Page 465 of Seasons of Love
“But I don’t work for the resort,” Griff said.
“If you’ll indulge an old man,” John replied.
Frank led the way, and we followed him inside. Jake held back a little to get into step with me.
“I don’t like this,” he whispered. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
I nodded. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
Jake closed the office door behind him.
Frank’s office was also his private library, so he had two sets of couches and a chair around a large coffee table.
I sat on one couch with a confused Griff next to me. Jake sat on the opposite couch with John while Frank took the chair.
“So,” Frank started. “I learned today that your company pulled out of the contract to work on the structural damage of one of our buildings. I understand Mal and Jacob have been trying to get through to your company to work things out, but they’ve not been successful, and now you visit out of the blue, John. We have a friendship that goes back over forty years. I hope this was a misunderstanding.”
John sat back, crossing one leg over the other.
“Frank, you know how much I value our friendship. You were there for me in my darkest times. Without your help, I wouldn’t have been able to stand up, let alone walk on my own two feet.”
“You say that, and here we are, discussing why your company withdrew the contract,” Frank said.
“Indeed. As I said earlier, your business is all about family. It’s sad that your sister is no longer with us. She’d have been so proud of you.”
Jake stilled. “Can we leave my mother out of this, please? I appreciate your friendship with my uncle, but please get to the point.”
John looked taken aback by Jake’s abruptness, but Frank’s lips twitched with a small smile. Griff had his hand on mine and squeezed lightly.
Yeah, our man can stand up for himself.
“As I was saying,” John continued. “We were practically family by the time we took over the resort, and even after I left to look after my late wife, I always felt welcome. I am no longer confident that’s the case.”
What the fuck was he talking about? The resort was welcoming of everyone. Until a few days ago, I didn’t know his name, let alone his friendship with Frank.
I had to bite my tongue so I wouldn’t speak out of turn.
“Frank, you take pride in welcoming families into your resort, but I no longer believe the resort is the most appropriate environment for the traditional American family.”
What the fuck?
Was he saying what I thought he was saying? Had he withdrawn the contract because the resort was managed by a married gay man?
I straightened up in my seat. I could take a lot of things, but I’d outgrown homophobic pricks a long time ago. And for once, I knew my boss would have my back.
Frank scratched his chin, clearly eager to see where this was going. From the tapping of his finger on the arm of his chair, I could tell he wasn’t impressed with John’s slow and drawn-out speech.
“My business is also my family, and as such, there are things I don’t stand for. My reputation is everything, and I cannot afford to lose business if I’m associated with people with alternative lifestyles—”
“John, you’re walking a fine line,” Frank threatened.
“Look, it’s no one’s business but their own what people do in the privacy of their own home. I don’t care who or what people do in their bedrooms, but this island has always been a safe and wholesome place for families. I’ll say this because I care about you enough to be upfront. You need to look into how your business is being run.”
That was it. I was about to lose it. I took a deep, steady breath before I spoke up. “John, with all due respect, you are making comments that have no place in this day and age, and I’m certain they have no place in this house either. Not only are you being homophobic, but you are also saying that gay men are in some way a danger to the people of this island?”
“I’ll agree with Mal,” Frank said. “I thought we were having a business meeting. I thought you came here to talk through the contact and maybe ask for more money. I didn’t expect my family to be insulted, and I’m certain that it is you I don’t want to do business with, not the other way round.”
John raised his hand. “I came as a friend, Frank. I have a vested interest in seeing the island and the businesses within prosper.”
