Hotel Check-In

The cab ride over to the Westin Hotel feels as though it is over in an instant. In reality, you are stuck in a minivan for half an hour. Not due to the hotel being particularly far away, of course, but rather to the insane amount of traffic that permeates New York City life.

The girls chatter about different things during the ride, but you take the time to review some things on your phone. Namely, your finances. Like any modern American, you have an app installed for nearly every account you own. Checking, Savings, Loans... the list is long. And, to be honest, it is one that you often don't check due to either being too busy or simply too stressed. Who wants to look at bank statements when the numbers are always red?

Still, you know you need to strengthen your financial footing before you step into this hotel. How much can you truly afford? How much is too much? Normally, your credit card, loans, and every other random thing that drains your bank account occur automatically. So, if you're honest with yourself, you have no idea what your balance is. There was never any point in checking, really, when it only ever told you to work harder.

You open your checking account first. Unsurprisingly, you only have a few measly thousand dollars in it. Your new raise hasn't taken effect yet, and all of the money you earned with Dmitri has been in cash.

Next, you view your investment accounts. Nearly one hundred thousand is saved for Katerina's education in a tax-advantaged account. It should help her, if not cover her college tuition entirely. Your other retirement accounts are pitifully low.

Lastly, you review your open debits. Namely, medical expenses. You have some expenses lingering from Nadia's hospital visit a decade ago, plus new bills from your father's treatment. Despite Donna's help, you still owe quite a sum.

All in all, though, you owe markedly less than you thought. In fact, you feel rather happy after reviewing the numbers. You owe a debt, sure, but you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Money is coming in, and it's overcoming the money going out. You're building progress. The hopefulness you've felt recently is now backed by empirical evidence: hard numbers.

Despite that, it isn't a surprise. What else could have happened? After all, you have the power of a god on your side. There is only one direction to go in, and you're already headed there.

The cab stops at the entrance of the hotel, and the driver taps a paper on the divider between the front of the cab and the rear. It explains how to pay using a tablet mounted on the back of the seat, which you quickly slide your card into while the girls shuffle out onto the hotel landing. The driver thanks you, and you follow the girls out.

You look around to see the bellhop has already started pulling your luggage from the rear of the car, loading it onto a stainless steel trolley. He approaches you as the cab disappears into the city traffic.

"Sir, would you like for me to valet your luggage to your room?" he asks, in a thick north African accent.

"Yes, thank you. Although, we haven't secured a room yet. Will that be an issue?" you ask.

"Not at all. Simply take this ticket, and the front desk will notify us of your check-in. You'll have your luggage waiting for you before you make it up the elevator."

"Good man, thank you," you answer back with a smile. Feeling generous, you hand the man a twenty. Maybe others can benefit from your come-up, too.

He smiles back and nods in appreciation, then disappears into the hotel through a service entrance.

"So, what now?" Mia asks, looking around at Nadia and Katerina.

"We need to get some rooms for the week," you say, and then lead the girls into the hotel. Katerina and Mia ooh and ah at the revolving door, while Nadia remains silent in the tight space.

The interior of the hotel is beautiful. Whoever designed it certainly earned their keep, as you, Nadia, Mia, and Katerina stop in the lobby to admire the architecture. Shining granite floors with stained wood walls that project in rolling waves, with dim light globes hanging from the ceiling. People sit around in brilliant leather chairs and tufted couches, talking and working. On the other end of the room, a row of bars with hotel staff behind them.

You usher the girls towards the check-in area, then approach one of the staff.

"Hello, how can I help you, sir?" a young woman asks, southeast Asian by the looks of it.

"I'd like to rent two hotel rooms starting now, for seven days. Preferably close to each other, as my," you look at Mia, "daughters will be staying in one alone." She blushes but remains quiet.

"Any preference on beds, sir?" she asks. "There is a convention in town, so options may be thin."

"None," you shrug.

She nods, then types onto her computer. She pauses, then types again. Click-click-click. You wait for a few minutes while she searches for the rooms.

"Um, sir, unfortunately, we are almost out of rooms. We have a single room available with a king bed and a pullout couch. I went ahead and checked other hotels in our area and they are completely booked, except for some rooms with even less space. Would you like to rent this hotel room or should we look for something else?"

Well, shit. You didn't think of that. You look at the girls, one by one, until your eyes land on Nadia's. She shrugs.

"We'll take the room, I guess," you answer, turning back to the staff member. "Doesn't seem like there is much of an option."

She gives you a sympathetic smile, then returns to her computer. "I understand, sir. That will be..." she continues on, explaining the price breakdown, check-in times, and other information you'll need for your stay. Unfortunately, it cost a lot. Fortunately, you finally have the ability to pay for it. As the woman explains how to swipe your card, you pull out your envelope of cash and count out one hundred dollar bills. You slide it across the counter to her.

She nods in silence, takes the money, and returns your change, accompanied by your room keys.

"You'll be staying on floor thirty-seven, room eighteen. Please enjoy your stay, sir!" She beams at you one last time, and you start towards the elevators.

"Oh," you say, turning back, "could you tell the bellhop our room number so he can deliver our luggage?"

"Already on it, sir. Your luggage will be in your room waiting for you."

"Thank you, thank you," you murmur, turning back to see Mia and Katerina already disappearing around the corner, looking for an elevator.

"Well," Nadia says, giving you a pointed look, "I'm not excited about sharing a room, but at least we have separate beds. Thank you, Lev, for doing this." She leans in for a quick kiss and then smiles as she drags you behind, pulling you towards your daughter and her best friend.