Free Finding Kylie by Kimberly McKay Page B

didn’t have to work to survive, as they had always been well off, but he wasn’t the kind to live off of his family name or money.  Although it definitely helped him get his foot into any door of his choosing when he was young, he proved himself, through integrity and hard work.  This made him known as an honest and dependable leader. 
                  I can at least thank dad for giving me the start I needed, he bitterly thought, as he put some files in his cabinet.   
                  Jesse’s father, Jackson, had made his money in the oil business.  His family acquired land from the sooner land run in the 1800’s.  The mineral rights paid off big for the Mikales and they made millions by the mid 1900’s. 
                  Jackson had invested wisely through out the years, which saved him from losing it all when most did, during the Penn Square Bank crash in the 80’s.  This led him to be one of the most powerful men in the Midwest, although for the past five years, he had been in the nursing home suffering from the onset of Alzheimer’s.
                  Although Jesse was his official caretaker, his wife, Lauri, was the one who spent most of her time visiting and caring for Mr. Mikale.  He occasional visited to give Lauri a break, but didn’t have much use for his dad.  Of course, he loved him in the dutiful manner a son should, but didn’t have patience for him. 
                  In Jesse’s mind, his father had brought this on himself, as he never gave his boys the love they needed growing up. 
                  I guess John was always getting into too much trouble for dad to have paid too much attention to me .
                  Jesse hadn’t talked to his brother in years.  John was sent off to military school after high school and didn’t have much contact with the family afterwards.  To Jesse, the only real family he had was his wife, his son, Alex, and the family’s housekeeper, Ms. Adams.  She had been with the Mikale’s since before both Jesse and John were born, and took over as a part time nanny once their mother died. 
                  Jesse’s mother had complications while giving birth to John, and never made it home.  Jesse was only seven years old, but still remembered the drastic change from the loving family environment he lived in to the cold boot camp it became.  Jackson, once a doting husband and father, became distant and controlling. 
                  I think that’s what makes me the most angry ... dad had it in him to be the father I once knew and he chose to shut himself off from me ... from us.  I will never do that to my children!
                  Chirrp!  Jesse flipped open his cell phone and saw his wife’s number pop up on his caller ID. 
                  “You have no idea how much I needed to hear your voice.” He spoke softly into his phone. 
                  Lauri’s voice came through with urgency. “I just left the home, from seeing your dad.” 
                  “Was he having a good day?  Did he recognize you?”
                  She sighed. “No, in fact he kept mumbling something about finding his granddaughter. Is he so mixed up that he thinks Alex is a girl?”  
                  Lauri was clearly distressed.  He knew it took a lot out of her to see to his father’s care. 
                  “Don’t worry sweetheart.  He is obviously confused.  I’ll tell you what … go home, hug our son, and I will come home a little early tonight.  Maybe I can bring home a movie to watch.  What are you in the mood for?” 
                  Lauri didn’t even have to think about it. “A comedy …  I need a good laugh tonight.  Thanks babe … love you.”
                  “I love you too.” Jesse hit the end button and slipped his