Too Late for Regret (Annalise and Roger) novel Chapter 152

Ana’s POV

Three Months Later:

Work has been hectic since we returned. Charlie had to go to the new company with Mark to ensure it would be ready on time. Rita and Jon were on duty today. He was only two hours away, but he worried. Ginger was coming to work with me. She helped with Liam, as I was getting the finishing touches done for our winter line.

It was the middle of September, but I was running behind. I liked to have my winter line complete by this time, but I was running a week behind. I had the same builders who built The Sanctuary, the abuse center, to build this new addition onto the office building. It needed to be done. I needed space for Liam, and I would have Rita with me for the foreseeable future. I needed more room. I had to work from home for over a month to get this done, but it was now complete.

I knew that we would be having at least one more child. I wanted a space for them to be able to run and play, and not be in the way of employees. I decided that the courtyard might be a good space to use for an employee daycare. Not many employees had children that needed it, but we took a poll. Most of the company was happy to vote in favor of using that area as a daycare. It was a large area, and the glass face in the corridor would stay.

People would be able to see the children playing, and being taken care of, which would instill confidence. It was also much more convenient to bring your child to work with you. I think it is going to go over well, as I was going to handle the cost of the employees. It would be an employee perk, and I think that many would appreciate the company doing just that. The area was large, about eighty feet long, and it went back seventy feet, to the back of the building. We needed a kitchen built to serve lunches, so we pushed back another ten feet back to accommodate that, and add a dining room. It’s a massive space, but I can glance over and see Liam fom my desk, and that brings me comfort.

I also pushed back the wall behind my office to make it larger. It now has a security area with a bank of monitors, showing the camera feeds. Rita suggested it, and Charlie approved it. She can see people parking in front of our building, the hallways, and the perimeter. It also had feeds for the daycare, with several cameras installed inside.

I got some good news from Seth last month, Holden is dating someone. He seems serious about her. He took my words to heart, and he started therapy after I shot him down before Liam was born. He seems much happier now than he was. I think therapy’s been good for him. I haven’t met her yet, but she sounds great. She owns the coffee place near his restaurant. He’s been going there since he returned. Apparently he was known to be somewhat of a jerk to the employees. She read him the riot act for making one of the employees upset.

That happened before he started therapy, and right after I shot him down. He made the barista cry, and the owner, Susan, quickly stepped in. She didn’t have a problem telling him to either speak nicely, or get out.

Holden had never been treated like that before. Either his family name, or his appearance made people fawn all over him. Susan didn’t care who he was, and told him as much. She was defending an employee, and that was her bottom line. He left, without arguing with her. But kept coming back. He eventually apologized to both the employee, and Susan.

I wasn’t there when it happened, but Seth was. He thought it was pretty funny. Now he doesn’t because Holden is seriously dating. Seth wants to date, and find a wife, but he hasn’t been serious about it. Dad is starting to delegate more responsibility to Seth. He has him training more to take over Dad’s company.

Seth hates his training because he has to deal with Laney.

She is Dad’s executive assistant. She could have slipped in and taken over the company. Dad trained her himself, but he always wanted to keep the business in the family. Between them, they’re keeping Seth on his toes. He’s never had to work so hard before in his life, and he hates it. I’ve seen them together, they are like oil and water, but I’m seeing more than that.

Seth hates that his charm doesn’t seem to work on her. She seems to be immune to him, and it’s driving him crazy. That’s never happened to him before, and it’s effecting his mood. Dad finds it amusing, as he was worried that she was going to fawn over him like the rest of the women in the company do. Mom came over the day I did, at Dads invitation to meet for lunch.

Laney was cooing and speaking to Liam, and he liked her. His little arms were reaching out for her, instead of Seth. She asked before she picked him up, “May I?”

She was a natural with him, and I was impressed. “I had to raise my younger brothers when my mother passed away. Thankfully, they were sixteen and fifteen at the time, but it was tough. I helped raise them when they were younger, so I’m used to children. Dad left when I was ten, so I had to help. I graduated a high school a year early, so I could help Mom.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I replied. I felt terrible for her, but she waved it off.

“Micah graduated last year, and Andrew is going to graduate this coming spring. They worked hard to get scholarships, and I helped them as much as I can. They’re both doing very well. Micah loves his job, and he’s working here in IT. Andrew has a job lined up, after he graduates,” she said.

“Is he the guy you eat lunch with everyday?” Seth asked in surprise.

She nodded once, and said, “He is” before excusing herself from the room.

I could tell that Seth didn’t know about what she’s had to do. I hadn’t either, but Dad knew. He was a good boss who knew how to take care of his top performers. If Laney weren’t fully qualified, she wouldn’t be in the position she is now. She’s a powerhouse, and I never realized that she’s the same age as me.

She has a pretty face, and her long dark hair is always professionally up in a bun. I know why she rarely smiles. I don’t think she’s mean, she’s always been standoffish. She does what is needed, and she gives it her all. Now that I know that she’s been having to take on the role of parent, in addition to her work, it’s a lot. No wonder she can’t take on anything else, she has enough on her plate.

I hate that she had to be responsible for two teenagers when she was barely an adult herself, but I’ve never heard her complain. I’ve meet her at least twenty times over the last five years. She is focused, intelligent, and she can come up with solutions quickly. She deserves to be where she is, and I hope Dad is taking good care of her. I looked at Mom and she gave me a nod, I knew what it meant. She was going to talk to me later. She knew I wanted to do something to help Laney.

I know she makes a good salary here, but college isn’t cheap. Even if they had scholarships, between dorms, books, and everything else, college is still expensive. I know Mom will help me out with this. I just want to make sure that they have what they need. It’s all I can focus on now. We went down and had lunch in the cafeteria. I noticed Laney sitting with a blonde guy at a table in the corner. no wonder Seth was jealous, they didn;t look anything alike. She had an entrée, and a drink. Her brother had a full tray. Now I’m absolutely sure I needed to help her out.

I spoke to Mom as we left. Laney’s mother died of cancer, and there were a lot of bills left behind at that time. Apparently, Laney was guilted into taking on the hospital debt for her mother. Their home wasn’t paid off, and I’m sure that is something that would help. Mom also mentioned that if I were to do something to help, that she would match my gift. I think that there’s a way to help them, without making them think it’s charity. My mind was already thinking of how to help them.

I think Mom sees the looks between Laney and Seth. We could all tell they were interested in each other, but I didn’t know if she would go for someone like Seth. He was loud, nd sometimes abrasive, and she was quiet, unless he worked her up. I had Dad send me her address, and Jon drove us past their home. It was an older home, and in need of some TLC, but it had good bones. I wanted her to be able to be debt free. No house note, no student debt, and her home repaired, at a minimum repainted.

I wasn’t doing this to make her have goodwill towards Seth. I was doing it because I see a need. She’s put her life on hold for several years, to take care of her brothers. I felt like a kindred spirit as I protected my family when dealing with Tiffany. Not exactly the same, but the desire to protect family was identical. I called Charlie and explained what I wanted to do. I don’t think she will accept a brand new car from us, not on top of what I was planning. But every two years Charlie and Mark change out their fleet.

They had already bought the SUVS for the new company. Mom had told me that Laney’s car was old, and needed to be replaced. I also know that having one car between them wasn’t enough. I’m sure her brother came to work with her. I don’t know how their brother is getting to college. Instead of donating them for a write off, or trading them in. I think it would be great for three of the SUVS to be given to them. I had everything mapped out in my head by the time we got home.

I called Charlie, who agreed to help them out. I called my father to see what he thought about my idea. He preferred to stay out of it, but he was fine with us figuring out a way to help her. He just asked us not to upset or offend her. My brother was apparently driving her up a wall with his training. I made plans for the next day. I needed to speak to Laney privately. I wanted to see what kind of money she needed to get out from under whatever debt she had.

I believe she’s going to see this for what it is, a hand up, not a hand out. I can help, so why not? I can’t think of anyone more deserving than her at the moment. I will do this as delicately as I can, but I hope that she doesn’t get offended. She strikes me as someone who just buckles down, and just keeps going. But there’s no harm in accepting help once in a while.