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“Supposed to be the best in the city.” He was delighted with himself. I didn’t correct him. I knew where the best oysters were. And they weren’t in a fancy restaurant. They were in a dive outside of town I’d never be able to find again.
“I’m sure they’re wonderful.” I held one of the shells in my hand.
“You know this dinner is a celebration.” His eyebrows were high on his forehead.
“Oh?”
“You know this is about the hotel. I’m very proud of you, Kennedy.”
My chest warmed. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad you got the Vieux Carre, Dad.”
He tucked the linen napkin at his collar. He had to wiggle his tie to make space. “There’s something I think you should know about the arrangements. About how everything fell into place. Now that it’s official. You should see the total picture.”
We took a second to wait while the glasses of champagne were poured by our server.
“What do you mean? I thought the auction went well.”
He smirked. “It wasn’t that simple. I had to play a little game of chess ahead of time. It paid off.” I knew how chess was played.
The bubbly happiness started to turn sour. “What did you do?”
He winked. “Kennedy, you know this move meant everything to me. Everything to the company. This is the home that you are going to create for the next generation of Martins.”
“Well, that’s not happening anytime soon.” I hated when he talked about me like I was a piece of livestock to breed.
“This is where your dynasty begins. Your own legacy.” He spoke as if we were in a hobbit book. Had the medication altered his personality? This was intense, even for him.
“Dad,” I tried to quieten him.
He ignored me. “I couldn’t risk losing the key piece. Not on the very first deal. Not when this one matters more than all the others.”
My stomach flipped. I couldn’t eat the oyster. I placed it on the bread plate. What in the hell was going on with him?
“Can you just tell me?” I asked. I’d never be able to guess.
My stomach plunged another level when I heard a saxophone start up. I searched the restaurant. The artist was outside on the street. The shutters had been thrown open. I wasn’t the only one who noticed his playing. Small smiles lingered on the guests.
“Kennedy? You seem distracted. I’m trying to tell you something important. Something about your future.”
“No, go ahead. You have my attention,” I lied, tearing my head from the window and zeroing on my father. “I’d like to know about your game of chess.”
“Good. Good. These are the life lessons that are the most important. Because I’ve made a decision. A big decision about your future.”
“Which is?” I said a quick prayer that he hadn’t met a premiere New Orleans bachelor.
He took his time making his way around the tray of oysters. “See, I’ve realized something about you Kennedy. If your mother were here, she would have said I told you so.”
I blinked. He never mentioned my mother.
“You are a valuable asset to the company. In fact, you’re going to be the face of the company.”
“I don’t think I understand.”
It always bothered me the way he held his knife in his fist as if he used it to bludgeon someone rather than spread butter or cut a steak.
“You’ve picked up on the details and the reports quickly. You beat out every man in the city today for that hotel. And let’s face it, I’ve had more bad days than good lately. I’ve had to start considering that.”
He wouldn’t say out loud what was going on with his health, but the reference was clear. I knew I couldn’t ask questions about the pills that remained next to his nightstand.
