The next morning Ally was in the middle of packing when she heard a loud knock on her front door. Please don’t let it be Ron, she thought. She was in no state to face him right now. She had woken up this morning filled with regrets for the way she acted yesterday. She had displayed an impressive bravado, but underneath it she was scared of losing Ron. Last night her actions had seemed validated by her hurt pride and self-righteousness, but today she was no longer sure it had been the right reaction. If faced with him this very minute, she feared she might take back every single word she had said to him last night, and while it would take away her fear of loneliness, it would do nothing to quell her concerns about his loyalty. The knocking on the door grew louder and Ally hurried to the foyer. She took a look though the peephole and felt instant relief: it was only Maddie.
Ally flung open the door. “What a nice surprise. I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
“If you had answered any of my calls or emails, you wouldn’t be so surprised.”
“Sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“I’ll say.” Maddie made her way inside, looking around suspiciously. “You started packing?”
“I figured I might as well. It’ll keep my mind off of things.”
“So you’re still moving to Boston?”
“Yes. Why do you sound so surprised?” Ally already knew the answer, but she decided to ask anyway. The longer she could postpone the dreaded subjected of her and Ron’s engagement, the better.
“Ron told me.”
“I figured.” Ally lowered her eyes.
“I think you did exactly the right thing,” Maddie declared. “Not that you need my opinion, but Ron can be an indecisive wishy-washy—”
“You don’t have to bash Ron for my sake, Maddie.”
“I’m not bashing him for your sake. I’m bashing him because he’s an indecisive jerk. He needs to stop letting Mom boss him around and decide for himself.” Maddie plopped herself on the sofa. “I heard that dinner last night was intense.”
“Intense doesn’t begin to describe it.” Ally sighed, taking a seat next to her friend.
“Any word from your dad?”
“Nothing today. I keep checking my phone for messages. I wanted to fly out there to see him, but Uncle Otto told me to stay put.”
“That’s probably a good idea. You should listen to him.”
“I no longer know what makes sense. It feels like a horrible nightmare. I know that my dad would’ve never done the things they are accusing him of—he prides himself on quality work. My father spent countless sleepless nights to make sure that the Pollux maintenance contract would go off without a hitch. And now they are claiming that Roberts Enterprises is responsible for Pollux plants’ breaking down? I don’t believe it.” Ally frowned. She had been wracking her brain over what could have gone wrong with the Pollux project, but without being on the ground and knowing the details of each and every part of the project there was no way for her to achieve any other result except exhausting her brain. She wished she could get access to the invoices and order records to trace each and every shipment and installation. The answer had to be in there. Somewhere, somehow there had to have been a glitch in the process. And then there was also the possibility that Pollux mishandled the equipment and put the blame on Roberts Enterprises. Negligence was not unheard of. Why should Pollux be above suspicion? These were the questions she had wanted to ask Uncle Otto, but had held back instead. She was sure there were forensic investigators working on the scene, and they were bound to get to the bottom of things.
“What are you going to do about Ron?” Maddie asked.
Ally sighed. If only it were that simple. “I’m going to let Ron decide what he wants.”
“Then you’re going to be waiting for a very long time for him to make up his mind. Take it from me—I’m his twin. I know him better than anyone.”
“Jeez, Maddie, thanks for telling me that now. Don’t you think you should’ve mentioned it to me before you set me up on a date with your brother? And don’t deny it—you’ve been plotting to get us together ever since we became friends.”
Maddie’s face reddened. “The truth is, Ally, that I might have done you a disservice. I thought you could change Ron, and I think you still can. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good guy, but he’s just too passive. He lets Mom and Dad run his life and he worries too much about what things look like. I thought he could get away from it all if he had you by his side, but now things have changed, and he needs to step up to the plate. You need to be able to count on him, and if you can’t do that—”
“So what do you suggest I do?”
“Come to New York with me. Let it get through his thick scalp how much he needs you.”
“I can’t go back to New York! Uncle Otto told me to stay put, and didn’t you just tell me to listen to him?”
“I meant for the time being, but after graduation you should come with me to New York.”
“I’m supposed to start with Lorman & Matherson in Boston after graduation. Should I just blow them off and come have fun with you in New York to make Ron jealous?”
“Did you get the offer letter already?”
“Not yet, but they made a verbal offer. The letter is just a formality. It’s supposed to come any day now.”
“I see.” Maddie looked away. “If anything changes, my offer remains open indefinitely.”
“Thanks, Maddie. I really appreciate it, but as much as I’d like to, I can’t. More than anything I need to have a job right now. I don’t want my father to have to worry about me on top of everything else he has to deal with. And as for Ron . . . he’ll just have to decide for himself. I don’t want him to be obligated to do anything he doesn’t want to do.” Ally was amazed by how brave she sounded. If only she felt as resolute on the inside as she managed to look on the outside.
Just then Ally’s telephone rang. She read the name Lorman & Matherson on the caller ID screen.
“I’d better get this!” Ally exclaimed, grabbing her phone.
“Hello, may I speak to Allyson Roberts?” a formal female voice asked.
“Speaking,” Ally replied calmly. Inside she was jittery with excitement. Despite what she had said to Maddie, she had been worried sick about the letter. Nothing was ever final until all the i’s were dotted and all the t’s were crossed.
“Hello, Ally. This is Angela Whitman from Lorman & Matherson.”
“Hi, Angela.” Ally felt relieved. Angela had been coordinating Ally’s interviews at Lorman. This had to be good news.
“We regret to inform you that Lorman & Matherson will not be able to extend you the offer of employment.”
The shock of what she had just heard was so great that Ally thought she might have misheard things. “But I had a verbal offer from the head of the department,” Ally retorted.
“Lorman & Matherson is aware that a verbal offer had been made to you. However, given that the needs of the department have changed, the position for which you were being considered has been downsized. We thank you for your time and interest in Lorman & Matherson and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”
Ally heard a click on the other side of the receiver. She stared at the phone in her hand.
“What is it? What did they say?” Seeing the shock on Ally’s face, Maddie rushed to her friend’s side.
“Looks like I’m out of a job. Apparently their plans changed, and the position I was applying for no longer exists. But I really don’t think that’s the reason.” It was scary to think how quickly the world around her was collapsing. Her world had come apart the moment her father’s name appeared in the papers with those terrifying accusations next to it. Ally had hoped to keep it together by being independent and strong, but now it was becoming clear to her that she was being seen as a mere extension of her father.
“I’m so sorry, Ally,” Maddie murmured. “Can’t you sue them or something?”
“I only had a verbal offer, but from what I remember from my freshman intro to law class, that’s still a contract. I could talk to Uncle Otto, but I’m not going to—he’s got a lot to deal with as it is. Just imagine a headline in the papers: ‘Victor Roberts’ Daughter Sues Lorman & Matherson.’ I don’t think so. Had things been different, I might have gone for it, but not now. You suspected this might happen, didn’t you?”
“I just thought it was strange of them to take this long with the letter.”
“Yeah, so did I. I just didn’t want to think that anything was wrong. So it looks like I’m going to take you up on your offer about New York, if it’s still open.”
“Of course it’s still open!” Maddie shrieked. “We’re going to be roommates in the most exciting city in the world!” Maddie put her hand over her mouth. “Um, sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. I’m really sorry about your job and everything that’s happened . . . ”
Ally smiled. She had little cause for celebration, but at least she still had a true friend. “Don’t worry about it, Maddie. You don’t know how happy I am to hear you say it.”
“Then I’ll say it again. We’re going to be roommates! And those jerks at Lorman & Matherson are going to be sorry they ditched you. You’re going to get a much better job elsewhere, and Ron is going to be back, dropping on one knee in no time.”
“I hope you’re right, Maddie. I hope you’re right.”
“You’d better start packing then. Just wait till you see the apartment I picked! You’re going to love it! It’s on the Upper East side, close to Central Park.”
“That sounds expensive,” Ally said cautiously. “Are you sure you want a roommate without a job?”
“You can pay me back later. I’ve still got a job, so I can pay the rent on my own, no problem.”
“Thanks, Maddie. I’ll pay you back every penny.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll be back tomorrow to help you pack, but right now I’ve got to run,” Maddie said guiltily. “Mom and Dad want to have lunch. They’re staying here until graduation. Can you believe it? The rest of this week is going to be torture.”
“I’m afraid you have me to blame for that.”
“Nonsense. I have overbearing parents to blame for it. I’d blow them off, but I have to go over there and maintain the status quo after the debacle last night.”
“I hope my name won’t come up.”
“If it does, you can count on me to defend it to my last breath. Hang in there, partner!” In her usual dramatic fashion, Maddie swept out the door.
No sooner had Maddie left than Ally’s phone rang again. She picked it up on the first ring.
“Ally?” Her father’s voice sent her heart racing.
“Daddy! I’m so glad you called. I’ve been so worried about you! How are you?” The question sounded stupid the minute it flew off her lips. How could her dad possibly be? He was in prison, wrongly accused.
“I’m fine, Ally. I’m completely fine. How are you holding up?”
It was so much like her dad to worry about everyone else but himself. “I’m okay. I'm worried about you, Dad. The accusations in the papers—I told Uncle Otto that they can’t possibly be true. He has to get to the bottom of this. He has to prove that you’re innocent.”
“My Ally, I know I can always count on you to believe in me.”
“Of course I believe in you, Dad. I’m so proud of everything you’ve done. I’m so proud to be your daughter.”
“Even now?”
“Now more than ever.”
“I feel much better hearing you say that, kiddo. I know now I’m going to be all right.”
“Dad, isn’t there anything I could do to help?”
“You already did, kiddo, by saying what you said just now.”
“Dad, I’m not a kid anymore. I could help, you know.”
“I know, Ally. But to me you’ll always be my kiddo, kiddo. So please indulge your old man.”
“You’re anything but old, Dad!” Ally could hardly believe the levity in her father’s tone. This was not a time for jokes. They should be strategizing to get him out of jail instead.
Her father’s voice grew serious. “Ally, there is one thing that you can do for me, a very important thing . . . ”
“What is it?” Ally asked with bated breath.
“Please take care of yourself and stop worrying about me. Now, I know that it may sound like a simple task, but it really isn’t as easy as it sounds because I know how you are. You’re going to drive yourself crazy with worry, and that’s exactly what I don’t want you to do. Now I’m not going to sugarcoat things—things are pretty serious—but I have excellent lawyers defending me, and I’m confident of the outcome. It may take some time, but we will prevail. What I don’t want you to do is worry about me. I want you to go on with your life.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll try.” Ally bit her lip. What her dad was asking of her seemed impossible, but the least she could do was make him believe that she was carrying out his wishes.
“Are you excited about graduation?” her father asked.
“I don’t care about graduation, Dad,” Ally retorted, forgetting about her earlier resolution. She was going to have to do better than that.
“Don’t you say that, Ally. It’s your time right now, and I’m so sorry that I can’t be there for you. How’s Ron taking all of this?”
“He’s fine. He’s confident everything will turn out all right.” There was no way Ally was telling her father about the disastrous dinner with the Graystones.
“And his family?”
“They are being supportive,” Ally lied. “I don’t want to waste time talking about the Graystones, Dad. I want to talk about you.”
“Ally! What kind of way is that to talk about your future family?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I just don’t want you to worry about them. They are all fine.” Ally paused, intuiting that her father wasn’t going to like what she was about to ask, but she had to ask him anyway. “Dad, isn’t there any way I could visit you?”
“Ally, please listen to me. If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that I don’t want my daughter to be anywhere near a jail, let alone go inside one. This place isn’t for you. We’re going to apply for bail again. I hope to be out of here soon enough, and I’ll see you then, kiddo.”
When? Ally wanted to ask, but she knew better than to torment her father with questions he didn’t have answers to.
“Besides, you’re going to be busy with your new job, so you probably won’t have time for your old man.”
“I’ll always have time for you, Dad,” Ally’s voice caught. She simply couldn’t bring herself to tell her father about Lorman & Matherson rescinding their job offer. She had never lied to her father, but today she had broken a record: not one but two lies. The fact that she had lied to spare her father grief was her only defense and consolation.
“I have to go, kiddo, but we’ll talk again soon. I promise.”
“Okay, Dad. Take care of yourself. I love you.
“I love you too, Ally, very much. Remember, kiddo, even when things aren’t looking that bright, there’s always tomorrow to look forward to.”
“I know, Dad. I love you.”
The connection ended, but Ally continued clutching the phone tightly, as though hoping that it would bring her closer to her father. A moment ago his voice had been on the other side of the receiver, and now it was gone. She wanted to believe that she would see him soon; she had to. Her dad had promised her that, and if there was one thing she was certain of it was that her father would never lie to her.