Epilogue #2
Grace smiles up at me. “We need to get moving.” Grabbing a couple insulated coffee to-go cups, she pours one for each of us. Mine black, hers with heavy cream. Once I take mine from her, she gives my chest a pat. “Come on, baby. You’ve got this.”
We head to the site of the new place and freeze when I find Max, Dave, Harrison, and my stepbrother, Devon, are all there to celebrate the grand opening.
“What are you guys all doing here?”
“What do you think?” Dev says coming close enough to give my shoulder a squeeze.
I’m worried he’s looking to gloat.
“If the inside is half as nice as what you’ve done with the outside, I’m impressed. It’s a fantastic concept. And I love that you’re repurposing a location that might’ve otherwise fallen into disrepair or been left empty.”
Unable to form words, I just blink at him. Am I awake right now? This guy has given me the business almost from the day my mother and I moved into his home. Always needling me.
Did Grace put some sort of hallucinogen in my coffee?
“Oh, it is,” Harrison adds. “I’ve worked on a lot of high-end properties. He said he wanted to pull out all the stops. And that he did. But Ben made some really sound financial decisions as well. I’m just hoping I did him justice so he’ll sign me up for the next one.” He chuckles.
“Mom?” Grace pulls away, and I find Winnie pushing her mother toward us in a wheelchair. Her oxygen is on, but there’s no mistaking that smile. “What on earth?”
“You didn’t think we’d miss a thing like this, did you? My new son just opened a hotel!” She claps. “Did you put an Elvis room in there for me?” She winks.
Grace palms herself in the face, I’m sure trying to come up with a gentle way to tell her no in front of mixed company.
“I did.”
Grace’s head spins toward me so fast I’m surprised it didn’t fly right off. “You did?”
“Well, it’s not a hotel room, per se. I created a music room that abuts the dining area. It’s not as beautiful as your gorgeous home, but I’m hoping you’ll be proud.”
Grace’s mouth hangs open, but I’m drawn to her mother, whose arms are outstretched. As I lean in for a squeeze, I barely take two steps away before Winnie pulls me in for another. Hers is not as ladylike.
“What? No Jungle Room?” She snickers.
“No. I’ll have to leave some things to Graceland. The place,” I splutter, “not the girl.”
A heavy hand lands on my shoulder and I turn to find Milton. He’s beaming at me like a proud papa. “Ben, Grace,” he greets extending an arm to shake each of our hands. “It’s fantastic. Beyond anything I could’ve imagined.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m really happy with how it turned out. And it means a lot to me that you approve. I know how important this place was to your family.”
Milton gives me a knowing grin. “That it was. But not just mine. Do you have a minute? I know you have a big day ahead, but if it’s okay, I’d like to give you something.”
I straighten. “Of course. But you didn’t have to do that.
You allowing me to buy this property has given me so much.
” Grace and I fall into step with him as he walks toward the lobby doors.
“This will always be considered my flagship location. And if it weren’t for you insisting on my being married, I’m not entirely sure I would be right now.
” I gaze down at Grace who’s smiling back at me with tears in her eyes.
“Listen, I’m under no illusion that you two will stay here.
If this property is any indication, you have quite the future ahead of you, son.
But I had to hope it would be as special to you as it was to me.
And when you mentioned at our dinner meeting that you were interested in creating luxury resorts where people could create lifetime memories, I was pretty sure I had the right person. But I still needed to check…”
He walks ahead of me, reaching for what appears to be a guest book. I grin. This poor old man has a one-track mind. “I wanted you to have this.”
I’m not sure my clientele is the type to sign these, but I decide to just say thank you and keep that to myself.
Clearly these are important to this guy.
“Thank you.” Upon closer inspection I realize this isn’t new.
What? Is he giving me an old one to finish off before buying a new one.
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from chuckling.
It fits what I know of Milton. He definitely didn’t spend money here unless he had to.
He reaches over to the book in my hand and flips open the front cover to a page designated with a book mark. “It was a hunch. But I couldn’t let the thought go. It took me days to find it, but when I did, I knew you had to have the book. And the hotel.” He snickers.
Grace burrows closer into my side, attempting to get a better look. “What is it?”
Thank you for not only an amazing weekend with my son,
but memories that will last a lifetime.
Allen and Benjamin Banks
An audible gasp escapes as I run my finger over my father’s handwriting. “How?” I have to look away, blinking rapidly to stave off the tears.
“I remember your father. You look just like him.”
My heart clenches. “Yes. My mother tells me that often.”
Milton continues, “When he brought you and your mother here, he spent every waking moment by the water with you. I recall talking to Patricia about it over coffee at the end of the summer. Later that weekend I found his obituary in the paper.”
My face falls. “Yes. He had pancreatic cancer. My mother says it was very aggressive. I was five when he died.”
Milton returns his large hand to my shoulder. “He’d be so proud of you, Ben.”
Unable to help myself, I pull Milton in for a hug. How had this dream of starting my own business brought my father back into my life? “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“You’re welcome. I’m thrilled to have been a part of your history, and your future. If you ever need me, I’m only a call away.”
“Thank you.”
The doors open behind us and I hear Grace gasp as her grip tightens around my arm. Hell, what now? I’m not sure my emotions can handle much more.
A blonde approaches, her arm wrapped around who I can only imagine is her significant other. “Hi. I heard about the grand opening and we wanted to see if you had any rooms—” She stops talking mid-sentence.
I follow her gaze to Grace who is staring at her wide eyed. “Hi, Tiffani.”
“Grace,” she drawls. “What on earth are you doing here?” Tiffani straightens as a smirk curls one corner of her brightly tinted lips. “Found a housekeeping job, I take it?”
“No,” Grace blurts.
“Ah, so you work the desk.”
I wrap my arm around my wife. “She owns the desk. The whole damn resort, actually.” Kissing Grace on the temple, I turn back to this woman I can only imagine is no friend.
“We’re booked solid, but I’m sure once the ribbon cutting is complete, someone will be glad to give you a tour of our property. ”
I squeeze my wife a little harder as the blonde twit stares back at her in shock.
“Come on, Gracie. You have a ribbon to cut.” Escorting my beautiful girl out the front doors, my eyes widen as I see that now all of the men from the billionaire boys club have gathered next to the ceremonial yellow ribbon.
Broadie, Devon, Gianni, Becket, Bedrock, and Max all start to clap as we approach.
“Shit, guys. I can’t believe you’re all here.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Broadie says.
“You’re going to get sick of seeing me here.” Max snorts.
My eyes become misty again. What the hell? This day has wrecked me and we haven’t even opened for business yet.
Gianni steps closer and reaches out a hand to Grace. “Mrs. Banks, I presume.”
“Yes.” She grins up at him. I pull her a little closer. The guy is a little too attractive to be smiling at her like that.
“I’m Gianni. It’s nice to finally meet you.” He reaches into his black suit jacket and retrieves an envelope, handing it over to her.
“What’s this?”
“Consider it a belated wedding gift.” He winks before spinning on his heel and rejoining the guys.
“Should I open it?” she whispers.
“Sure, why not?”
She carefully opens the small white envelope. An ornate greeting card emerges with Congratulations embossed in cream script. But once she opens the card, it isn’t a gift card to a local restaurant or spa… it’s a newspaper clipping.
“Oh my god,” she gasps, nearly dropping the card as her hand flies to cover her mouth.
There, side by side in black and white, are two mug shots. Brad and Victor’s mugshots. Beneath them is a list of charges they’ve been accused of.
Use of communications systems to facilitate certain offenses involving children
Taking indecent liberties with a minor
Fraud
Online Solicitation of a Minor
Display of child pornography or grooming video or materials to a minor
Sexual Extortion
Harassment/Intimidation
Unlawful Dissemination of Images
Unlawful Creation of Image
Just to name a few.
“I can’t believe it. Is this real?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit. “But I’ll ask Max when I have a chance. Real or not, at least they’re off the streets and can’t hurt anyone else.”
Grace’s arms slip around me, holding me so tight. “Thank you.”
“Baby, it wasn’t me.”
“Sure it wasn’t.”
But before I can correct her any further, Dev’s heavy arm drapes around my shoulders.
“I’m really proud of you, Ben. Wish Dad could be here to see this.
” I turn to find him taking in the hotel with what appears to be sincere appreciation.
“He had a meeting he couldn’t get out of, but he and your mother are planning to join us this weekend. ”
Okay, I really need to pour my own coffee from now on. Because I’m certain Grace spiked it with something. I must be imagining this. “Join us?”
“Yeah.” Max comes closer, a big grin stretching from ear to ear. “Who do you think booked the whole place?”
Grace nearly chokes on her coffee. Reaching over, I pat her back. “The whole place?”
“Why not?” he continues. “It’s only money.”
The End