Page 21 of Fresh Start at Hearts Hotel
Linda waited, knowing it was a lot worse than she had thought.
“The hotel is in trouble,” Maggie said. “Real trouble. I’m not going to pretend it isn’t. The bookings still come in, but Uncle George has been turning people away for two seasons because he hasn’t had enough rooms to accommodate them, as there are quite a few rooms that have fallen into disrepair. There’s a leaking shower on the third floor that he just shut off. Two guest rooms on the second floor have mold in the bathrooms, which he closed off rather than treat. The dining room ceiling cracked badly during a winter storm two years ago, and he had it patched rather than properly repaired. There’s a damp stain above the table by the window now, and he’s hung a basket of ferns to disguise it. The south elevator has been out for six months because the part has to come from a specialist who won’t ship without payment up front.”
“How did I not know any of this?” Linda said, rubbing her temples as Maggie’s words sank in.
“Because Uncle George didn’t want you to know. Because he forbade Tom, Martin, and me from telling you or telling Michael directly. Because every time I tried, in the gentlest way I could, you were drowning in your own troubles and I couldn’t bear to add to them.”
Linda closed her eyes. Her heart was aching now, and her throat felt like it was constricting.Oh no, Uncle George, you should’ve called us. She stared at her sleeping uncle.You, stubborn, stubborn man.She reached out and gently took his hand.
“Tom has been subsidizing the food and cleaning products budget for the hotel as much as he can,” Maggie told her.
Linda’s chest hurt, and her eyes widened as she realized what money Tom must be using to subsidize that with.
“Martin moved into a staff room at the hotel a year ago,” Maggie went on. “Martin lives there for free now, and in exchange, he handles the hotel’s books and looks out for George. Martin and Tom are also doing a lot of handiwork around the hotel for George, trying to keep as much of it operational as possible. I’ve been helping with some renovations as well. We’re all doing our bit where we can.” She turned her head and smiled fondly at Uncle George. “After all, he’s always been there for all of us.”
“Oh, Uncle George.” Linda’s voice cracked. She patted his hand gently. “You should’ve called Micahel and me.”
“Between Tom and me, we’ve been trying to keep as many of the staff on as we can by paying their wages,” Maggie glanced at Uncle George. “Martin has the local bank manager pretending he’s extended yet another loan to the hotel just so he doesn’t know.”
Linda turned her face toward the dark window for a moment. She couldn’t trust her voice yet. How had she and her brother not seen this?
“How far behind is he, Maggie?” Linda asked when she trusted her voice again and turned to face her.
“I don’t know the full picture. Martin has the books. From what I’ve pieced together, the hotel has been losing money for at least three years. The repairs that were put off keep getting more expensive. What would have cost ten thousand to address two years ago will cost forty now.”
“Forty thousand?” Linda choked.
“That’s the low end.” Maggie’s eyes darkened with emotion.
Linda stared down at her hands. She thought about the small amount the house sale had left her with after Richard’s debts had been paid, the careful budget she had built to last her until she found work. She thought about the hotel that had been her family’s pride for three generations. She thought about Uncle George on a step ladder with a lightbulb in his hand because he hadn’t wanted to ask anyone for help.
“He’s been killing himself for that hotel,” she said quietly.
“Yes.” Maggie nodded. “And none of you could stop him.”
“None of us could even tell him we were trying.”
Linda lifted her face. Maggie was watching her with an old, tired affection that asked for nothing.
“Why didn’t I see it at Mom’s anniversary?” Linda whispered. “He was tired. I told myself being tired was reasonable for eighty-five.”
“Linda, this is not you or Michael,” Maggie assured her. “He told you and Michael everything was fine, and he looked you in the eye, and you saw what he wanted you to see.”
Linda nodded. She wiped her face with the back of her hand as a stray tear escaped.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
“Tom, Martin, and I have actually been enabling him,” Maggie admitted. She sighed and rubbed her face. “Your uncle stepped in and took me in after my parents died when I was young.” She stared at George. “He helped Tom so much.” She gave a soft laugh. “Remember, Uncle George was the one who made the match between your mom and Tom.”
“Yes,” Linda said, blowing out a breath and feeling her cheeks heat. “I wasn’t very happy about that at first.”
“Of course you wouldn’t be, your father had only been gone for three years,” Maggie stood up for her lifelong best friend. “If you remember, I tried to help you sabotage the relationship.” She pulled a face. “We even tried to get your mother fired from the bakery.”
“I really was a brat,” Linda said with a big sigh. “It’s been five years, but I still miss my mom so much.”
“I know you do, Linnie, I know you,” Maggie said, softly squeezing Linda’s hand and putting her head on her shoulder comfortingly. “I miss her too. She was always there for us.” She smiled and wiped a tear from her cheek. “She, Tom, and George just took me in after my parents were killed, treating me like part of the family.”
“That’s because you are,” Linda pointed out. “Your mom and mine were best friends, like we are.”
