Page 7 of Finding Home at Hearts Hotel

"Tomorrow is where things get serious, though," Michael noted, taking a sip of his coffee. "Tomorrow is the real endurance stretch, rowing relays across the lake, the open-water swim, and the around-the-lake cycling loop."

“Sounds energetic,” Anna said with a small shudder, and took a bite of the sandwich. She chewed a bit and pursed her lips. “You are right, Michael, this isn’t half bad for hospital cafeteria food.”

“I’ve had a few since Uncle George landed in hospital,” Michael admitted. “And they are the best choice here.”

“Are the two of you not having anything substantial?” Anna asked.

“Oh, no,” Linda replied. “We ate at the barbecue at the lake.”

“I missed the Summer Lake Games,” Anna said as she remembered her time when she lived in Sweet Blossom Bay. “George and I partook in it each year when we were married.”

“I remember,” Linda said.

“Yeah, me too,” Michael nodded before sipping his coffee. “Uncle George was quite competitive.”

“He still is,” Linda reminded her brother.

“I know,” Michael agreed. “Speaking of Uncle George.” He looked at Anna. “How has he been these past few days? We’ve only been able to see him through the window and wave.”

“That meant the world to him,” Anna assured Michael.

They sat together in the hum of the cafeteria, sharing the simple, steady comfort of family before the twenty-minute visiting window opened and they had to head back upstairs to Uncle George.

They finished their coffee as the minutes ticked down, and Michael set his empty mug back on the tray. He leaned forward across the laminate table, his expression shifting from light conversation to something more serious.

"There's something else we didn't mention," Michael told Anna, keeping his voice low against the background noise of the cafeteria. "Darius and Baxter sorted out the entire problem withHearts Hotel. All of the Winebergs' filings and forged audits are being thrown out."

Anna stared at him, her eyes widening in genuine surprise before the profound relief settled over her face. "Darius did that?" she asked, looking from Michael to Linda. "After everything?"

"He did," Linda confirmed, a small smile touching her lips. "And that's not all. Gill and her father's names have been completely cleared. In fact, Gill has been offered your old position back at the college."

Anna’s eyes misted with tears, and Linda watched as the sheer weight of years of anxiety finally lifted off her shoulders. Anna reached out to steady her hand against the edge of the table, her breath catching. "I’ve been so worried about Gill and her father through all of this," Anna whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "They got caught right in the crossfire of that jealous Wineberg princess."

"They're safe now," Linda assured her, reaching across the table to squeeze Anna's hand. "The cloud is gone."

"I'm just so happy for Gill," Linda added, a knowing look passing between her and Anna. "And... I happen to suspect that Baxter and Gill are in a relationship."

Anna let out a laugh, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "I already knew that, and I've known for months."

"You did?" Michael asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Of course I did," Anna answered, shaking her head with a gentle smile. "Baxter went to great lengths to help Gill behindthe scenes. I honestly think he fell in love with her the very first moment he saw her."

"Well, I'm glad that Owen found Isabel," Linda said in a low hush, watching the light catch the edge of her coffee mug. "Because Gill had been his first true love, and it would've been heartbreaking for him to have met up with Gill again after all these years.”

“Yes, I know,” Anna said with a sigh and shook her head. Sadness darkened her eyes. “People waste so much time in life.”

“We really do,” Linda agreed with her. “We waste it on the most trivial things as well.”

“Things that in the long run don’t really matter,” Michael continued. “And we only realize it when it’s far too late.”

LINDA

The twenty minutes ticked away quickly in the quiet hum of the cafeteria, and soon Linda, Michael, and Anna were walking back down the long linoleum hallway toward George’s room. The air conditioning hummed overhead, blowing a steady, cool draft that smelled faintly of antiseptic and floor wax.

As they rounded the corner toward the step-down unit, Michael slowed his pace slightly, glancing between his sister and Anna.

"Do you think we should tell Uncle George about the hotel?" Michael asked, keeping his voice low so it wouldn't carry past the nurse's station.