Don't Tell by Karen Rose Read Free Book Online

pregnant with Tom and so scared at the time. „So when I came to Chicago I got my GED and got a job working in a warehouse while I improved my secretarial skills at night.“ It had been so hard working in a warehouse, lifting boxes weighing nearly as much as she did. Her back injury still plagued her in those days and she used a cane to get from her little apartment to the bus stop and then on to work. So many nights she’d cry herself to sleep from the pain. It was only sheer determination, Dana’s constant pushing, and the thought of her son growing up in poverty that made her practice her typing and shorthand until her back ached and her eyes burned.
    „Then I met Eli, he offered me a job and I’ve been here ever since.“
    Max opened her personnel file, on top of his stack. She waited until his eyes widened, knowing he’d found the mention of Tom.
    „And I have a fourteen-year-old son.“
    His gray eyes registered surprised interest as he did the mental calculations. „Thus the dropping out of school. You couldn’t have been more than…“
    Her chin lifted. „I was sixteen when he was born.“
    He held his gaze steady to her face. „And soon you’ll have your degree. I hope your son appreciates what he has in you.“
    She immediately softened. „Tom is a good boy. I’m very proud of him.“
    „So was Dr. Bradford, from these notes.“ Max closed the file and picked up his cup. „So you’ll be a lawyer.“ He winced in mock dismay. „Going to be a corporate shark?“
    Caroline laughed out loud, startling a smile from his gray eyes. „Oh, no, not me. I’m going to practice family law.“ She’d represent the battered women, the women whose successful husbands left them for younger women, leaving them no visible means of support. She’d represent them and she’d win.
    „You’ll never be a millionaire.“
    „No. But I’ll have my self-respect.“
    His eyes flickered for a moment, then dropped to the next file. „So tell me about the rest of my staff. Start with Wade Grayson.“
    „He helped Eli start the history department here at Carrington. He’s a U of I – “
    „No, I can read all that for myself. Tell me about him.“
    Caroline regarded him soberly for a long moment. „Wade’s a good man. Kind, gentle. He’d give you the shirt off his back if he knew you had a need. He’s brilliant and totally unassuming. He and his wife still live in the apartment they had when he first earned his tenure. They play canasta every week with friends they’ve had for years.“
    Max made a note on the inside cover of the file.
    „What did you just write?“
    Max looked up, meeting her sober expression with equal reserve. „That he’s loyal.“
    She nodded, pleased. „You are correct.“
    He lifted his brows. „That’s why I’m the department chair.“ It had the desired effect, making her laugh aloud again. She had a beautiful laugh and he wanted to hear it often. They reviewed three more professors and six grad student assistants before he reached the last file in his stack. „Now, how about Monika Shaw?“
    The smile abruptly disappeared, Caroline’s face going still as a stone. Well, that was telling, Max thought. She sat there, obviously choosing her words with great care. He sat, waiting patiently, curious as to how political she could be.
    „Dr. Shaw is…“ She hesitated, sighed, then began again. „Dr. Shaw is very thorough.“
    He waited, then frowned when she folded her hands in lap, her full lips pursed in a thin line.
    „And?“
    „That’s, about all.“
    „That can’t be all, Caroline.“
    She frowned back, going rigid in her chair. „That’s all you’re going to get from me.“
    „Then that says quite a lot.“
    Her tight-shouldered shrug said even more. „Please, Dr. Hunter. Max,“ she added when his mouth opened to correct her. „Please don’t ask me to add any more. Just like with Evie, you’ll have to make your own assessments about all of us. Me included. I