Chapter 14 - Leah Asks Different Questions
Leah did not care about Hale Hospitality.
That unsettled Trevor.
He was used to people knowing.
At dinner she asked:
“What do you do?”
“Regional sales.”
“What did you used to do?”
He hesitated.
Then told.
Company.
Merger.
Forgery.
Sentence.
Wedding.
Mother.
Mud.
No excuses.
Leah listened.
Then:
“Do your parents forgive?”
“Yes.”
“Do you?”
“What?”
“Forgive yourself.”
Trevor had no answer.
She said:
“Okay.”
No rescue.
They dated two years.
Then Trevor called Catherine.
“I’m thinking of proposing.”
Catherine smiled.
“What do you want from me?”
He laughed.
“Nothing.”
Progress.
Then:
“I wanted tell.”
“Good.”
He did not ask family ring.
He bought own.
No company event venue.
Small botanical garden wedding.
Catherine attended in blue.
No mud.
No security drama.
Jennifer gave toast.
“I am happy Trevor finally married someone who does not want our mother’s job.”
Everyone laughed.
Trevor too.
Leah squeezed hand.
Then after wedding Trevor asked:
“Did you have flashbacks?”
Catherine answered:
“Yes.”
He looked stricken.
“But I came anyway.”
Then:
“Thank you.”
No need more.
Marriage with Leah had rules.
No family money expectations.
Separate financial discussions.
Trevor told her trust summary.
She said:
“So your parents’ money is their money until it becomes whatever their estate says.”
“Yes.”
“Why is that complicated?”
He laughed.
“Apparently it was.”
Then three years later Leah became pregnant.
Trevor called.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“You’re going to be grandmother again.”
Catherine cried.
Then:
“Can I buy things?”
Trevor laughed.
“Within reason.”
No assumption.
Their daughter Claire was born.
Catherine held.
Trevor watched.
Something changed.
Not redemption magic.
But responsibility.
When Claire was two, she knocked over a framed hotel photograph at our house.
Glass cracked.
Trevor jumped.
“Claire!”
She froze.
He saw fear.
Then softened.
“Hey.”
He crouched.
“It was accident.”
Catherine watched.
Later Trevor said:
“I heard myself starting to become what I hated.”
Catherine answered:
“All parents hear ghosts.”
Then:
“Repair fast.”
He did.
Then Claire at four asked:
“Daddy, is Grandma’s hotel mine?”
Everyone froze.
Where did she hear?
Probably school friend saying family hotel.
Trevor crouched.
“No.”
“Yours?”
“No.”
“Grandma’s?”
“Not exactly anymore.”
Claire frowned.
“Then whose?”
Trevor smiled.
“People who own it.”
Simple.
Then:
“Can I swim?”
“If Grandma books room.”
Catherine laughed.
The cycle ended in one answer.
Not yours.
Not mine.
May you like
We can visit.
That was enough.
