“I know. That’s my next step. I have to break this news to her and get her to understand that she must live here and help me.”
“I can still help with the hotel,” Susanna promised. “I don’t mind.”
“I know you don’t, but the truth is that my brother is cutting our pay because your mother isn’t doing her part. We barely made it on what he gave us as it was. If your mother is doing her part, then perhaps he’ll give me back the full stipend.” Hegot to his feet. “I’m heading over to tell your mother now. I hope you’ll pray for me.”
“Of course. I’ll also take care of things here while you’re gone.”
“The guests who are here won’t require any cleaning, and of course we don’t change their beds unless they’re here longer than a week. So you should be able to take it easy.”
Susanna nodded. That was the one concession she could allow. If the same guests were to have the same room for a few nights, there was no need to change the sheets. “I’ll be praying, then. I can give my full attention to it.”
Herbert made his way home, anxious to speak to his wife while at the same time dreading it. Gladys would never understand, nor would she ever agree to do her part. He knew her mind would be completely set against it—and him—as she always was. No matter how much Susanna prayed, it would take an outright miracle to get Gladys to change from the spoiled woman she was.
He entered the house and was greeted by nothing but silence. They’d not been able to hire anyone to cook and clean for them in the short time Lia was gone, so they’d mostly been eating cold foods or getting their meals at the Harvey House.
The clock on the wall chimed seven. His wife was used to sleeping until ten and then taking her tea and breakfast. Sometimes in bed, when things were particularly difficult. Herbert knew that waking her to tell her how things had changed would not bode well, but he had no choice. He needed to get back to the hotel soon, and no matter when he told her, she wasn’t going to like the news.
“Gladys?”
He found her still sleeping. For a moment he stared downat her, trying to remember a reason, any reason, they were still together. It certainly wasn’t love—at least not the kind of love that promoted happiness. No, he didn’t think it was love at all, but more merely being used to each other. The main thing they had in common was the last twenty-six years. There was little else. But folks didn’t easily divorce. The world didn’t encourage such things.
She stirred, and Herbert touched her shoulder. “Gladys. Wake up.”
She opened her eyes. “What? What’s going on? Why have you awakened me?”
“We need to talk.”
“What time is it?”
“A little past seven.” He pulled up a chair and sat down. “I know it’s early, but it’s the only chance I have. Susanna is watching the hotel for me.”
“She’s back? Oh, thank goodness. Hopefully that means Lia will be here soon.”
“Probably after she gets her boys off to school.” Herbert twisted his hands. “Look, I have to tell you something. Something has happened that has changed me.”
“Changed you?” She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. She scooted up in the bed. “What in the world are you talking about, Herbert?”
“I was responsible for the fire at the hotel. I haven’t told my brother yet, but I took the money from the desk and knew it would be missed, and so I set the fire, hoping to cover up what I’d done. That was the money I used to invest in that project I told you about.”
“Frankly, I don’t care. I wish the entire place had burned to the ground.” She shifted to make herself more comfortable. “I certainly don’t want you telling Harrison. He’d probably have you thrown in jail to teach you another lesson.”
“And he’d be right to do so. Look, I’ve been wrong. I’vebeen foolish to believe I knew better than everyone else. We are going to accept responsibility for what we’ve done and do right by Harrison.”
“Whatwe’vedone?I’vecertainly done nothing wrong.” She folded her arms against her body. “This is madness.”
“We’re going to move to the hotel and live there. We’re going to take care of the place and prove to Harrison that we’ve changed—that I’ve changed. Then maybe he will reestablish us as we desire. It’s our only chance to make things right.”
“You’re mad. Completely mad. I’m not going to live in the hotel, and I’m certainly not going to do manual labor. I wasn’t born to that and won’t start now. You do as you wish, but I’m staying right here. At least until I can figure out a way to leave.”
“But don’t you see? If we do as Harrison has asked and do it well, wecanleave. He said that if I learned to manage things properly, he would set us up elsewhere. We hold the solution in our own hands.”
“I’ve seen how much work goes into that hotel with the laundry alone. I cannot manage it.”
“Well, maybe we could pay Lia to handle the laundry, but you could strip the beds and clean the rooms. Then, when the laundry has been returned, you could remake the beds. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?”
She looked at him as if he’d suggested she shoot the pastor. “You are mad. I think perhaps I will send a telegram to my dear friend Harriet in Denver. Perhaps I can reside with her for a time.”
Herbert reached out to touch her arm, but Gladys jerked away. He frowned. “I know we haven’t had a good marriage, but I’m hoping we can figure our way through this and get back on our feet again. Gladys, you’re my wife, and if you want to return to the kind of life we had, you’ll have to do your part.”