“No, but we’re not stupid. We can see he’s struggling.”
“It’s the most important thing to him,” the woman says. “It would kill him to see it shut down.”
My stomach sours. “What needs to be done?”
“Everything,” Fitz says. “It’s worn down. There’s no money to fix it up. It’s like a cycle. Can’t get the guests in to get the revenue we need to fix it up so it’s attractive to guests.”
I turn my phone on, watching a flood of notifications beep through. All my clients want updates constantly on how much money they’re making while my uncle is clinging to his health and the happiness he feels at the hotel.
My mind wanders back to all the times Howie was there for me when my own parents weren’t. He was the one who showed up to baseball games, not them. He took me for ice cream when I got my tonsils out, not them. He visited me in New York after college, and they have yet to. Howie has always been the father figure I needed in my life. Now he needs me to be there for him. But what do I know about running a hotel? An aging one in need of an overhaul at that.
“Who manages the property?” I ask.
“Howie,” they answer in unison.
“Could one of you step up in his absence while he recovers?”
Everyone looks at the woman. “Me?” she questions.
“You know all the back office stuff, Lani,” Archer says. “You’re the most suited.”
Her cheeks bloom pink as she bounces the baby in her lap. “I could try. Just until Howie is better.”
Another notification buzzes in. It’s Charles telling me Janice Engle has been calling all day to see if I’ve checked my messages. Janice is my very rich, high-maintenance client, who apparently has no sympathy for a family emergency.
I like San Diego, but could I just pick up my life to come out here and fix my uncle’s failing hotel? When I look up, hisemployees are watching me like a litter of sad puppies, as if they can read my thoughts. Fuck, am I really thinking of doing this?
“What if I could help?”
Oscar perks up. “Really? You could get us back on track?”
“I don’t know anything about running a hotel, but I know a lot about finances. Maybe with everyone’s help, we could get there.”
Fitz frowns. “Does that mean Howie is gonna be here for a while?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “He’s strong, but even the strongest people need help sometimes.”
“We need it,” Oscar says. “None of us wants to lose it. It’s a landmark, and once upon a time, it was gorgeous.”
Nodding, I stand. I know what I need to do.
After checking in with the nurse, I head back to my uncle’s room. Standing by his bedside, I gaze down at him. His eyes flutter open and he smiles.
“You’re still here.”
“Said I would be.” I brush his white hair from his forehead. “Are you sure you’re ready to step back from the hotel?”
He nods. “I have to if I want to see it thrive. I have some places I want to see before it’s all over for me. This was my wake-up call.”
“I’ll do it.”
The words tumble from my lips before I can second guess myself.
Howie gasps. “You mean it?”
“I do. I need some time to wrap things up in New York.”
He frowns. “I have thirty days to pay some back taxes before there’s a lien.”