“Were you here when the earthquake hit?”
He nodded. “Me and a few of the boys had arrived. We sought shelter under one of the machines as it rained down brick and glass. We thought for sure we would die.”
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been trying to find a way to get down here since it happened, but they have all sorts of roadblocks and sentries. Did the fire consume the factory that day?”
“No. It wasn’t until the next day. A fireman came to tell us that we had to leave. The fires were spreading fast and were out of control. I had managed to pack up the important records, and we hauled off as much of the boxed chocolate as we could. I donated it to the relief camps.”
Kenzie smiled. “That was an admirable thing to do.”
“Wasn’t much else to be done with it. It could hardly be sold in such conditions.” He shook his head. “It’s all gone now.”
“You had insurance, however, so you can rebuild.” She knew this because she’d handled the payments for his premiums.
“Yes, I had insurance, but apparently you haven’t heard. Most of the companies are refusing to pay out.”
“What? But how can they do that?”
George Lake pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “They can’t afford to pay the claims. No one figured on something like this happening. The insurance companies weren’t required to keep collateral equal to their policies, so there simply isn’t enough to go around.”
“I had no idea.” She felt an overwhelming sadness for this man who had been so kind to her and her friends. “I’m so sorry, Cousin George.”
“Well, what sabotage from my enemies couldn’t manage, God did in one swift stroke.”
She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“We both know Ghirardelli and Guittard wanted to see an end to my chocolate. They tried to see me ruined, but what they couldn’t accomplish, God did through the earthquake.”
“I don’t think God wanted to ruin you, Cousin George.” Kenzie was used to his fears of sabotage, but she’d never heard him bring God into the matter.
“Well, it seems to me that He did. Ghirardelli was unharmed. They’ve continued to work the entire time.”
“You think God would allow San Francisco to be destroyed in order to ruin you as chocolatier?” She shook her head. “Even you have more sense than to believe that.”
He frowned at her. “Then what? Why all of this?” He waved his arm at the destruction.
“Perhaps if this is to be blamed on God, then He did it to get the attention of all who live here. I mean, think of Sodom and Gomorrah. They had plunged into all sorts of decadence and sin just as San Francisco had. Maybe God felt total destruction was all that could be done to get our attention and bring about change.”
“Then He is a cruel and heartless God, punishing the innocent for the sins of the guilty.”
Kenzie shook her head. “I’m no theologian, cousin. I merely pose the suggestion that if God is the one responsible, then perhaps we should take heed. After all, are we truly innocent when we see evil happening and do nothing to stop it?”
He considered this for a moment. “I suppose I don’t have an answer for you on that.”
“Neither do I, but I think that instead of railing at God or blaming Him, we should be bowing before Him, praying to Him for guidance and direction. I believe God is good and that He has a plan in all that happens. Even when bad things happen, I feel confident that He will make something good out of it. Perhaps He will open a door for you to have something even better—greater than before.”
George’s shoulders slumped. “I’m an old man, Kenzie. I don’t have that many more years ahead of me anyway. Maybe it’s best I just forget about making chocolate.”
Gently, she said, “Perhaps you should. It’s possible that this is the right time to walk away. But it’s equally possible that it’s not. You know, sometimes bad things happen and they’re no fault or punishment to that person, but rather the circumstances of the moment. We live in a flawed world. The important thing is that we learn to trust God no matter the situation. There will always be evil men who plot against us and do us wrong.”
She paused for a moment, thinking of Arthur. She wouldn’t call him evil, but he had done her wrong. “There will also be people who simply seek to have their own way and aren’t really striving against us but hurt us nonetheless. There are even people who cause us pain in perfectly innocent ways. It’s a part of life, Cousin George. God allows us to make our choices, including how we will stand up to evil and wrongdoing.”
The boys who’d attacked her on the way to the factory came to mind. Their choices had gotten them killed. Or maybe it was her choice that had caused their deaths. If that were true, how could she live with the guilt? She sighed.
“Cousin George, why don’t you come to the warehouse with me? You can have a good lunch, and if you’ve nowhere else to stay, you’ll be welcome to make it your temporary home.”
He put his glasses back on. “I’d like that. My house was utterly destroyed in the fires, and I’ve been sharing a tent at the relief camp with an annoying group of young men. A little peace and quiet would calm my nerves.”
She smiled. “I won’t lie and suggest we have peace and quiet all the time, but we are fairly calm. Most of the folks staying with us are elderly and didn’t feel they would be cared for properly at the relief camps. We have three good meals a day and clean cots and bedding to sleep on. I think it should suit well enough.”
