Harry O'Hern was rather depressed. He couldn't back down as if they married which was an outside possibility, it would be disastrous if Sierra Bycroft noted any weakness in him over this impasse as Sierra being Sierra would exploit it.
He was sure Sierra had intended to give him a wrist slap, almost in jest, about his crudely written desire but somehow it just ran out of control - they were both to blame. Up to that point of her so cruelly calling him a creep, eyes blazing in contempt, he'd been willing to apologize and treat her contritely.
The next eight days went by painfully for Harry.
Every time he saw her he hoped she'd turn to him, smile, and say she was sorry for being such a bitch. That would have been enough to compel him to take her into his arms and apologize for saying he loved her. That would have given her opportunity to...um... whatever. How the hell could he have predicted how she'd react to his declaration?
The weekend crawled.
On Friday night he went out with Frank and they got beautifully drunk, which took care of Saturday until he awoke after midday, went out for late lunch, then to a movie and then home where he slept soundly.
Sunday was a complete wash-out and on Monday morning when jogging Jenni asked him had he and Sierra quarreled because for once she hadn't mentioned him when they chatted on the phone, like for two hours the previous day.
"No, we haven't quarreled," he said truthfully. "Let's clap on the pace a bit."
She responded and as he anticipated that shut her up for a while. Because Jenni got the message the name Sierra didn't come up over breakfast or during the cab ride back to his apartment.
On the sidewalk Jenni looked interested in being invited up, gazing pointedly at the doors, but no invitation was issued. But he did kiss her and said he'd see her the next morning.
On Tuesday, Harry drove the chairman in his new Mercedes to the Old Immigration Wharf Restaurant and Duncan was pleased with the response that drew. Over lunch he confined his drinking to two dry white wines while Duncan knocked off a half bottle of red.
After the main course the subject of Sierra's future was discussed.
Harry disclosed that he was optimistic Sierra would crack any time soon to open her mind completely and gratefully receive extensive tuition and discuss management issues.
It troubled him to learn of Sierra's continued reluctance to open up fully to Harry's strategic plan to groom her comprehensively for taking over the chairmanship from her father eventually.
As they were about to leave, Duncan sighed, and said he wanted Harry to stay on course with his mentoring of Sierra, a decision that would strain his relationship with his discontented daughter; he wanted Harry to instill leadership qualities in her and try to teach what seemed to come naturally to him - to achieve progress in business relationships by neutralizing conflict and aggression.
"I'll give her that decision together with some encouraging comments when I return to the office."
Harry, the faster mover, was already in the front seat when Duncan had still not opened the driver's door. Suddenly he saw Duncan reach the front passenger's door and disappear from view. He waited a few seconds before investigating.
Duncan must have slipped. He found Duncan flat on his back, his face in multi-shades between red and puce, bubbles coming from his lips.
Alarmed, Harry recalled something about Duncan having had a heart scare.
Harry saw a woman talking on a cell phone talking on her cell phone.
"Hurry call emergency - this man's in sudden cardiac arrest," he shouted to the woman, fortuitously a woman who'd had accident/emergency training. She waved, cutting her call and dialed 911.
Fortunately for Duncan, who would survive this crisis, Harry had long ago received CPR training. He undid Duncan's tie, spread open his jacket and ripped open his shirt, tilted back his chin and began CPR.
The woman arrived and knelt beside him. "How are you coping?"
"Fine now, I'm into my rhythm at last."
"There are defibrillators at the fire station, miraculously just opposite here. I hear the siren now. Would you like me to take over?"
"No just check my technique if you know CPR."
"You're doing fine. I've been watching you."
Two firemen, arriving in the chief fireman's vehicle, raced to Duncan's side with a defibrillator and took over.
"That response was marvelous," said the woman. "No more than three minutes."
She walked away, never to be identified despite attempts latter to locate her by Margo's appeal published in the newspaper.
An ambulance arrived and loaded Duncan. Harry was told where they were taking Duncan. He was preparing to follow the ambulance when he saw Duncan's phone behind the front wheel of the Mercedes. He punched in 'Marg' and the phone began dialing. She answered.
"Keep calm Margo, Harry speaking. Duncan's on his way to Northridge Accident and Emergency with a problem. Heart I think. I'll phone Sierra."
Margo shrieked, and then seemed to calm immediately.
"Go to Sierra if you can instead of calling her. Duncan's the only man in her life - she's temperamental and will go to pieces. Please bring her to us Harry."
Harry did as he was told and with great speed, realizing he'd called Mrs Bycroft by her first name without being invited to do that.
He went to Sierra and she did the girlie thing and fainted but recovered quickly and then went into awesome mode, barking out orders and then grabbing him by the hand towed him into an elevator.
In the cab she asked what had happened.
"He fell just as he was about to open the front passenger's door. I was already seated and knew he wasn't drunk as he'd only consumed a couple of wines. I just thought he'd slipped and when he didn't appear went and checked and by his color knew he was in trouble."
"Taking a wild guess I yelled to a woman using a cell phone this man was in cardiac arrest. I loosened his tie and did what I could for him. We're very lucky - help was only three minutes away and an emergency crew arrived with the special gear needed. He has a good chance of survival if my prognosis is correct as time was of the essence."
"What does that mean?"
"Fast action, defibrillation and into hospital - each minute is vital."
"Thank you for doing this for my father."
"It was nothing; anyone would have done it."
Sierra, white-faced but calm, kissed his cheek and he didn't flinch.
Harry put an arm round her and drew her to his chest. Only then did she begin to sob. He stroked her face and for one of the few times in his life felt he was really needed by someone. It was just like Betsy had needed him, with the name change, and years later for him to lead her into reconciliation.
They entered the critical care section and Sierra looked surprised when he mother rushed straight to Harry and hugged him.
"The surgeon came out to talk to me and they're operating now. She says you probably saved his life by applying CPR promptly and getting him attached to a defibrillator so quickly."
Margo then hugged and kissed Sierra saying, "The surgeon believes he'll survive. They've located the blockage and are going in after it. She reckons it's been a close thing for Duncan but the op is routine for her, baring complications, but she's very confident darling. One of us will have to phone Trent Rogers, the deputy chairman, as he'll have to take over for six weeks."
They sat and filled up on coffee. Only Margo would be allowed to go into post-op recovery to sit with Duncan.
Harry told Margo he'd take Sierra to the hospital restaurant and handed Duncan's phone to her.
As Sierra was picking over a piece of dry fish Harry urged her to eat, saying she needed food and fish was good for her.
"Fish, call this fish - it's horse shit."
Harry grinned, that sounded like the old Sierra was back.
"You are a connoisseur of horse shit, I presume?"
The familiar smile blossomed.
"One day soon, if our dispute is over, I'll take you somewhere and we'll catch fish on the rising tide and I'll pan fry you breakfast of the like you've never experienced."
"I'd like that. Come on, either eat up or I'll fetch you something else."
"No this is passable; I'll eat it."
"Look, the dispute is over, I just couldn't back-down and make the first move toward reconciliation, not in this instance. You can understand that, can't you?"
She chewed with her mouth open.
"Nope but you'll have your reasons."
"Thank you. I am so, so sorry I wrote that stupid thing but...um...can you ever say to a poet, don't write poetry?"
She eyed him.
"What you wrote was poetry?"
"What I said about a poet is allegorical, expressing the thought I had went beyond mere words to me. It wasn't stupid but rather something residing deep within me and I felt the need to express it. I admit it was expressed rather crudely, but you must concede it was a notation meant for my eyes only and to me it wasn't expressed crudely, if you know what I mean?"
"You are making it difficult for me, but I do get the gist."
Harry put on his hound-dog look.
"Then I'm truly forgiven?"
"Yes, by your confession alone, but how could I not forgive you - I'll never be able to repay you for what you did in saving my father from dying in that parking area. You initially gave me the impression you did practically nothing but then we both heard what the surgeon said. Tell me, what did my father say to you over lunch - just the conclusion will suffice."
Sierra's phone went. She put it on speaker.
"Darling, he's awake and recognized me. He's not going to die according to the surgeon. I'm staying for a couple of hours - so you two go. They won't let you see him until tomorrow. Guy is on his way to take me home when I'm ready. Goodnight darling. Say goodnight to that handsome hero for me."
"Goodnight mummy. Tell daddy I love him."
Walking out to find a cab, Harry told Sierra he'd be away for two days up country from tomorrow to attend a wedding but she should take a week off as Frank was experienced enough to be in charge. Frank had their greatly experienced chief sub as back-up and besides Harry would be in phone and text contact with Frank.
"Well, I'll take tomorrow off at least; I'll need to spend time with daddy."
"Don't wear him out and remember to spend time with your mother."
"My mother?"
"Yes Sierra, your mother. This has also been a great shock to her."
She looked away, nodding slowly.
