to board the houseboat, I noticed Robbie checking out Connie. For him, it was typical behavior. The salon was yet to be furnished, which made it look even bigger than it was. Stainless steel appliances and natural oak cabinetry complimented the galley. Plastic sheeting covered the plush carpeting and ceramic tile floors for protection. The bedrooms, all five of them were done as were the three bathrooms. Ascending the circular stairway at the rear of the houseboat, Rebecca and I had to duck our heads to keep from bumping into the buildings roof trusses.
Standing on the top deck at the front of the houseboat, we watched Carson and the couple walking towards the office. From the expression on the trio's faces it looked like we'd sold another new one.
"Which houseboats are left at the Marina?" I questioned. "Connie and I are gonna need one while we're here."
"There's an '04 Sumerset, eighty-six by eighteen and a '99 Stardust, one-hundred by eighteen." Rebecca replied.
