Page 15 of I Am Salvation

“No. I think you’ll be respected. Your firm won’t be thrilled about it, and you might lose your job with them. People get fired for much less all the time. But the people who are worth working for will value your commitment to doing what’s right. And if they don’t, you’ll know that you don’t want to work at those places anyway.”

I rub at the knot forming at the back of my neck. “But I have to think about the other people at the firm. Marcus and the other architects on the project. Including my boss, Mr. Reynolds.”

“But he knows about this issue, correct?”

“Yes. According to Marcus, everyone on the project knows.”

“I understand your concern for your coworkers who may be harmed in the fallout. You have to decide, Diana, what is more important. The client or your coworkers.”

“I hardly know anyone yet. I just started this job. But I don’t know the client either.”

“For all you know, the client may already know about this issue and is okay with it.”

“Maybe, but I don’t think that’s the case. Marcus would’ve told me if it was.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I’m not sure about any of this. That’s why I called you. You always give the best advice.”

“So you want to know what I would do in the situation,” he says.

“Yeah.”

He pauses for a moment. The only indication I have that the call hasn’t gone dead is the light sound of his breathing in my ear.

“I think, Diana, that I would be doing you a disservice if I answered that question.”

I nearly drop my jaw. “Daddy?”

“Sweetheart, I feel for you. I do. But there comes a time in life when you need to make your own decisions. You need to weigh the pros and cons and come up with something that you can live with. That will keep your conscience clear.”

“You’re really not going to tell me what you would do?”

“No, Diana. I’m not. What I will tell you, though, is that at age sixty-two, my conscience is clear.”

“But you don’t think your father’s ever was?”

“I know it wasn’t. Uncle Joe talked to him before he died twenty-five years ago, and he had many regrets.”

“Do you have faith in me to make the right decision here?” I ask.

“If I didn’t, Diana, I wouldn’t put you in this situation.” I can hear a smile in his tone. “It would be very easy for me to tell you what I would do. It would be very easy for me to tell you what you should do. But this is an opportunity for some growth. You’re twenty-six years old, and you can do this. I know you can. I have faith that you’ll make the right decision for everyone involved.”

“I wish I had that much faith, Daddy.”

“It’s time for you to believe in yourself, sweetheart. Your mother and I believe in you. Your aunts and uncles all believe in you. We believe in every one of you kids. I’m always here for you.”

“Thanks. You can go ahead and take your phone call now. I’ll figure this out.”

“If you want to talk through it, I’m here for you. You, your mother, your sister, and your brothers are the most important people in my life. I will always make time for you.”

“It’s okay. I’ll make my decision.”

“I know you’ll make the right one,” he says.

“I will. Bye, Daddy.”

I sit in the chair for a few moments before I rise, shoving my cell phone back in my purse.

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