Authors: Dara Girard
Brenna rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t know,” she said hoping that what Orson had said about his brother Lionel wasn’t true.
***
He was going to turn him down. After ten interviews, Hunter was used to the expression. The expression of polite detachment and inevitable regret. The only difference was Aaron Rosenberg’s bushy black brows came together over deep-set eyes as though he didn’t want to give him bad news. The others seemed to delight in it. Rosenberg had been the last on his list of business contacts and the pattern had been the same. They invited him in for an interview only to say no. As if they wanted to see for themselves how desperate he was.
“You have an impressive resume,” Aaron said.
“Which is pretty useless if it doesn’t get me a job.”
His bushy brows rose at his tone. “I’m sorry.” He set his reading glasses aside.
Hunter nodded. He took the resume and put it in his briefcase.
Aaron clasped his hands together, his voice casual although his gaze grew sharp. “I received a call not too long ago. A call other people likely received. It advised me that any new hires would not be in the best interest of my company.” He tucked his glasses in their case and opened a drawer. “And since I treasure the health of my company, I intend, as others are likely to, to heed that advice.”
“I see.”
“Let’s be honest. The East Coast is his turf. You can find success elsewhere. I know the market’s bad, but maybe go out of the country. Don’t let your pride blind you to the fact that you’re beaten.” He shrugged. “Just a little advice.”
Hunter stood.
“I know a man in Oregon—”
“Thank you. When I consider moving I’ll let you know.”
Hunter left the office wanting to tell Rosenberg where his friend in Oregon could go. He threw his briefcase in the backseat and slammed the door. He sat inside and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
Think Randolph. Think.
He could move west, but Brenna had her company here. It was established and successful and unfortunately their sole income. The thought made him sick. He swallowed. Things wouldn’t last this way forever. It was a temporary set back. Besides would she be willing to leave it and start over elsewhere? Plus her brother’s trial was to be held here. They couldn’t move until that was over. But how long would that last? No he couldn’t move now. He didn’t want to. He shouldn’t need to. He would stay and fight.
He had investments that should last them awhile as he got things back in order. It would cover Brenna’s medical and perhaps pay for some help. Yes, this was a great plan. He went to the bank his spirits lifted.
The female associate looked at the screen with concern. “I’m sorry there’s nothing in the account.”
He felt blood drain from his face. “What?”
“The last withdrawal was three weeks ago.”
“That’s impossible. Mr. Baladasso handled my account.”
“Mr. Baladasso no longer works here. If you’d like to speak to a manager—”
“Forget it. Thank you.” He left the bank impressed with his calm. Once outside he dialed Orson. “Where the hell is my money?”
His grandfather clicked his tongue in sympathy. “Poor Hunter. Money troubles already?”
“You know damn well that Baladasso worked for you. He oversaw all my investments.”
“I know.”
“He’s gone with my savings.”
“Shame.”
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try to remember.”
He paused. “I’m an old man. My memory is fading. Of course if you need a loan—”
“I want my money. Brenna’s medical—”
“See now that isn’t my problem, boy. I warned you about marrying her. If you buy a sick heifer, expect to pay the fees.”
Hunter felt a cool anger that seemed to numb him. “You’ll pay for this. You’re an old man, Orson. I’ve got time on my side.”
“Yes, and nothing else.”
***
A spring wind whipped through the darkness descending around the large colonial-style house. The distant call of an egret swept through the air. Audrey sat in her large oak poster bed adjusting the black silk scarf around her head as she waited for Orson to come into the room. She remembered the first apartment they’d shared. It could fit into her closet. How far they’d come. She didn’t mind admitting that there had never been true love between them. She’d never expected that. She’d just wanted to fulfill her duty as wife and mother as God had ordained her role to be. She felt she had done her job well and God had blessed her, but tonight the blessing felt empty. She pulled up the bedclothes not glancing up when she heard the door open.
“You will not sleep here tonight,” she said in a quiet voice.
Orson walked to his closet almost annoyed that she’d spoken to him. “What?”
“You will not sleep here tonight.”
He unbuttoned his shirt. “What are you chattering on about woman?”
“I heard about what you did to Hunter.”
“So?”
“Orson—”
He stepped out of the closet, his chest bare. He pointed his finger at her in warning. “I told you that boy was a dark horse, didn’t I? He needed to be taught a lesson. I gave him everything and he thought he could walk into my company and change things.”
“What’s wrong with change?”
“Things change when I say so.”
“What are you hiding?”
He waved a dismissive hand. “You don’t know anything about business.”
“No, but I know a lot of things about you.”
He stepped back into the closet.
She raised her voice to make sure he heard her. “I’ve been with you over sixty years and I have been by your side. I’ve seen your triumphs and failures. Lord knows I’ve put up with a lot from you with your women.” She sniffed. “But you’re only a man so I forgave you. I’ve always done as you’ve said. I’ve been a good wife. So good you hardly notice me. Fortunately, I don’t need you to notice me anymore as the gates of heaven call me closer each year. You were never a kind man Orson, but I knew that when I married you.”
He closed the closet door and came towards the bed, his expression bland. “You have a point?”
She pulled out a gun and aimed it at his face. “You know my papa taught me how to use this thing in case I had unwanted visitors.”
He halted startled then began to chuckle amused. “Put that thing away before you accidentally hurt someone.”
“If I hurt someone it won’t be an accident. Tonight I thought about what we’ve done to Hunter. We’ve lied to him his entire life and we continue to lie, and now you’re punishing him because of your own guilt. I’m as much to blame as you are. If I’d spoken sooner, been stronger. But it’s too late for wishing. Now we’ve shamed him. All of us. Just to keep the secret. I can hardly sleep with myself tonight so I’m certainly not going to sleep with you.”
He pulled back the sheets. She fired. The bullet whizzed past his ear and shattered a statue. “I’m not foolin’.”
Orson’s temper peaked. “Audrey, that boy needed to be taught a lesson. Now—”
“Yes, through the years you’ve taught a lot of people a lesson. But for the first time in my life, you made me ashamed to love you.” She motioned to the door. “Get out.”
They stared at each other for a long time. Remembering, regretting then finally resigning themselves to the choices made. He went to the closet and grabbed his robe. “I’m going to be lenient this time because you’re tired.”
“You’re right. I’m tired. Very, very tired.” She took the gun and placed it back in the drawer.
***
Hunter looked up at his second floor apartment window with disgust. The two weeks in which he’d been forced to call the place home hadn’t made him enjoy it anymore. He’d never lived in anything but a house. The neighborhood was decent, he supposed. Brenna was pleased with the view of the man-made lake and landscaped trees and their one bedroom. He walked into the apartment greeted by the smell of chicken and fried rice. Brenna had done her best to make the place feel like a home. Only he knew the paintings and most of the furniture were second hand. He hated the thought of using someone else’s throwaways. He hated the thought that they’d had to leave everything behind and that it was Brenna’s job that had afforded them this place. He hated the fact that every day he returned home after another unsuccessful job search.
“Hi,” Brenna called from the kitchen.
He hated seeing her there even more. This wasn’t the life he’d promised her. He opened his mouth to say something to the fact when he glanced at the table and noticed an extra plate setting.
He lifted the plate. “We’re having company?”
“Yes.”
He set it down. “Who’s coming?”
“A cousin. Did your interview go well?”
He stopped her as she walked by holding a pitcher. “Which cousin? I thought you didn’t like your cousins.”
“I don’t. It’s one of yours.”
Hunter took the pitcher from her and set it on the table. “Which one?”
“Daniel. How was the interview?”
“Bad.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not in the mood for guests. Call and cancel.”
The doorbell rang. Brenna smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Too late.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Brenna and Daniel talked about various things while Hunter pushed his food around on his plate. As dinner came to an end Daniel said, “So Hunter, what do I have to do to convince you to work with me? With your ideas—”
Hunter started smashing peas with his fork. “I don’t have any ideas.”
“Yes, you do. Brenna told me what happened but you’ve always come up with new things.”
“Not anymore.” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d sketched an idea or even doodled.
Brenna stood. “Why don’t you two move into the living room while I clear the table?”
Hunter glanced at her. Was that a joke? The dining room was basically
in
the living room. He could walk the entire place in five minutes. Fortunately, Daniel didn’t find any humor in her statement.
He pushed his chair back from the table. “It’s a nice night. Why don’t we go out on the balcony?”
“Good idea,” Brenna said. “I’ll put coffee on.”
Hunter followed him to the balcony. It was a warm evening with fireflies dotting the sky. Daniel closed the glass door then said, “Give it to me straight. How bad is it?”
Hunter gripped the railing ready to lie. Ready to say everything was fine. That he had it all worked out. But Daniel waved a hand to stop him.
“I know you Hunter. You’ve sketched ideas since we were kids. Only something really bad could stop you. The last time was Angie. What is it this time? Brenna threatening to leave you?”
He shot him a glance. “Would you blame her?”
“She seems loyal.”
“She is.”
“So what’s going on?”
“Besides losing my job, my house and living off of my wife’s income? Baladasso ran off with all my savings. No doubt Grandfather helped him.”
Daniel swore. “What the hell did you do to him?”
“I’m not sure. I thought—God I’ve been stupid. I didn’t look into things. I trusted…I don’t know what happened.” He thought he was helping the company.
What did he do that was so wrong?
He shook his head it was no use trying to figure it out.
“How much do you have?”
“Enough to live like this.”
“This isn’t so bad.”
Hunter rested his forearms on the railing. “I’m not telling Brenna. She has enough to worry about.”
“Don’t worry I won’t say anything. I’ll talk to Dad. We may have something for you.” The Merediths owned a small company that distributed office supplies.
“It might not be such a good idea to work with me.”
Daniel understood the warning and patted him on the back without concern. “He can’t touch us. His sister would give him hell.”
“Too bad she can’t send him there.”
“Careful. If you begin to hate him, he wins.”
Hunter glanced at the sky. “Then he’s won,” he said softly.
Daniel patted his cousin on the back again. “Come by tomorrow. Let’s see what we can do.”
The next day, Daniel greeted Hunter as he entered the lobby. He showed him around the cramped offices then took him to his father’s office.
Adrian Meredith looked at Hunter with smug disgust. The expression suited him. He was a bulky man built like a truck with cutting brown eyes. “So a Randolph needs a job. Tell me, what’s the view like from down here?”
Daniel shifted awkward. “Look, Dad.”
His father ignored him. “You Randolph’s have snubbed your noses at us for decades. Why? Because you think you’re smarter then us, richer than us—”
“He’s different.”
“And what makes him so different?” Adrian rested two forearms the size of cement blocks on the desk. “You were just like the rest of them. I don’t remember you ever seeking out our company before. So now you need a job and you expect because we’re family that I should give you one, but I’m not sentimental. So you’ll have to come up with something more. Why should I help you?”
Daniel spoke up. “Because I asked you to.”
“Let him speak for himself.”
Hunter said, “I need work.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have any positions open right now.”
Daniel began to speak; Adrian held up his finger in warning then spoke to Hunter. “Again I’m sorry, but it can’t be helped.”
Hunter swallowed back the bile in his throat. “I understand.”
“Good.” Adrian went back to work.
Daniel stared at his father stunned then followed Hunter out of the office. He shut the door then said, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Your father said plenty.”
Daniel shook his head. “No, this is wrong.” He turned. “I’m going to talk to him.”
Hunter stopped him. “Why? He’s right. I had the Randolph pride and arrogance. I’ve gotten what I deserve. I don’t even know why you’ve believed in me all these years.”
“Because you believed in me once.”
“When?”
“Remember when my mom and I used to grow tomatoes and I tried to sell them? You bought the whole batch.”
“So?”
“You were the only one who bought anything from me. It was the first time a Randolph had ever done anything for a Meredith. My mother said it and I knew it to be true. You were different and you still are. I don’t care if Dad or Grand-Uncle don’t see it. You’re never going to be beat as long as I’m around.” He paused. “Wait a minute.” He disappeared into his father’s office, raised voices soon followed then Daniel reappeared.