Protecting Her(41)

Jack said ‘stupid associate’ to convince the members that he doesn’t care about Shelby. But I know he does. He has all along. Every time I told him how she was being abused by Royce, I could tell Jack wanted to help, but couldn’t. But now he is.

“I agree,” Martin says. “We’ll bring this matter to the higher level members, but for now, who agrees with the decision to release the girl?”

More than half the room raises their hands.

“Then it’s settled,” Martin says. “I’ll inform the higher level members and they will make the final decision. This concludes today’s meeting. We will meet again next month.”

My father finds me as we’re leaving the room. “You need to hurry up and get this done.” He holds onto my arm, looking like he might pass out. He doesn’t look good. He’s pale and his breathing is labored.

“Father, why don’t I take you home? I don’t think you should be driving.”

He lets go of my arm. “I can drive just fine! Now take care of this and tell me when it’s done.”

I go back to the office and call Logan. “Could you meet me for dinner tonight?”

“I suppose I could. Why?”

“I have an opportunity you might be interested in.”

We meet, and he accepts the offer. He doesn’t know everything yet, but I told him that we’re a secret group and he didn’t find it odd. He said the physicians he worked with in Europe have associations with similar groups. I knew such groups existed, but I had no idea Logan knew about them. I guess it really is a small world.





CHAPTER TEN


One Year Later


RACHEL

“I don’t know when I’ll be home,” Pearce says. “Go ahead and eat without me.”

I close my eyes and inhale a breath, trying to remain calm. “This is the sixth night in a row you’ve missed dinner.”

“I know. But we’ll have dinner together tomorrow. I promise. Sweetheart, I need to go. I have a meeting starting in a couple minutes.”

He hangs up and I set the phone on the kitchen counter.

“Mama.” I look down and see Garret holding onto my leg, looking up at me.

I pick him up and hug him. “Daddy’s going to be late again. It’s just you and me for dinner.”

He lays his head on my shoulder like he’s sad about the news. I know he’s not. He’s too young to understand, but in a year or so he will, and he’ll wonder why his daddy is never around.

This was my biggest fear when Pearce went back to work for Kensington Chemical. He stayed late on his first day back and has continued to work late ever since. He’s there on the weekends too. It’s just like when we were dating, but at least then he’d get home in time to have a late dinner or snuggle with me on the couch and watch some TV before bed. Now he doesn’t even do that. The past few months? he’s been getting home at eleven or midnight and then he’s gone by six the next morning.

His father is partly to blame. Holton recovered from cancer and went back to work four months ago, but only part-time. A couple months later he resumed his regular hours and took over as CEO again, and since then he’s been making Pearce work nonstop.

Pearce could refuse to work all those hours but he hasn’t, and I think it’s because he actually likes what he’s doing now. During his father’s absence, Pearce was able to make decisions and make things happen. He liked the feeling of accomplishment and wanted to keep it going. He’s a very competitive, goal-oriented person, which I love about him, but he’s taken it to the extreme. His life has no balance. It’s all work and nothing else.

This can’t continue. It’s bad for our marriage, but it’s also bad for Garret. He needs his father. And Pearce is missing all of Garret’s milestones. He missed seeing Garret take his first steps and wasn’t around when he said his first word.

“Bah!” Garret points to the family room where his mini basketball is sitting on the floor.

Pearce bought that ball for Garret when he was just an infant. When I saw it, I imagined Pearce playing with Garret, showing him how to roll the ball and toss it and bounce it. But instead, I’m the one who’s done that because Pearce isn’t here.

I bring Garret to the family room and set him on the floor. He’s in his little jeans and white t-shirt. He’s so adorable I could kiss and hug him all day, so I do. He gets lots of hugs and kisses.