Page 20 of The Main Event

“I … don’t know what that means.”

“They have breakfasts in the fall at both schools,” Fred explained. “The fathers are supposed to come eat with the kids. Only not all the kids have fathers. Some do, but they can’t get off work. George volunteered to be a father on loan essentially. Hesat with the kids and listened to them for hours so they wouldn’t have to deal with not having anybody there.”

My heart pinged. “We used to have those breakfasts when I was a kid.”

“Well, think how it would’ve been if you didn’t have a father show up.”

My father had never shown up. When I was young, that had been a disappointment. By middle school, I was relieved. Sure, it had been embarrassing not to have a father present. Actually, having my father there would’ve been worse, though. “I wish I could’ve known my grandfather better,” I admitted. “He sounds like a good guy.”

“He was the best,” Fred agreed. “I’m kind of confused why he left you the hotel if you didn’t know him very well.”

“I’m confused about that too.” My smile was rueful. “He didn’t have a lot to do with the family over the past twenty years or so. I remember him being around more when I was a kid. He used to irritate my mother.”

“Your smile tells me you enjoyed those visits.”

I hadn’t even realized I’d been smiling at the memory. “I did enjoy those visits. Then I kind of forgot about him because he rarely showed up. All of my memories of him are good, though.”

“I’m glad for that. The thing is, son, you don’t want to spit on his memory if you can’t follow through.”

There it was again.Son. I shook my head to dislodge the word. “How soon can you get started on the first floor?”

“Second week of November. I can have my whole crew here. The teardown will actually be worse than the construction.”

“Right.”

“We’re going to have to haul all that old carpet and plaster out,” he continued. “Then the plumber and electrician need to come in. They’ll go room by room and so will we.”

I rolled my neck. “And how soon would you need the money for the next floor?”

“Three months. We’re going to have to dole out the work. We have other jobs, and you obviously need to save up the money. The goal is for this to be completed over the course of about five months, right? That’s four floors, with a month a floor, and some lag time because there’s always lag time. That was the original plan I saw.”

“You mean the one my grandfather approached you with.”

He nodded. “Your grandfather and I talked about resuming the upgrade … and often. He knew it needed to be done. He was running a fine line when it came to money, though.”

“Which I don’t understand.” I turned to look out the window that faced Salem Common. “This town makes the bulk of its money off tourism and there are only three hotels. How can this hotel not make enough money?”

“I can’t answer that for you.” Fred held out his hands. “It’s always been a mystery to me as well. I thought your grandfather should be rolling in it.”

“Unfortunately, my biggest problem appears to be that the hotel is bringing in the bulk of its money during non-peak times with parties.”

Fred didn’t say anything. He just waited.

“The ballroom has been updated, and it makes a ton of money,” I continued. “People come from Boston for parties. We had a party for a sixteen-year-old girl last night—something I thought was ridiculous—and yet when I looked at the numbers, we made a sixty-five percent profit. Sixty-five! Isn’t that ridiculous?”

“I’m not sure what you want me to say,” Fred replied. “Parties aren’t really my thing.”

“They’re not my thing either.” That much was obvious after the previous evening’s shenanigans. “I don’t even understand these parties.”

“Aren’t the parties Daisy’s thing?”

I jerked my eyes to him. “You know Daisy?”

“Everybody knows Daisy.”

“Well, I don’t know Daisy. All I know is that my grandfather was paying her more than just about anybody here, and when I questioned her on that, she screwed me over.”

“That doesn’t sound like Daisy.”

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