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concern was evident to him, but Don was afraid she’d zip over to the new place and start an argument with Tamara. He knew them too well to wonder what would happen next.
    â€œI’m her mother. I have a right to know.”
    Don conceded a bit, hoping to ease his mother’s concern without violating Tamara’s privacy. “I can tell you that she moved not too far from her last building.”
    Madeline began pacing. “I know that crazy boyfriend of hers is long gone and no longer presents a threat, thanks to your uncle, but what was the hurry in her moving out? I don’t understand that girl. She was safe with you,” Madeline said, rubbing her face but not wiping away the worry. “What was she thinking, moving out?”
    â€œI’m not sure, but I checked out her new place, and it seems okay.” Don went to his mother and gave her a hug. “Don’t worry and don’t press her about this. Let her come to you.”
    Madeline pushed away from Don and walked back to the windows with her arms folded. “We’ll just have to see if that day ever comes when she lets me in on what’s happening in her life. I wonder if she’s ever going to let me be her mother again,” she uttered softly.
    â€œMother, give her time. You can’t push her. She has to work through issues at her own pace.”
    Madeline meandered away from the windows, keeping her arms crossed. “But I don’t have forever. I’m sixty-five. I’ve already lived out most of my days. I have to get your sister back into this company.” Madeline leaned on the conference table located off to the side in Don’s office. “Your father and I built this company from nothing. I have poured my heart and soul into this place. This is your legacy,” she said, rapping her fingernails on the table. “You and Tamara are the rightful heirs. Both of you belong here, running this company.”
    Don didn’t agree or disagree. So he let her continue without interruption.
    â€œMy dream is to have both of you here, together. I am determined to make my dream a reality before I die.”
    â€œNobody is going to die, Mother. Don’t you think you’re being overdramatic?”
    â€œNope. Somebody has to get this family on track and keep us from losing what your father and I have busted our behinds to build. If I ease up now, Sherry and Joel will whizz in here and snatch DMI right from under our noses like they own the place. You know it, and I know it. Heck, Joel already made his attempt to snatch the company, and he had it for several years. But right wins out every time.” She strolled over to Don and rested her hands on his shoulders, facing him. “He spun his little web and got caught up in his own mess. Now my children are in charge, just like it’s supposed to be. This is a good day for me.”
    â€œNot so fast, Mother. Tamara hasn’t agreed to stay at DMI if you’re going to be here too. The original agreement was for you to stay away.”
    â€œI know, I know, but that was before we did our little reconciling thing,” she said, with her hands moving in circular motions. “As long as she doesn’t have to live with me, I’m sure she won’t mind me being here in the office. Besides, I’m sure you need help around here. We have a lot of work to do. After your father’s bumbling son lost half the company, our first step has to be getting the West Coast and Southern divisions back under the DMI umbrella.”
    The plan wasn’t as clear for Don. A lot had happened. He needed time to sort out exactly where DMI was, where he was. “Wait, Mother. You’re moving too quickly. First, we have to figure out how you and Tamara are going to work here together,” he said, resting his arms on the desk.
    â€œOh, don’t worry about your sister. I’ll take care of her.”
    â€œThat’s precisely what