stuff was probably given to them by the local businesses.”
“What? Why?”
“Because it helps the businesses too, to get a lot of people liking their stuff. People who will go on to spend a lot of money.”
Ruth shook her head as she peered down into the bag. “Rich people really do live in a different world, don’t they?”
Carter was quiet for a minute. “Yeah. I guess so.”
“That wasn’t an insult,” she said, glancing up at him quickly. “I’m just saying. In my world, stores don’t give you free bottles of shower gel for a hundred guests. And gift cards! This is something else. It’s like living in a different world.”
He was driving now, but he shot her a searching look. “I guess it is kind of shallow and entitled. So you don’t like it?”
“The world? I don’t know. I mean, I like you. And your mom. And I like Lincoln and Summer. And Lance and Savannah. And a few of the others I met. But people are different if they get everything handed to them like that. It’s just a different world.”
Carter nodded. He didn’t respond with words, but he seemed to be thinking.
The conversation made Ruth think of something she’d been meaning to ask. “Why is Lincoln still working as a bartender?”
“What?” Carter obviously wasn’t following the shift in topic.
“Lincoln. He’s still working as a bartender. I know he started doing that when he was young because your dad cut him off or whatever. But he’s married to Summer now, and she’s got a fortune, doesn’t she? So Lincoln must not need the money from his job, but he’s still working as a bartender. Does he really like it that much?”
“I don’t know. I think he does enjoy it in his way. But I think it’s more that he doesn’t want to sit around and live off his wife’s money. You can understand that, can’t you?”
“Yes. I definitely can. So he’s going to keep doing it? He doesn’t want to be involved in the family business or anything?”
“He does. At least to a certain extent. He’s been helping me out with some stuff in the past year. Strategic planning. And he’s really good with people. He’s such a good schmoozer. Better than me.”
“I bet you’re a pretty good schmoozer too.” She reached over to give his sleeve a tug.
He smiled. “I’m okay. But he’s better. And he does feel a connection to the business. It’s his family too. But he doesn’t have any training in business. He’s trying to finish college now. He’s got another year or so to go. I think he’ll probably keep the bartending job until then. After that, he might want a job with Wilson Hotels.”
“And you’ll give him one?”
“Of course I will. We’ve had our problems. A lot of problems. Both of us have messed up pretty bad in the past. But we’re doing well now. He was really good after my father died. He could have cut me out of the business entirely. He could have been ruthless. Legally, he could have done it since Dad left the whole thing to him. But he didn’t. If he wants to come on board, there will definitely be a place for him. Like I said, he’s better with people than I am. And he wouldn’t want to deal with all the tedious stuff that I’m good at, so I think we could work it out without too much conflict.”
“That’s good.” She adjusted her position, putting the gift bag onto the floor of the car. “I’m glad you guys are getting along now. It must have been hard to be on the outs with your family. I’ve never had a sibling like that. I have Kayla of course, but that’s different. It would be a shame if you couldn’t be close to him.”
“It was. For a lot of years, we weren’t close at all, and I hated it.” Carter gave her a twisted smile. “It was like there was a hole in my heart. For a while it felt like I had nothing but holes. In some ways, I lost Summer earlier this year when she got together with Lincoln. I didn’t lose her completely, but she’d been my best friend my whole life, and she... she isn’t anymore. That was a hole too.”
The ache in her chest compelled Ruth to reach over and put a comforting hand on his thigh.
He didn’t pull away from it. Continued, “But I have Lincoln now. I still have Summer in