After he left, Dani returned to her campaign. “Lillian could pay for a nurse. Someone trained in dementia care.”
“Pop doesn't want strangers in the house.”
“He might not notice.”
The harsh truth of it hit Kate.Pop might not notice.He was sliding away from them, day by day, and soon he might not know if there were strangers or family caring for him.
“Can I ask you something?” Dani said suddenly. “Why do you hate her so much? Lillian. I understand being angry, being hurt. But this feels like more.”
Kate thought about it, really thought about it. Why did she hate Lillian Whitfield with such intensity? She'd been young when everything happened, had barely known her grandmother existed until the lawyers came.
“She made Mom choose,” Kate said finally. “Between her family and Pop. No one should have to make that choice.”
“But Mom chose Pop. Chose us.”
“And Lillian punished her for it. Cut her off completely. What kind of mother does that?”
“A proud one. A hurt one. A human one.”
Kate stared at her sister. “You're defending her?”
“I'm trying to understand her. There's a difference.” Dani moved to the window, looking out at the snow-covered garden. “Did you know Mom tried to reconcile with her? Years before she got sick?”
“What?”
“Lillian told me. Mom wrote letters, trying to bridge the gap. Lillian never answered. She says it's her biggest regret.”
“She should have answered.”
“Yes. She should have. But she didn't, and now Mom's gone, and all any of us have are regrets and what-ifs.” Dani turned from the window. “Don't you see? We're doing the same thing. Holding on to pride while time runs out.”
Kate wanted to argue, but Rosa appeared in the doorway. “Miss Kate? The couple in Room 3 wants to check out early. The storm has them worried.”
Kate nodded. “I’ll take care of it.” Kate looked back at Dani, “Well talk about this later.”
The rest of the morning dissolved into the familiar rhythm of running the inn. Checkout procedures, breakfast for the remaining guests, laundry to start, beds to strip and remake. Dani helped, though she moved through the tasks like someone playing at innkeeper rather than being one.
By noon, as Ben had predicted, the storm broke. Patches of blue appeared between clouds, and weak sunlight made the snow sparkle. Kate stood on the porch, breathing in the clean, cold air. The harbor was visible again, gray-green water dotted with ice.
“Pretty,” Dani said, joining her.
“It's always pretty after a storm.”
“No, I mean this.” Dani gestured at the inn, the view, the whole scene. “I forgot how beautiful it could be here.”
“Easy to say when you're not the one maintaining it.”
“That's not fair.”
“Isn't it?” Kate turned to face her sister. “You left, Dani. You and Tom and James. You all left, and I stayed, and now you want to come back and tell me how to save everything?”
“I want to help.”
“With Lillian's money.”
“It's our mother's money, really. What she would have inherited.”
“Mom didn't want that money. She chose this instead.” Kate gestured at the inn, tired and worn but still standing.
