Last Flight from Flagstaff (Choices: Story Two)

by Beth Carpenter



  Last Flight from Flagstaff

  (Choices: Story Two)

  By Beth Carpenter

  Copyright Beth Carpenter 2012

  Chapter 1

  “Do you need anything else before I go?”

  Donna looked up at her assistant, hovering in the doorway. “Of course not, Sandra. Go on home to that beautiful baby girl of yours.”

  Sandra’s face lit up. “Did I show you the latest video?” Sandra pulled out her phone, bringing up the video to show Donna. “See, she’s trying to roll over. She can get halfway, but then she loses momentum and rolls back. She’s like a turtle on its back.”

  “She is adorable,” Donna said.

  “Speaking of daughters, when does Rachel get home from college?

  Donna sighed. “Not until August, and then only for a week. She’s going to take some summer classes and get a part-time job there.”

  “That’s a shame. Well, I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t work too hard. ”

  Donna picked up the pile of folders she had been sorting. She didn’t fool Sandra or herself; the sorting was just an excuse to avoid going home to her empty house. When Mark left her, she had insisted on keeping their family home, but now its emptiness mocked her. The big house was always neat and clean and silent, just like her life.

  It wasn’t as though she hadn’t tried. Friends were always setting her up with someone “perfect for you.” Donna would dutifully go out with them, always hoping for a connection, but while they were all perfectly pleasant men, she never seemed to feel that spark. Maybe she was just too picky.

  Donna’s mouth tightened as she filed the last folder, pushing the heavy file drawer closed and locking it. Work was not without its worries either. They had just finished their busy tax season last week, but business was down this year. Two of their best clients had gone bankrupt. Another client, a golfing buddy of her ex-husband’s best friend, had moved to another accounting firm. He didn’t say why, but it was clear he was no longer comfortable doing business with Donna.

  Up to this point, Donna and her partner were still operating, but if the economy didn’t pick up soon they wouldn’t have enough business to support two professionals. In fact, her partner, Susan, had recently received an inheritance from her grandfather and had hinted that she might want to buy Donna out. So far, Donna had managed to avoid the discussion; the business was the only thing keeping her sane.

  A ringing telephone made Donna jump. Caller ID said K. Meredith. Donna blinked. Kristen Meredith? Hers was possibly the last name Donna expected to see. She and Kristen had spent an emotional few days together in Las Vegas a year ago, but hadn’t contacted one another since. She picked up the phone. “Hello?”

  “May I speak to Donna Zimmer, please?”

  “This is Donna.”

  “Donna! This is Kristen. Ross’s daughter? I hope you remember me?”

  “Of course I remember you, Kristen. How are you?”

  “I’m great, actually. I’m engaged. Matt and I are getting married on Saturday,” Kristen said, her voice sounding more tentative than her words.

  Donna was mystified at the reason Kristen would call to share this news with her. It was true that she had helped Kristen through a difficult time, but they were not exactly close friends. Besides, the timing was odd. If Kristen wanted Donna to know about the wedding, wouldn’t she either send an invitation to the wedding or an announcement after? Why call less than a week before the wedding? “Congratulations, Kristen. I hope you will be very happy.”

  “Thank you. We will be, but there is one problem. There is this complication with my dad’s business and I really need to get it squared away before the wedding. It’s a long story, but there is a problem with missing payments. You’re an accountant, right? At least that is what your card says.”

  “Yes,” Donna said slowly. “What is it you need exactly, Kristen?”

  “I need for you to come here and go through the books of this company and sort everything out. That is the sort of thing you do, right?”

  “Not exactly,” Donna temporized. “I’m not a forensic accountant. I do more tax accounting and bookkeeping for small companies. Besides, I thought Ross had sold his company.”

  “He did, but one of the parts was an apartment complex which was sold with payments. Owner financing I think it is called. Now the payments are messed up so they might sort of bounce back or something. It is a huge mess and I need to get it straightened out, but with planning for the wedding and everything I don’t have time to chase it down.”

  Small parallel lines formed between Donna’s eyebrows. “You must have your own accountants, Kristen. Why do you need me?”

  “I do, but I’m not getting a clear answer. I need someone from outside to figure it out. Look, Donna, you were straight with me when my Dad died and I trust you. I’ll pay you for your time and expenses and everything. Will you come?”

  Work was slow now that the April 15th tax deadline had passed, and with a daughter in college, Donna could certainly use the extra money. She thought of the empty evenings stretching out in front of her. Why not get away from everything for a while?

  “Okay, Kristen, I’ll do it. I’ll book a flight and let you know when I’ll be arriving. You can fill me in on the details and sign a work contract once I arrive. You are still in Flagstaff, right?”

  “Right. I had my travel agent book you a flight for 10:00 tomorrow morning. I’ll have her send the details to the email address on your business card, okay?”

  Donna raised an eyebrow. “I guess I can make that. You were pretty sure I’d accept, weren’t you?”

  “My dad always said that if you act confident, people will usually come around to your way of thinking. I guess it must work. You accepted his proposal, after all,” Kristen said.

  “I guess I did at that,” Donna admitted.

  Kristen laughed. “It’s a refundable ticket, but I was pretty sure you wouldn’t let me down. Oh and Donna, I’m telling everyone you are an old friend of the family coming in for the wedding festivities, so pack for that, okay? See you tomorrow. Bye.”

  Donna set the phone gently into its cradle. This sounded like a real hornet’s nest. Missing money, untrustworthy accounting - did she really want to get involved? That last statement about posing as a friend of the family sounded rather cloak-and-dagger. What was she getting herself into?

  Donna opened her top desk drawer and removed a plain gold wedding ring, rolling it back and forth between her thumb and forefinger. Ross was a darling. She had only known him briefly, but he gave her a lesson about what life and love could be. Sometimes she wondered if true love was an illusion, but then she would remember Ross. Donna decided she would do whatever she could to help his daughter.