The Man Who Can't Let Go novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Winter Board

The VanAlstyne Foundation's winter board met in the Meridian's Crystal Room, in front of two hundred donors in good wool coats.

Virginia sat in the front row between her father and Sisi, with the canvas tote on her knees.

Tobias sat on the far side of her father, and Abel behind them, and Sisi's father beside Abel, upright in his one good suit.

The Tribune's editor had taken an aisle seat in the third row and his notepad was already open.

Greta entered from the side door at five past noon, in navy and pearls, walking with a cane.

She had been home from the hospital for one day.

The room rose to its feet for her, and two hundred people applauded.

She took the chair at the center of the long table and lifted a hand, gracious and a little frail.

"Thank you. You're very kind." Her voice carried without effort. "I'll be brief, since I've been told to rest."

"This foundation has been my life's work. I have spent thirty years on it, and I was proud of every bed it paid for."

"This autumn my family has had a difficult time, and I am sorry the whole city has watched it."

"I will say only that my daughter-in-law has returned after three years away, and she has not been fair to us."

Virginia stood up.

The room went quiet and uneasy, as rooms do when someone leaves the script.

"Mrs. VanAlstyne," the treasurer said from the table, "this is a board meeting. You are a guest."

"I'm a guest who was invited," Virginia said. "Greta asked me herself, in a hospital corridor."

"She wanted the family difficulties settled in front of the people who matter."

"I'd like to do that."

Greta smiled, and her knuckles whitened on the cane.

Virginia opened the tote.

She took out the envelope first and held it up.

"These are the divorce papers I mailed from Portland three years ago."

"They went to the VanAlstyne townhouse, and this green card says who signed for them."

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