Ilike it better living here than with Mother and Father,” Gary admitted a week later.
“I can’t say that I blame you.” Susanna had made toast and boiled eggs for breakfast. “Are you hungry?”
Gary nodded. “I’m always hungry these days. Owen says it’s because of the way my body is trying to adjust to the hard work.”
“How’s that going for you?”
He slipped into a chair at the table. “I’m not good at it, Susanna. I’m not good at much of anything.”
“In time you will be. You just have to put your mind to it.”
“Herc and the boys tease me because I’ve never had to work. Herc said he had to cut down trees for firewood when he was just a boy of six and lived up in Minnesota. I played with toy soldiers in the nursery when I was six.”
“I’m sure everyone has their story, just as you do. Don’t give up, Gary.” She placed three boiled eggs and two pieces of toast in front of him. “I’ll get you some coffee.”
“I won’t give up, but ... well, Owen may give up on me. I just don’t seem to understand the things he wants me to do. I’m trying, though. I really am.”
“Did you tell him that?” She brought the coffeepot andplaced it on a hot pad near Gary. She quickly retrieved her own breakfast plate and joined him at the table. “I’m sure if you’re honest with Owen, he’ll be patient with you. Besides, today is Saturday—so just a half day. You won’t have to work quite so hard.”
Susanna offered a short prayer, and they dug in. Gary noted the time and began to eat a little faster. Susanna wondered what Owen thought of her brother. It wasn’t like he’d ever worked before. Surely Owen would remember that. Still, should she say something to him when they were next alone?
Gary was soon off to work, and moments later Susanna’s father appeared, ready for his workday. He was late but seemed in a surprisingly good mood. Susanna took the opportunity to ask a favor.
“Father, later today some of the women are getting together to quilt. They’ve invited me to join them so I can learn. I don’t know how long it will last, but I assume I won’t make dinner with the family. I wondered if you would consider returning to the hotel after dinner this evening and keeping the front desk for me.”
“Of course. I’d be happy to. I think the time away from your mother will help her to calm down.”
“Is she out of sorts even now that Uncle Harrison has returned to Kansas City?”
“She’s worse than ever.” Father shook his head and sighed heavily. “I think she hoped to change Harrison’s mind when he was here, but you know from what transpired that this was never even remotely possible.”
“Uncle Harrison only wants you and Mother to change your ways.”
“It isn’t his right to run my life,” her father replied, turning the guest log to check the names. “Just because he’s been more successful—had better breaks—doesn’t mean he’s smarter than me.”
Susanna could hear the misery in her father’s voice. How did one face their failures without acknowledging their inadequacies?
“We all make mistakes, Father.” She tried her best to tread carefully. “Even you.”
“I admit that I made a mistake. I should have done things differently, but it’s too late to change things now, so why dwell on it? Harrison would have me wallow in it and cover myself in sorrows. How am I to move forward if I can’t seek another means of financial gain? How can I redeem myself?”
“Uncle is giving you a chance to redeem yourself by managing this hotel. He believes you and Mother should work to make it a success and prove yourselves.”
“To whom? Him? I already know I’m fully capable of great things. I’ve had a life of great gains and losses. I’ve lived with great successes. Losses too, of course, but I’ve always bounced back.”
Susanna shook her head. “The only way you came back from those losses was because Uncle Harrison paid your debts.” She winced a bit, realizing her words would hurt.
“But it’s my money he used! He thinks I don’t know that.”
“Don’t know what, Father?”
“About the separate inheritance. Our father didn’t trust me, so he left my money in Harrison’s care.”
Susanna hadn’t realized her father knew about this and wasn’t about to admit she knew. “Why do you think he did that?” She hoped reflection on the matter might help him face the truth.
“He enjoyed controlling me. Harrison too. They think me incapable of managing my own affairs, but it isn’t true.”
“But it is. You lost everything because you refused to be counseled on this last investment.”
