Beauty Queen
Lila admits that her looks cannot match a beauty queen. She elaborates, “While I was no beauty queen…my brown skin glowed and my long, black hair was thick and shiny from straightening it every morning. My pride and joy. Too bad I had to keep it under a baseball cap for work." Lila is content with her looks. She appreciates herself even if she may be regarded as a beauty queen by conventional standards. She is comfortable with her hair and skin.
Penance
Lila feels that her godmother's remarks about her body form are punishment. She explains, "The recovering Catholic in me recognized that these barbs were just the beginning of the penance they would make me pay for being away so long." She must put up with their comments no matter how uncomfortable she feels. Having returned to Shady Palms, she has braced herself for their comments because it is their way of showing they adulate her.
Trouble
Lila likens the presence of Derek and Mr. Long at the hotel to trouble. Although they purchase food, their appearance discomfits Lila. She explains, “Those two coming here together—especially after our latest warning about being behind rent again—could only mean one thing for us. Trouble.” Although the hotel is running, it is facing financial challenges. The returns from selling food and desserts are insufficient to pay their rent promptly. Mr. Long being the lessor, needs rent to be paid promptly. His presence at the hotel reminds them of their pending rent payments.
