named you, Hugh
Abraham.
You’re not the father of nations. You’re the father of indecision. ‘A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ “
“But — you’re just going to walk up and fire him?” Hugh couldn’t even imagine it.
Grabbing his feathery fedora, Howell gave his son a disgusted look and then jammed the hat down on his head. “What I decide to do will be between me and the Lord. He will advise. He will lead me in the path I should go. I suggest you get down on your knees and ask for a little guidance yourself. As of this moment you are no longer in charge of the field ministry.”
7
Lavinia shut the door to her suite and then hurried down the hallway to the elevator. She’d spent the last half hour rushing through her morning coffee and jumping into her clothes, all in an effort to make it to a very important meeting. If everything went as planned, fifteen minutes from now, on a bench in front of the Mississippi River about two blocks away, she’d finally find the answers to a mystery that had haunted her for the better part of a year. Meeting away from the hotel was imperative. There were simply too many curious eyes around the Maxfield.
She’d been planning this particular meeting for months, going over in her mind all the questions she needed to ask. No matter what happened today, she was determined to discover the truth. Not that Lavinia didn’t already think she had the truth. What she didn’t have was proof.
After pushing the down button, she stood quietly readjusting her jewelry, gazing up at the light above the doors. She’d waited for the elevator last night for almost ten minutes. If it took that long this morning, she was in big trouble.
As she pushed the button several more times she felt someone move up next to her. Turning her head slowly to the side, she saw a paunchy, balding, middle-aged man standing very close to her, his eyes fixed straight ahead. Since he was fidgeting with his watch, she assumed he was also in a hurry. Normally, she wouldn’t have given his presence another thought, except that he was standing
so
close. She didn’t like to think she was a complete snob, but he wasn’t the kind of man who looked as if he should be staying at the Maxfield. He was wearing jeans and an old polyester shirt, the middle button missing. Lavinia always noticed details like that. It was the curse of her profession.
She inched away.
Clearing his throat nervously, the man leaned in front of her and tapped the button. “Damn these hotel elevators. You never have enough of ‘em. I got a friend who fixes elevators for a living. He says the old ones are the worst. They break down all the time.”
“Really?” She covered the distaste in her voice with a cheery lightness.
“Yeah. Say.” He shifted his weight toward her again. “There’s a service elevator right off the main stairway. It ain’t far. The only people usin’ it are kitchen staff.” He glanced at his watch again.
Lavinia’s eyes rose to the light above the elevator, willing it to turn red.
After another minute he said, “I’ve had enough of this. I’m gonna take the other elevator down. I know it’s off limits to guests, but I used it last night and nobody arrested me. What do you say? You wanna join me?”
Lavinia was torn. If she was late for her appointment, she was afraid the person she was meeting would leave. She couldn’t have that. “Okay,” she said tentatively. “Why not?”
The man walked so quickly Lavinia had a hard time keeping up with him. From the back, he was even more of a mess than he appeared from the front. The heels of his boots were worn and lopsided, and the bottoms of his jeans were badly frayed. Worst of all, walking in his wake, Lavinia became aware of just how much he needed a bath.
Finally, after following him down several long hallways, they reached the small service elevator. Lavinia looked up at a
Abraham.
You’re not the father of nations. You’re the father of indecision. ‘A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ “
“But — you’re just going to walk up and fire him?” Hugh couldn’t even imagine it.
Grabbing his feathery fedora, Howell gave his son a disgusted look and then jammed the hat down on his head. “What I decide to do will be between me and the Lord. He will advise. He will lead me in the path I should go. I suggest you get down on your knees and ask for a little guidance yourself. As of this moment you are no longer in charge of the field ministry.”
7
Lavinia shut the door to her suite and then hurried down the hallway to the elevator. She’d spent the last half hour rushing through her morning coffee and jumping into her clothes, all in an effort to make it to a very important meeting. If everything went as planned, fifteen minutes from now, on a bench in front of the Mississippi River about two blocks away, she’d finally find the answers to a mystery that had haunted her for the better part of a year. Meeting away from the hotel was imperative. There were simply too many curious eyes around the Maxfield.
She’d been planning this particular meeting for months, going over in her mind all the questions she needed to ask. No matter what happened today, she was determined to discover the truth. Not that Lavinia didn’t already think she had the truth. What she didn’t have was proof.
After pushing the down button, she stood quietly readjusting her jewelry, gazing up at the light above the doors. She’d waited for the elevator last night for almost ten minutes. If it took that long this morning, she was in big trouble.
As she pushed the button several more times she felt someone move up next to her. Turning her head slowly to the side, she saw a paunchy, balding, middle-aged man standing very close to her, his eyes fixed straight ahead. Since he was fidgeting with his watch, she assumed he was also in a hurry. Normally, she wouldn’t have given his presence another thought, except that he was standing
so
close. She didn’t like to think she was a complete snob, but he wasn’t the kind of man who looked as if he should be staying at the Maxfield. He was wearing jeans and an old polyester shirt, the middle button missing. Lavinia always noticed details like that. It was the curse of her profession.
She inched away.
Clearing his throat nervously, the man leaned in front of her and tapped the button. “Damn these hotel elevators. You never have enough of ‘em. I got a friend who fixes elevators for a living. He says the old ones are the worst. They break down all the time.”
“Really?” She covered the distaste in her voice with a cheery lightness.
“Yeah. Say.” He shifted his weight toward her again. “There’s a service elevator right off the main stairway. It ain’t far. The only people usin’ it are kitchen staff.” He glanced at his watch again.
Lavinia’s eyes rose to the light above the elevator, willing it to turn red.
After another minute he said, “I’ve had enough of this. I’m gonna take the other elevator down. I know it’s off limits to guests, but I used it last night and nobody arrested me. What do you say? You wanna join me?”
Lavinia was torn. If she was late for her appointment, she was afraid the person she was meeting would leave. She couldn’t have that. “Okay,” she said tentatively. “Why not?”
The man walked so quickly Lavinia had a hard time keeping up with him. From the back, he was even more of a mess than he appeared from the front. The heels of his boots were worn and lopsided, and the bottoms of his jeans were badly frayed. Worst of all, walking in his wake, Lavinia became aware of just how much he needed a bath.
Finally, after following him down several long hallways, they reached the small service elevator. Lavinia looked up at a
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