Page 85 of Meet Me at the Grand

“You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” At Liam’s protest, Dad held up a hand. “You were a young boy, but your mother was always in awe of what a big helper you were. And you were so excited to have a sister. You promised to help with her, even do middle-of-the-night diaper changes.” His father chuckled. “I think you would have too. You’ve always been a good boy, someone who wants to help. But somewhere along the way, you took too much on yourself.”

Dani had said something similar, hadn’t she? “Maybe. But if I didn’t, then who would have?”

“We’re a lot alike, you know. Both of us afraid to give up control. Afraid to fail the people depending on us,” Dad said. “Did you know I started going back to church with Marianne the last few weeks? Before we even started dating. She saw how depressed I was with you gone and at the prospect of this hotel deal sinking the company.”

Liam lifted his eyebrows. “Yeah? That’s great, Dad. And you’ve found comfort there?”

“I have. The sermon this last week was about remembering that God cares about the birds of the air, how He feeds them. And if He cares that much about birds, how much more does He care about us and all the people we love?”

The truth hit Liam in the sternum, and he lifted his hand to rub at his chest. “But that doesn’t mean we can just abandon our responsibilities.”

“No, but it means we don’t have to take on something that was never meant to be ours in the first place. God will take care of us. He will take care of our people. We must do our best, but in the end, He’s in charge anyway. And His plans are good. But it’s up to us to trust Him and take that leap of faith, even when it seems risky to us.”

Liam sat back against the couch cushion. Wow. When he thought about that—about surrendering control and all of his worry to someone infinitely more capable than him—it was like a weight coming off his shoulders. He could breathe again. “But what does that mean in terms of the company?”

“That depends on you, son. Do you want to be CEO? Don’t think about me or the employees or any of that. What do you want?”

“Honestly?”

“Of course. Because while there are times when we have to follow God’s calling and it might make us uncomfortable, He gave us certain talents and abilities. He gave us passion for certain work. And if you’re not finding that passion in being a CEO—something I did love—then I will find someone else who will care for this company and its employees like I did.”

“Wait. What?” Liam blinked. “If I turn it down, you won’t go right back to being CEO?”

“I might do it part time until we find the right candidate, but Travis and Jimmy both have shown great leadership and potential. I think either of them would be willing to step up in the interim, maybe see if it’s a good fit. Especially given their desire to be in Los Angeles more, what with their families and all.” Dad frowned. “I never meant for you to feel trapped by this, Liam. I want you to find your God-given purpose. To follow the paths where He’s leading you. If you’re willing to take the risk.”

“Taking risks has never been my strong suit. In business or in life. Love.” He blinked. Coughed. “Someone recently told me that what happened with Tiffany a few years ago was me running away. That it was cowardly. I didn’t think so. I guess I thought I was saving us both inevitable heartache when things didn’t work out. But maybe this person was right.”

“When someone experiences loss at a young age like you did with your mom, it’s not unusual for them to learn that love can be a risk. That loving—and losing—hurts more than anything else.” Dad patted Liam’s shoulder. “But never taking the risk might be the greatest risk of all. Think of how dull life would be without love. How aimless. You reminded me of that, Liam. That God has all sorts of good things He wants for our lives. But if we’re even too scared to try, well, I think that would be the most tragic thing of all. Even more tragic than losing someone we love.”

Oh man. Liam inhaled a trembling breath. “What if it’s too late? What if I already lost someone because I wasn’t willing to try?”

Dad’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, so Marianne was right about that too. There’s a young lady. Perhaps that niece of Seb’s you mentioned?”

Liam nodded. “But I royally screwed up, Dad.”

“The good thing about screwing up is it gives the rest of us the chance to practice forgiveness.” Dad gave Liam’s shoulder another pat then stood and headed to the door, which he opened.

Marianne was standing in the hallway, looking sheepish. “I was trying to wait until y’all were done.”

“We’re done. Come on in, and let’s hear Liam tell us all about this woman you say he’s crazy about.”

“Glad to know you will admit when I’m right.” With a wink and a bow, Marianne strode inside to the kitchen, where she removed some sugar-free candies from the plastic bag in her hands. “Sounds like we also need to discuss what you can do to make it up to this woman. Dani, is it?”

“What are these?” Dad picked up the bag and examined them. “You trying to kill me with the fake stuff?”

They started bickering, and Liam slid into a chair at the dining room table, a smile easing onto his face. Dad was going to be okay, and not just because Marianne was here to help take care of him.

God was going to do it too. It wasn’t all up to Liam. God was working everything out—if Liam would only take the leap.

“Okay, Lord,” he muttered under his breath. “I hurt Dani a lot. Walked away from her just like everyone else in her life. Now I need your help to get her to talk to me again. Think we can manage that?”

“Of course He can manage that.” Marianne approached with a plate of food she placed in front of Liam. Did the woman have supersonic hearing? “With God, all things are possible.”

* * *

A week ago, this is the last place she’d expected to be.

Not that it was all that strange for Dani to be sitting on a bench in Blueberry Hill Park on an early Monday evening. From here, she could see the schoolhouse overlooking the park, its windows lit and welcoming, prepared for locals to arrive in the next half hour for the town hall meeting where the Grand Hotel project and plan for the development going forward would be officially announced.

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