Not even for your brother?
Logan:
Especially not for my brother. You never pay the bill.
Anyway, evenings are booked out for the next three weeks.
Me:
Congratulations.
Logan:
Thanks. You can come by for lunch sometime.
Me:
I’ll see. There’s a lot to do at the moment.
Logan:
Isn’t there always?
Me:
Yes, but the Pearl Gala is back on now.
Logan:
Didn’t Richard call it off?
Me:
Yes, but Vivian wants it to go ahead. And when she tells him to jump, Dad just asks how high. He really thinks she can save his bacon.
Logan:
And you don’t think she can?
Twice, I started typing a response, only to delete them both immediately. I didn’t know what I thought. On the one hand, I only wanted what was best for the hotel, and the best outcome would be for the court to dismiss the prosecution’s charges next week and drop the case due to a lack of evidence. On the other hand, I wanted justice. I found it hard to accept that my childhood hero was a sex offender, but I had no doubt that he was guilty. Still, no matter what happened, The Darlington would have to live with the stigma for years to come. There was no good outcome to this situation, only a bad and a very bad one. Nothing would ever be the same again, for the hotel or my family. But I wasn’t ready to accept that yet, so I avoided answering Logan’s question.
Me:
I have to go, sorry. We’ll talk some other time, OK?
Logan:
Sure. Do your important things, you important man.
Me:
I will, Dickface.
Logan:
Buttface!
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