“Any word on HW?” Aud’s shoulder-length blond
hair framed her face in loose layers, and her clear green eyes regarded Derian
with questions. For an instant, she looked like the tender, supportive
confidant she’d once been.
“I haven’t heard anything from the hospital,
so I hope that’s a good sign.” Derian’s chest tightened and she pulled herself
out of the past. She and Aud were strangers now, their bond one of shared
memories, memories of different times, when they’d been different people. “I’m
going to run by there when we’re done.”
“Have you talked to Martin?”
“Why would I?”
Aud sighed. “Because he’s your father?”
“Come on, Aud. You know better than that.”
“Life would be a lot easier if the two of you
would actually communicate now and then.”
“Easier for who? For you, probably.
Definitely not for me.”
“You know he wants you in the business.”
“No, he doesn’t. Not unless I undergo a personality
transplant and change my internal wiring at the same time.”
“You are a voting member of the company,
and—”
“Right. That’s what matters to him, that we
present a solid front. I’m not going down that road. Maybe I got lucky and
nature did me a favor.” Derian rubbed the faint headache between her eyes. “You
know I’m not cut out for business, even if I was capable.”
“Oh, come on.” Aud sighed in exasperation.
“You’re perfectly capable. You’ve got a mind like a calculator and we both know
it. So does Martin.”
“Maybe so.” Derian took a bite of the
sandwich the waitress slid onto the table in a quick wordless pass. Funny, the
old favorite had lost its appeal, like so many things that shone in hindsight
and paled in the present. “But the last time I attended a board meeting—”
“Uh, excuse me? When was that—three, four
years ago?” Aud speared a section of omelet and shook her head. “The board
members might be inclined to take you more seriously if you actually showed up
now and then.”
“They made it perfectly clear I would never
sit in the big seat.” Derian sipped her rapidly cooling coffee. “I think I
heard the words image
and irresponsible
tossed around quite a lot.”
“You could change that, Dere. All you’d have
to do is come home, show some interest.”
“Sure, if I had
any interest, which I don’t.”
“God, you’re stubborn.”
“And you’re not?” Derian pushed her plate
away. “Have you ever thought you’re starting to sound an awful lot like
Martin?”
Aud’s eyes cooled. “I’m your friend, Derian.
And I also happen to be looking out for your interests, even if you like to
pretend they don’t matter.”
Derian blew out a breath. “You’re right. I’m
sorry.”