Chapter 2
LINDA
“Don’t think like that,” Michael said, gently squeezing her upper arms as he looked straight into her eyes. “We’re going to find a way to fix this.” His eyes narrowed with quiet determination. “Martin’s been keeping me updated. As soon as I settle in and stretch my legs, we’ll head to the office.”
“You’ve just got here,” Linda started to protest. “You need to unwind from the long drive.”
“Trust me, I won’t unwind until we’ve got this situation under control,” Michael assured her. “So the sooner I get stuck in the better.”
Linda nodded, a wave of relief washing through her. For the first time in days, the heavy knot in her chest loosened. If anyone could help fix this mess, it was her older brother.
“Hey, Uncle Michael,” Jake called, waving and standing behind the car. “Can you pop the trunk so we can get your bags?”
“Sure, kiddo,” Michael said, turning back towards the car.
As soon as the trunk opened, the kids dug out the bags.
“Good grief, Michael,” Linda said, raising her brows as she saw all the luggage. “Are you moving home?”
Michael grinned down at her, then shocked her by saying. “I’m seriously thinking about it.”
“Really?” Linda stood looking at him aghast.
“We’ll chat later,” Michael assured her, pulling some bags out.
Linda reached in, but all the bags were already taken. So she followed the group inside, barking instructions on which room Michael was in and which room Lily would take.
"I'll get coffee on while you’re getting settled into your room," Linda offered her brother. "Rosa is doing something special for us tonight, so dinner is sorted. Do you want a snack to tide you over until then?”
"No thanks, sis," Michael declined, carrying his bags toward the stairs. "Lily and I stopped for an early lunch about an hour before we got to the bay. But I won’t say no to a cup of coffee.”
"Okay. Come through when you're settled," Linda told him.
"Will do," Michael promised.
Linda had just finished putting the coffee on when she heard her brother's heavy footsteps on the stairs, then moved into the hallway where they stopped. Linda moved to the kitchen door and saw him looking into the room that was about to become Uncle George’s recovery room.
"So this is Uncle George's room?" Michael asked.
"Yes.” Linda nodded in confirmation.
He looked at it for a long moment.
"You've done a great job," Michael praised her.
"Wait until you've seen it properly," Linda told him. “Come on. While the coffee’s brewing, let me show you.”
Michael walked into the room while Linda explained the setup. He stepped through the side door into the therapy room and looked around at the parallel bars, the treadmill, the bike, and the sturdy wooden chair.
"You pulled this off in just three days," Michael acknowledged. "You've managed to make Uncle George a real recovery suite."
"That's what I was going for," Linda admitted.
"He's going to love it," Michael predicted.
"I hope so," Linda replied with a huge sigh. “I really hope so.” She looked at him. “Uncle George has actually been taking it all well.” She shook her head. “Well, now that he’s gotten over the fact that he actually fell in the first place.”
“Why does he still think he’s indestructible?” Michael said, rolling his eyes. “The last time I was here, he climbed out the attic window to get on the roof. That was three years ago, and I nearly had a freakin’ heart attack.”
“I’ve never been here when Uncle George isn’t doing something crazy like that,” Linda moaned. “He has handymen to help him, but…”
“Nothing gets done right if you don’t do it yourself,” Linda and Michael repeated their uncle's famous words together, then laughed.
The sound of voices coming in from the open French doors drew their attention as Brock and Stuart walked in.
Linda introduced Michael to the nurses. Brock and Stuart greeted Michael with the easy warmth Linda had come to expect from both of them.
Michael asked them about their backgrounds and the rehabilitation timeline.
Linda watched her brother's face and felt the small fierce relief once again that her brother was here and that the load she was carrying since she’d arrived in Sweet Blossom Bay no longer felt so heavy.
The nurses finished up and let themselves out. Linda took Michael back to the kitchen, where Michael took a seat at the counter while Linda poured them each a mug of steaming coffee.
"How is Uncle George?" Michael asked.
"He’s healing well," Linda told him. "But slowly. As you can imagine, he gets frustrated and just wants to be back on his feet and home.”
"That sounds like him," Michael chuckled. "I want to go see him this afternoon."
"I was going to suggest we go together at the start of visiting hours," Linda replied.
"That’s perfect," Michael agreed.
A small, careful quiet settled between them. Linda watched her brother sip his coffee. She knew the question that was coming.
"Now, about the Wayne Group business," Michael ventured. "Where are we with that?"
She took a slow breath and told him everything, her voice tight. She walked him through the latest letter from Mr. Wayne, word for word, then explained Martin’s recommendation that they take the meeting. Her stomach twisted as she spoke.
Michael listened to her, his eyes never leaving hers, and a small frown creasing his brow as he took in her words. When she finished, he was quiet for a moment.
"I agree with Martin," Michael confirmed at last. "We need to take the meeting."
"You do?" Linda asked.
"Yes, we do," Michael said. "The Wayne Group has been pressuring our family for the Hearts Hotel and the adjoining reserve for a lot longer than just this past year.”
“What?” Linda spluttered her eyes wide.
“Yes, Mr. Wayne’s father offered Uncle George a fortune for it back when we were still teenagers.” Michael's words made her heart still in her chest for a few seconds. “In fact, the man would come here nearly every summer and try to get Uncle George to sell it.”
“Why didn’t I know this?” Linda looked at him, shocked. “Does Martin know this?”
“No,” Michael said, shaking his head. “I don’t think he does.
” He took a sip of coffee before continuing.
“I know because I overheard the first heated meeting when I was a teenager. After that, whenever I saw Mr. Wayne Senior arrive, I’d sneak to the door to listen to what was going on.
As I got older, I kept an eye on the situation.
I think the offers stopped when Mr. Wayne Senior passed away.
” He put the cup on the counter in front of him.
“I believe the offers started coming about five or six years ago. They’d arrive once a year, and Uncle George would just ignore them or write back that he’s still not interested. ”
“Well, now they are escalating, and the hotel is in a vulnerable position,” Linda told him.
“I know,” Michael said with a nod. “That’s why I need to get stuck in as soon as possible. Then we go to meet the younger Mr. Wayne in person. Hear what he has to say and turn him down in person.”
“What if he doesn’t walk away?” Linda asked, her heart beating faster. “What if he doubles down?”
"He most likely will double down,” Michael answered her honestly.
“The next move in his playbook will probably be to start working with the bank and the suppliers.” He idly turned the coffee mug on the counter.
"But, I know this kind of playbook well, and we will prepare for it as best we can in what little time we might have.” He reached over and put his large, warm hand over hers.
“We will find a way, Linda. But we will have to take that meeting with him. Face to face, we’ll know who he is and be able to read him in person. ”
"All right," Linda agreed, sucking in a breath. “I’m not going to lie. This is very nerve-racking.”
"I know.” He gave her an encouraging smile and finished his coffee.
“Let's go over to Martin's office," Michael suggested.
"I'd like to read every piece of correspondence between Wayne Group and Hearts. Get the history and go through all the accounts.” He pushed his chair back and stood.
“Then we can suggest a meeting date and time.”
"Martin has all the information," Linda said to her brother.
Linda drained the last of her coffee, took their mugs to the sink, rinsed them, then they walked together across the side garden and let themselves into Hearts Hotel through the back staff door.
Rosa was in the back corridor with a basket of fresh linen on her hip.
"Mr. Michael," Rosa exclaimed, her face breaking into a wide, warm smile. “Welcome home.”
"Hello, Rosa," Michael greeted her. “It’s good to be home.”
“Can I get you any coffee, iced tea…” Rosa offered, looking between Linda and Michael.
“No, thank you, Rosa,” Linda declined.
“Not for me either, thank you, Rosa,” Michael said, declining as well. “We’ve just had a cup.”
After a few more exchanged pleasantries, Rosa went about her duties while Linda and Michael headed towards Martin’s office. Linda knocked.
“Come in,” Martin called.
He looked up from his computer when they pushed open the door.
"Hello, Michael," Martin greeted warmly, standing.
"Hello, Martin," Michael answered.
The two men shook hands.
"Welcome home," Martin told him.
"Thank you," Michael replied. "We’re here to get started on saving the hotel by dealing with the first shark we need to get off our backs, Mr. Wayne."
“Yes, the man is overly keen to get his hands on the property,” Martin told them, taking his seat as they sat in front of his desk. "Mr. Wayne responded faster than I expected. He's asked if we could meet sometime tomorrow."
Linda's eyebrows shot up."Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," Martin repeated.
"That man is pushy," Linda observed.
"He is," Martin agreed, looking at them. “And arrogantly so.”
Michael's whole demeanor changed, and his eyes narrowed.