The House (35 page)

“Please to meet you,” Inman said.

“Same here.” Heather smiled and shook his hand.

Anna turned to Linda and Brad. As with David, Anna recalled how Linda, Brad, and Theo had met Inman when he had visited the house a month before Edward died.

“Nice to see you again,” Linda said. She and Brad shook his hand. Anna eyed Serine and said, “Inman, this is my daughter, Serine,” and to Serine, “This is Inman Hayes.”

Like David on that initial meeting at the house, Serine cautiously extended her hand all the while staring at Inman as if trying to remember from where she had last seen him, that he was a criminal whose true identity she was attempting to recall from either a crime scene photo, or mug shot.

Anna said to everyone, “Inman’s aunt, Helena McGrath, holds stock in your father’s ... , I mean Manning Ventures. She’s on the board of trustees.”

Serine spoke to Anna. “Bryce said you three were having a meeting.

He wanted to know if there was anything he could do,” Serine said. “I’m calling him after everything’s settled here.”

David drew near Inman and said, “Are you always so friendly with the owners of companies whose board members you represent?”

Serine shifted from Anna, and again, as if an eagle zeroing in on its prey, sharpened her inspection of Inman.

“I try to help where I can,” Inman said to David.

Fearful of where David’s questioning might lead, Anna rushed to Theo as he entered the waiting area. The others followed.

“They’re admitting her,” Theo explained as the others gathered around him and Anna. “She’ll be in Room 312.”

“How is she?” Anna asked.

“She still has the baby.” Anna touched his arm and gave a light smiled. “She wants to see you,” Theo said.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Anna proceeded with Theo to the third floor; the others were right behind them. On reaching the doorway, Anna and Theo entered the private room to find the bed empty. Linda, Brad, David, Heather, and Serine followed them inside. Inman remained in the corridor.

“Where are they?” A worried look had consumed Theo’s face. He started for the door when a nurse exited the bathroom.

“The orderlies are bringing her up,” she assured him.

Anna felt David’s heated and interrogating stare upon her back as she moved to the window. Though Bryce was first on her list of those due an explanation, she would at some point have to tell David who Inman actually was.

Voices rose in the hallway. Everyone was headed toward the doorway when Anna heard Millicent’s voice.

“Oh my God! Papa Inman! I can’t believe you’re here.” Millicent lay on a gurney. The orderlies standing beside her were waiting for everyone to step aside so they could push her into the room. “I can’t believe this.” She grasped Inman’s hand. “My godfather is here.” She looked to Theo then to Anna, and back again up at Inman. “I’ve known him since ... I can’t remember when.”

“Your godfather
?” Anna turned to David on her left and met his simmering stare. “You’ll have to call Daddy,” Millicent said to Inman, “Tell him I’m okay, and that he won’t need to come.” Millicent turned back to the rest of the family. “Inman’s like a second father to me,” she said.

“So we meet again,” Theo said to Inman, “As almost relatives.” Theo extended his palm. The worry of possible miscarriage appeared to have momentarily lifted.

With an anxious smile, Inman shook Theo’s hand.

Everyone stepped aside and the orderlies pushed the gurney carrying Millicent into the hospital room. Linda, Brad, and Heather entered into a dialogue of their own as Theo and Inman moved to see about Millicent.

Serine drew close to David. His focus unchanged, he remained intent upon Anna.

“I suppose we’re to be happy,” he said. “Millicent certainly is. A stroke of luck that her godfather’s here.”

“At least for Millicent.” Serine pouted. She joined Heather and Linda speaking with Millicent, who was now lying upon the hospital bed.

David observed Inman, who was by the window. His arms folded, he speaking with Theo and Brad.

David said to Anna, “Care to tell me who this man really is? Or do I have to find out for myself?”

Anna sent him a heated stare. “I thought you were no longer my son.” ?

Chapter 50

Millicent was released from the hospital and sent to the Manning home with strict orders to adhere to stay in bed. “You have a weak placenta,” Dr. Amy Hilliard had said. “You can’t travel for at least three weeks. Once you arrive back in Chicago, I’m sure your obstetrician will prescribe same as me, complete bed rest.”

Theo waited on Millicent hand and foot while Inman remained constant at her bedside. The two of them discussed topics that ranged from the Genesis of her life to the Revelation of his life since she had last seen him. Inman and Millicent had not seen one an other since a few months before Millicent’s marriage. This differed greatly from what Millicent had told Theo, that she had not seen Inman since adolescence.

Inman had exited her life during her teenage years. But the two had kept in touch by phone, letters, and e-mail. Millicent had wanted the mysterious godfather, Inman, to meet and grant approval of Theo as her life mate. But something stopped Inman from returning to Chicago. The mysterious godfather had not made his appearance at the wedding. In fact, Millicent had never shared with Theo her wish for him and Inman to meet. Though having met In man prior to Edward’s death, Theo had not learned that Inman was the mysterious godfather, whose name Millicent resisted divulging and about whom her parents detested speaking. Neither until four days ago when Millicent found Inman waiting in the hallway outside her hospital room did Theo learn and witness the depth of her bond with the mysterious and until then unknown godfather.

Two days after Millicent’s release from Berkeley General Hospital, Anna met with Bryce and revealed all she had learned about Inman and his role as godfather to Millicent, who continually referred to him as
Papa Inman.

Bryce said, “I did some checking and he seems above board. Concerning Manning Ventures he’s come through on everything he promised regarding his work for Mrs. McGrath as one of the trustees.” Inman had relinquished his seat on the board.

But Anna remained yet convinced. “She’s his aunt. Did he tell you that?”

“He mentioned it. But that didn’t seem to have any effect on Dawson, Filbert, and Thompson’s asking price for the shares.”

“Why would it?”

“They tried to get higher than market value, more than we would have asked had Manning Ventures been selling the shares.” Bryce explained, “Inman was about to pay it, but I told him to hold off. I didn’t think it was right. That they were asking for a higher price further substantiated what Inman asserted. They had no problems with the company itself, rather who was running it.”

“Did Inman pay what they asked?”

“He called me. Filbert was trying to bully Inman. I called Filbert and he backed down. Mrs. McGrath purchased Dawson, Thompson, and Filbert’s shares at fair market price. I facilitated the sale with Inman only as spectator.” Bryce’s ability to work smoothly with In man unnerved her.

Anna then asked, “Has he or Mrs. McGrath convinced you to represent her on the board?”

“That would be Victoria Thompson. Inman was ahead of me on that.” Bryce averted Anna’s doubts of his loyalty. “I was going to insist they choose a woman.” Bryce’s words indicated his awareness of Anna’s fears. “If Inman or Mrs. McGrath had asked me to represent her, I would have told them what I’m telling you. That it would present a conflict of interest. And my interest is in working with you.” Bryce’s demeanor and tone softened, the transition from hard line bargainer to confidante both shook and awed Anna. “Understandably, you have questions about Inman. So did I.”

“Who answered them?”

“Colleagues at the companies he’s worked with, past and current clients he’s represented since going out on his own. They all say he’s great.”

“
Great
can mean a lot of things to many people. Just what were their words, particularly those of past clients?” Anna had lost count of how many times she had thought of how Millicent had risen from her despair of nearly miscarrying to gleefully embracing
Papa
Inman.

“I initially spoke with people who are no longer his clients. All of them lamented how they had not taken his advice. They had thought they could do better. Some wanted a lower consulting fee. Inman Hayes doesn’t come cheap,” Bryce said. “They lost their money.” Anna’s heart sank. Could Inman be that honest, and she unable to see it? “What was even more interesting was what they said when I told him of the work he’d done for us.”

“He was representing his aunt,” Anna retorted.

“That’s not the way they saw it,” Bryce said explained. “When I described how Inman had stood up for you in the board meeting, both his past and former clients were shocked.” Anna was too as she listened. “They knew. Or rather they had heard rumors.”

“What rumors?” Anna said.

Bryce leaned in. “I never said anything, but when Edward was sick... “ Bryce paused. “When it became apparent he wasn’t going to make it, and that he wasn’t going to sell the company, I grew concerned that someone would get wind of what he was going to do, give you the company. I was afraid someone would instigate a takeover.”

Anna’s heart pounded.

“The world of business is like the Serengeti, Anna. Eat or be eaten. Edward knew that.” Bryce said. “He also had debts to pay. He wanted to make things right before he died. Right with you.” Anna met Bryce’s gaze. “I agreed to stay on and help you. But I’m no Edward Manning.” Bryce’s sorrow over losing Edward stirred her emotions. Anna felt ashamed that she had ignored Bryce’s hurt, still gaping and raw. “Like you, I’ve been worried about a takeover,” Bryce continued. “All the people I spoke to about Inman were not only shocked at how helpful he had been, they also expressed awe at his silence about the company. He said nothing concerning his representation of Helena McGrath on the board. I didn’t know Mrs. McGrath was Inman’s aunt at the time. None of those with whom I spoke seemed to either. Which explains why his current clients were surprised they hadn’t received a call. Many of them were waiting for Inman to inform them of a newly formed company with value and startups that held great potential. Manning Ventures was a company without strong and knowledgeable leadership.”

“A company ripe for takeover by eager investors.” Anna shivered.

“Inman Hayes did want Dawson, Thompson and Filbert to sell their shares in Manning Ventures. But not because he wanted to maneuver a takeover for his aunt, or anyone. And believe me he could have started one.
Easily.
” Bryce looked at Anna. “What puzzles me is why he would do all of this. We’re certainly better off without Dawson, Filbert, and Thompson. But why would Hayes clear them out and then stop working as Helena McGrath’s representative? He hasn’t prepared Manning Ventures for a takeover by outsiders. Mrs. McGrath’s got too much of her husband’s work and money invested in the company. From what I can see Inman cares about her. They seemed to be on the outs right now.”

Feeling sheepish, Anna sank further into shame. She was not ready to tell Bryce of her relationship with Inman. Bryce said, “Do you have any idea what’s going on between them—Inman and Mrs. McGrath? You spoke with Mrs. McGrath, right before Edward died. Did she say anything?”

“We talked about the company, that I was eager to make no changes.” Anna omitted Helena McGrath’s admission that Inman had thought her nosy and that he was annoyed she had not told him that Edward, then Anna Manning owned Manning Ventures. “She’s his only living relative,” Anna said of Helena McGrath. “Other than his daughter.”

“That would be Dancia,” Bryce said. He glanced at the sheet of notes he’d made on Inman. “Over the years several corporations have offered him the chance of being CEO. Inman turned them all down. One guy I spoke with speculated it had to do with his daughter. He worked with Inman at the firm in San Francisco where Inman started out. This guy knew Inman when he was married.

“He was there when Inman’s wife died. The man took the call. Inman’s wife had left him and Dancia two years earlier. He said In man took it hard, his wife dying. After that, Inman made Dancia’s care his sole purpose. He went out on his own so he could be more available to her. Trouble is he didn’t count on so many clients following him. Turned out good for Inman. He could call his own hours and price. But he never went beyond consulting for what many in our field would have killed to have. He’s got talent, expertise, experience, and the contacts.”

Moments of silence passed. Anna was astonished at what Bryce had uncovered about Inman in the face of her questions, and all she had missed. Inman had suffered a lot. And yet he had retained the ability to give. He had also renewed within Anna the ability to believe in herself. She recalled how he had entered the board meeting and spoken up for her. Yet questions remained concerning his relationship with Millicent, the texture of which was as visible and viable to Anna as Inman’s arms enfolding her when they had made love.

She said to Bryce, “We’re missing something. And it’s right be fore our eyes.”