Romance for Matthew (3 page)

He phoned Nat. "I think we're on," he told him.

"Great," his friend said. "See you around one o'clock then."

The lunch, Bethany thought, was just right for her, sub sandwiches, her favorite, with potato salad. Eating brownies for dessert, she laughingly told Sarah she'd gained weight just looking at all the delicious food.

"Now, we meet Nat and his girlfriend Alicia downtown," Matthew said, as they finished up.

She grew worried at that. "You mean we're leaving the house?"

"Yes. Don't worry, you can bring your purse."

But it still upset her. What would she do in case of an emergency with Jacob? "If we'll be gone until four, perhaps I could bring my own car." She tried to keep the panic out of her voice.

Matthew patted his mouth while frowning a bit. "Of course you can. Ollie, Sarah's husband, drives me where I need to go. But if you have after work plans, that's fine. You can follow us. I'm just not sure how long it will take."

"Where did you say we were going again?" Bethany asked.

"Bowling. Nat's in a league, and wants me to join."

Her mouth dropped open, and she was speechless. How could he ever manage that?

Mutty accompanied Matthew, she could see, as she pulled her car into the parking lot, while the dog guided him into the noisy bowling alley. She followed quickly, assuming he'd need help.

But as she went through the doors, she saw him standing, already talking and laughing with Nat by a lane, while Mutty sat wagging his tail.

And Nat introduced her to his slim girlfriend Alicia, who had spiky black hair, lots of make-up and a scorpion tattoo on her bare arm. "How are 'ya?" she asked Bethany.

"Good, thanks," Bethany said, still watching Matthew, who sat now tying the shoelaces on his bowling shoes.

Then she pulled Alicia to one side. "How is he going to do this?" she whispered to the girl.

Alicia shrugged. "He's the type of guy that if you point him in the right direction, he just takes it from there." She looked at Bethany closely. "You his new accountant?"

"They call me a personal assistant," Bethany replied, before she said dubiously, "I guess that includes bowling."

"He's a real cutie, isn't he?" Alicia said.

"Yes, very handsome," Bethany replied awkwardly, watching Matthew.

"No, I meant Nat, my boyfriend," Alicia laughed.

Bethany had bowled before, but her best was only one-fifty six, which she told Nat, after she'd put on her shoes.

"We can fix that!" he said enthusiastically, while he showed her where to stand and the basics of throwing the ball.

Her first throw was a strike. "Beginner's luck," she said, laughing, as Matthew applauded her when Nat told him about the strike.

Then it was Matthew's turn. Nat told him where to stand, and held his friend's hand back, then forward, telling him when to release the ball.

Bethany held her breath, as he pulled back and released the ball. He got a spare, and they all clapped. He looked back and grinned.

But Bethany wasn't expecting the pulling sensation within her, as tears came to her eyes at the sight of him being so proud of himself. Her hand came up against her mouth, and Alicia watched her, sympathetically, "I know," she said softly, "he's such a champ, isn't he? Just don't feel sorry for him. He doesn't like that."

Bethany nodded, wiping at her eyes.

After a few turns, Nat was called away for something, and Matthew said to her, "Can you tell me where to stand?"

She took his arm, and led him to the spot where he'd been standing before. When she handed him the ball, he told her, "I need more instruction on throwing. You're the strike person. Tell me how. If you don't mind."

Matthew really hoped he wasn't being too obvious, but he wanted to feel her hands on his. She was just so achingly close right now. And her hands were soft, as she guided him in a practice throw, and her warmth and slight perfume wound around him.

But it was over soon, too soon, as she backed away. He hated to look like an idiot, so he took his time in the backswing, then let the ball go. When he heard clapping, he knew he'd hit something. He didn't really care what he'd hit, he just wanted her near to him. He also wanted her to have some fun, as he'd had the impression she needed more fun in her life. Something about the tone of her voice just told him sadness lingered within her.

The afternoon went quickly after that, Bethany thought. And she felt guilty when she realized she'd hardly thought about Jacob.

"I guess I'd better get going," she said to Matthew during a lull in the playing. "I need to get home. Just fill in strikes for me the rest of this game," she laughed.

He bid her farewell with his handsome grin.

But when Bethany walked into the small house she rented with her mother, she saw Jacob sitting on her sister's lap on the sofa. Of all people, she thought. She did not need her sister right now.

Without a greeting, she reached down and picked him up, kissing him on both cheeks.

Her sister followed her into the kitchen. "I'm sober four weeks now," she told Bethany, trailing after her.

"That must be a record for you, Kate," she replied, turning to face her, while Jacob murmured against her shoulder. She thought her sister didn't look too bad this time around. For looks, she was a younger, short-haired version of Bethany. But usually, her green eyes were sunken, and her hair in strands around her puffy face. Now, she really didn't look too bad, Bethany thought, observing her.

"I'm going to meetings and everything," Kate rambled on, as if to convince herself.

"Where's Mother?" Bethany asked.

"She's in the bedroom. Why?"

Bethany didn't answer. She didn't want Jacob left alone with Kate at all. Her sister's track record was not good, and she'd been prone to sudden relapses. She'd almost bankrupted their family, with her many trips to rehab houses.

"So," Bethany said tightly, still holding Jacob, "where are you staying?"

"Listen, Beth, I asked Mom if I could stay here for a while. I need to find a job and stay sober."

"I thought you had a roommate, Carly. And what happened to your job?"

Kate looked guilty right now, as she replied, "I got fired. It was only a fast food job. I need something better than that."

"What did Mom say?" Bethany asked, more than dismayed at the prospect of her sister being underfoot.

"She told me it's up to you." She took on a wheedling tone now, so familiar to Bethany. "I really am going to sober up this time, Beth. I don't need rehab. I just need family around."

"I'll talk to her."

In the bedroom, Bethany found her mother sorting socks and Jacob's tiny jeans and colorful shirts.

"How can you even think about Kate living with us?" she whispered. "You don't remember all the other times when she lied to us and stashed bottles around the house?"

"Nothing shall be impossible to you with just the faith of a mustard seed," her mother said quietly. "Since your supervisor's name is Matthew, I did some bible reading today in the Gospel, According to Matthew."

"Well, that seed was to move a mountain, not my stubborn sister. She's bent on destroying herself along with the rest of us. I don't trust her. Especially with Jacob. You need to get a more realistic view of life, Mother." She kissed his cheek then and he gurgled then wiggled in her arms, while he played with her necklace.

"We can't turn her onto the streets," her mother said. "Let's just give her a week, and see what happens."

"I just don't need this right now," Bethany said bitterly, "with the new job and everything. Promise me you won't leave Jacob with her."

"Of course. I take him everywhere, you know that."

But, she knew her Mother. She was too much of a trusting soul, and now, Bethany thought another burden had been added to her own shoulders.

The next few days passed quickly for Bethany, and it was almost the weekend as she sat at her desk in Matthew's large den on Friday afternoon. He'd brought in a desk almost as large as his, placed it cattycorner to his own, and told her to stock it with everything she'd need from his supply cupboard.

He'd had Nat hook her computer up to his, as he told her Nat was a computer whiz with his own business. So, all and all, she thought she was quite comfortable in her work space, and could just hope Matthew would keep her around for a while.

However, the things she was uncovering, the errors and possible fraud perpetuated by his accounting firm, kept her searching, trying to believe that no one could be as deceptive as it appeared they were. Or, perhaps they were duped by the one employee who's signature she was seeing time after time.

She decided to approach him with it, just what she'd uncovered in the three prior bank statements for his main accounts.

Now, he wore his earphones while he sat at his desk and she knew he listened either to music or sometimes studied The Bible.

She walked to his desk and, trying not to startle him, placed her hand on his.

He pulled his earphones off, laughing. "Sorry, I get so engrossed in these things I'm just in outer space somewhere."

She smiled, and sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. He really looked nice today, she thought. About two hours after she'd arrived at his house, he came in dressed very smartly in a grey tailored suit, white shirt, grey tie, and dress shoes. He'd been to a meeting, from what he told her, but he'd quickly taken off his coat and tie, as he settled into his desk chair, while unbuttoning a few collar buttons on his shirt. And she'd noticed the scent of a very subtle after-shave he wore that she liked.

"There's something we must discuss," she told him.

He smiled briefly before it faded. "You don't like the job."

"Oh, no," she laughed, "don't worry about that. I love this job. It's the best job I've ever had."

Now, his knock-dead handsome grin appeared. "Good. So what's up?"

"I'm just not sure how to tell you this, so I'll just say it outright. I believe your accounting firm is stealing from you."

His breath came out in a long gasp, as his grin faded quickly. "Do you have proof?"

"That's what I'm working on. I need to gather all documents to prove everything before we can go to the authorities."

"What I've got," she continued, "is checks made out to cash and other entities I've never heard of. Large ones. Some of these expenses were plugged into a miscellaneous category, and in some instances even going against cost of sales, all signed by the same person."

"My God. Is the gross income correct then?" He ran a hand through his hair.

"From what I can determine, yes, but the net would be wrong and you'd have the tax liabilities for the various years. But I'd like to keep searching. And to fix this, we'll need to open a liability account to record what they owe you. I understand you have a bookkeeper who has all the check signing authority on these accounts."

"That would be Dena."

"You might want to call the firm and just say you want the actual checkbook for a while. Make up some reason. Otherwise, she might hightail and run on us. We need to make it sound convincing."

He nodded. "I'll just tell her we're writing checks for charity. I've done that before."

"Yes, that would be good. Also, if we can get the book back from her, I can figure out what the real bank balances are on these accounts. Right now, they're way off. I believe the balances are way under what is written on the registers. A few were written as 'void' when they were actually cashed. It will just be a matter of reconciling the statements and gathering up copies of those checks. I need absolute proof. We may have to go to the authorities on this."

And, she thought, there must be a set place in Hell for those people stealing money from a blind man.

He pushed his chair back and stretched his legs out in front of him. "I am so glad to have you here," he said softly. "You have no idea how much of a relief it is for me."

"Thank you. I appreciate that."

"What's today? Friday, right?"

"Yes."

"I have to attend a charity function tomorrow night. I was wondering if you might go with me. You know, just to assist me. I guess this would fall into the 'other' category on your job description," he said with a smile. "And I'd pay you overtime, of course."

The sudden proposition took her by surprise. "Well, I don't know. What should I wear...if I were to go?"

"Well, it's black tie, rather formal."

"Could I call you in a bit on that? It's almost four o'clock and I need to check home. So I'll call you around five, is that all right?"

"Of course. Certainly. I'll expect your call, then."

He waited anxiously for her call, as he sat at his desk, almost breaking down and phoning her instead. And he thought of all the things she'd told him in her calm, professional voice. What a find she was, a little gem sparkling in his dark world.