As Long As I Have You

~ Chapter Three ~

Kirsten Travis wasn't someone to be labeled an emotional woman, but when she set foot inside her father's office she couldn't help the tears from flowing. She thought the bulk of her tears were gone following her father's funeral, but she'd also learned long ago that it was easier to let the flood wash over her and be gone than to try and fight the pain. Doing so was a futile effort anyways and would only make the hurt that much harder to deal with when the next wave struck. Thankfully her grief was forgiving this afternoon, and it relinquished its hold after only a few minutes and allowed her to refocus her thoughts on the monumental task at hand.

She whispered something unintelligible to herself, then cursed a bit louder as she tried for the third time to read the briefing note she held. Concentrating on the document was crucial, but it was also proving to be useless. She couldn't seem to think of anything other than her foreboding meeting with Beaumont Industries, not when the fate of her father's company sat squarely on her shoulders.

"I still can't believe this is happening," she whispered to herself.

"Seems surreal doesn't it?" a man said from the doorway. Her stepbrother, Danny Fairbanks, moved into the office. "If Dad hadn't told us himself I wouldn't believe it. I can still hardly believe it."

Kirsten threw the unread report on her father's desk. "Come in." She motioned towards one of the chairs in front of the desk. "I could use the distraction. God knows I'm not getting anything worthwhile done here."

He walked into the large room but didn't sit down. "I can't stay. I just came to see how you're holding up."

"As well as can be expected, I suppose."

He smiled reassuringly but said nothing to that. "What time is your meeting?"

"Five o'clock." She let out a long sigh. "Danny, I think this is a mistake. I don't know why Dad thought I could do this. You're the new President and CEO, and I'm hardly even a lawyer anymore."

"Your point?"

"My point is that it should be you handling this deal. I spend my days painting for pete's sake."

"You're damned good at it, too."

She smiled. "Thanks. But hardly reassuring when I'm trying to prep for this meeting."

"Then you tell me, kiddo. You asked Dad enough times why he wanted you at the table. What did he say?"

"He said I should trust him and that it would all work out in the end."

"There you go."

"Gimme a break."

"Maybe he thought a woman's touch was needed." She scoffed at that and he chuckled. "Okay, maybe it's because you've got a cooler head than I do. We both know my temper always kept negotiations from being my strong suit."

"The first step to recovery is admission," she said with a smile.

"Maybe Dad just wanted you back in the game. Did you ever think of that?"

"Not for second. And neither did you."

"Hmph. What do you want me to say? Just because Dad pushed for this before he died doesn't mean you have to do it. I can step in if it's too much. Just say the word."

She cringed. Did Danny have to say it so matter of fact? 'He died.'  Their father, Carl Travis, was a vibrant and loving man who had been ripped from his family in a few short weeks between time of diagnosis and the day he had been buried. Pancreatic cancer murdered their father as far as she was concerned, and her brother's casual mention that 'he died' hardly covered it.