The man handed her the blue box.
She reached for the wristbands.
The man in the resort polo smiled.
"Wonderful. May I confirm your room number before I activate those?"
She gave it proudly.
He glanced at the small tablet in his hand. Then his smile changed.
Not disappeared.
Changed.
She reached for the wristbands.
"I'm afraid these weren't prepared for your room, Ma'am."
Her hand froze inside the box.
"WHAT?"
A manager stepped forward from beside the towel station. The lifeguard came too, his whistle resting against his chest.
The manager's voice stayed polite.
"Those gifts were arranged for the guests assigned to these reserved lounge chairs."
Her hand froze inside the box.
***
Silence spread in a slow circle around the pool.
The woman's smile faltered.
"They left."
The lifeguard spoke calmly.
"They were gone less than 15 minutes. Their towels were clipped with room tags, and I watched you remove them."
Her boyfriend shifted in Mia's chair.
