Chapter Six
IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHTwhen Max finally felt exhausted enough to make his way to bed. Anna lay sleeping in her corner of the parlor, and he wondered what she dreamed about.
He’d found her earlier curled up next to a stack of firewood outside the schoolhouse. It was a curious place to find her, considering the two months she’d attended school in Crest Stone had been riddled with talks from her teacher and more truancy than actual attendance. He both looked forward to and dreaded her return to school next month.
At least she’d come with him when he asked, even though she hadn’t spoken a word to him all night. Miss Sullivan had brought over chicken, carrots, and potatoes for supper, all of which Anna ate without complaint. After supper, she’d sat on her bed and paged through the one book she’d taken from her mother’s home when he came to get her. She’d never let him look at it, and as far as he could tell, it was a children’s story about circus animals.
Delia had attempted to make conversation with her, but all she’d gotten in return were mumbled one-word answers. She’d gone upstairs hours ago, while Max sat in the parlor, wide awake even after Anna had dozed off.
It had been a trying day, and he thought he would be aching for a good night’s sleep. But then he thought of Delia, and what she may—or may not—expect, and his mind felt like a train unable to stop on its way down a mountainside.
He gathered up the lamp and crept upstairs. It was late enough now that he expected Delia would be asleep, and it was a relief when he saw that he was right. Silently, with the lamp as dim as he could get it without tripping over Delia’s trunk or running into the wardrobe, he changed and sat carefully on the edge of the bed.
Her breathing came evenly as he extinguished the lamp. Ever so slowly, he eased himself under the bedcovers. He was almost lying down when she shifted, and her breathing changed.
“Max?”
He froze. “Yes?”
But she said nothing else, and after a few seconds, she began to breathe evenly again. His heart slowed, and he began to relax.
He fell asleep with the echo of his name on her lips repeating over and over in his head.
MAX SMOOTHED DOWN THEpage on the guest ledger as he took stock of how many rooms the hotel had left to let that evening.
“How does it look?” Liam Hannan asked as he entered the small lobby.
“Three rooms empty,” Max replied.
Liam grinned. “And to think there were a few folks in town who didn’t see the need for another hotel.” He nodded at a guest who was descending the stairs nearby before turning back to Max. “I have something I’ve been meaning to speak to you about.”
“Of course.” Max pushed the ledger to the side and gave Liam his full attention. The man constantly had new ideas—an English garden for next summer, importing oranges for each room in the winter, presenting each guest with a glass of chilled lemonadewhen they arrived—and Max was always curious to see what he might think of next.
Liam straightened his tie and looked around, as if he were afraid someone might be listening in. “I’ve been thinking of expanding into another opportunity in town, which means I’d be away from the hotel more often. If I do, I’d need someone to act as manager. Would you be interested?”
Max blinked at him.
“It would be more time, of course, but increased pay. I need someone I can rely on to ensure the guests are happy. I thought that since perhaps you now had someone to look after Anna—”
“Yes,” Max blurted out. “Yes, I’m interested,” he said in a more tempered voice.
“Good.” Liam smiled. “I’m inquiring more about this opportunity, and if it works out, I’ll let you know.” His attention strayed to the stairs, where their currently most interesting guest—a fellow who came from Washington, D.C.—had just descended. “Oh, Mr. Farnsworth! It’s good to see you again.”
As Liam accompanied the man out the door, Max leaned forward on his elbows. Him, a hotel manager. He shook his head. For someone who’d lived most of his adult years off the winnings he’d made at cards, this was entirely unexpected. A year ago, he never would have pictured himself doing any sort of traditional work, and look where he was now. If he got the job, he’d ensure Liam didn’t regret it. His mind went wild with the possibilities. He could buy a piece of land, build a home that both Anna and Delia would enjoy and be proud to call their own. They’d never want for anything. Perhaps he’d even purchase a horse and carriage, and take them on rides down to the creek.
The front door opened, and he straightened, ready to great the guests that walked in. But instead, Delia stepped inside, Anna in tow.
Max was speechless. Not only had Anna never come to the hotel, he’d never seen her with her hair neatly brushed and plaited and in a clean dress. He paid a lady in town to do their laundering, but it seemed that every piece of clothing Anna put on was immediately covered in dirt and stains.
“Good morning,” he said as they approached the desk. “Aren’t you both looking lovely today?”
A smile flickered across Anna’s face before it turned into a scowl.
“Thank you,” Delia said for the both of them. She was radiant in a simple tan-and-cream dress, and not for the first time since he’d seen her just a few days ago, Max wondered how she hadn’t found a fellow to marry her in New York. She’d told him little of her family, only that her father had passed on and left them a decent sum of money.
“What brings you to the Hannan Hotel?” he asked.
