Page 26 of Hometown Girl

“Good.” He looked away, but only for a second. “Listen, there’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. You know it’s been challenging to get everything in order after we lost your father.”

Beth studied her folded hands.

“But we’ve had time to sort through everything, and, uh ... a few things have come to light.”

Her stomach dropped. “Oh?”

He pressed his lips together, like a father having a hard talk with his kid. “I think you probably know what I’ve uncovered, Beth.”

Her throat went dry.

“You can imagine what an awkward position this puts me in.”

“Sir, I can explain—”

“The truth is, I’ve been trying to figure out why we’ve been hemorrhaging money, and now that I know, I’ve got to plug the leak.”

“What are you saying, sir?”

“I respect you. I respected your father. He was one of my best friends, but my job is to look out for the good of this company.”

“My father’s company.”

“He left me in charge, Beth. He had a lapse in judgment when he tried to cover this up for you.” His eyes were sad, and she could see he took no pleasure in this conversation.

“Does my mother know?”

“Nobody else knows. I can keep it that way if you agree to quietly resign from your position.”

Beth’s fingers tingled, and she felt like the oxygen had been sucked straight out of her lungs. “I’ve been working on making this whole thing right. It’s all I do, Darren. You have to know that.”

“I know, but I think we can handle it from here.”

“But this is my family’s business.”

“And it still will be. It will just be run by other people.”

“And my mother?”

“Your father left very clear instructions to make sure she’s taken care of. Your mom will be fine. And so will you.”

She wasn’t so sure.

He stood. “Beth, your dad always thought you had one foot out the door. I think he hoped for it, actually. Maybe it’s time to think about that.”

She didn’t respond.

He said something about getting exit papers ready and walked out of her office, leaving her sitting in a puddle of sorrow and confusion.

She knew it had only been a matter of time before someone found out what she’d done. Ordering materials from a new supplier for the parts Whitaker Mowers manufactured had looked so good on paper, but she hadn’t done her homework, not really. When the cheaper materials turned out to be defective (like her father said they would be), it had landed Whitaker Mowers on the wrong side of a lawsuit.

It had cost Beth her father’s respect. It had cost him his reputation. And sometimes—often—she thought the stress of it all had cost him his life.

She needed to get out of there—to clear her head. To figure out why her life had just fallen apart. Again.

She picked up her purse and her latte, walked outside, got in her car and started driving.

Ten minutes later, Beth pulled into the parking lot of the run-down farm, unsure of what drew her there. Especially since she’d felt so silly driving by only half an hour before. What was she doing here?

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