and able to handle whatever came his way. “You’ve been in charge, but to their minds, Dad was there in the background running things.”
Before she could protest, Annot put her hand on Kyla’s arm. “We knowthat wasn’t true. Dad told us often enough you’ve been the heart and mind behind JuCo for years. Dad believed in you, Kylie. So do we.”
“And so will others. In time.”
She wished she were more like Annot, so she could do something to vent her frustration … like kick a table. Instead, she clamped down the irritation trying to push free and nodded. Annot was right. Her father believed in her.
That was enough.
Day by day, she showed up, did what her dad had taught her to do, and refused to give up. Thankfully, a number of Justice Construction’s major clients stuck with them. And when JuCo brought the jobs in not only on time, but under budget, the clients made sure everyone knew it. By the end of the first year without her father, the company had regained any lost ground. And last year, just five years after her father’s death, the company he’d founded was more successful than she—or Dad—ever dreamed.
But the company wasn’t just about profit. As she’d learned during those times on the girders, it never had been. From the very beginning, her father decided that his company would do more than construct buildings. Justice Construction would work on projects that bettered the world. And Kyla had honored that decision. Yes, she’d do the commercial projects, the malls and subdivisions. But she’d always work on projects that mattered too. And anyone who came to work for her company would have to be willing to do both as well.
In the last few years, though, as her reputation had grown, Kyla found herself working on more and more projects like the one she’d just finished.
Projects that didn’t matter. Projects that skewed her perspective.
She shifted in the seat, trying to evade the sense of weight on her shoulders. On her spirit. But unease had chosen her as its resting place, and she couldn’t dislodge it.
Why this unrelenting restlessness, Lord? I’m doing good work. Work Dad would be proud of. And these projects may not matter that much to me, but they matter to the clients
.
As though some tiny devil’s advocate had flown in on the wings of her unrest, a response sounded within her almost before she’d finished the thought.
Right. They matter because they bring in a great deal of money, both for you and for the clients. But is that enough?
Kyla’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. No. It wasn’t. Not even close.
It’s not that I don’t want to do the other projects. The money’s there. I’ve set it aside after every project, just like Daddy did
.
She should have known she wouldn’t get off that easy.
Yes, but your father didn’t let the money just sit there. He used it. He helped people
.
Frustration—or was it guilt?—pierced her heart.
I just haven’t had any opportunities come up lately
.
Right. Like the chance to help something? Like the kitten? You wouldn’t have noticed them if they did. You’re too focused on the next accomplishment
.
It was hard to argue with truth. Which explained why, with the completion of each of the commercial projects she’d done the last few years, one feeling was growing and threatening to overwhelm her. A feeling she’d spent her life doing everything she could to avoid.
Failure.
Enough!
Enough thinking. Enough feeling sorry for herself. She had to get out of here.
Now.
She jabbed the key into the ignition, then froze. Was that …?
Her senses sharpened, Kyla jumped out of the car and ran toward the bush near the trunk. Sure of what she’d seen. But the spot where the kitten had been was still empty. Stabbing disappointment stole her breath—until another sound jump-started her breathing, drawing her around the bush, along the landscaped section to another smaller bush nearby.
There, cowering beneath the
Before she could protest, Annot put her hand on Kyla’s arm. “We knowthat wasn’t true. Dad told us often enough you’ve been the heart and mind behind JuCo for years. Dad believed in you, Kylie. So do we.”
“And so will others. In time.”
She wished she were more like Annot, so she could do something to vent her frustration … like kick a table. Instead, she clamped down the irritation trying to push free and nodded. Annot was right. Her father believed in her.
That was enough.
Day by day, she showed up, did what her dad had taught her to do, and refused to give up. Thankfully, a number of Justice Construction’s major clients stuck with them. And when JuCo brought the jobs in not only on time, but under budget, the clients made sure everyone knew it. By the end of the first year without her father, the company had regained any lost ground. And last year, just five years after her father’s death, the company he’d founded was more successful than she—or Dad—ever dreamed.
But the company wasn’t just about profit. As she’d learned during those times on the girders, it never had been. From the very beginning, her father decided that his company would do more than construct buildings. Justice Construction would work on projects that bettered the world. And Kyla had honored that decision. Yes, she’d do the commercial projects, the malls and subdivisions. But she’d always work on projects that mattered too. And anyone who came to work for her company would have to be willing to do both as well.
In the last few years, though, as her reputation had grown, Kyla found herself working on more and more projects like the one she’d just finished.
Projects that didn’t matter. Projects that skewed her perspective.
She shifted in the seat, trying to evade the sense of weight on her shoulders. On her spirit. But unease had chosen her as its resting place, and she couldn’t dislodge it.
Why this unrelenting restlessness, Lord? I’m doing good work. Work Dad would be proud of. And these projects may not matter that much to me, but they matter to the clients
.
As though some tiny devil’s advocate had flown in on the wings of her unrest, a response sounded within her almost before she’d finished the thought.
Right. They matter because they bring in a great deal of money, both for you and for the clients. But is that enough?
Kyla’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. No. It wasn’t. Not even close.
It’s not that I don’t want to do the other projects. The money’s there. I’ve set it aside after every project, just like Daddy did
.
She should have known she wouldn’t get off that easy.
Yes, but your father didn’t let the money just sit there. He used it. He helped people
.
Frustration—or was it guilt?—pierced her heart.
I just haven’t had any opportunities come up lately
.
Right. Like the chance to help something? Like the kitten? You wouldn’t have noticed them if they did. You’re too focused on the next accomplishment
.
It was hard to argue with truth. Which explained why, with the completion of each of the commercial projects she’d done the last few years, one feeling was growing and threatening to overwhelm her. A feeling she’d spent her life doing everything she could to avoid.
Failure.
Enough!
Enough thinking. Enough feeling sorry for herself. She had to get out of here.
Now.
She jabbed the key into the ignition, then froze. Was that …?
Her senses sharpened, Kyla jumped out of the car and ran toward the bush near the trunk. Sure of what she’d seen. But the spot where the kitten had been was still empty. Stabbing disappointment stole her breath—until another sound jump-started her breathing, drawing her around the bush, along the landscaped section to another smaller bush nearby.
There, cowering beneath the
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