“An attorney whose name is on the draft. Ashley sent it to me as an inquiry about whether the company would recognize a future transfer. I told her we couldn’t advise her on that and that any change involving shares would require proper review and authorization.”
I read the document again.
“Did she ask you to keep this from me?”
Rachel shook her head.
“She didn’t say that.”
“Then why am I finding out after the wedding?”
“That’s a question for Ashley.”
I rubbed my face.
My wedding band felt unfamiliar against my finger.
We’d been married barely twenty-four hours.
I’d already ended our reception early, spent the night in my childhood bedroom, and learned that my wife had been asking about assets I hadn’t offered her.
Rachel leaned forward.
“There’s something else you need to remember.”
“What?”
“Your mother has spent thirty-five years protecting this business. That includes protecting it from bad decisions made by people she loves.”
I looked toward the window.
Across the freight yard, an old blue truck was backing toward a loading dock.
Mom had kept that truck running long after most executives would have replaced it.
She liked things that worked.
She didn’t care whether they impressed anybody.
Then I thought of Ashley telling Melissa that her gown cost more than Mom’s car.
“Rachel,” I said, “how much did Mom actually pay toward the wedding?”
“I don’t know the exact final total. But I know she paid the venue and catering deposits because she asked accounting for copies of the payment confirmations.”
I stared at her.
“Why would she ask the company?”
“She didn’t use company money. She wanted her personal records organized before the final balances came due.”
I nodded.
Mom had been careful about keeping personal and business expenses separate for as long as I could remember.
Rachel continued.
“If you want to know what she paid, ask her. Don’t make me the messenger.”
