The we was not lost on Allison. “Not yet,” she said. “But I did tell him I was taking the job. He wasn’t happy about it. Don’t worry, he’ll come around.” That part was a lie. But if she was going to work with Garrett and his mobster friends, lying was something she’d have to get used to.

“We can talk more tomorrow,” she said. “Shall we say one o’clock?”

“Sure. I’ll tell Monica to get everything ready for you. Again, glad to have you aboard, Allison.”

After ending the call, Allison sank backward onto the bed. She wasn’t ready for this. But somebody had to keep those slime balls from taking over the American Heartland and Burke’s other holdings. She’d volunteered, and now it was time for her to deliver.

She could only hope that Burke would forgive her once he heard the whole story. But she had never known Burke to be a forgiving man.

As she turned over, thinking maybe she should get up and go for a walk to calm her nerves, she heard a faint crackle from beneath the mattress, where she’d hidden the packet of letters.

Maybe reading Kate’s words would lend her the courage she needed.

Standing for a moment, she worked the manila envelope out from between the mattress and box spring, then sat down and drew out the next letter, this one in a peach-colored envelope.

Her own life had been so hectic over the past few days that it took a moment’s thought to remember the details of Kate’s last letter. Then the memory came into focus. Kate had sunk into depression after losing her baby and learning that there could be no more children. Her pastor had recommended a support group, and she’d planned to go.

The support group must have been helpful. The first letter Allison had read, the one telling Burke that she had cancer, had been written by a loving wife at peace with herself and her marriage. Kate had come a long way from the despairing woman who’d described her life as joyless. Maybe this letter would lend some insight into her journey.

As she slid the letter out of its envelope, Allison glanced at the postmark. This letter had been mailed six weeks after the last one she’d read.

Dear Burke,

Thank you for coming home and trying to make things better for me. I appreciate your efforts—taking Brianna and me out in the boat and to dinner at the Chateau, inviting our friends over for a cookout, and treating me far better than I deserved.