Page 80 of The List

“Your father felt I should know the truth. Of course, he doesn’t know about the Alzheimer’s. He was doing what daddies do for their daughters. Help them out. I’m glad he did. I’ve thought of little else since he dropped by. I have a granddaughter I never knew existed.”

Silence hovered over them.

Both women absorbing the magnitude of the situation.

Tears swirled in Ashley’s eyes.

“Brent has to know,” Catherine said. “It may draw him closer.”

“It may also drive him away,” she said.

“Deceit can do that, but it’s a risk you’ll have to take. At some point, the lies have to end.”

Tears now filled Catherine Walker’s eyes.

“I almost think you’re on my side,” she said.

“I’m on Brent’s side. If you make him happy, and I think you do, then I’ll support you a hundred percent. I don’t want to see him, or you, hurt anymore.”

“Paula was so difficult. He wanted to end things. He really did. But she didn’t play fair.”

“That’s right. Including killing herself. I get his guilt. I really do. But what would he have done if he’d known Lori Anne was his daughter?”

“I’ve asked myself that a million times. It happened right before I married Manley Simmons. I immediately knew the child was Brent’s. But I told everyone it was Manley’s.”

“Why didn’t you tell him before he married Paula?”

“I don’t know. It seemed easier to keep quiet. Say nothing. Go on.”

“He would have married you.”

“I know that now. Then, I wasn’t so sure.”

“Brent never asked about Lori Anne?”

“Once, years ago. But I lied. Manley suspects, but God bless him, he’s never said a word. Lori Anne adores him. Telling the truth could be devastating for her.”

“But lies are always worse.”

Amen.

“In the divorce Manley agreed to pay child support. I went along just to keep up the pretense. But I’ve put every dime into a special account. I figured one day I’d give it back to him.” She had to say, “I love Brent, Catherine. This time I’m not going to let him go.”

“I came here today to say that I’m sick and getting old. I have to know my son’s going to be all right. I’m afraid Brent’s hesitant, thinking I won’t approve of any of this. But it’s not my decision to make. It’s yours and his, not to mention Lori Anne’s. Make this happen, Ashley. Fix it, while you can.”

She never could have had this conversation with her own mother. Sadly, she was a selfish, narrow-minded woman who lived across the state. True, they were cordial, with calls on holidays, birthdays, and Mother’s Day. But that was the extent of their relationship. No bond existed. Lori Anne barely knew her. They were both far closer with her father, but sometimes she wished for a mother.

“I really would like a granddaughter,” Catherine said. “While I can enjoy her.”

Tears flowed.

“I think she’d love that too.”

4:45P.M.

HANK LEFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF NEGOTIATIONSended, waving off an offer by his negotiations committee to reconvene at the VFW for a beer. For the next week none of the union delegations would report to work at the mill. Instead, the Comfort Inn would be where they’d toil from 8:00 to 4:30, until their respective locals concluded a deal.

Overall, day one went well. After pitching IBEW’s initial offer, Hank preached all afternoon about the dire needs of his members. Which included assured overtime, new call-in procedures, health benefits, and wages. Each was debated in agonizing detail. The company countered with its initial offer and, as expected, asked for a contract five years in length. He’d feigned surprise and raised hell about the evils of long-term deals, all for the benefit of his negotiations committee and to further the perception of how tough and unrelenting he could be. He’d need a strong reputation later in the week when it finally came time to convince the other two locals, and his own members, to join in a five-year deal.