Shirley, Goodness and Mercy (Angels Everywhere #4)(24)

“Yes, there was.” He didn’t know how Sandy could be so blind. Did she honestly think he’d make up something like this? “Greg sent them.”

“Greg? Your brother?”

“Who else would do anything so underhanded?”

Silence again. Sandy didn’t seem to believe him, which irritated Phil even more. Of course Greg was behind this. He’d put those women up to mocking him in front of his wife and all these other people—and then disappearing. This was exactly the type of stunt his brother would pull, but Phil wasn’t going to stand for it. Oh, no. If Greg was planning to make trouble for him, he’d be ready.

“What does Greg have to do with any of this?” Sandy asked.

“He’s paid them to spy on me.”

“Oh, Phil, that’s crazy.”

“They had to be spies to know the things they did. Only someone who’s been watching me would know I have Greg’s loan application on my desk. Furthermore these women seemed to know how much I’m looking forward to turning him down.” He hadn’t meant to say all of that, but it was too late now.

“You’re rejecting Greg’s loan application.” The accusation in his wife’s voice stung.

“He’s a bad credit risk.”

“Phil, this is your brother.”

“My selfish arrogant brother.” Apparently his wife needed to be reminded of that. “Even at the end of her life, Mom was making excuses for him. Don’t you start.”

“You’re jealous, aren’t you? Both your parents are long dead, and you still think they loved your brother more than you.”

“They did.” It was a fact he’d lived with his entire life.

“Greg has come to you looking for help. It couldn’t have been easy for him.”

“It’s not going to get any easier, either,” Phil snapped.

“You sound…happy about it.”

Phil entered the ramp leading to the freeway with a burst of speed, pushing the accelerator all the way to the floor.

Sandy waited until they were moving smoothly along with the traffic. “Greg’s your brother,” she said again. “And you have the power to help him.”

Phil tightened his hands on the steering wheel. “You’re beginning to sound just like those blondes, singing their solos, humiliating me in front of everyone.”

“The blondes sang?” Sandy sounded worried.

“You mean to say you didn’t hear them, either?”

“No,” Sandy said. “Should I have?”

“Yes…no.” Maybe it wasn’t as bad as he’d first thought. “You’re not just saying that, are you?”

“Saying what?”

“That you didn’t hear them.”

“I didn’t,” Sandy assured him. “But I still want to know what they said.”

He sighed. “According to them, I like to think of myself as the good son and I wear a cloak of decency while plotting against my brother. Something like that.” Phil checked the speedometer and realized he was speeding. As he slowed the car, he glanced at his wife, only to discover that she was staring intently at him. “Don’t tell me my own wife agrees with them!”

Sandy didn’t answer, but her silence said it all.

“Go ahead and be angry,” he said, and noted he was speeding again. He seemed in an all-fired hurry to get home and he wasn’t sure why. If anything, this argument was bound to escalate once they got there.

“I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for Greg to come to Pacific Union,” Sandy said not for the first time. “Especially when he knew that you’d be the one who’d ultimately accept or reject his loan application.”

Phil refused to dignify her comments with a response.

“Greg is coming to you for help.”

Despite himself, Phil snorted with laughter.

“Oh, Phil, how could you?”

“Easy.”

Right after Christmas he intended to call Greg into the bank. He’d leave him to wait and wonder during the holidays. When his brother arrived at the bank, Phil would have him escorted into his office. It would be the first time they’d been face-to-face since their mother’s funeral.

Then he was going to personally deliver the news.

Ten

Christmas Eve Matthias stopped at the hospital following his grandson’s bone-marrow procedure. Gloria had spent the day with Tanner and called to tell Matthias that the transplant had gone well. Tanner was in an aseptic room Matthias couldn’t enter. Only Tanner’s mother was allowed to visit, and even then the boy was kept behind a protective plastic barrier. Despite that, Matthias couldn’t think of anyplace in the world he’d rather celebrate Christmas.

Because of the unknown bone-marrow donor, they actually had something to celebrate. The change in Gloria since the donor had been located was dramatic. The edge of fear was gone from her voice, and color had returned to her cheeks.

“Dad!” Gloria waved to attract his attention when he walked into the hospital lobby.

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” He kissed her cheek.

“Dad, Tanner’s donor is still here. Everything went as expected, but when he stood up to leave, he blacked out and fell against the hospital bed. He’s got quite a gash on his head.”