“Actually,” said a woman at table 12, standing up, “I should introduce myself. I’m Jennifer Walsh from Forbes. I’m here as Marcus’ family friend, but I’m also doing a feature on agricultural innovators. Mr. Thompson, we’ve been trying to reach you for months. Your operation is exactly what we’re looking for—proof that sustainable farming can be more profitable than industrial agriculture.”
Forbes. The magazine Victoria had been desperately trying to get mentioned in for five years.
Victoria’s legs seemed to give out. She sank into her chair, the cream envelope still on the floor, forgotten and irrelevant.
“The contract value is public record,” Mr. Harrison added kindly but firmly. “So there’s no need for speculation or embellishment. Thompson Farms earned every penny through excellence, not networking parties or PowerPoint presentations.”
The dig at Victoria’s world was subtle but unmistakable.
Emma picked up the fallen envelope and handed it back to her aunt.
“Thank you for the gift, Aunt Victoria. But I already have everything I need.”
Victoria’s face cycled through emotions like a broken traffic light—red embarrassment, white shock, green nausea. Her perfectly contoured makeup seemed to crack under the weight of her humiliation.
“I—I didn’t—” she stammered, but the words died.
What could she say? That she didn’t know her dismissed brother-in-law was a millionaire? That she’d been mocking people who out-earned her by millions?
Robert finally stood, moving to his wife’s side.
“We should go,” he said quietly.
“No.”
The voice was David’s mother, Margaret Thompson. At 80, she rarely spoke at gatherings, but when she did, everyone listened.
“Victoria needs to hear this.”
She stood carefully, her son rushing to steady her.
“Young woman, I’ve watched you belittle my family for 15 years. You called my grandson backward for joining 4-H. You told my granddaughter she’d never matter if she stayed in Oregon. You’ve acted like money earned in a city is somehow cleaner than money earned from soil.”
Margaret’s voice grew stronger.
For complete cooking times, go to the next page or click the Open button (>), and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
