“I think you’re wrong, but let’s move on from that argument. How would you even know what to do? It takes a huge amount of time to learn the various games and how to run them. Doing the books and managing employees. I cannot even begin to think of all the details—and I plan the Forsythia Ball each year. Let me tell you, there are always complications you don’t foresee.”

“You’re right, it is a huge effort. But I’ve been studying for almost a year. I know all the games and how they work. And, for the past month or so, I have apprenticed with a casino owner. He’s shown me—”

“Apprenticed! Goodness, you are serious.”

“Very serious, Granny. I go late at night when the casino is open so that I may see how it runs.”

“That must be tremendous fun. I don’t suppose your father knows about this.”

“No, absolutely not. He would lock me in my room if he found out.”

“You are not wrong. He may never understand your reasons for wanting to do this. Are you willing to sever a relationship with him, possibly permanently?”

This was one of the things she loved about her grandmother, the ability to see things from all sides. A quality Florence wished that her father possessed. “I believe he’ll come around.”

Granny chuckled. “I wouldn’t bet on that, pun intended.”

“Wouldn’t you like to have a place to go where you and your friends could play roulette or craps? That’s all I am attempting to do. Why should men have all the fun?”

“Indeed, I have long said the same. Yet, our world remains conservative, despite the protests happening downtown. Are you not worried about the police or City Hall shutting you down?”

Florence thought of Clay and Big Bill. The mayor’s chamberlain. “There are ways around that.”

“I sense there’s nothing I can say to dissuade you.” Granny refilled her teacup and added sugar before stirring. “So are you interested in my blessing?”

Florence exhaled slowly. Here we go. “I am hoping you will come on as an investor.”

Her grandmother had the most unexpected reaction: she burst out laughing. Florence tried not to fidget while she waited. Had this been the wrong approach? She’d never asked anyone for money like this before. Perhaps she should have written her plan on paper, given her grandmother some concrete figures on the amount required.

“Oh, you are too much, Florence. I hadn’t expected you to ask for my help.”

Florence’s stomach plummeted. Her future loomed like a dark hole of living at home, attending the same society parties and balls with the same people at the same time of year. Same, same, same. How would she survive it?

No, you will find a way. Even if Granny refuses, you will find a way.