PART 15 – A Quiet Message From Daniel Told Me More About His Engagement Than Any Argument Could Have Revealed

Saturday morning, I received a message from Daniel.

"Mom, can I come over this afternoon?"

I replied immediately.

"Of course."

He arrived just after two.

He looked as though he hadn't slept much.

I made coffee.

We sat in the sitting room.

He didn't speak immediately.

Instead, he looked at the photographs on the shelf.

Then he said, "Vanessa and I talked last night."

I waited.

"She wants us to continue with the wedding plans."

"How do you feel about that?"

He rubbed his hands together.

"I'm not sure."

I nodded.

He explained that Vanessa had apologized for laughing at dinner.

But she had also said that her father was under pressure because of the investigation.

Daniel told me she had asked him to encourage me to resolve the matter quietly.

I looked at him.

"What did you say?"

"I told her I wouldn't interfere."

"That's sensible."

He leaned back.

"She said I was choosing your side."

I was quiet.

Then I asked, "Did you tell her that this isn't about sides?"

"Yes."

He looked frustrated.

"But she doesn't seem to understand."

I reached for my coffee.

"Sometimes people hear only what they are ready to hear."

He nodded.

Then he asked something I hadn't expected.

"Do you think I should marry her?"

I looked at my son.

I could have given him an answer.

I could have told him everything I thought about Vanessa.

But that would have been unfair.

"Daniel, I can tell you what I believe a good marriage should look like."

He listened.

"It should have respect. Trust. Honesty. Room for both people to be themselves."

He nodded.

"And neither person should feel that their family is an embarrassment."

He looked down.

"I don't want to lose her."

"I know."

"But I don't want to spend my life feeling inferior either."

I squeezed his hand.

"Then you have some important thinking to do."

We sat quietly.

Eventually, he smiled.

"Remember when Dad used to tell me to choose people who made me feel stronger?"

I smiled.

"I remember."

"He said the right people wouldn't make me feel small."

I looked at the photograph of Robert.

"He was right."

Daniel stayed for another hour.

Before leaving, he hugged me.

I watched him drive away.

Then I went into the garden.

I needed some time to myself.

I trimmed the roses and watered the plants.

There was something comforting about doing ordinary work.

A few hours later, Rebecca called.

The independent review team had requested additional time.

They wanted to verify several financial entries before submitting their final findings.

I agreed.

"How long?"

"They expect to complete the next stage early next week."

"All right."

She also informed me that Richard had been cooperating with the latest requests.

That was encouraging.

I didn't want to assume the worst.

I wanted the process to be fair.

Sunday passed quietly.

I visited the community center in the morning.

I spent the afternoon reading.

And on Monday, I returned to headquarters.

The review team had prepared an updated summary.

Some of the earlier discrepancies had been explained.

Others remained unresolved.

The employee interviews were also complete.

Rebecca placed the documents on my desk.

"There's a recommendation from the review team."

I opened the report.

They recommended continuing the independent examination and reviewing Richard's management responsibilities separately from the financial questions.

I read the recommendation twice.

"That seems appropriate."

Rebecca nodded.

"James also believes the division needs stronger oversight."

"Then let's make sure it receives it."

I signed the instruction.

The next step would be to meet with the board and discuss the findings.

I wanted every decision recorded.

No personal arguments.

No rushed conclusions.

Just the facts.

That afternoon, I received an email from Richard.

He requested a meeting to discuss his future with the company.

I forwarded it to Rebecca.

"Please arrange a formal appointment."

She nodded.

I returned to the report.

There was one sentence in the employee section that stayed with me.

Several employees had said they no longer felt comfortable speaking openly during management meetings.

I read it again.

Then I closed the folder.

That was not the kind of company Robert and I had worked so hard to build.

Click here to continue reading: PART 16: The Board Finally Had Enough Information to Discuss Richard’s Future, but I Wanted One Last Question Answered Before Making a Decision