“No,” Lillian's voice came from the doorway, making them all jump. “But execution does.”
She stood there in a robe, looking frail but alert. Kate wondered if Lillian gave up the cottage rental and planned to stay at the inn until the end. Regardless, having her join the conversation seemed inevitable.
“How long have you been listening?” Tom asked.
“Long enough.” She came in slowly, using her walking stick. “May I?”
Kate nodded, and Lillian sat carefully in Pop's usual chair.
“You're all so afraid of failure,” Lillian said. “Just like your mother was. Just like I was.”
“You?” Tom sounded skeptical.
“I failed at the most important thing: being a mother. I chose pride over love, control over connection.” She looked at each of them. “Don't make my mistakes.”
“We already are,” James said.
“No. You're young. You're together. You have this inn, each other, time to rebuild.” She accepted the glass Dani poured her. “I have a couple of months, maybe less. I'd give everything I have for your opportunities to fail and try again.”
“So what do we do?” Kate asked.
“You stay,” Lillian said simply. “All of you. Run the inn together.”
“I have a job,” Tom said weakly.
“A job you hate at a firm that wants you gone.”
“I have obligations,” James protested.
“Work remotely. You said yourself no one cares where you are.”
“I have debt,” Dani said.
“Which you can pay off with a steady income from a successful inn.”
“I have...” Kate started, then stopped. What did she have? Pop was safe. The inn was funded. Her siblings were here.
“You have a chance to rebuild,” Lillian finished for her. “To figure out who you are when you're not in crisis.”
They all sat with that, six people around a kitchen table at almost midnight, drinking bourbon and contemplating complete life changes.
“It's insane,” Tom said finally.
“It's impractical,” James added.
“It's risky,” Dani said.
“It's perfect,” Kate said quietly.
Everyone looked at her.
“We're all broken anyway. Might as well be broken together.” She raised her glass. “To expensive failure and cheap bourbon.”
“To coming home,” Tom added.
“To starting over,” James said.
“To family,” Dani said.
