It's been six months since I added to this story, but I realized I had most of it written so I took a couple of days and finished it. I think it needs one or two more chapters to finish, and I'll get to it, maybe a little back-and-forth with the Summer of an Older Woman story. It depends where my mind is, you know? But Mickey and Darejani deserve a coda to their story. So enjoy, my friends. More to come, maybe slowly, but it will be coming.
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After a couple of consultations with a lactation counselor and a few other 'lessons' for first time parents, Dar and Lisa were discharged on Tuesday, September 26. Yasmin and my mother were waiting at home to help as much as we needed. It was pretty great at first, but they got to be a bit overwhelming. It was understandable, first grandchild and all, but Dar and I needed time alone to bond with our baby girl a bit. My direct supervisor at work, Leona Gerardo, told me to take a couple of weeks and come back to work for a couple of months in mid-October, assuming I got into law school. It was generous; at that time, there were very few companies that offered men any sort of paternity leave. I got a call from Dick Sadler the next day, a very kind call, congratulating us and telling me he wanted to see me in his office when i came back. It was clear from the tone in his voice this would be more good news.
Dar and I quickly adjusted to the 'new normal' life at home. Feedings, changings, bathing, doctor appointments...everything was a pleasure, a joy. Two weekends after Lisa was born, we had a big party at the house for our relatives and our friends, so everyone could meet the newest member of the family. Everyone made a huge deal over our sweet little girl and there were lots of tears and laughter and there were gifts piled on and around a table. Lisa wasn't going to need much in the way of clothing for about a year. And there was a mountain of stuffed animals as well. She'd have plenty of soft, cute companions in her room when that time came.
At one point Dar's uncle, Mahmood, took me aside and talked to me privately. "Mickey, you and Darejani have made the entire family so proud and happy. We know how much you love each other and now you have a lovely little girl to share your love with. I know a lot of people think Islam treats women poorly, and my brother did that with Darejani and Yasmin the last years of his life. But we do not all think that way. We honor women, and now, when I see how happy your wife is, and even my sister-in-law, it makes me a very happy man." He had a few tears falling down his cheek, which he wiped away with a handkerchief he pulled from the pocket of his immaculate grey suit. I really liked him a lot; he was a very warm and loving man.
"It's all thanks to Darejani, Amoo (Farsi for a paternal uncle, a term of endearment, as he was known throughout the family). She found me, and because we got married, Yasmin met my cousin Jack, and now she's happy too. And Darejani and I will make sure Lisa has a great life as well. You never have to worry about me taking care of either of them."
"I know, Mickey. We all love you and your parents as our own. But one thing I do have to tell you, now that you have a child: you and Darejani become full members in the financial trust that takes care of the family. Every month you'll get a check, a share of the profits, and then at the end of the fiscal year, in late August, you'll get a larger payout, a yearly bonus. I know, you are going to provide for your family, and I know you'll do an excellent job, especially now that you're on your way to being a lawyer. But this money is for you both to do as you please. I would hope you'll invest most of it, or buy a summer home, set money aside for your children's education. I know neither of you are careless. Maybe one day you'll go into practice for yourself." Then he hugged me and kissed me, Persian style. The government in Iran was run by a group of horrible, cruel men. And certainly the former Shah was a cruel tyrant. But Dar's family was filled with nothing but warm and wonderful people. Well, except her father her brother.
That evening, we put Lisa in her crib in our bedroom and kept the door open with a monitor by her head. We sat on the couch for a little quiet time together after a long, tiring day. Dar tilted her head on my shoulder while I had my arm around her back and we watched 60 Minutes and whatever else was on that night. While we watched Mike Wallace question some con artist or other, I told her about my conversation with her uncle.
"Mickey, I had no idea. My mother never told me about any of this. I knew she and my father got a part of the business, but I didn't know they kept paying out the younger generations. I guess it makes sense; I see how my older cousins live well, some without even working all that much. But this makes me feel kind of odd."
"You should see it from my point of view. I grew up very middle class and now there's all this money around me. I don't object to my firm paying me while I'm in law school; I'm entering into a contract with them, promising five years of my life to them in exchange. And I don't think I would do it without the salary, since I have a family to support now. But this... it's a lot of money coming to us. We're going to have to decide what to do with it, how to invest it, maybe make some charitable donations. But right now, I don't want to spend any of it on ourselves. I can support us just fine."
"I know you can, Bunny. I don't mind just putting this money aside, for an emergency, for our children, for whatever the future brings." We kind of sighed together, grateful for the security the money would provide, and a little overwhelmed by the whole idea.
After a couple of weeks at home helping Dar adjust and bonding with Lisa, I went back to work for a couple of months. That first day, I made an appointment with Dick Sadler and went to his office just before 3PM. After he congratulated me again, he told me he and Andrea wanted to come visit soon (they couldn't come to the party due to a family function) before he handed me an envelope with a bunch of savings bonds in Lisa's name from the partners. These people were treating me like gold, and besides the warmth I got from Mr. Sadler, it also made me wonder. I had to ask why my family was being treated so well.
"Mickey, each year we, the partners, mentor a few young employees we identify as
'up and comers', people we see as having a very bright future both here at work and in life in general. You caught my eye. My wife and I....we had a son, Neil, who'd have been 40 now. He died in Vietnam in 1970, when he was 21." He was telling me this slowly, trying to keep control of his emotions. "You remind me of him in some ways. You're a natural leader. Your wife told my wife how you met, how you stood up to some bullies to protect her. I know, I already had approached you about law school before that day. But when Andrea told me about that, I knew for certain I made the right choice. Maybe some day you'll go into politics and do good things for this country. That's your choice and you certainly don't have to even think about it now. But I see great things in you and Darejani. She's an amazing young woman."
I smiled and said "On that I agree with you 100%. The rest... I don't know, Mr. Sadler."
"Dick, Mickey. In here or when we're in a private situation, you can call me Dick."
"Yes sir, Mr. Sadler." He smiled and we had a light laugh, lightening the heavy mood. "I just don't know if I'm up to all this faith you have in me."
