Page 88 of Fate and Fortune

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Kim was sitting in the chair beside their father’s bed when Sam and his brothers entered. Joel’s color was better, and he was sitting up in his bed with the television on softly in the background while Kim read to him out loud from the local newspaper. He was out of the hospital gown and into expensive silk pajamas and a robe.

From Kim’s smile when they arrived, it was clear they hadn’t heard the news.

“It’s so nice to see you,” Kim exclaimed, closing the newspaper. “See how much better your father is doing? He’ll be out of here in no time.”

Of course, Joel Winslow didn’t say it was nice to see his sons. That wasn’t his style. Instead, he nodded at them, at least acknowledging their presence.

“Is everything okay at the office?” Joel asked sharply. “What’s going on there?”

“What makes you think anything is wrong at the office?” Zack asked.

“Because you all walked in here like you were attending a funeral,” Joel complained. “Is something wrong at my company? Tell me now.”

“There is nothing wrong at the company,” Cooper said, his tone not inviting more discussion. “Not a goddamn thing. Sam has it all in hand, and he’s doing a wonderful job. You should be thanking him.”

Sam wouldn’t hold his breath for that to happen. Joel still had to be pissed that Zack hadn’t taken over the firm.

“I have a right to know what’s happening,” Joel said. “You’re not keeping me updated.”

“Because you’ve been ill,” Zack responded. “You’ve been very ill, and worrying about the company isn’t going to help that situation. You need to relax and know that it’s in excellent hands. Sam is doing a terrific job.”

“I’d feel better if⁠—”

“You were in charge,” Cooper finished the sentence for Joel. “But you’re not. Sam is.”

Joel’s gaze swung to where Sam was standing at the foot of the bed, not adding to the conversation.

“You haven’t said much. What’s happening at the firm?”

“The usual,” Sam replied. “Getting new clients, making sure existing clients are happy. Getting ready for the end of the fiscal year. It’s all pretty routine.”

This would have been the moment when Sam would have informed his dad that he’d forced Rick and Henry to retire. But not today… No, they had other news that needed to take precedence, and there was a chance it could set their father’s recovery back.

A chance. Not a sure thing. Frankly, Sam didn’t know how his dad was going to take the news of his wife’s body being found. Would he even react? He’d never been known for outward expressions of emotion. It might not have any effect on him whatsoever, and Sam was prepared for that outcome. If that was the case, then he’d go ahead and tell Joel about Rick and Henry.

It was a wait-and-see situation.

“Now that you’re getting better, maybe you and Sam could meet regularly about the company,” Kim suggested. “Then you’d always know what was going on, and you could get his advice, too.”

Sam couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do less. It sounded like a regularly scheduled torture session, and the only thing missing was nails being driven into his skull.

“I think the doctor might have something to say about that,” Cooper replied. “Dad is not supposed to even be thinking about work, let alone doing any. In fact, the doctor has mentioned retirement about a dozen times now.”

Joel visibly bristled at the “retirement” word.

“Doctors don’t know anything,” he said. “A bunch of quacks, all of them.”

“Those quacks saved your life,” Zack replied. “You’re looking at the green side of the grass because of modern medical miracles, Dad.”

Cooper glanced at Sam and Zack, then cleared his throat.

“Actually, Dad, we’re here to talk to you.”

Joel’s eyes narrowed, and he sat up straighter in bed.