Authors: Dara Girard
She shrugged trying to make light of it. “Oh the usual. That you’re strong, that things don’t bother you, that you don’t mind being different.”
“Are you still pretending?”
All the time.
“You know this is the first time that I’ve talked about my leg and struggles without defiance or worrying that someone will pity me.” She paused thoughtful. “I hope to inspire others not to just use Randolph’s products but to live with pride.” The way she’d been unable to.
He rested a brotherly arm on her shoulders. “I hope you’re ready.”
“For what?”
“Once the commercial airs, everybody’s going to want you.”
He was right. The commercial was an instant success. As February slipped into March, sales skyrocketed. Soon news programs and radio shows (online and off) clamored for the attractive woman who had inspired her husband’s latest creation. Fan letters started pouring in and Brenna was asked to speak at rehabilitation centers. She presented at colleges and nursing homes. Miles managed to attend every one.
She laughed when she saw him, flattered. “Miles, you can’t keep this up.”
“Why not? I like seeing you.”
She glanced at Sara who was speaking to a photographer. She had expertly kept Brenna’s image in the media without the threat of overexposure. “If you’re not careful, you’ll make Sara jealous.”
“No, she understands.” He watched Sara, his feelings for her clear in his gaze. “She’s not bad.”
“I know.”
“You’re not too bad yourself. Has Hunter said anything?”
Her eyes slid away. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s an idiot.”
She smiled. “That’s okay. He’s busy.”
“As always. You have the right to demand more.”
“And lose what I have? No thank you.”
***
Hunter rewound the video of Brenna’s commercial for the sixth time. He liked watching her, always had. Beside this was the only time he got to see her. Alone in his office at the end of the day. They were both so busy with work they may as well be passing strangers at home. He watched her, reminding himself she belonged to him although it didn’t feel that way anymore.
He paused the image when someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”
Ruby entered draped in a tan cashmere coat. “I was afraid I’d still find you here.”
“I’m not the only one. Dad, Uncle and Daron are still here.”
“They’re different.”
“From me?”
She took off her coat then sat. “Yes.”
He hated how everyone thought he was different. He’d prove them wrong. “I will succeed. I have the drive, discipline—”
“Yes, but not the heart.”
“Business doesn’t take heart.”
“Exactly.” She glanced at the frozen image of Brenna on the TV. “And you have too much of it.”
He shut the TV off and tossed the remote in the drawer. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You don’t want to be here. You don’t want eighty hour work weeks. You want to be with your wife at home, and you’ll want to be with your child when you have one. You’ll want to attend soccer games, school plays and science fairs. All the things your father never did.”
He shook his head.
“If you’re not careful, you’ll lose her.”
Hunter punched in numbers on a calculator just to look busy. “Fortunately, I plan to be very careful.”
“You know Miles has attended every one of Brenna’s presentation.”
He cracked his knuckles, keeping his voice level. “Yes, I know. Amazing how he finds the time.”
“Your mother—”
Hunter steepled his fingers together. “My mother is not part of the equation.”
“She was a wonderful woman.”
“Was she?” he asked bored. “That’s nice to know.”
“Hunter this isn’t like you. Your mother—”
He held up his hand. His eyes dark with warning.
Ruby crossed her legs at the ankles and started again. “I want to help you.”
His jaw twitched with banked anger. “By suggesting I give the job to Doran? Come in second again? Is that how you want to help me?”
“Your father is worried about some of the things you’re doing.”
His voice became quiet. “He has a right to be.”
Her tone sharpened. “What does that mean?”
It meant that he’d spoken to accounting and his suspicions had only grown. “I was afraid you’d see me.”
“Then you could have saved me the trip.” She sighed resigned. “I know there’s money missing. You can’t do anything.”
“Why not?”
“That’s the way it works here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean a company can’t steal from itself. Whatever is going on is perfectly legal just immoral. Leave it alone.”
“Ask him.”
“We’re a family. We should be there for each other.”
“So you admit something is wrong?”
“I admit that I have never seen your father or grandfather so anxious.”
He raised a mocking brow. “And you’re here to make sure I soothe their anxiety?”
“I want you to succeed. I want everyone to get what they want.”
“They will. They just have to trust me.”
She let her voice fall. “You used to confide in me.”
He stood. “I don’t need anyone to confide in. I’m here to do a job and I will do it.” He lifted her coat and held it out. “Will I see you Saturday?”
She slid into the coat then grabbed her handbag. “Of course.”
“Good.”
Ruby opened her mouth to say more then stopped herself. They exchanged stilted good-byes then she left the office, feeling defeated. Curtis met her in the lobby. “Well?”
“He’s being secretive, but he says he won’t cause trouble.” Though not in so many words.
Curtis sighed relieved. “That’s something.”
“At least he’s willing to do the party. His wife will soothe things over.”
“His wife may be part of the trouble,” he said in a grim tone. “I wonder what he knows.”
“Do you think he’s told her?”
“We’ll have to find out.”
***
Saturday evening brought a cool March breeze. Brenna listened to the low murmur of voices, the tinkling of glasses. She watched the room filled with well dressed guests and trays of canapés carried by wait staff that effortlessly blended into the background. Brenna smiled pleased. The event was a success.
“Excellent job,” Hunter said.
His praise made her smile, seeming to melt away the tense weeks between them. “So the family is adequately appeased?”
“Appears so. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you, but you should be mingling with guests not complimenting me.”
He glanced around unenthused. “I know.”
“Boring people, aren’t they?”
He grinned, a dimple winking at her. “Yes.”
“We have another hour before we can get rid of them.”
He set his glass down on a passing tray. “That long? If you need to leave early—”
“I’m fine.”
Curtis came up behind him and grasped his shoulder. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” He nodded at Brenna. “Excuse us.” He led Hunter away.
Brenna checked the kitchen and then the bar. Satisfied that everything was running smoothly she returned to the main room. Angie walked up to her with a gait that was a little too relaxed. “Nice turn out,” she said, a snide coldness in her tone.
“Yes.”
“I suppose you got the list?”
“Yes.”
“Of course you would. You’re a Randolph now. You must do things the Randolph way.”
Brenna glanced at a passing waiter. “Would you like—”
“I remember my first party. I was so nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“Of course. You are older than I was and Hunter was just starting out at the time. What does he plan to do next at Randolph?”
“I don’t know.”
“Doran and I talk about everything. When he finally comes home,” she said with a bitter laugh. “Does Hunter? He used to talk to me all the time.”
Brenna leaned against her cane. “I’m sure he did, but I can wager it wasn’t about work.”
“No.” She measured her up and down. “I wonder if people came to see Hunter or the Randolph spokeswoman. Amazing the things a woman will do for her husband.”
The words hit their mark, but she didn’t flinch. “You can thank your husband for the suggestion.”
Her eyes hardened. “Don’t be so smug. You have no idea why Hunter’s risen so fast.”
“He worked hard.”
“Doran deserves this.” She looked around. “The house, the job.” She spread her arm wide. “All of this.” She returned her gaze to Brenna. “You don’t know what this is doing to him.” Her voice fell. “To us.”
Hunter came up behind Angie and took her martini glass. “Still can’t hold your drinks.”
She turned to him. “Maybe not, but I can hold a few secrets.” She wagged a finger at him. “And I have a big one about your mother.”
“So?”
Angie faltered surprised by his disinterest. “She didn’t leave you, you know.”
He paused. “What do you mean?”
“She was taken away.”
He frowned. “Taken away?”
Her mouth widened into a cool smile. “Yes, in a nice white jacket.”
Brenna narrowed her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Angie grabbed another glass and took a sip her eyes shining with malicious glee. “His mother was mad.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Perhaps it’s time for you to go home,” Brenna said gently, taking her arm.
Angie snatched her arm away. “I’m not drunk. I’m nursing a very nice buzz right now, but I know exactly what I’m saying.” She turned her gaze to Hunter. “The whole family watches you trying to see if there are traces of the madness in you. But I saw it once, didn’t I? When you touched me and—”
“Don’t,” he said in a harsh tone that was almost a plea.
“Told me how much you needed me,” she continued in a taunting voice. “I could swear there were tears in your eyes. The strong man I’d married dissolving into tears like a baby. Holding me so tight I thought you’d never let me breathe again.” She looked at Brenna. “He needs help. He’s full of repressed memories.” She touched the side of his face. “Why do you think he’s so cold? If I didn’t feel your skin, I’d think you were dead.”
Hunter removed her hand.
She looked at Brenna. “How many lonely nights have there been?” She shook her head. “You don’t need to tell me. When he wasn’t begging me to be with him, he was shutting me out. He does that well.” She grabbed his sleeve, pushing her face up to his. “They told me you were the one who found her. You were holding her in your arms as though you were a man strong enough to lift her. I’m sure scenes like that must affect a little child. And they’re still buried there. And the whole family has conspired to make sure you keep them buried. And they’ll continue to humor you and applaud you, even when you don’t deserve it.” She turned to Brenna. “I’d be careful. You never know when he might snap.” She sauntered away.
Brenna opened her mouth, but Hunter shook his head. She knew he didn’t want to talk about it but couldn’t help herself. “Do you believe her?”
He shoved a hand in his pocket.
“I guess you’re going to shut me out too.”
He spun around and pinned her with a dark stare. “Have I ever been dishonest? Haven’t I given you all that you wanted? Any question, don’t I answer it?”
“Yes.”
“Then never use her words against me.”
She swallowed the gleam in his eyes worrying her. Pain, hurt, rage mingled too closely to the surface. “I’m sorry.”
He stared past her. “I see Ruby. I’m going to ask her a few questions.” He left before Brenna could reply. “I need to have a word,” he said once he’d reached her.
She turned to him. “Yes?”
“Was my mother crazy?”
She took a step back startled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He folded his arms. “You’re a poor liar.”
She looked uncomfortable. She glanced around and kept her voice low. “This isn’t the place.”
“Yes or no?”
She hesitated then said, “She had problems.”
“Problems?”
“Yes, she came from a very difficult background and was haunted by things. Your father cared for her, but he couldn’t care for her enough. It was decided she needed to be protected.”
“From herself or from others?”
“It’s not what you think.” She rubbed her hands together. “Who told you about this?”
“The real question is: Why didn’t you?”
“It was for the best,” Curtis said behind him. “We didn’t want to upset you. And now that you know it doesn’t change anything. Your mother had become almost a myth in your eyes and now you see she was just an ordinary woman.”
Hunter nodded his tone sarcastic. “Yes, a woman who was crazy and locked in an insane asylum. She sounds very ordinary.”
“Facts,” he said tersely. “Deal in facts. She was a woman with a mental illness, put in a facility able to deal with her special needs.”
“If it was such a simple fact, why did you tell me she left to have a career?”
Curtis glanced at Ruby. She said, “You were young. It was a painful truth we wanted to keep from you.”
“So you lied to me.”
Ruby gripped her hands together. “This is not the place,” she said lowering her voice to an anxious whisper. “Please. People could overhear us.”
“Then that’s your mistake for not telling me sooner.”
“We didn’t want her state of mind to influence your behavior,” Curtis said. “Knowing your mother was mad may have affected your own behavior.”
“You think I may have thought I was crazy too?”
“Perhaps.”
“But he had a right to know,” Brenna said.
Curtis turned to her, a biting anger sharpening his tone. “You, young woman, are imposing on a private conversation.”
Hunter smoothed out an eyebrow. “Careful father. You’re talking to my wife.”
“I am very aware with whom I am speaking. I’m speaking to someone not part of your past. She will pass judgment on things she doesn’t understand. We may have made an error, but the past cannot be changed. We said and did what we thought was best for you. So I suggest you leave it there—in the past. For your own good. It was bad enough dealing with your mother, she almost brought this company down. Promise me you won’t do the same.” He accepted Hunter’s silence as acquiescence. “Good now why don’t you two go and mingle with your guests?”