Chapter 23 - the first widow
Her name was Margaret Hale.
Her husband had worked for the company for nineteen years.
He died after a workplace accident.
According to the records, Margaret had received three payments.
Then nothing.
She lived in a small house forty minutes outside the city.
When I arrived, she almost didn't let me in.
“I don't want charity.”
“I'm not here to give you charity.”
She studied me.
“Then why are you here?”
“Because my father promised your family something.”
Her expression changed.
“My husband used to talk about him.”
She invited me inside.
On the wall was a photograph of a young man wearing an old company uniform.
“He believed your father cared about workers.”
I sat quietly.
“He did,” I said.
She smiled sadly.
“Then why did the payments stop?”
I didn't lie.
“I don't know yet.”
Margaret looked at me for a long moment.
Then she said something I never forgot.
“People always say they don't know when they mean they don't want to tell you.”
I felt the words hit.
“I promise you, Margaret. If I find out someone took what belonged to your family, you'll know.”
She nodded.
“But what if they didn't?”
“Then I'll tell you that too.”
She looked toward the photograph.
“My husband didn't want much.”
“What did he want?”
“To know his children would be okay.”
I looked down.
That night, I returned home carrying a copy of the original benefit agreement.
Leo was sitting on the stairs.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Did you find what Grandpa was looking for?”
I looked at him.
“Maybe.”
He nodded.
Then he said:
“Then you should finish it.”
I smiled.
“You sound very sure.”
“I think Grandpa would want that.”
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
My father had left behind a company.
But perhaps his greatest legacy wasn't the business.
May you like
It was the responsibility he had trusted me to finish.
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