Page 79 of Silver Fake

"Okay. I'll get it set up."

He leans in, and we hug, then he leaves. I see him pause a few feet outside the office door and look around before he heads out to go back to Mom. As much as he loves Mom, I know he will always put her first. I also know he hates not being here.

Especially without Wyatt here to run the place the way he would, I think my hesitation to find a new manager might have more to do with knowing who the new manager should be.

The Barton Beach Hotel is a family business that needs to stay in family hands. No manager, no matter their skill set, will love this place the way we do as a family.

I think I've known this since the first day I came here to help. It's why I'm dragging my feet and have only interviewed two people in the three weeks I've been coming back and forth between Houston and here. Dinner tonight with my parents might be just what I need.

* * *

I spend the rest of the day making calls to my financial advisor and getting paperwork together. I’m just hoping my plan works out and my parents are on board. Before I can make my next step to get Lisa back, I need their blessing. I know they are always there to help me, but this is big, and I can feel the sweat on my brow as I make my way to our private table at the Shore Kitchen.

Mom and Dad are already here. Dad pulls out a chair and helps Mom get situated comfortably. As soon as I step into the private room, Mom's eyes move to me, and she smiles like seeing me is the best thing in the world. She always looks at me that way.

It hits me that I've been looking at things wrong most of my life.

I had it in my head that no good woman would want to stay with me because not even my birth mother found me to be enough to stick around, but my Mom did. She has never faltered in her love for me. She isn't just a good woman. She's a great woman and person all around. She has always been here for me.

My chest swells, and I smile back at her, hoping she sees the same kind of love in my eyes as I look at her.

I walk around and bend over giving her a hug. "Hey, Mom. How are you feeling?"

She hugs me back and smiles as I stand up. "Today's a good day. Even better now that I get to see you."

"I guess I'm just chopped liver," Dad says with a smirk as he sits beside her. Mom smacks his arm, laughing, and he leans over and gives her a quick kiss.

I sit across from them and the waiter comes in, carrying plates of food with him, followed by another waiter carrying our drinks.

"I ordered food ahead of time," I say.

I don't have to say I did it to save time in case Mom gets too tired. It's an unspoken thing between us: we do whatever we can to care for her. She hasn't been able to eat a lot, so I skipped her usual seafood favorite and ordered all of us baked chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes.

"Thank you," I tell the waiter as he sets the plates before us.

After they leave, we all start eating. Dad points with his fork to the folder I brought with me, now sitting on the table beside me.

"What's that?" he asks.

"I hope it's not more manager applications," Mom says. "Your dad says you haven't been able to find the right candidate yet."

"It's not applications," I say, "but it is something I hope will help with the whole manager situation."

They both look at each other, then back at me.

"Well," Dad says, "don't leave us hanging."

"I've loved being here more these last three weeks," I say. "Finding a manager to replace Wyatt seems impossible."

"Well," Mom says, "he is family. There isn't a replacement for him, but we need someone to handle the day-to-day stuff and keep this place running."

"I know," I say. "But I think it would be better if it's family. I also think I know just the person to make this place shine like it always has. Someone who will take care of it just like family would. Maybe even better than Wyatt."

Dad smiles ear to ear. "Are you talking about yourself?"

"Yes and no," I say. I pass him the folder and watch them, giving them a minute to review my offer. When their heads lift and they both look at me, I smile. "I want to buy the hotel, and I want Lisa to help me manage it."

Mom's face lights up brighter than it has for the last few weeks. "Does that mean you two finally talked?"

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