Before anyone on the Board could answer, Ann came into the room and handed Daniel a folder. “Daniel, here are those budgetary reports you wanted and Emily called. She is going to Nathan's place this afternoon to talk to him.”
“Nathan? I wanted us to go to Chris' today and she goes to Nathan's later in the week. Did she say why she was going to Nathan's?” Daniel asked.
“Just that if Nathan was on board, everyone else would be easy,” Ann said dismissively.
“But I'm the linchpin of this whole fiasco,” Daniel said.
Ann shrugged. “Also, Randy called and is going to talk to Lindsay later. He feels that he can offer some insight for her that the rest of us can't.”
“I thought I told you people to stay out of that area of my life.”
Ann shrugged again.
“When are you people going to learn that I can handle things with Lindsay by myself?” Daniel sighed. “Anything else?”
“Just the directions to Silkville,” Ann handed Daniel a slip of paper.
“Silk…?”
“The planned homosexual community,” Ann answered.
“Oh! It's called Silkville? I still wish that Emily would've waited so we could talk to Chris together. She's the one who wanted to work together. She better not try to take credit for this either,” Daniel threatened. “Do you want to come with me to Silkville?”
“No, I better not. Every time I'm around gay people the situation somehow becomes a grotesque misadventure,” Ann chuckled.
“You do okay around Rod,” Daniel pointed out.
“One or two gays guys I can handle but any more and I start hyperventilating and things go black and…” Ann trailed off. “My doctor is trying to get it recognized as a medical condition.”
“That's interesting. Look, try to get Randy to not talk to Lindsay but tell Lindsay I want to talk to her after I get back from…Silkville. Okay? When you get that worked out, call Emily and have her meet me at…Silkville,” Daniel instructed. “It's going to take a lot of work to get Chris back into this family.”
“What happened that caused them to desert the Judge family?” asked Ann.
“First of all, we're not deserters. It was more of a preemptive strike to keep our innocent names out of the court system and off the five o'clock news. Secondly…”
“…Of all.”
“Yes. I have no idea what went on between my father and Chris and Arnold but I know it wasn't good. Words were said, lifestyles were offended,” Daniel explained.
Do you have a phone number for Emily or…?” Ann asked.
“I…Damn, she doesn't have a cell phone. Leave a message at her hotel. Um...This whole Grandma going to commit suicide thing is really getting complicated,” Daniel exhaled sharply.
“I'll get right to work,” Ann said and left the conference room.
A board member cleared his throat. “Can we leave or…?” he asked.
Daniel looked at the board member, realizing that they were still in the room. “Oh. Yeah, we're done here. Thank you for coming.”
The board got up and began leaving the room.
Nathan lived in an upscale suburban area with his girlfriend Tania. Emily drove out there and was surprised to see Nathan's lifestyle. His house was three stories and had more windows than she had teeth. She went up to the door and rang the doorbell. A beautiful Indian girl answered the door. “My God you're hot!” Emily said unconsciously.
“What?” asked Tania.
“Nothing! Is Nathan here?”
“No but he should be home in half an hour or so. Who shall I say came by?”
“I'm his cousin Emily. Could I just wait here? It's kind of important,” Emily asked.
“I guess,” Tania let Emily in and she marveled at the spacious mini-mansion Nathan lived in. “I'm Tania, I'm Nathan's girlfriend.”
“This place is a palace!” Emily shouted. “I live in a hotel…that I don't even pay for!”
“Yes,” Tania giggled, “Nathan does very well.”
“I'm sorry. Like I said, I'm Nathan's cousin, Emily Judge,” Emily offered Tania her hand. “And you're Tania…?”
