“I tried. We sent a boy to tell you to come to the hotel.”
Susanna nodded. “Didn’t Manuel find you?”
“He did, but I was busy with something else.”
“So busy that you haven’t been doing your duty at the hotel?” Susanna’s uncle questioned.
“A variety of things have needed my attention. Susanna was able to manage without me.”
“That wasn’t our agreement, Herbert.”
“I thought we were going to wait until after dinner to talk business,” Mother interrupted. She put her hand to her head. “I simply cannot take this added stress. Susanna, please bring me a tray to my room. Make sure it has cake on it.”
“Yes, Mother.”
They all watched as Mother made her getaway. She didn’t even bother to look back at them as she closed the bedroom door. Would she always run away from her problems in such a manner?
“I expect you to put aside any other distractions and be to work regularly from now on,” Uncle Harrison said. He sampled the pot pie and smiled. “This is delicious.”
“Lia is a very good cook. She’s helping me learn some of her traditional meals.”
Still Father said nothing. Susanna wondered if he would ever bother to answer. She decided to tell Uncle Harrison about her upcoming trip. She’d already told her parents, but the reminder wouldn’t hurt.
“Father will have to take over, because Monday I’m taking a short trip and will be gone until Wednesday evening.”
Uncle Harrison nodded. “I’m sure you’ve earned some time away. Where will you be going?”
“Albuquerque. I’ll do some shopping and hopefully get a few things for the hotel. We could use a picture or two on the walls.” She smiled and ignored the panic on her father’s face.
“Well, that settles it, then, Herbert. You will be the only one around to keep things running. I’ll expect you to be at the hotelfirst thing tomorrow so we can go over the new procedures the insurance company has asked for.”
“Insurance company? You mean there was fire insurance?” her father asked, sounding more than a little hopeful.
“There was. However, the company feels confident that the fire was deliberately set. That makes it impossible to pay out until they have a done a complete investigation.”
“Investigation.”
“Yes. They are going to send a man down here to look over things. However, since the repairs have been made, I imagine he’ll simply interview the staff and fire crew.”
“Interview us about what?” Father asked.
“What you know about the fire, of course. Where you were and why you weren’t on duty. Things like that.”
Susanna thought her father might be sick. He looked so pale and uncomfortable. She took that opportunity to see to Mother’s tray. It broke her heart to imagine her father guilty of setting the fire, but his appearance and fearful voice left her little doubt that he had done the deed. What would happen now?
16
On Sunday, Uncle Harrison took them all out to the Harvey House for lunch. Susanna took the opportunity to remind her parents that she’d be leaving for a few days.
“I’m taking the train in the morning.”
“Where are you going?” her mother asked.
“I told you last week. I’m taking a few days off and going to Albuquerque. I’ll be back on Wednesday. You’ll have to see to the cleaning and laundry, Mother. Father will have his hands full with running the hotel.”
“What?” Her father looked at her as if she were speaking in Spanish.
“I told you last week that I was taking this trip and that the responsibility for the hotel would fall to you two.”
