“I’m sorry, ladybug,” he says.
I close my eyes. “Rip off the Band-Aid.”
“You have to look at me for this conversation, ladybug,” he says.
I do.
He brings a glass to his lips and takes a sip of his red wine.
Wow. If my father is drinking in the afternoon at the office, this is worse than I thought––worse than I’m prepared for.
“The hotel has been on shaky legs for a while?—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t involve you in the financial parts of the business because I don’t want you to worry. I’m supposed to take care of you.”
“And you think I’m not worried right now? I’m going out of my mind with worry, Daddy. Fear has consumed me since we talked?—”
“It was never my intention to put you in this position?—”
“Perhaps you should’ve been honest with me from the beginning. I’m twenty-three years old. I’m a grown woman. I can handle whatever you’re dealing with.”I hope.
“I thoughtIcould handle it?—”
“How bad is it?” I cut to the chase.
He doesn’t answer.
“Daddy, talk to me. Tell me everything.”
“It’s a colossal shit fest,” he says.
Okay, not good.
“The short answer is, I’m a hair away from bankruptcy.”
I stare at my father in cold shock while my heart tries to painfully reboot.
“Our loyal and dedicated employees count on me to put food on the table, pay their mortgages and send their kids to college,” he says. “We have multigenerational families working in our hotel.” Pride coats his words. “I couldn’t let these people down. I couldn’t let Mom down. Or you. I sunk every dime I had in my effort to keep from sinking––money from Mom’s life insurance, my life savings, and the house is mortgaged to the hilt.” He stares intently at me. “I even had to dip into the money Mom and I set aside for you. I had no choice if I wanted to cover the payroll.” Another long pause. “I can’t hold the staff responsible for my screw-ups.”
“What about the house in the Hamptons? It’s worth several millions of dollars. Isn’t there a way to use some of the equity?”
“I lied about the house in the Hamptons.”
I flinch. “What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t renting it on a long-term lease. I sold it four months ago to keep afloat.”
I gasp in horror. “You sold it without telling me?”
“I was drowning—back taxes, repairs needed for the upkeep of a heritage building as per New York State codes, and an inspection that didn’t go too well.” His eyes shift to a distant point. “On top of that, I’m still paying for your college degree and the colossal bill from my recent hospitalization, which are choking me.” He purses his lips. When his green eyes meet mine, I can only read resignation and sadness. “As much as it kills me to admit this, the sale from of the house in the Hamptons was a drop in the bucket. I was in way too deep for it to turn things around.”
Oh God.
A lump forms in my throat at the thought of what I’m about to suggest, but I have to. What if it’s a lifeline? “What about Mom’s jewelry?”
“No. Never.” Daddy shakes his head. He even adds a rapid finger wave. “That’s off the table. That’s yours.”
