Not Quite Over You
Page 69

The door opened and Irene glared at them. “Drew, get in here. Your grandfather is starting the meeting.” She turned her icy gaze on Silver. “You need to leave.”
“No,” Drew said. “She’s staying, Mom.”
Silver debated taking off, but she had to know what was going to happen next. She ignored Irene and followed Drew back into the boardroom. Grandpa Frank stood at the front of the room and he gaveled the meeting into order.
* * *
DREW DIDN’T KNOW what to make of his grandfather’s move with the money. Going into business with Silver had been his idea. He liked being a part of what she did. With the loan, she didn’t need him, which, based on what she’d said, seemed to be the point.
He sat at the table. He could see his parents. Silver had taken a seat behind him, so he had no idea how she was reacting to the proceedings. There was the usual board business, then Grandpa Frank once again stood.
“We’re here to select a new chairperson. Libby and Drew are the main contenders unless someone else wants to throw their hat in the ring.” He waited for a second. “No? All right. You know each of the candidates, but before the board votes, I suggest Libby and Drew each make a statement.”
Libby immediately rose to her feet. “Thank you,” she said, looking at each of the board members in turn. “This bank is an honorable institution with a proud history. We have always been a pillar of the community. I know times are changing, but not all change is good.”
She turned to Drew. “I’m worried that the other candidate isn’t prepared for the responsibility of running things here. I’ve hoped he would grow into the role but in the past few months, he’s shown me that he might never be ready.”
Drew’s mother sprang to her feet. “Libby, what are you doing?”
“Telling the truth.” Libby slipped on her glasses and picked up a piece of paper. “Drew has a child out of wedlock, which in this day and age seems perfectly fine, except he is in no way supporting that child.” She looked at him over her glasses. “He discarded his eleven-year-old daughter like a used tissue, walking away and never once trying to get in touch with her.”
Everyone stared at him. Drew did his best not to respond. He would have his chance later.
“In addition, he’s bought into a bar. He spends his weekends serving drinks at parties. Just this past Saturday he was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct after using spray paint to deface a private business.” She pulled off her glasses. “I ask you, is Drew really someone we want running our bank? Do we trust him with the welfare of our clients? I submit he isn’t ready for the responsibility.”
With that, she sat down.
Drew stood. His mother was practically frothing and his father had a death grip on her arm. His grandfather looked more amused than upset and he had no idea what anyone else was thinking, nor did he care.
“Libby makes a strong case about what I’ve done wrong, but no case at all for what she’ll do right,” he began. “So let me address both sides of that. It’s true, I have an eleven-year-old daughter, but I did not abandon her. Her mother and I gave her up for adoption. Autumn has been loved and cared for since before she was born. She’s a great kid and doing just fine.”
He thought about what else she had accused him of. “I did buy a minority partnership in a local business. AlcoHaul is a traveling bar that is a critical part of our wedding industry and this community. As for getting arrested, I have no excuse. It was about something personal and I was an idiot. If that’s enough to disqualify me, then I accept the consequences for my actions.”
He thought about what Libby hadn’t said. “Here’s what I would do differently if I ran this bank. I would make sure we were friendlier to local businesses. I think taking a risk on our own community is important. I think we should have more financial literacy, and to that end, I’d like to offer free seminars on various aspects of banking and money management. We aren’t a multinational corporation and that means we have more flexibility. Let’s work for good and for profit. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. We should fight for what’s important. We should—”
Not just the bank, he thought unexpectedly. He should be fighting for what was important. He should be fighting for Silver. He hadn’t—not when they were kids and not now.
He returned his attention to the meeting.
“Anyway,” he said. “That’s all.” He stepped away from the table. “Libby and I will get out of your way so you can vote.”
Libby glared at him. “You don’t get to say that. You’re not in charge of this meeting.”
He ignored her and turned to where Silver was sitting, gaping at him.
“Could I see you outside for a moment?”
* * *
SILVER WAS SO impressed by what Drew had said that she forgot to be embarrassed by what she was wearing. He’d been forceful without being a jerk and he’d totally put Libby in her place. She was impressed and proud and just a little bit weepy.
They stepped into the hall only to have every other nonboard member join them. Drew pulled her into his office and shut the door behind him.
“Hi,” he said, looking at her. “How’s it going?”
She twisted her hands together. “Drew, you did really great in there. Libby’s awful.”
“She is, but that’s not what I want to talk to you about.” He stared at her. “I was going to tell you that I’m sorry I haven’t fought for you. Not before and not now.”
Was? He was going to say that? What had changed his mind?
“The thing is I realized you’ve never fought for me, either,” he continued. “You’ve always let me go.”
“It was for your—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “My own good. Yes, I know. That’s what you’ve always said and a disinterested bystander might agree, but I’m wondering if that’s all it was. Did you also let me go because it was less scary than asking me to stay?”
Silver felt herself flush as her heart rate increased. He’d guessed her deepest, darkest secret and she was more scared than she’d ever been in her life.
“I love you, Silver. I love your strength, your laugh, your kindness, your big heart. I love how you get stubborn and how you’re independent. You’re a smart businesswoman and a good friend and an amazing mother. But you’re also afraid. You love me enough to let me go but do you love me enough to want to keep me?”
He smiled at her. “I ask because that’s what I’ve had to see. I never fought for you, not the way I should have. I let you go that summer because of college. I signed away Autumn because I didn’t have a clue as to what I was giving up. And I nearly lost you again today. Well, I’m not going to let that happen. I love you and I’m standing here saying I will fight as hard as I have to because I want to keep you in my life. For always.”
Tears burned. Happy tears and sad tears and every other kind.
“I’m sorry,” she told him. “I’m so scared that I’ll be like my mother, living my life for a man who won’t love me back. It was easier to let you go. I was scared to fight for you.”
“And now?”
Here it was—her moment of truth. She stared into his eyes.
“I will absolutely fight for you, no matter what. If you want to go to D.C. and work with your parents, I’ll go with you. I’ll sell the business and find something there. If you want to stay here and run the bank, that would be even better, but whatever you decide, I’m with you. I want you to be happy and I want you to be happy with me. I love you, Drew. I’ve loved you since that first summer. I wanted to believe I was okay but the truth is I never got over you. Not even for a second.”