thought as she stood and tried to smile.
“As you all know, we’ve been having some trouble with rumors,” she began. “First we were accused of money laundering. Once we were cleared of that, there were complaints that executives had been paid large bonuses and that I had taken out money for personal use. I want to talk about all this today.”
She cleared her throat before continuing. “How many of you have received a bonus?”
There was a moment of surprise, then everyone looked at one another. No one raised a hand.
“It’s all right,” she said. “Just waggle a finger or two. Who has received a bonus?”
There was only silence.
“That’s what I thought. I’ve hired an independent auditor to go over my entire financial portfolio. Once that is done, the company will certify that I haven’t received any money, either. So what on earth is going on?”
Now came the hard part. What to tell and what to keep quiet.
“About thirty-five years ago, my father had an affair. Most of you have met Jed Titan at one function or another. If you haven’t met him, I’m sure you’ve read about him. So it probably won’t come as a big surprise to hear that he chose not to marry the young women he’d slept with, despite leaving her pregnant.”
There were a few gasps. A couple of women whispered to each other.
“All these years later, Jed’s illegitimate son has decided to get his revenge. That’s what this is about. He’s out to destroy all of us. You’ve seen what he can do. If it wasn’t for Leonard’s brilliant computer detective work, we wouldn’t have found the source of the second set of books. We wouldn’t have the beginning of proof to repair our reputation.”
She glanced around the room. “I’ve told you this in confidence, to help you understand what’s happening. There are probably going to be more difficulties. Ours isn’t a business that weathers this sort of thing very well. In the nonprofit world, reputation is everything. Because of this, some of you will want to leave. Some of you may think about going to the press. I can’t prevent either.”
She smiled. “But I hope you’ll stay. I hope you’ll remember our mission statement, that we have a goal that no child in this country will spend a day hungry. That’s what matters. That’s what’s important. My half brother will do everything he can to destroy what we’ve built. I’m not going to let that happen, but I can’t do it alone.”
She paused for breath. Trisha stood.
“You’re not alone, Skye,” her CFO said.
One by one the other staff members rose to their feet. They began to clap. Skye sighed in relief. One problem down, sixteen hundred left to solve.
CHAPTER TWENTY
IT WAS THE SECOND TIME in as many months that Mitch started the morning with a killer hangover. He didn’t remember much about the previous night except he’d spent it with a bottle of Scotch and a burning need to forget.
A shower helped a little. He made his way downstairs where he shook off breakfast, grabbed coffee and started to leave.
“What’s wrong?” Fidela asked. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
She came up to him and cupped his face. “You mourn your friend. I know. Time will heal the wound. It always does.”
Would time heal this wound?
“His wife is pregnant.”
“Her baby will bring her much comfort.”
“He’ll never know his kid.”
“He’s in heaven. He’ll know everything.” She glared at him. “Don’t you dare tell me you don’t believe in God. You’ve been to war, Mitch. You’ve seen the pain and the miracles.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re right.”
“So believe in the possibilities.”
He nodded because it was easier than arguing. Yesterday he would have believed. Yesterday he would have known that whatever happened, there was still good because he and Skye loved each other and they’d finally found their way back to where they belonged. This morning, the world was a shitty place and he was sorry he’d come back.
He stepped outside and winced as the bright sun seemed to pierce his skull. He limped to the barn and stumbled into his office.
Forgetting seemed impossible, he thought grimly. At least while he was here. He would have to go somewhere that didn’t remind him of her. Assuming there was such a place in the world. If he’d had the faith Fidela had talked about, he would have offered God a bargain-his sorry self for Pete.
He sipped the coffee and thought about turning on his computer. Once he was online, he could pick a destination. Any one. Maybe Thailand. He could get lost in the jungle. He had money. Arturo would run the ranch. He didn’t need Mitch.
“Hi!”
Erin bounced into his office.
“I don’t have school today. It’s the
Her voice was high and made his head throb as if it were stuck in the middle of a church bell.
“Can you keep it down?”
Erin looked confused. “Keep what down?”
He slumped onto his chair. “Nothing. I don’t know where Arturo is.”
“He’s out riding the fence line. Fidela told me.” She moved closer, then plopped on the floor next to his chair and looked at him. “Want to go riding.”
“No.”
“But it’s nice out.”
“I don’t feel very good. My head hurts.”
She pressed her lips together. “You can take something. Mommy takes something when she gets a headache. You buy it at the store. Or do you want me to get you a cold cloth? That helps.” She sprang to her feet. “I’ll go get a cold cloth. That will be nice.”
He raised a hand to stop her. “Just go. I need quiet.”
She ignored the instruction to leave. “I can be quiet.”
“Not so far.”
She sank back down on the floor and eyed him. “Are you sad about something?”
“What? No.”
He would be sad one day. Right now he was beyond sad. Not beyond pain, though. The pain was right there, crouching in his gut, reminding him with every breath that he’d lost her.
Lost Erin, too, he thought, looking into her concerned face and wishing…what? That he could have been a part of her life? Sure. Why not? She was a great kid. He liked everything about her. Loved everything about her. He wanted to be a part of her world-helping her grow. Teaching her to drive and scaring off potential boyfriends. Who would do that now?
“Are you fighting with Mommy again?” Erin asked.
“Not in the way you mean.”
“Huh?”
“No. I’m not fighting with your mother.”
“She’s not scared of you. I’m not, either. Sometimes people fight.”
He rubbed his temple and wished he’d thought to swallow a half-dozen or so aspirin before leaving the house.
