Prodigal Daughter. Patricia Davids

hands of both her grandfather and then her father, the business had grown to a daily paper and now included a monthly lifestyle magazine that enjoyed tremendous success locally and across the region. Except for her brother, Chris, who had decided to become a cop, all of the Hamilton children had worked alongside their father in the family business.

      “Amy said that Jeremy and Dad had a falling-out, that Jeremy quit.” As the company’s vice president, her oldest brother, Jeremy, had been her Dad’s right-hand man and everyone assumed he would take over the company when the time came. Now what would happen? Would her brother, Tim, as second in line, step in to run both the paper and the magazine?

      Richard nodded. “That’s true. Apparently Jeremy and Tim had quite a fight about it. To make matters worse, the story was leaked to the Observer.”

      “I imagine they had a field day with that. The Observer loves a good scandal and they’ve been trying to put Hamilton Media out of business for years.”

      “A smear campaign won’t accomplish that.”

      “You’re our attorney. Why don’t we sue them?”

      “Because what they printed was true.”

      She waved aside his comment. “Oh, that’s just a technicality.”

      “It’s an important one in court. We were worried about how the news leak would affect your father, but he’s holding up well.”

      “What about Mom? She must feel like her reputation is in shreds.” Melissa knew exactly how that felt.

      “Your mother’s answer was that if people who didn’t know her wanted to talk, she couldn’t stop them. She said the only thing that matters is how she is living her life today—not what she did thirty-five years ago. She’s kept her head high. Your mother is a true lady.”

      “Now I’m back to add to their troubles.” Melissa wondered if she would be able to hold her head up when her condition became known.

      “What’s wrong, Melissa?”

      “Nothing.”

      “I don’t think that’s true.”

      “Okay, it’s not, but it’s not something I can talk about right now.”

      “If I can help, you know I will,” he said gently.

      He sounded sincere. She was tempted to confide in him, to share her troubles, but she held back. “Thanks, Mr. McNeil.”

      “You used to call me Richard.”

      “And you used to call me a brat.”

      He chuckled. “Not to your face.”

      She smiled for the first time in days. “No, not to my face, but I knew you disapproved of me.”

      He stopped the car in front of the entrance to the Enclave, an upscale condominium not far from the downtown area. Turning in his seat to face her, he said, “I never disapproved of you, Melissa, but sometimes I disapproved of the things you did.”

      She couldn’t meet his gaze. Instead, she looked up at the building where three of her siblings made their homes. “The wildest Hamilton kid has a news flash for you, Richard. Recently, I’ve done a lot of things you wouldn’t approve of. Making mistakes seems to have become my forte.”

      “People can change, Melissa. It’s not too late.”

      “I hope you’re right.”

      “I know I am. Just take it one small step at a time. The Lord will carry your burdens for you if you let Him.”

      She chose not to offend him by offering an opinion on his beliefs. He was welcome to them; she just didn’t share them anymore. She pushed open the door of his car and stepped out. Hefting her duffel bag over her shoulder, she leaned down and said, “Thanks for the lift, and I’d like to ask for one more favor.”

      “Certainly, if I can.”

      “Please don’t tell my parents that you’ve seen me.”

      “Very well, but may I ask why?”

      “I’ve got to make some decisions before I see them. But don’t worry, I’ll see them soon.”

      “All right. Take care of yourself, Melissa.”

      “I will. Goodbye.”

      As he drove away, Melissa felt as if her only friend were leaving her in front of the lion’s den. Facing the building, she looked up at the six-story structure with renewed qualms about the wisdom of this move.

      “The truth is, I don’t have much in the way of options,” she muttered.

      She squared her shoulders and walked through the front doors. The uniform-clad guard on duty was one who knew her on sight. He nodded in her direction, then went back to reading the paper. The Observer, she noticed, not her family’s paper, the Dispatch. Even burly security guards liked a little scandal, it seemed.

      She took the elevator to the fourth floor and quickly found Amy’s apartment. Standing in front of her sister’s door, a dozen doubts flew through Melissa’s mind. What if Amy wouldn’t let her stay? What if she insisted on telling Mom and Dad about the baby? What if none of the family wanted her back?

      “One small step at a time, Melissa. That’s all you have to do,” she whispered, remembering Richard’s words.

      Taking a deep breath to quell the butterflies in her stomach, she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

      Chapter Two

      Melissa rapped on the door again, then waited, fighting down the urge to run. She was the bad penny, returning to bring more trouble to her already overburdened family. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea. She took a step back, but the door opened before she could vanish.

      Amy stood framed in the doorway, looking at first startled, then genuinely pleased. She grinned and Melissa knew she had made the right decision after all. She took a step toward Amy and found herself enveloped in a warm and welcoming hug. She cherished the feeling as she returned her sister’s embrace.

      A second later, Amy drew away but kept her hands on Melissa’s shoulders. Her hug was immediately followed by a firm shake. “It’s about time. Where have you been? When you didn’t show up after I sent you money, I thought you’d changed your mind.”

      “I did change my mind. About a dozen times, and then I changed it back again. I wasn’t sure anyone would want to see me after the way I took off.”

      “Of course we want you home. Everyone has been worried sick about you, Mom most of all.”

      “How is she?”

      “Holding up. You know Mom. She’s the Rock of Gibraltar in our family.”

      “She is that.” Melissa’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And Daddy, how is he?”

      “He’s had a hard time of it. He’s lost weight and he’s pale but he’s as stubborn and determined as ever. It hurt him when you ran off with Dean.”

      “You don’t have to tell me that Daddy doesn’t like Dean. I think that was partly the reason I started going out with him.”

      “Now that you’re back, you should go see Dad.”

      Shaking her head, Melissa looked away. “I can’t. Not yet.”

      Amy took Melissa’s hand. “Look at me, standing here scolding you instead of inviting you in. Come on, I have some people I want you to meet.”

      Melissa hesitated. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company. I should have called first. I’m not feeling up to meeting strangers.”

      “These people aren’t strangers. They’re going to be part of your family, too.”

      Amy