Page 22 of A Family Affair: The Cabin
Nate rubbed his jaw, considered what Jack had just told him. How many people knew about Gloria Blacksworth’s notebook? Of those who knew, how many were women? The only one he could think of was the caregiver Gloria hired before she died. A nursing student, completely naïve to her employer’s manipulative ways. “I might know who that is.”
“Then you know more than me. Pete never was much of a talker when it came to his female companions. Don’t guess he’s gotten much better with age, but he told me enough to warn me.”
“Warn you the letter’s coming?”
“Yup. It’s coming and it’s meant to cause a world of problems between us.” Jack shook his head, heaved a big sigh. “I sure wish I didn’t have to give this speech, but I should have done it twenty-nine years ago.”
“Twenty-nine years? What the hell are you talking about?” Did this have to do with Nate’s father? Had Nick Desantro been involved with some underhanded dealings in the business and Jack found out once the old man died? Of course, Jack would keep it from Nate, try to shoulder the knowledge to protect other people. That’s the kind of man Jack Finnegan was: trustworthy, honorable. A good friend.
“I took three thousand dollars from ND Manufacturing.”
“Come again?” Had he just said he took money from the company?
The older man’s shoulders slumped like that money was weighing him down and when he spoke, his voice turned brittle and cracked. “I had a family predicament and I needed the money. With five mouths to feed, me and Dolly struggled to keep the kids in coats and sneakers. There was no way I could come up with that kind of cash.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, cleared his throat. “But I couldn’t stand by and watch a good person destroyed because of ignorance and trusting the wrong person. I paid it all back, with interest. It took me three years to do it, and Dolly never knew.” His blue gaze narrowed. “And she’s never gonna know.”
Nate studied the man who’d served as a better role model than his own father. All these years together and he’d never guessed there was a giant lie between them. “What kind of problem could make you take money?” He paused, finished with the most painful part, “From me?” Jack Finnegan was the kind of guy whoreturnedmoney when a cashier messed up in his favor. Stealing—and that’s what taking three thousand dollars from ND Manufacturing was—did not fit Jack Finnegan’s personality or history. It wasn’t who the man was…and yet he’d done it. What did that say about what a person would do in a desperate situation?
There was only one question left to ask.
“What was so damn urgent that you had to steal from the company?”
Jack shook his head, hands clutching the ball cap he wore every day so hard the cap was half its size. “I can’t say, Nate. I’m sorry. It would…” He cleared his throat, his eyes bright. “It would destroy the person in question and I can’t do that. I kept my mouth shut all these years, didn’t even tell Dolly and there’s nothing she doesn’t know about me.” The blueness in those eyes turned bluer. “But not this.”
“You’re putting me in a terrible position. You just told me you stole from the company, and you won’t even give me details to defend your actions? What am I supposed to do with that, Jack? Huh? Am I supposed to pretend this never happened? Damn it, I wish you’d never told me.” There weren’t more than a handful of people Nate trusted and Jack was one of them. Or had been. Could he still trust the man? His gut told him he could, but the hurt in him wondered.
The man who’d helped him through more than one bad time stood, cleared his throat. “Like I said, I should have told you years ago, but I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing you look at me like you’re doing now. Disgusted. Disappointed.” He shrugged, clutched that damn cap harder. “But I was not gonna let that letter arrive and take you by surprise. I couldn’t do that.”
“Appreciate it.” Nate eased back in his chair, waited for Jack to continue.
“I expect you’re gonna do what you gotta do, and I’m fine by that. All I ask is that you tell the guys I left to spend more time fishing.” He worked up an almost smile. “They’ll believe that.”
“What do you mean? You’re quitting?”
The almost smile inched up. “I always thought I’d end up like your old man, taking my last breath on the shop floor. I love this place, Nate. Had a lot of good times here; some bad ones, too, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. But I think I’ll leave now, save you having to give me the ax.” He plunked the ND Manufacturing ball cap on his head, nodded. “If you want, I’ll hang around until you get a new foreman in place. There’s some good men on the floor that would do you proud.” Jack extended a hand across the desk, tears rimming his eyes. “It’s been a real pleasure, Nate. A real pleasure. I couldn’t be prouder of you than if you were one of my own.”
Nate ignored the other man’s extended hand, pushed back his chair and made his way to the other side of the desk. “Can’t you tell me anything about why you did what you did?”
Jack shook his head. “It’s not about me or saving my hide. It’s about protecting a person from a past that won’t let go. I can’t do it. I’m sorry.”
The man left him with two choices. Nate could accept the resignation and maybe he’d eventually convince himself that Jack Finnegan wasn’t as honest or trustworthy as he’d once thought. Or, he could accept the man’s refusal to divulge the reason for taking the money and move on. Deep down, he knew Jack wasn’t a thief, knew he could be trusted, and that he cared about Nate. You had to respect a man who would give up the job he loved and risk the respect of a friend to protect someone in need. “So, my choice is to let this incident go or let you go?”
Jack eased his outstretched hand to his side “Don’t see it as much of a choice. You’ve always been about honor and doing right.”
“Yeah, I have been, haven’t I?” He narrowed his gaze on his friend. “And I’m going to trust my gut and stick with that.”
“I expected as much.”
This time, it was Nate who held out his hand. “I guess I’ll never understand what you did, but I understand why you did it. You helped a family member in trouble. That’s doing the right thing.That’sshowing honor.” He gripped Jack’s hand with both of his. “I need you here, being my eyes and ears, keeping me on track. You know me almost as well as Christine.”
The old man shrugged, worked up a smile. “Don’t think I like the sound of that.”
Nate grinned. “Take the compliment and shut up, okay?”
Jack’s smile faded, his voice cracked. “You sure about this? I’m giving you a way out. No hard feelings.”
If his wife had taught him one thing, it was that every relationship suffered bumps and bruises along the way. That’s what made them stronger, gave them the calluses to withstand the rocky paths that cropped up now and again. Jack Finnegan was worth a callus or two. “I’m sure. When the letter arrives, I’ll burn it, and we’ll leave what happened twenty-nine years ago where it belongs—in the past.”
