Lost December by Richard Paul Evans Read Free Book Online Page B

about to pull my car out of my parking stall when Henry knocked on my window. I put the car in park and rolled down the window.
    “What just happened?” he said. “I haven’t seen your father that distressed since your mother passed away.”
    “I told him that I don’t want to run the business.”
    Henry looked a little surprised but nodded sympathetically. “I can understand. That’s a heavy mantle.”
    “That’s what I told him. But he didn’t take it very well.”
    “No, I suppose he wouldn’t. He’s been planning on you taking over for years. Maybe since you were born.”
    “Do you think he’ll be okay?”
    “Your father? Of course he will. He’s a survivor. You don’t build a
Fortune
500 company without contingency plans.”
    “Henry, you know him. Why does he do it? Why does he keep running the company? He could enjoy life, see the world, find love.”
    “You know, I’ve asked him that very thing, but he’s never given me a straight answer. I’m not sure he has one. Your father came from a different place than you or me. He came from a world of scarcity—where a man fought against thewilderness to survive. But even more than that, your father’s a do-gooder. He’s been the company nursemaid for thirty years.”
    “I know. I told him that Crisp’s isn’t a charity. He should sell the company, take his winnings and move on.”
    “I’ve told him that very thing, but he won’t listen—improve the P&L, sell, then really start living life. He could buy a yacht and sail around the world.” Henry cocked his head. “Who knows, maybe coming from you he’ll listen.”
    “Maybe,” I said.
    “So what are you going to do now?” Henry asked.
    “I’m going to start living. Travel.”
    “Do you know where you’re going?”
    “Everywhere. We’ll start in New York, then we’re headed to Europe”
    “Good for you, Luke. Just be safe. And don’t worry about a thing. I’ll take care of your father.”
    “Thanks,” I said.
    He slapped the roof of my car. “Don’t mention it. And don’t worry. Everything will be just fine.”

    I called Candace from the road. “How’d it go?” she asked.
    “Not well,” I said. “My father was planning on me taking over the company immediately. I really hurt him.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Me too. He didn’t deserve that.”
    After a moment she said, “Hurry to New York. I miss you.”
    “I miss you too,” I said.
    “Sean went ahead and booked our room on his credit card.”
    “Tell him thanks. I won’t have my new credit card for a few days.”
    “Just a minute,” Candace said, “Sean wants to talk to you.”
    “You owe me, man,” Sean said.
    “I know. I’ll pay you back.”
    “How’d it go with the old man? Like you expected?”
    “Worse. He was expecting me to take over immediately.”
    “I told you. It’s archetypical. Atlas tries to hand the world over to Hercules. Only you were smart enough to reject it.”
    “I don’t feel that smart right now.”
    “But he’s not stopping you from leaving.”
    “No. The trust fund is in my name, so there’s nothing he can do about it anyway. I just hate disappointing him.”
    “You’ll be feeling better soon enough,” Sean said, “Don’t worry about your father. It’s not what he expected, but he’ll come around. He wants you to be happy, right?”
    “And if he doesn’t come around?” I asked.
    Sean laughed. “You’ll burn that bridge when you get to it.”

    I drove to the office of Mike Semken, our family accountant, and let him know that I was leaving town and needed to access my trust fund. He said it might take a few days to securea debit card for the account, but he’d have it sent to me as soon as it arrived.
    Leaving Semken’s office, I stopped at a pub some of the Crisp’s employees and I used to frequent and had a drink to settle my nerves. Then I drove to Sky Harbor airport and caught a flight to New York to meet up with the rest of the gang.

    The five of us,