I cleared my calendar, leaving two executives surprised and one visibly relieved.

Thomas met us near a production line where fabric moved through enormous rollers.

He looked older than I remembered.

His hands shook slightly when he gave his daughter a hug.

“I should have seen what was happening,” he said.

“I was so afraid of losing the business that I signed papers without reading every sentence.”

Meredith shook her head.

“They used that fear.