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  “Since you work so much?”

  “Yeah, I’m scheduled every day for the next six weeks. I’m off on Thanksgiving but that’s it,” Sandy said. “Everyone wants the perfect hair for their holiday parties.”

  “We’ve been invited to a dozen, at least,” Jill said.

  “Another round of charity events,” Sandy said. “It’s been a weird year. Can you believe that in January you were married to Trevor?”

  Jill gave a dramatic shudder. They laughed.

  “Do you think you and Jacob will have kids soon?”

  “I don’t know,” Jill said. “Seeing Heather…”

  “How happy and supported she is? That wasn’t possible when you had Katy.”

  “It gives me the urge. But Katy was so upset about Bree and Becky on Halloween. We decided to wait a while so she could adjust to all these changes.”

  “Probably smart,” Sandy said.

  Katy ran back to Jill for a hug then took off to catch up with Nash at the Bear Mountain.

  “What about you, Sandy? You could have kids. Aden is a great father.”

  “Thinking about spending my life with him is enough to adjust to,” Sandy said.

  Jill laughed.

  “I’m not opposed to the idea,” Sandy said. “I’m just…”

  “Cautious.”

  “I don’t know if I’d be a great mother. I like kids. I took care of my brother and sister until I moved out. But… Well, you know what they say about people like me.”

  “Whatever,” Jill said. “Just because there’s some statistic that people who were abused can become abusers, doesn’t mean it has to be that way, Sandy. I mean really, who have you ever hurt?”

  “There are a few people on my list I’d like to hurt.” Sandy’s face went dark. “Like my sperm donor father.”

  “He’s an asshole.”

  “I wanted to hurt Trevor, but I guess your Dad got to him first.” Sandy laughed.

  “Do you think he’s my father? You mean like my real father?” Jill asked.

  “Your mother calls him ‘your Papa’,” Sandy said.

  “I need to spend more time with her, but I haven’t had a Mom since I was ten years old. I don’t really know how to… do it.”

  “She’s coming over for dinner tonight right?”

  Jill nodded.

  “Enjoy it,” Sandy said. “I bet she feels uncomfortable too. It’s a lot of pressure after all those years in quiet Costa Rica.”

  Jill nodded. Running back to Jill, Katy threw herself into Jill’s arms and cried.

  “What’s the matter, Katy-baby?” Jill asked.

  “Apes don’t like snow,” Katy said in Jill’s ear.

  While Jill held Katy tight, Sandy watched a group of boys approach Nash. The boys seemed to argue and one of the boys pushed Nash. Then the boy pushed Nash again!

  As Sandy ran to him, Nash fell onto the ground. Sandy helped Nash up.

  “You stupid jerk,” Noelle yelled at the boy. “Who do you think you are? You can’t push my brother around.”

  The boys laughed at Noelle. With one arm around Nash, Sandy grabbed Noelle’s arm. She dragged them away from the jeering boys.

  “I was thinking about getting some cocoa,” Jill said.

  “Cocoa sounds perfect,” Sandy replied. Turning to Nash, she asked, “What was that?”

  Angry, Nash shook his head and looked at the ground. When he slumped into himself, Noelle shrugged.

  “I didn’t hear them,” Noelle said. “There’s a new boy in Nash’s class that’s a real bully. He’s mean and he gets all the boys to gang up on other kids. Girls, too. I don’t like him at all. Like not even one little bit.”

  “We’ll get some cocoa and non-Dad approved snacks then see the other side of the zoo,” Sandy said.

  Nash brightened at the idea of snacks. Jill put Katy down so she could run off with Noelle to the snack area.

  “Nash?” Jill asked. “My brother Mike knows exactly how to handle boys like that. Would you like me to ask him to teach you?”

  Nash’s head jerked up to look at Jill. Hope flashed across his face and he nodded.

  “I bet we could track him down today,” Jill said. “He could meet us here at the zoo, even. Would you like that?”

  Nash nodded.

  “Great,” Jill said. She held the door for Nash. As they walked through it, she said, “I was bullied for a lot of years. I know how awful it feels. But there is nothing wrong with you. I would tell you if there was. There’s something wrong with them.”

  Nash threw himself into her arms. Jill held him.

  “Nash! They have brownies!” Noelle yelled.

  With a smile of gratitude to Jill, Nash ran off to meet his sister. Sandy and Jill shared a look of understanding. Sandy followed the kids to pay while Jill called Mike. Hopefully they wouldn’t see the little bullies again.

  At least until Mike arrived.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday afternoon – 3:30 P.M.

  Standing in the wheelchair accessible stall, MJ began the chant.

  “Two lines, two lines, two lines.”

  He peered into the beige plastic apparatus. Honey was sitting on the toilet.

  “You’re sure we have to do this right this moment?” she asked.

  “Why wait? Plus you said those financial people had already been here,” MJ said. Gesturing with the pee stick, he continued, “You’re over the hard part of your day. I have to leave for a trip on Tuesday. I figure if this test is positive, we’ll go to the doctor tomorrow and see what’s what. We don’t really know if we can keep the baby, if there is one because of all the meds you’ve been on. I mean, maybe it makes the baby sick or ill or… We don’t know about the Crohn’s either. I talked to Steve and he said his sister Cindy, and Delphie of course, are working on good recipes for you.”

  “MJ,” Honey said.

  “I know you didn’t like some of the things she made for you, but it’s still nice of her to try. Delphie froze all that food from their garden. They’ve found some really great stuff too. Or at least I’ve thought it was great. And you beat the infection. And you haven’t had a flare up in a…”

  “MJ,” Honey said.

  “…while. I mean, I know it’s been really hard. I travel a lot, but you’ve been so happy the last month or so. Working with Bambi and having Steve help you. Steve told me Leslie is thinking about staying home when the baby comes. That means he’ll be available to help even after his baby …”

  “MJ!” Honey yelled.

  “What? Why are you yelling?”

  Honey pointed to the beige plastic stick. MJ looked at the pee stick in his hands. Yelping with joy, he lifted Honey from the toilet. She laughed as he danced around the bathroom with her in his arms. With great intensity, he kissed her lips. Helping her back into her motorized wheelchair, the pee stick, with its two pink lines, fell. Honey caught it before it hit the ground.

  With any luck, they were going to have a baby.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday evening – 5:17 P.M.

  They had expected one venture capitalist. A friend of his mother’s. His buddy who split his season tickets with Jacob. Five suits arrived. It seems this friend of his mother’s had Twittered that he was going to look at a construction company and four of his venture capitalist friends wanted to take a look. Of course they weren’t looking to invest in Lipson Construction. They wanted to play with the construction equipment. It was Sunday after all.

  Well, one guy wanted to meet Valerie. He’d followed Valerie around all day like a love sick puppy dog.

  Jacob rested his head on his desk. He was bone tired and nervous at the same time. The investors – four men and a woman – were nice people, really smart, and knew business. In between sites, they asked him solid questions about Lipson construction. He felt like he had spent the day defending a PhD thesis in front of business experts.

  Aden came through with flying colors. The VCs, that’s what they liked to be call
ed, loved the idea that he started at Lipson as a day laborer. More than once, they commented on the rapport Aden had with the employees. The VCs liked Tres too. And of course, Sam charmed them completely.

  They left the real grilling for Jacob.

  And now Jacob waited. The VCs had been in the conference room for over an hour. Every once and a while, he heard them laugh. He looked up as Aden came in the door.

  “How are the kids?”

  “Good.” Aden plopped down in an armchair opposite Jacob’s desk. “They spent the afternoon at the zoo. Everyone’s waiting for us at the Castle.”

  “Everyone?”

  “Well, the family,” Aden said.

  Jacob nodded. Valerie wandered in the room and sat down next to Aden.

  “How’s Mike?” Jacob asked.

  “Excited. He and Colin are going to start a little martial arts school for kids,” Valerie said. “Colin’s been working with Katy and Paddie since last summer. Aden agreed to let Nash and Noelle join. I guess Honey wants to learn what she can do. Jill and the girls are probably in. Anyway, it’s not for money. They’re doing it for the chance to do it.”

  “Sounds fun,” Jacob said.

  “Oh, Mike volunteered you to help too,” Valerie said. “So it’s you and Colin and Mike. I guess Colin has a couple other kids in mind too. There’s a boy living with Alex that’s Nash’s age. Teddy, I think his name is. Does Nash know Teddy?”

  Aden shook his head.

  “He’s their pilot’s kid,” Jacob said.

  “Right, Teddy is Zack Jakkman’s son.” Valerie laughed. “I don’t remember Zack but I guess he has quite a reputation. Anyway, everyone’s waiting for us for dinner.”

  “I’ve heard,” Jacob said.

  Sam came in the office with cold bottles of water for everyone.

  “Delphie made her eggplant pasta,” Sam said.

  “Oh, that’s so good!” Aden said. “I’m starved.”

  Jacob took a package of Nutter Butter cookies and set them on the desk. Valerie and Aden were grabbing cookies when Tres came in.

  “They’re close,” Tres said. “That’s what they said.”

  “Hey, Tres,” Blane came through the door after him. “Thanks for the roses. Heather said they’re gorgeous. You had someone shoveled the snow?”

  “I arranged for a service to clear your snow this winter,” Tres said. “With the baby on the way, you don’t need to worry about snow.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you,” Blane said. “I’ve been so sick that Heather shovels the snow.”

  “I thought that might be the case,” Tres said. “And it’s the least I can do. I’m really sorry for being such an asshole.”

  “Yeah, thanks for that too.” Blane smiled.

  Blane walked over to the desk for some cookies. He held the package out for Tres to get some. Sam gave them each a bottle of water.

  Jacob put his forehead on his desk.

  “Are you all right?” Sam asked. “How’s your heart?”

  “Just tired, Dad,” Jacob said. “I may miss pasta for a long nap.”

  “I’ll go check again,” Tres said.

  Tres was walking to the door when Celia’s VC friend stuck his head in the door.

  “We’re ready to talk to you.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

  Dumb de dumb dumb

  Tres, Aden and Sam filed out after the venture capitalist. Jacob stood from his desk then weaved. He plopped back down in his chair. Blane held Jacob’s nitroglycerin spray out to him.

  “I’m all right,” Jacob said. “Just tired.”

  “You look like crap,” Blane said. “Stop being such a martyr. Take your spray. Did you eat today?”

  Spraying the nitroglycerin under his tongue, he shook his head.

  “You’re such an idiot,” Blane said.

  Jacob laughed. Using the desk, he pushed to standing.

  “Come on,” Blane said. “They’re waiting for us. You just have to get through this then flop on your fluffy bed with your beloved. I’ll even drive you home.”

  “That’s a deal,” Jacob said.

  “One more thing,” Blane said. He stuffed two Nutter Butter cookies into Jacob’s mouth. “Chew.”

  Seeing only concern in Blane’s eyes, Jacob did what he was told.

  “I look that bad?”

  “You look like I do when I have the Ribavirin shots,” Blane said. Stopping at the door to the conference room, he said, “Whatever these guys say, we’ll be fine. I know you’ll figure something out.”

  Jacob nodded to Blane then followed him into the conference room. The first thing he noticed was the laughing, chatting venture capitalists. The next thing he noticed was Sam coming to hug him.

  “It’s settled,” Sam said.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Sunday evening — 7:47 P.M.

  “Are you all right?” Jill asked to Jacob. “You look terrible.”

  “Just exhausted,” he said. “Listen, I’m going to miss dinner, but if you…”

  “I’ll stay with you,” Jill said.

  “What about your Mom?” Jacob asked.

  “She was here for a couple of hours. But Sandy was right. She’s overwhelmed by everything. She played with Katy while we talked. It was… nice,” Jill said. “Katy’s exhausted too. She’s already in bed. Have you eaten?”

  “Two Nutter Butter cookies that Blane made me eat.”

  “That’s not food,” Jill said. “Why don’t you take a bath? I’ll put some dinner together.”

  “You don’t…”

  “I can cook, husband. Just because I haven’t, doesn’t mean I can’t.”

  Jacob nodded.

  “Come on,” Jill said. “I’ll help you with the bath.”

  Turning on the water for his bath, she helped him undress. Even exhausted, he was aroused by her touch. She laughed.

  “Maybe after you’ve eaten and rested,” she said.

  “Will you say it again?”

  “What?” Jill asked. “In the tub. Go on.”

  “The husband thing?” Jacob stepped into the tub.

  Jill pointed to his wedding band then her own.

  “I’ll be right back, husband.”

  Smiling, Jacob leaned back and let the warm water dissolve his fatigue. He was drifting somewhere between memory and dream when an incredible smell tickled his nose. His stomach rumbled and his mouth watered. Unable to stay in the tub, he wrapped himself in a terry bathrobe and followed the scent.

  He wandered across the open space of their loft apartment to the kitchen. Jill was setting the dining room table.

  “Would you like some wine?” Jill asked.

  “I better not,” he said. “I’m too worn out. What smells so good?”

  “I made one of my favorite chicken recipes,” Jill said. “I used to cook for us growing up. This recipe is from Costa Rica.”

  “What did you make tonight?”

  “Jerk chicken,” Jill said. “I don’t know if you’ve had it. I know you like spicy stuff so…”

  “It smells like heaven.”

  “I made some instant rice,” Jill said. “I wasn’t sure how long you’d…”

  Jacob kissed her and Jill giggled.

  “You have to eat,” Jill said.

  Jacob wagged his eyebrows.

  “Food,” Jill said.

  “I’ll get dressed.”

  “It’s okay to eat in your robe,” Jill said. “I don’t mind you eating naked but Katy might wake up.”

  Jacob nodded.

  “It’s our first meal at home as a married couple!”

  Jill set a plate of saffron rice, jerk chicken, sweet potato fries, and a small salad in front of him. She set a plate for herself then poured him some water.

  “You made all of this while I was in the bath?”

  “Practice, my friend, practice. Try it!”

  It seemed to Jacob he had taken only one bite, but when he looked down, everything on his plate was gone.


  “Would you like more?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Jill filled his plate again.

  “What happened with the company?” Jill asked.

  “They reorganized the way we do business,” Jacob said. “And… I think it will be good. They’re going to take board seats. I’m disbanding the existing board tomorrow. With these guys as board members, we’ll have the support we need. We’ll see how that turns out.”

  “What about your bank? Your credit? All the stuff you’ve been so worried about?”

  “We’re moving banks. The VCs are going to help us with the credit issue but we’ll still need a bank. They project by the middle of next year, we won’t need credit,” Jacob said. “The good news is that they liked our company, the people and the policies. They want to help us.”

  “And the bad news?”

  “Oh, I guess we have to change, take risks, and grow.”

  Jacob shook his head.

  “You’re exhausted. Tomorrow’s another long day,” Jill said.

  “Are you inviting me to bed, wife?”

  “Yes, let’s leave these dishes. Come to bed with me, husband.”

  Jill stood from her chair. She squealed when Jacob jumped from his seat to carry her through the loft. Tasting their spicy meal on her lips, his tongue continued a gentle exploration of her mouth. He set her onto their bed then helped her out of her clothing. She slid off his robe. He lay down beside her.

  And fell sound asleep.

  ~~~~~~~~

  One week and a half later

  Wednesday afternoon —– 4:30 P.M.

  The day before Thanksgiving

  “That’s the end of our group work,” Colin Hargreaves said. “I want you to pick a partner that’s around your size.”

  “Daddy, can I stay with Katy?” Paddie asked.

  “Of course,” Colin said. “Teddy? You and Nash. Noelle? Work with Ryan again. Becky? Can you work with…?”

  “Stevie, Mr. Hargreaves, I’m Ryan’s littlest brother.”

  “Stevie! Nice to meet you. You can call me Mr. Colin.”

  “My other brother couldn’t come today,” Steve said. “But he’s going to come on Friday.”

  “Great! The more the merrier,” Colin said. “Mike? Are you working with the ladies?”