Page 77 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse

I loaded up my own personal belongings into the truck. I felt sad to be leaving the Homestead and Sofie, but it seemed the right thing to do. Receiving the boy’s wages along with what I was owed, I asked Sofie to rethink her decision to stay. She felt she had to confront her father about the things he was being accused of, promising to make up her mind about leaving, depending on her father’s explanation of all that has happened in the years gone by. She felt bad about Josh’s experience at the hands of John, but he has had to raise them up alone which she is thankful for. I had to accept her reason for staying, but I still loved her and wanted us to have a life together. She sadly waved me off, and I promised to try and get back the next day, as I wanted to be there to support her when John Tirrell returned, as I expected all hell to break loose.
Mitch had good news. He had been accepted into the maintenance department of the general hospital. Liz had called to see Josh, bringing food in the shape of a homemade beef stew. All were grateful as cash was in short supply until I arrived to deliver the due wages. Early that afternoon Mr. Choo came to see us. After a lot of discussion and negotiation, Mr. Choo agreed to our proposal to take over the hotel for a realistic sum, and was prepared to initially accept a small deposit, until Mrs. O’ Neilson sold her cabin. We let him select a small room in the hotel to put his head down every night. He was to have most of his meals cooked by the chef, and laundry done by Mrs. O’ Neilson. He seemed happy with this arrangement and a huge smile lit up his face when he realised he could now look forward to having enough time and money to enjoy his ‘retirement’, although he seemed keen to help us out, if needed.
The plan was for Margarete to take one room at a time and to clean and prepare it. I got the chore of painting where necessary, not an easy job alone, but I was hoping Josh would soon recover and join me. Mitch would be the only earner for a while but once we had a couple of rooms habitable, we would let them out, either long or short term, and get whatever rent we could. Josh was going to try and get Liz on board to spread the news about the new owners, to her customers. Bob Tully had agreed to stay working as chef, initially with reduced hours and wages, until we saw the need for a full kitchen. Shelley was prepared to wait until Mitch felt ready before meeting up.
“Explain to me again,” John Tirrell bellowed at his daughter.
“Father, I’m sure they have it wrong, but Margarete O’ Neilson has confirmed that she was the person my grandfather, your father, impregnated when she was married to his best friend. But she lost that child and passed off a stolen baby as her own. Mitch O’ Neilson is that child, not only that . .