Story: Luckiest Man In The World
Chapter: 6 Bringing Lola Home
Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)
Mature Readers only due to sexual situations and graphic sexual content
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Life is a challenge, but Eric and Rain face it together. They bring Lola home. Duh, I said that in the title. But there's more!! Read. Find out!
Bringing Lola Home
The situation with Lola was eye-opening for me. She and Aunt Pearl were almost the same age. I was feeling encouraged that Lola was going to have to agree to come to live with Rain and me. Lola would not be alone now, and she and Pearl hopefully would get along. Rain spent as much time with Lola as he could. I did, too, but he was her grandchild! There were concerns about overtaxing her. I spoke with her doctor to make plans for her transport to Charleston. There were planes that could be used to do that, but the doctor was concerned about the cabin pressure and travel so long to get her there. We also needed to arrange for the doctors at the Medical University in Charleston to be aware and ready for her arrival. I had called Kyle as we flew to the airport on John's Island what had happened and why I was going. I called Tom to let him know why I would be gone for a while. Tom was a damned good manager and I had really nowhere near the experience or time with hotels. I was the owner, but he was the boss. I knew that. I even made a point to myself that he would get a raise. I had raised his salary when I bought the place from Aaron Winehause to prove to Tom I had every confidence in his ability to run the hotel and do a wonderful job. His tough no-nonsense approach to the staff was a little hard to take for some, but he got efficient and positive results. The hotel was beginning to show its potential to make a profit...for me. Of course, it was. I bought the hotel outright. I had no illusions about who knew who was more qualified to do the job. That was Tom, not me. The large sums of money I had invested in the hotel, the house...and let's be honest. What money was given? I bought the hotel outright. It wasn't financed and I paid for the renovations. Same with the house. I didn't even buy Bonnie Glenn! It was just...well, it was still in Pearl O'Grady's name, but my name had been added to the deed and I was named in the will of Pearl that I would get it. The biggest investment was the hotel. I bailed out Mark and invested in his family's company. I could make mistakes. I did with Susan! Having won the money didn't win me more wisdom. I needed to be careful.
During the time that Rain was visiting with Lola, I had a lot of time to think. I knew not to give in to the hype surrounding me. Was I the luckiest man in the world? I reviewed the past year and a half. I won money, I met Rain in club in Las Vegas by chance. We, the Powerball, and I, hadn't planned to go there. I decided that...I meet a man that...I admit, I hadn't expected to, who would become more important to me than anyone...even Kyle. Things were going very, very damned well for me. I kept telling myself to keep my head and not rest in the thought that I deserved it. I didn't.
I was in a private waiting area in the hospital. There were two additional men here now in charge of my security. I felt sorry that they had to wait for us. One sat with me, while the other was with Rain waiting outside Lola's hospital room. I couldn't just go get a cup of coffee or wander around. People recognized Rain and me now. Our lives had really changed.
It was evening and I was bored with the stupid magazines always left in hospital waiting areas. I had a tablet with both Internet, TV, games, and access to a library of books to read, but I didn't have the interest right now. I heard the door open as one of the two guards let Rain in the room. "How is she?" I asked Rain who sat down letting a slow breath out wearily next to me, throwing his arm around me.
Rain grimaced putting his head against mine. "She's tired." He said sadly. "In many ways, it's almost like she's giving up." He shook his head. "She's not the Lola I grew up with."
"She isn't," I agreed. "But she's still Lola. The woman that raised you. For her to survive, she will have to come with us. It will be an adjustment for her." I put my hand on his knee. "She'll get the best care."
Rain nodded and smiled at me. "I know she will." He leaned in kissing me gently. "Thanks."
"She's family, Rain," I said simply. "People like Kyle, Aunt Pearl, you...you're all family. If something needs to be done. We'll do it. No thanks are needed. It just will."
"Yeah." Rain stretched and rubbed his stomach. "I'm hungry."
"We can go to the cafeteria."
Rain shook his head. "It's after visiting hours and Lola's asleep." He stood up and reached for my hand. "We can go to a restaurant or just go to the hotel and order room service."
"Sure."
They got Lola stabilized and once we got word from her doctor it was safe to transport her, I made the arrangements with Medjet. They had planes that were ambulances that flew you where you needed to go. They would be equipped with a doctor and two nurses. Rain was flying with her. The security men and I flew back in another plane. The advantage here was, it would be direct flights. No stopping in any other city.
Getting her ready to go, she was reacting to all the people that were hovering about her, moving her to a stretcher to take to a helipad to get her to the plane.
"My goodness," Lola said as the IV was hung and she was wrapped in a blanket and strapped in. "All this for me?"
Rain rolled his eyes, "Yes, Lola." He sighed leaning closer, "For you, because you're important."
Lola shook her head about to deny what was happening. "I am..."
"To me you are!" Rain said firmly. "So, just..." he waved at her, "deal with it, damn it."
Lola simply huffed and folded her arms over her chest as she resolved to the situation. The interaction between Rain and his grandmother was actually very humorous. I had to squelch the laugh that was building in me.
We flew back to Charleston where I met both Lola and Rain at the hospital. They landed and were taken again by helicopter directly to the hospital. When I arrived, I met Rain speaking with some of the medical personnel that would be caring for Lola.
"...she will take time to rest." She smiled at Rain. "She had a heart attack, but for a woman her age..." she saw Rain's face grow in concern and she hurried to explain, "she is in her eighties. Her cholesterol and plaque levels are to blame. However, in spite of that, her overall health is pretty good otherwise. The heart attack can be dealt with and other issues...blood sugar and blood pressure are high. She needs to lose a few pounds and there is the blockage we will deal with. She still has about forty percent damage to the heart, which is why we're going to do the permanent bypass. There are two arteries damaged and we will do the double bypass. The surgery will be when she has been stabilized more." The female doctor in her fifties was explaining. Again, eyes widened seeing me. (It was just going to happen now. We had been followed around the world. People knew us.) She had enough professionalism to not react more.
"But she'll get better?" Rain asked carefully for reassurance.
The doctor smiled. "I won't lie. Her age is a factor. If there was no chance...we wouldn't have agreed. She is really at the age where we decide what's best to do. Do the surgery or just make her comfortable. Her doctor in Eureka told us she was a strong woman. The chart he sent on her history shows promise."
Rain nodded. "Yes, she's very strong...always has been."
"This could add a few years more." The doctor said. "If she follows directions, she could make it into her nineties."
"She needs rest for now. Go home and rest." She looked at the clipboard she had in her hand. "We'll call if there's any change."
I took Rain's hand. "We'll be nearby," I told her as I pointed to her clipboard. "My name is on there?"
Rain nodded. "Of course!" He answered for the doctor. "We'll be married in a few months. You are a contact. My next of kin." He jutted his head toward Lola's room. "That doesn't necessarily mean you're hers, so I added your name."
The doctor touched Rain's arm. "Your grandmother is in good care."
We did go home to the hotel. It would be closer if there was a problem. We traveled around the world, but this past week all this sort of travel was more tiring. The difference, being that this hadn't been a pleasure trip. We hadn't rested at all.
As we got ready for bed, I watched Rain move a little slower. I knew it was not because of fatigue, but what was playing in his mind. Platitudes and saying things like...it will be alright...served no purpose. As he sat on the side of our bed as I put my hand on his back gently. He turned at the touch. I brought him out of those thoughts a moment.
"There are times...having money does no good, Rain." I said quietly. "Lola will get the best care," I assured. "I was given money for a purpose. Not just for me. I'll use all of it to keep Lola in this life a year more...or a decade. We'll do that. No price is too great...for you without question...as I would for Kyle and Aunt Pearl."
Rain smiled sadly as he moved back, pulling me down with him. "You know what's really great?"
I shook my head.
"You really, sincerely mean that."
"I do," I said.
We still had passion, but this time...our lovemaking was an assurance to both of us that we would always be together. We weren't alone.
The next few days were the trips to and from the hospital. The fact that I had chosen those numbers was not forgotten. I was asked many times for interviews by the media, be it a magazine or television...my required the posting of how things were going with me was done. I did post occasionally and was followed when I did. It was now more out of habit. After a year of telling everything...almost...I was glad it was now at my own time. Now, the focus on my life was Rain. His focus was now Lola. I began thinking more about what I would do with the money. Buying the hotel was my biggest purchase so far. There was still a lot I had to think about what I'd do. Like I said, it shouldn't be just for me.
We visited Lola every day. Her surgery and recovery would take more than a month or two and she would have to be monitored. Rain and I did pretty much move to the hotel. Even Lucky was moved to the hotel. He was our dog, so of course, he did.
The morning that Kyle came to the hotel with Lucky and Aunt Pearl, we greeted them in the lobby. Lucky saw Rain and me...those feet started scrambling on the slick marble floor, but he had no traction. His tail was nearly invisible he was so excited! Kyle released his hold on the leash as he hurried to us. Scooping him up, he couldn't decide who he wanted to lick more. Aunt Pearl smiled as she got closer. "How are you two?"
Rain nodded as Lucky wasn't done with him at the licking. "We're fine."
"And your grandmother?" Kyle asked.
"Lola is a stubborn, opinionated, old flower child." Rain shrugged. "She's always complaining about all the attention on her."
"And she didn't give any of that to you!?" I chuckled.
Rain bowed his head with a smile scratching his ear. "Well, it could be heredity."
"We'll talk to her doctors, but we will probably have to add some things to the house," I said looking at Rain. "If they can, get her recovered enough, she'll recover better at home."
Now that all the required world city visits were done, things had calmed down Rain and myself, I was thinking about what I should do with the money. As paranoid as I was about overspending. My buying the hotel, renovating of the hotel and Bonnie Glenn, the house in Australia, I had slightly over half of it left! There were now deposits going in from the hotel plus interest. There were always charities, but which one? There were good ones with great causes, but I wanted it to be good ones where the money went to cause, not those that ran the cause.
The hotel was booked! Most all of it was now finished and we were at nearly one hundred percent occupancy for the year! Tom was the manager, but his demands on the employees for doing that job just got more. He wasn't fair, but...as I told him; pay them accordingly. If they did the job and fulfilled the requirements, pay them, for superior service...they got superior pay! That was fair. We were to meet and exceed any hotel standard...cleanliness, friendliness, courtesy, bedding...guest service received by the staff was the only way we would get and keep the five stars we wanted to get. Tom would love to have a seven star, but that was only a few hotels in the world for now. Really, I didn't think we could do that, but it was good to aim for it. There were the slang slogans for the hotel all having to do with getting Lucky. Not our dog, if you don't get that.
Rain pretty well had to drop the courses he was taking because of demands on his time. He didn't want to be committed and not be there if Lola needed anything.
There was also the wedding that needed planning, but neither Rain nor I really wanted to go anywhere.
I didn't want to become one of those...houses everywhere kind of person that used it a couple of weeks a year. I did call Richard Fry in Australia and the house I bought that would need staffing. Having two homes. Richard was pleased I was coming back and staying a while. He assured me he could and made me promise to have dinner when we got there.
"Richard! We're friends. You have a standing okay to come by anytime. We could have dinner at our home." I chuckled. "Of course, if you want us to go places you like there we'd love it."
Richard laughed. "I didn't want to assume..." "Assume already We're friends, aren't we?' "Yes, we are," He laughed. "Oh, and make sure one of those staff is a driver. I'll learn, but driving on the wrong side of the road, the wrong side of the car..." Richard laughed again. That was enough for me. I swore to be back for more than a couple of weeks a year.
As I said left me more than half of the winnings to go. The past year was basically one looonnng party. It was fun, but now reality was sinking in. I was given this...gift...for a reason. I wasn't particularly religious believing in one doctrine, I didn't believe no one philosophy was absolutely right. I felt we were more than just self-aware. I didn't have answers. God or fate...something allowed me to have this win. Now, what to do?
Lola was taken into surgery after a week. That was the longest day I had been through. Rain would pace and worry constantly. He was very quiet and there were no words I could come up with to ease this worry. He was just going to have to go through it, but I was just there at his side quietly supporting him. How could I do less? They began the surgery when the sun was barely a sliver of orange-gold on the horizon and finished after it had set in the West. Aunt Pearl and Kyle came to check on us, but really...it was just Rain and me. We had reports given periodically, but when those doors opened...a very, very tired surgeon came out in a fresh set of scrubs. Both Rain and I rose, but the doctor's face was not glum...nor was it happy. "Well, she weathered the surgery pretty well." The doctor said as he nodded reluctantly. "Her age is still a concern. The next few hours will tell the tale. If she manages to hang on a day, that will improve her chances. She's in recovery. You can see her but keep it to a few minutes."
Having all that money was now, not as glorious as it had been. All the money I had couldn't change some things. We could still lose Lola. I could lose Aunt Pearl or Kyle. I shuddered when I realized I could lose Rain! Lola made it the day and then the week! She was an amazing woman. Stubborn! Just like Rain...or rather, Rain was just like Lola.
It was as I went over some plans to improve things at Bonnie Glenn I got my...idea. It was really given to me. I was having an elevator installed in the house to keep her from having to climb stairs and overdoing it. I had a room set up for her to recover in at Bonnie Glenn. Two of the men installing the elevator were talking and didn't know I overheard them.
"Will you look at this place!" One of the laborers said to the other.
"It belongs to the Luckiest Man in the World!" His friend said chuckling. "Of course, it has to be spectacular."
"I know this is a new structure, but this plantation was built from the labors of people enslaved for a century or more." The first man commented sadly. "Too bad they didn't see this sort of reward."
It was like...I don't know...a lightning bolt...a message from God Himself or Herself said what I should do. I asked Aunt Pearl if there were records of people that were kept here as slaves. She nodded. "There are records, limited, but..." she shrugged. "There is the family Bible which I still have. It is more of a history of Bonnie Glenn of births and deaths...and slaves. It's very old but has the names of some of the slaves, their children, and their children. A record to keep an accounting of events."
"Can we research and find their descendants?" I asked.
Kyle thought and shrugged a reluctant, grudging nod. "I suppose, but why?"
"Kyle." I looked at him wondering why he didn't see it. "These were people. People that worked to make this a prosperous plantation. What happened was horrible and I can't undo it. There is no compensation that will make any form of restitution, but I can at least give their descendants something. Payment for what their grandparents did...even though they had no choice!"
Kyle held his hand up to stop me. "Wait...you want to what?!" He stood up shaking his head as he thought. "I know what you want to do, but...how do we narrow it down!? There must be hundreds of people...thousands now...how can we work out who gets how much?"
I threw my hands up, understanding the frustration. "I don't know, but you have a strong sense of what's right and wrong. Justice. You know slavery was wrong, but there were slaves! There has to be something...even if it isn't much we can do...we should do something to say, I'm sorry!"
Aunt Pearl frowned. "Then I should be the one to say it." She said quietly. "It was my family that did it. We profited from it."
I nodded. "So, be a part of this, but I was given the money. Why?" I waved at the surrounding house. "I have this wonderful home! I have a hotel that is making money! I didn't finance any of it, I'm still in the black. I've bought that wonderful house in Australia. I'm good! I just feel I need to do something with this money that has a purpose. More than just feeding hungry, that will always be a need, but maybe my doing this is just that. Doing something good with it."
Kyle gave a slight nod. "Well, Germany did apologize to the Jews for the Holocaust." He sighed, "There have been a few attempts at apologies to African-Americans for slavery."
I nodded. "And this will just be one more." I got up walking over to him. "Is it possible to say I'm sorry enough?"
Kyle shook his head. "I suppose not." He sighed. "I'll start working on it." He looked at Aunt Pearl. "Can I get the Bible you have...or get a scan of what's there?"
"Certainly." She nodded getting up and paused. "Do I bring it to you or..."
Kyle waved her to head off first. "After you. I'll follow." He pulled his phone out. "I'll take a picture."
Rain came out Lola's hospital room blowing a breath of exasperated air. He looked up seeing me and smiled.
"She's getting better." Rain said chuckling. "She's becoming more of herself."
I grinned. "That's a good sign, right?"
He nodded coming to sit by me, kissing me as he stretched out in the chair. "Yep. She's too feisty to die." He threw his head back and sighed.
"You need rest, baby." I put my hand on his leg. "I know you want to be here, but I don't want you to suffer." I smiled at him. "Please?"
Rain nodded. "Sure." He waved at Lola's room. "She's asleep anyway." He pulled me toward him kissing me gently. "You've been great."
I frowned. "She's family, Rain. How can we do less?"
He shook his head. "No, you could." He pressed his forehead against mine. "But that's not who you are." He rose from the chair. "Let's go home."
We still needed to be downtown, so we went back to the hotel. We did connect again. The touching and love did relax him enough to drift off to sleep.
The next few weeks all about going to and from the hospital to the hotel. All of the whiles, I was planning our upcoming wedding. I asked Rain what he preferred; his reply was to simply marry me. That was all he wanted to be sure of. I just wanted to make sure nothing was planned Rain wasn't aware of and if there was something he didn't like or want, he would have a voice in that. It was OUR wedding.
Kyle was at the hotel often to just be Kyle, my friend. He would come by for lunch or dinner. Rain often would be at the hospital, so we would eat at the restaurant or order in Rain's and my suite. It was in the suite when Kyle asked. "How are you? You're still the Luckiest Man in the World, but...how are things with you and Rain?"
Looking at him, I didn't see the joke or flippant manner he would sometimes get. He seemed genuinely sincere with his question, more accepting and not as protective. "Rain and I are fine. The situation with Lola is taking priority right now, but...as far as being the Luckiest Man..." I shrugged. "I'm glad most of that is done." I reached over taking Kyle's hand. "He's what I was looking for, Kyle."
"Not just sex," Kyle said confirming. "I see that."
"No." I smiled. "With you, it would have just been sex. You might even have come to like it, but...when Rain touches me. It's because he wants to. I want to touch him. It's love. Understand?"
Kyle nodded, squeezing my hand, "I do." He chuckled and went into his joking mode. "I don't know, a new city almost every two weeks and the endless parties...I can't imagine giving that up."
"No, you can't." I agreed with a laugh at what he couldn't understand. "Have you heard more about Susan?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. She's in a country that doesn't really have any extradition. They are looking, I'm told. For him, not her." He changed the topic again. "The search of the names in Aunt Pearl's family Bible is ongoing." He sighed. "It takes time and manpower. We will find a lot of people. Depending on how good the records are...it will take time."
I nodded. "Going back isn't necessarily easier. Things like ancestry and genealogy will help." I looked at Kyle carefully, "You understand why I feel I should do this, right?"
Kyle gave a slight nod, "I do, but..." he looked at me carefully. "Yes, what happened in the past was bad. However, it isn't costing you anything to make this statement." He saw my eyes and held up his hand. "Now, hold on...what I'm saying is...you are giving away money that you were given. There is no sacrifice for you. The ones that did enslave these people should pay. Why you?"
I shrugged digging into my shrimp lunch again, "Because I was given the money." I reasoned. "Whether it is viewed as an empty gesture or out of guilt or some other reason." I smiled. "I just think we all should apologize. If we are going to grow as a species...or even as an individual race...until we acknowledge errors in thinking or just ignorance. We need to try to right what was wrong...or we won't grow. Personally, I don't think we will grow for a while as a species. We see divisions, differences and put people in the...other," I did finger quotes, "...category because they aren't like us. Maybe one day we'll see ourselves as the human race and not black, white or any other category that isn't us. I celebrate those that are combinations of races. As complicated as the world gets, it gets smaller. Perhaps once all the different races merge and become one race, we'll really start growing. Until then, acknowledgment of wrongs needs to be done."
I asked Rain about the house and about anything he or she would want to keep. Lola was very nonmaterialistic. What she valued were memories. In her house, there was furniture, but not expensive or attractive. It was comfortable. I found out in that community made up of other hippies, the exchange of furniture and goods was common. When one of them moved away or died, what they had was given to the community. Her furniture would go to others there. Pictures were nice, but not a necessity. I nonetheless had Lola's friend Maxine send the several photo albums Lola had there. The house was still Lola's, and it would be kept. There was lawn or garden, remember? No gardener needed or lawn to be mowed. Very simple. Easy.
Rain and I finally came up with the idea of what to do for our wedding. A ship. Not a cruise ship. I didn't want to buy a yacht, but I could rent one...with enough room for not just Rain and myself, but all the guests that were invited could stay comfortably. Our wedding wouldn't have that many guests. We could marry within the local waters, marry within the waters of the United States, and set sail anywhere we wanted. No city to visit, with no extra guests. The daily hospital visits by Rain and myself. She was recuperating. We asked the doctors if taking her out on a ship would be alright with her.
"Your wedding is in June," The doctor said to confirm. "She should be back to a regular routine by then." Then she smiled and held her finger up, "With a few changes."
"Such as?" Rain asked.
"We have begun getting her up every day. She will need to exercise daily. Take a lot of walks." The doctor began. "She's doing well. We will prefer she be on a low sodium diet, which I'll make sure you have ideas for."
Rain grinned. "There are some things we might have to...motivate her to do, but...the diet thing." He nodded. "I think she'll just have to." He shrugged.
The doctor nodded and looked at me. "You said you were hiring a home nurse."
"I am."
"She will be told what to look for, but...we were and will be concerned about bleeding. She will be on blood thinners, that could cause the bleeding internally." She said. "We will watch for infections and fevers, but so far, it's all good."
"How delicately should we treat her?" Rain asked. "She doesn't like being hovered over or babied."
The doctor nodded. "She had a heart attack." She said simply. "There was damage, but she needs to get up and move. She shouldn't lift heavy things. Nothing over ten pounds, but she needs exercise. That needs to happen."
"She will be hard to get to do anything she doesn't want to do." Rain grimaced. "I don't think I've ever seen her exercise."
"She'll do better if she does," The doctor smiled.
Getting Lola to her new home with Rain and me; this was a bit much for her. In just a nice dress, which Rain picked out. We took her. We didn't transport her in a limo or anything. A simple SUV. She was independent, not allowing me or Rain help her much as we got her in or out of the car. She looked at the house from the outside. Aunt Pearl, dressed simply to work in her garden, came around from the walled garden carrying some roses she had arranged in a vase.
"It's a pleasure meet you, Ms. Stevens." Aunt Pearl greeted coming over and shaking Lola's hand. "Welcome to Bonnie Glenn."
"Thank you." Lola nodded and looked at the large home. "You live here," Lola observed to Rain, me, and Aunt Pearl, which was said as a statement, not a question.
"Lovingly restored, but yes," Rain nodded offering his hand and wasn't offended when she didn't take it. Rain turned her around to face him. "It's not a statement for you to refuse help, Lola. You had a heart attack. Help is warranted now. Accept it from someone that loves you?"
"I couldn't disagree with you more, Rain." Aunt Pearl said smiling at him. She looked at Lola compassionately. "I assume you've given to others because it is right."
Lola nodded. "Of course."
"Did they ever refuse to take it?" Lola asked. "Being a giver is wonderful. Being a good receiver is just as important." She shook her head. "We are used to doing for ourselves so long. I couldn't get Bonnie Glenn back," she looked at the house behind her, "and improved without help." She shook her head. "It is a statement not accepting help. You think you don't deserve it?"
"I'm not used to getting this sort of...attention," Lola said softly.
"Rain loves you. He worried day and night about you," Aunt Pearl pointed out. "You did a great job raising him. He is a beautiful soul."
Lola nodded with a smile. "He is." She touched Rain's face lovingly.
Aunt Pearl nodded. "Then, accept his love...accept their help graciously. If not now, when will you allow yourself to be helped? He and Eric think you are worthy. I say you are."
Lola sighed and nodded, allowing Rain to help her up the stairs.
Stairs were going to happen in the South. The first floor was really on the second floor. In the foyer, we were greeted by a happy and excited bark as Lucky scrambled down the stairs to greet us. Our beloved dog, who was now about six or seven months old was becoming more of a dog than a puppy now.
Rain looked at his grandmother knowing how she felt about pets. "And before you say it. This is Lucky, a member of our family. He is not a slave as you saw them as."
Lola nodded as Lucky was wagging his tail again so fast as he was petted by both Rain and I. "Lucky?" She shook her head looking around the grand structure. "That's an appropriate name for him. This is some doghouse."
I nodded. "If anything, Rain and I are his slaves. It is his doghouse." I chuckled picking Lucky up and received the happy licks. "He is very much loved."
Getting her to the room she was to live in, we took the new elevator. She was to exercise, but she had been exercising since she left the hospital be out and about. Waiting for her was Kelly, her nurse, dressed as just a woman in clean and nice clothes, but no uniform needed. Aunt Pearl placed the vase of flowers on the dresser.
"Hello, Ms. Stevens," The woman, a woman in her forties greeted extending her hand. "I'm Kelly Preston. I'll be monitoring how you are doing." She chuckled. "I will warn you, you are in charge of your own life, but I have been put in charge of what you need to do. I ask you to follow directions. No nonsense. Your grandson warned me." She held her hand out. "One of those things is to keep track of your vital signs. If I may?" She waved to the large bed. "Please sit and I'll take your pulse and temperature."
Lola frowned. "My heart's still beating," She groused.
Rain growled. "Lola."
"I know, I know," Lola replied in a mutter but did as instructed.
I grinned. "Well, it won't be dull around here!"
The only reply from Rain was a grunt.
I did arrange for the yacht I got from Florida. They heard who it was and said they'd send the best. It would be ours for two weeks. Rain and I had been together now over a year and wanted to marry, but a honeymoon would happen later when we flew to our new house in Sydney, Australia. Yes, I know it wasn't fair. Taking all this kind of time off, but...take the need to make money out of the situation was new and...you know you would do it, too. You guess the right numbers next time and see for yourself!
I worked. I was at the hotel every day. I worked with Tom every day. There was always the employee that didn't do what they were supposed to or did something they weren't supposed to. There were expenses that needed attention and was done. The hotel had to support itself and make a profit. That needed to be monitored. I was still watched by security to prevent me from becoming a victim of someone or something so now I just didn't think about it. They were there. Karen Walker was right, my life would never be the same. Rain did try to return to where he was with school and was taking other courses as he could.
I had begun my search for the descendants of who had been forced to work on Bonnie Glenn. It was a month after that had begun when Kyle came to the hotel. He hadn't called first. He didn't have to. He knew where I'd be.
The door to my office was open and I saw the familiar head appear. "Hi!"
I brightened at his smiling face. "Hi!" I said waving him in.
Kyle grinned approaching my desk. "I have some answers to what you wanted to do." He held up his shiny tablet. "I have names, but I thought you'd want to see this one."
Curious, I looked at his tablet. I saw the name and I vaguely knew it. Isabel Watkins, now known as Isabel Washington, but I saw her husband's name. "No way!"
Kyle nodded. "Yes way, he's at the hotel's front entrance." He thumbed over his shoulder. "I just saw him."
Isabel was Quinton's wife! My friend Quinton! "How do I tell them?" I wondered aloud to no one really, getting up from my chair. "This needs to be handled right." I sighed and looked at Kyle. "To get compensation for what her great-great whatever father did all those years ago!?"
Kyle nodded. "Well, I know you. Rip that Band-Aid right off."
I sighed. "Yes, I do that, but...Quinton's a friend." I headed to the door of my office. "You're getting more and more names?"
Kyle nodded. "I am. You agreed, a quarter of a million for each in the direct line. They distribute it from there." He waved at the tablet. "She's the only one in that direct line."
"And her and Quinton's children," I said and headed through the bustling lobby toward the sun filled front entrance. I came up next to my friend as he shut a door to a taxi that a guest was taking somewhere. "Quinton."
Quinton turned and instantly put on his handsome smile. The thing about him was, he meant it. He was a happy man! "Hi." He looked and... I guess my face showed something as the smile sort of faded on Quinton. He looked at Kyle, too, knowing something was up. "What?"
"There is...something we need to discuss," I began hesitantly. "Only, I need Isabel with you to do it."
Quinton now was puzzled, "Izzy? Is something wrong?"
I shook my head putting a hand on his arm. "No, neither of you did anything wrong, but...there is something we need to discuss." I thought a moment how to say it right. "You're off Monday night." I then shrugged. "Hell, I own the damned hotel, you can take a night off...with pay! Pick a night that Isabel is off and you two...or all four come to Bonnie Glenn for dinner."
Quinton was now really curious, "Can I know why?"
"If I say..." I huffed, "Quinton, it will be positive. I need to do it with both of you. It's a correction for something in the past. Not by me personally, nor to either of you personally. It's just something that needs to be done." I smiled at him. "It is long overdue compensation. Are you busy Friday night?"
Quinton shook his head. "I was just working. Izzy's off."
"Well, I'll send a car for you all," I said. "Not dressy. Come as comfortable as you like. Please, come?"
Quinton nodded. "Okay, you're the boss," He grinned.
"I am the owner, so, yes, I am." I shook his hand. "I'll send the car around at...when?"
"We normally eat about seven o'clock," Quinton said. "Anytime is fine."
"I'll have the car there by six!"
I sent the limousine to their apartment to be there at six. They arrived just before seven o'clock where Rain and I greeted them at the front door.
Isabel was a lovely woman in her late twenties. Her dark hair done and dressed in a simple, but elegant dress. Quinton in nice slacks and shirt. With them were two little boys, the oldest about seven. The younger about four. Both boys took after their father. A beautiful family.
Quinton motioned to his wife. "You know this is Isabel." He touched each boy on the head as he introduced each. "The oldest is Tyler and this is Toby."
I grinned at them shaking their hands.
"That was a big car!!" Toby told me amazement with all the excitement of a four-year-old.
I chuckled and nodded. "I know, it is!" I turned to Rain. "This is the man I'm marrying in June. Rain Stevens."
Isabel chuckled. "I know, the whole world know about you two and who you are." She shook her head. "When Quinton said he knew you, Mr. Mitchel, I thought he was joking. Then you invite to the Christmas..." She looked at the foyer. "I can't believe we're here. I mean just us. So, it must be true. This is beautiful!"
"Thank you. My name's Eric, please?" I said.
"I'm Rain." Rain said.
"Quinton knows me." I said waving them in further. "We'll sit down for dinner, but I know you're curious as to why I invited you."
Quinton grinned. "Ya think?"
I chuckled as we went into the library/music room. "I said, I know you are, Quinton." I waved at Kyle and Aunt Pearl who were there, too. "You know my good friend Kyle Walters." I waved at Aunt Pearl. "This is Pearl O'Grady. This is her home."
There were the greets again.
"I will be blunt," I said as Kyle walked over and handed me his tablet. I hit the black screen and a file we had brought up came to life. Handing the tablet to Isabel. "Do you know this name?"
Isabel looked, but there was no connection, "Not really. Why?"
Kyle nodded. "Because he is your great-great-great...whatever grandfather. Twenty to thirty years each down in generations," Kyle said calmly. "He worked here."
Aunt Pearl walked forward. "Oh, Kyle, just say it. He was a slave. He was my great grandfather's property." She said bitterly. "I don't pussyfoot around either. What was done to your grandfather and many here should never have happened." She said now a little angry. "There is no excuse."
Isabel wasn't shocked, but like Quinton, curious as to why this grandparent she didn't know and why they were there now.
I smiled at Aunt Pearl. "That's right, Aunt Pearl." I looked at Kyle, who handed me an envelope. "While this won't undo what happened." I handed her the envelope. "I wish to say, I am so sorry."
Isabel took the envelope. "There were many slaves. I descended from several. Quinton, too." She said and opened the envelope. She looked at it and almost lost her balance as her eyes grew.
Quinton's eyes grew seeing his wife's name written on it. He was looking over her shoulder and had to catch her to keep her upright. Taking the check, he read to be sure. "Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars!?"
"All of it," Kyle stressed. "Any tax will be paid by Eric. You get the whole thing."
I nodded sadly. "That's right. I can't undo what happened. This should be so much more..."
Aunt Pearl walked over, "I should be paying, not Eric. It was the thoughtlessness of my forefathers that did this...crime."
I looked at her shaking my head, "Aunt Pearl...we are all guilty. Not just your family. I know without a doubt there were many murderers, rapists, thieves, and others...many who had slaves in my family line." I looked at Quinton and Isabel. "I wondered why my numbers I had chosen came up. I didn't know what to do with all that money. I just thought, if we don't acknowledge what happened...take some responsibility, we will never get past it."
Quinton shook his head, "But it's not fair. You aren't a bigot!"
"Oh, but I am," I admitted sadly. "The first thing I recognize is a person is their race." I shrugged. "I looked at you...the first thing I saw was you're African-American. That needs to stop. I hope there will come a time when we see a person and our first thought is they are a person. Not their color or race." I waved at the check. "What you do with this token apology is up to you; put if for your children's future, buy a house...whatever you decide." I grinned, having told Rain, he wasn't surprised when I added. "Of course, I didn't take too long to realize your charm, Quinton." I waved at him. "I'm gay! I quickly noticed! Hell, I had a few fantasies about you!" Then I remembered his children and looked for them, they were wandering around looking at things at a distance, but in sight. I turned back to Isabel. "Sorry, but he is handsome and charming." I shrugged hoping she would see I was helpless not to see it any other way.
Isabel was getting adjusted to the shock, but looked up hearing me, but understood me now. "What? Oh, yes...well, he can also be infuriating!" She grinned, not bothered at all.
I laughed. "Of course, he can be infuriating," I said simply. "He's male!" I said as if that explained it all.
Quinton's grin grew. "You never said a thing!" Quinton shook his head.
"What should I have said!? Let's find a quiet and secluded spot and have sex!? We were both married!" I stated and then nodded reluctantly. "Okay, I was getting a divorce, but...you were happy with Isabel. I wouldn't have dared!" I cocked my head. "I hope I didn't ruin our friendship. I like you, Quinton. I always have." I looked at Isabel. "I would love to reward your grandfather, but since I can't. I will try to make good what happened to his grand-daughter and her husband."
Isabel was now crying as she held the check and the launched herself at me hugging me. "Thank you, Eric." She then went to Rain and did the same thing.
Quinton came over and wrapped his arms around me. "No, we are still friends." He said to me in the tight hug. "We are good friends." He grinned as he let me go a little as he ran his hand over his body. "But I don't think you could handle this."
Rain let out a loud, "Ha! You couldn't handle HIM!" He came up beside me and put his arms around me. "He's insatiable! I can barely handle him!"
"And you aren't!?" I chuckled and turned to them. "I'm sending one in the mail, but...you all need to come to our wedding."
Isabel was being hugged by her husband. "Oh, we will be there!"