Page 21 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

Lord’s Gate

the units had been damaged. Understandably, Dawn and Russ
were angry and depressed. They had done nothing to prepare
for Harry and his wife’s arrival; nor were they optimistic about
the prospects for a successful tourist season. But Harry exuded
optimism. He was sure that between the four of them they
could make things work. They could stay in one of the guest

cottages temporarily.

After the initial greetings, which were cool but cordial,
Dawn and Russ spent the next three days avoiding Harry and
his wife who spent most of their time in one of the guest cottag-
es staring into a dismal, albeit turquoise, future. When finally
they decided to sit down and talk, the conversation went badly.
Instead of just admitting they could no longer afford to have
Harry and his wife stay on, Russ took his anger out on them.
They argued, and, like a couple in the throes of divorce, they
said things they regretted. Russ accused them of withholding
money from their earnings during the two months they ran the
hotel and restaurant. He said their Sunday brunches weren’t in
accord with the image they wanted the resort to uphold. Harry
was livid. “I interpret that to mean you don’t want black peo-
ple on your beach.” He abandoned the term “dark-skinned”
under the circumstances. He didn’t want to give Russ a chance
to weasel his way out of what was clearly a racist remark. There
was a couple staying at the hotel well within sight of the argu-
ing pair. Harry didn’t care.

The “marriage” ended before it had even been consummat-
ed. Harry and his wife found themselves stranded.

* * *

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