Chapter 13 - HIS NAME ON THE PAGE

Nathan read the proposed statement with Diane the next morning.

It claimed he had ordered the girls kept away from company guests and had reviewed their meal arrangements. He had done neither. Still, he had signed instructions giving other people authority over their daily lives.

“I’ll answer for the signature,” he told Diane. “I won’t sign a lie to get the money back.”

Diane sent his response to Peter’s attorney.

Nathan then called the company board. He told them about the investigation, the documents he had signed, and the changes he wanted made to how company expenses were approved. It was an uncomfortable meeting. Several people asked why he had missed payments going to staff who no longer worked for him.

“I wasn’t paying attention,” Nathan said.

He did not soften it.

At home, the girls had started drawing pictures for their new rooms. Sophie drew a yellow kitchen with six chairs, including one for Rachel. Grace drew a front door with a large lock.

Nathan put both pictures on the refrigerator.

As Christmas decorations came down across Aspen, the girls began to laugh more easily. Some nights were still difficult. Lily woke once and asked if dinner had been canceled because she had spilled juice. Nathan sat with her while she ate toast at the kitchen table.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said.

She watched him make a second slice before she believed him.

A week later, Mrs. Ortiz visited. She brought a pot of chicken soup and stayed to teach the girls how to shape bread dough. The four of them dusted the counter with flour until it reached the floor.

Nathan saw Emma glance at the uncooked loaves.

“We can eat it all when it’s ready?” she asked.

“Yes,” Mrs. Ortiz said. “And we can make more tomorrow.”

Emma pressed both hands into the dough. She smiled.

That afternoon, Diane reported that investigators had found more records in Peter’s office. They supported Vanessa’s account of the payments and showed Peter had planned the transfers for months.

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There was also a sealed envelope addressed to Nathan in Claire’s handwriting.

Peter had kept it in his desk.